Victor Davis Hanson on America’s Approach to War
by Uncommon KnowledgeNothing in this world is certain, except death and taxes. And war. At least according to Victor Davis Hanson.
In VDH’s first 2010 appearance on Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson, he shares the thesis of his latest book with us, which is that war is the father of us all.
The issues discussed are varied. Everything from the American style of war and its ineffectiveness in Iraq, George W. Bush’s missed opportunity to gain leftist support, and why Obama gets away with continuing Bush’s military strategy.
Check out this video below for highlights, or watch the full episode here.
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236 Comments
VDH's hair is smarter than than the entire obama administration.
How many wars has Victor Davis Hanson fought? He's a jingoist loser.
We need to get our troops home ASAP. We cannot win, strategically or financially.
War on Drugs, War on Poverty, War on Terror: All three are failing/have failed, all three create more of what they are trying to eradicate.
Jeremiah,
It is past your bed time little guy. Does you big brother know you are using his PS2 to access the internet? Did you learn jingoist in spelling today? Not the best use of it in a sentence, just some advice sonny.
Victor Davis Hanson is quite a few grade levels above your comprehension level..
Nighty Night!
1st, the war on drugs is being lost because of PC lefties trying to appease illegal aliens by not securing the border to the South. 2nd, if you think we haven't won the "war on poverty", I would suggest you spend some time with the "poor" here and then fly to almost any other country in the world and compare their poor to ours, especially in India, China, Mexico, or anywhere in Africa. 3rd, if we are not winning the war on terror, why is it that we have foiled many more terrorist attacks than have happened and we have several top al-qaeda in our prisons? I assume that the only way you would see to win in the war on terror is to capture bin laden himself!
Did you forget a K?
Just checking.
Hee is a Quiz, who started each of your examples?
Just checking.
I fought in the Iraq war and I am a 6-year navy veteran, am I a loser in your eyes? I would submit that you have never served a day of your life in service of your country and know not of what you speak!
Seriously, why do people get so ignited over big government largess (which is a legit frustration) but then go on to support perhaps the biggest big government program there is? War is the health of the state. And the war on terror has brought us the Patriot Act, a nationalized airport security in the TSA, and given the feds an excuse to search our emails and tap our phones.
Oh, and most of the people we bomb and kill aren't terrorists. But killing their families does a good job at angering them and influencing them to become insurgents.
How many wars has Victor David Hanson fought? He never met a war he didn't like. He is bankrupting America with his ignorant rantings.
Again how many wars has Victor fought? I applaud your service. Why hasn't Victor served instead writing propaganda for warmongers?
1st – False. Prohibition always fails, secured border of not.
2nd – That is not because of the war on poverty. It is a benefactor of being the wealthiest nation on earth . Why are more people relying on government assistance year after year?
3rd – The very fact that we have to foil terror plots shows that terrorism is not subsiding. And because we captured a few al-qaeda members doesn't mean jack shit. There will be more.
The number of lives saved here in America and in other countries; thanks to our brave troops, is no doubt staggering. Thousands of Jihadists have been slain, and every one of them was a potential suicide bomber, sniper, etc. Had we not fought the War on Terror, I'm sure many of us would have been killed or wounded by now here in our own land.
He's a Ku Klux Klan member for opposing a neocon chickenhawk like VDH? Maybe VD added a H to his name?
Yeah and Bush and Cheney secured the borders too because terrorism is such a huge threat? They encouraged continued Muslim immigration to show how diverse and free America is. 911 happened during the Bush presidency.
"We have killed thousands of them so they don't kill thousands of us. It's OK for us to slay thousands because they may or may not have killed some of us."
The Peloponnesian war is a metaphor for perpetual war and the bankruptcy of America. Yeah he knows his history.
How many wars has Obama ever fought?
I believe we need to get those borders secure- top priority. I was critical of Bush's handling of that, as I was of his signing some of the huge spending bills. But I don't see your hero BHO racing to do anything about the border, either. How about you join us in fighting future amnesty bills and getting troops down to the border? Isn't it time (past time) to keep our country safe?
At around 3:18, Mr. Hanson sums up perfectly, in one sentence, the left's 'reason', outlook and agenda.
"…if you don't believe it's better than the alternative there's no reason for it to continue, really…."
No, because they WOULD have killed us- no question.
I knew it!
Bush was behind this.
