Historian Finds Reasons For Optimism About War On Terror In The History Books
Historian Finds Reasons For Optimism About War On Terror In The History Books
Victor Davis Hanson, a classicist and historian at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, quotes a cynical politician convinced that the United States cannot win the war in today s San Jose Mercury News: "I implore you to inaugurate or invite proposals for peace forthwith. And in case peace cannot now be made, consent to an armistice for one year.