1- If that was a logical argument, then why not lift restrictions on everything? Murder has been illegal since the rise of civilization, yet we still have a fair number of them! I agree that there will always be drug use of some sort, legal or not, however you do not need to stop all drug use to "win the war on drugs", you just have to stop the widespread use.
2-By your own argument, there is no poverty here, so how can we have a war on it? But to answer your question, more people rely on government assistance because it is being made readily available, and easier to obtain. Whatever happened to personal responsibility?
3-I agree that there will always be enemies of the state, but we do not live in constant fear of it like they do in say…Israel, so in that respect I believe we are winning!
My hero BHO? The borders are still wide open.
He's continuing the Bush foreign policy and bankrupting America too.
That's what I just said (?)
Well, Hussein can rightly claim three wars as his; Iraq, Afghanistan and his war on the American taxpayer.
Please cite your source for the last comment on killing more innocents than terrorists. I agree that the Patriot Act is disgraceful to have, but even Obama extended it! The Patriot Act exists because we were attacked, we did not start the war on terror, terrorists did!
Who left the door open and let the fly's in?
There will always be more. Know your enemy. This one respects force so must always be dealt with forcefully.
Early in the Bush presidency, and largely as a result of the relaxed national security put in place under Clinton while he was screwing interns!
Better them than us, and better you than me!
If republicans are serious about controlling government spending they must take a serious look at our military spending.
OT, please forgive:
This needs to be spread FAR AND WIDE, this link.
http://tinyurl.com/yhf95cc
The Rev. Wayne Perryman, on race and the sick, sad, sorry, ass-backward way that it is taught to America's kids today.
Links to Flopping Aces (a necessary daily read)
Jodie Evans should be protesting Obama in continuing the war. Unless, Jodie Evans is just one of DNC's lapdog.
Why not invade the entire world then and declare martial law and have a military junta?
It is Springtime- guess they're starting to come out. You know, that's a great analogy. Libs are a lot like bugs at a picnic.
Well if the border is wide open and we are encouraging Muslim immigration to America there are two possibilities. 1. The terrorist threat is extremely low and hyped for political reasons. 2. Our government is suicidal and wants us all dead. Which one is more logical?
Hell yeah!! Thanks for the link!
Umm…correct me if I'm wrong here, but did the Bush foreign policy include bowing to dictators? How about snubbing Isreal, the Dalai Lama, Nicolas Sarkozy? Did he go on a worldwide apology tour? Negotiating with terrorist nations without precondition? Funny, Obama would sit down with Ahmedinijad without pre-condition, but not Republicans…..interesting that he would be more sympathetic to terrorist holocaust deniers!
Obama extending the patriot act doesn't excuse anything.
Just search "Civilian Deaths"…100k and counting. As far as the first Iraq war, 500k died from sanctions and war…but according to Madeline Albright "Its worth it"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbIX1CP9qr4
Our presence in the Middle East since the 50's is the reason there is so much resentment against us. Operation Ajax, our weapons dealings in the Iran-Iraq war, and hell the CIA were the ones who started the Mujadeen in Afghanistan…they now want US out not Russia.
If we leave, no one is going to want to fly half way across the world to kill us.
Let me ask you, why have there been no Indonesian terrorists, or no one form the Tamil Tigers committing acts of terror here? Because we are not occupying their land.
The modern conservative movement has degenerated into a bunch of ignorant warmongers who listen to the brainless prattle of the likes of Victor Davis Hanson. Wars cost money, wars kill people, occupying countries for no damn purpose is bankrupting our country. Your not small government conservatives, you are neocon warmongers and favor big government.
Most other places on Earth besides Afghanistan do not train and harbor terrorists that have attacked America. When other nations attack us, it is time to hit back at them.
who is paying for the pointless wars?
American style democracy, the free market system, and recognition of God given rights have been the greatest force for the liberation of humanity the world has ever known.
That has been our gift to the world, and we shall defend it in the name of social and economic justice, even in the face of those who don't know the difference.
.
.
At a time when we have 2 wars going that were approved on a bi-partisan basis, I would submit that cutting military funding would lead to higher troop casualties. And truth be known, military spending goes hand-in hand with prosperity, even in peace time. Because of it, hundreds of thousands of Americans have jobs that also give them valuable education and skills that carry-over to the civilian world when they are discharged. The equipment that they use is largely designed and constructed here in the U.S., providing millions of civilian sector jobs. The security that they provide makes the U.S. a prime spot to open a business without fear of invasion.
I'm no fan of Barack Obama. George Bush walked hand in hand and kissed the Saudi King Abdullah. What is a terrorist nation? Most of 911 was planned in Europe. Should we invade Europe?
I'm sure there were many liberals in Moscow who were making the same arguments that you are- then boom! All their arguments melted away in two horrific blasts. They never saw it coming, but it came nonetheless. So I'm going to go with a 3rd option: our leaders are so bound up with political correctness that they are frozen in stupidity and inaction concerning our border.
You are trying to use 1 war to describe another. The war on terror is in Afghanistan, not Iraq. Try again brainiac!
It's been 9 years, We haven't even conquered Kandahar yet. Are you serious?
KKK KKK KKK U mst be a pacifist
Bring the troops home. They would rather be with their families then fighting a pointless war. Maybe we could even put them on our own borders instead of the borders of Iraq. Just a thought.
Jodie Evans — lapdog, is a Soros funded, Hamas loving, Bill Ayers embracing, demagogue and red diaper baby with a diaper full of red poop since the day could say "Karl Marx".
Her hair is not naturally red — she prefers it that way to make a statement.
.
.
You left out zombie cannibals with frickin laser.
How cool is that.
WOW. "force for the liberation of humanity" has John Hagee's fat ass been preaching to you?
Blah Blah Blah… idiots… blah blah blah… dumbass…. blah blah blah troll
Terrorist nations (partial list): Iran, N. Korea, Sudan, Syria, Cuba. Basically any nation that sponsors terrorists! Because planners happened to be in a country does not mean that that country sponsored terrorism. I do not have Afghanistan on the list because I do not believe Karzai is sponsoring terrorism and he is the "official" head of government, however, the Taliban sure as hell were sponsors!
End the Marxist war on business and middle class.
Re-start the war on Marxism and socialism and the commies. We fall, everyone falls around the world. Including the potheads, so they better wake up.
"….Wars cost money, wars kill people, occupying countries for no damn purpose is bankrupting our country…."
No shit?!?! Nobody wants war, dumbass. If you'd bothered to actually listen to the Hanson clip (turn off your Lib projector, first) you'd notice he's being critical of recent clusterf*cks while expressing admiration for the dying "can do" American spirit. Try to understand, at least, that aspect concerning Gen. Patton.
And it's "you're", not "your".
Who do you think?
And they're not all pointless just because tactical errors abound. You'd be pleased today if Bin Laden had been eliminated immediately, as we all would.
Oh, yeah? Try telling that to Obama shameful use of drone in Afghanistan and continuing these wars.
quantum sufficit
Bush wrongfully concentrated solely on Iraq, but Obama is waging a PC war, telling our enemies where we are going and when kinda slows a war down!
Hanson supports the wars… nice try.
Reconcile that list of possible invasion targets with small government. It's impossible.
Do not forget "aiding and abetting" like Iraq did with alQaeda in the Northern provinces during Husseins' reign. Europe did not knowingly "aid and abet.
I would suggest you poll the military members on that instead of trying to speak for them! I have a cousin in the Marines who volunteered for service in Afghanistan, he wants to go, and he is not alone in that! Also, the war has been going on for almost 9 years, meaning that everyone currently serving either volunteered during war time or has had a chance to get out! By that metric, I would submit that though our soldiers might not like this war, they are willing to fight it!
Yes, perhaps a suppository would suffice.
How many Americans have died from terrorism since 9/11?
", ale o słuchanie dumb ass teraz!"
You cannot complain about big government and support perpetual war.
Keep up the ignorance and call yourself conservative if it makes you feel better.
Then he should now that during WWI and WWII a majority of Americans, being rooted in CHRISTIAN ideology, refused to FIRE THEIR WEAPONS. The Jews had to coarsen our society to make it acceptable to kill and get the gullible goy to go to war for Israel.
Why would we be concerned over Japs killing other slant-eyes? What a lie.
People died for Walmart. This guy is a disgrace. Americans died so America could be bankrupted by "free trade" with China? What a fool. Why is this guy interviewed – I could do a better job.
None of those soldiers died so their daughters could date Negroes like Sumner Rothstein from MTV tells them to do. If those soldiers were alive today and saw the result of this foolish war for Jews they would nearly categorically side with Hitler.
What is it guys? Small government or perpetual war and high taxes to pay for it?
So your a big government conservative? You cannot have a small government and fight pointless wars. Saddam was no threat.
Tactical error – Invading them in the first place.
I'm a huge liberal. You pinned me down.. I want a big government that wages wars for no damn reason and then complain about taxes and Obama or health care.
I don't see why you don't support Hanson's position, it is simple, we are there already, so let's WIN, Win quick and get the hell out! Unfortuneately, wars are more political than anything else today. WWII was won in half this time, albeit with many times more casualties, but we were not concerned with politics other than Americans wanted to rack up more victories than Brits, there was competition to see who could win fastest! Today, we have lefties who worry about the families of our enemies, how we treat terrorists in prisons, etc.
Moscow's subway got bombed for the same reasons we got attacked….occupation. Russian occupation and violence in Chechnya is why Moscow got bombed.
Well better bring the troops home then Glenn Beck. Why keep them there and wage a "PC" war?
Why did Ron Paul who wants the troops out of the pointless wars get more donations from the troops than any other candidate?
Guess what, chickenshit? Every single active member of the Armed forces today either signed up or re-enlisted since the Afghan and Iraq wars began.. Every man of them knew exactly what he was getting into.
Incidentally, you need to get your facts straight: the entire military budget is only a third the size of the entitlement budget.
Wars kill Muslims. You got a problem with that?
Yeah! That WW II thing was sure a screw-up! Those Japanese and Germans are sure militant bastards, aren't they?
Okay so your a big government supporter. Maybe we should have 100 percent taxes to fund our great war on terrorism then. At least we wouldn't add to the deficit.
Bush also wiped out the oldest Christian community in the world in Iraq. Got a problem with that?
The thought that we are more prosperous with military spending is preposterous. I am not arguing against having a military (I am arguing against the size and scope of ours), but having a military saps tons of public funds, it does not enhance them one bit. These hundreds of thousands of Americans who have jobs have them at the expense of the taxpaying public. That education is paid for by the tax paying public. Bombs tanks, guns, and billion dollar boats and aircrafts are done at the expense of the taxpaying public.
The Military-Industrial complex distorts market signals and misallocates resources: instead of money going towards goods in public demand that would enhance our daily lives and progress, they are instead used towards bombs and tanks and end up slowing innovation and progress. Its hinders prosperity, it does not enhance it.
Its funny how the laws of economics are always popular unless they are used to show how ridiculously expensive, irrational, and uneconomical war and the warfare state can be.
Jerimiah, Understanding and accepting factual information will greatly enhance one's outlook on life… this is classically known as maturity. The U.S. military spending is constitutionally limited to 4-5% of GNP. If one is seriously concerned with 'government spending' then the correct focus would be upon the seemingly unlimited social program costs that are nearing 50% of GNP. Take a deep breath… have courage to accept the truth. Peace.
Yes, though every post I have posted in the last few days has gotten positive response, all the sudden I am a troll because I point out how ridiculous, illogical, hypocritical and uneconomical our foreign policy is.
You meant strategic error, there's a difference.
And violation of the civil liberties we frequently see being discussed here.
NO, we CUT wefare and eliminate the Depts of Education, Energy, Commerce and repeal this damn Obama healthcare debacle before it bankrupts the country.
That's how you cut a budget.
Whatever your political bent is. Do yourself a favor and watch the whole 46 minutes and 2 seconds of this interview. You won't be sorry. Victor Hanson Davis knows what he's talking about and lets the chips fall were they may. Really well done and informative. Thanks for sharing this With and For us.
lol.
Im not a liberal. Moron.
Jerimiah, Ours is a world governed by the aggressive use of force. One cannot escape this reality… even from the most cursory examination of historical events. America has set the best example of societal norms by recognizing and defending God given individual liberties… for those who would accept the responsibilities of a self governing society. Not withstanding the ever increasing amount of assistance rendered to the world in the form of books, medicine, cash, defense, technology, and common decency.
We've learned nothing from the last 8 years of hell. Keep watching neocons telling us to fight more wars. Yeah!
Military people go out of their way all the time to compliment my Ron Paul bumper sticker.
lets cut roads and have 100 percent federal tax to fight terrorists. Cuz were bad-ass Americans. Yeah you tell em james.
You are hilarious. Our God given rights? lol.
Thank you. I claim full responsibility for that brain-fart. I'm running on empty ATM and shouldn't be anywhere near a 'puter.
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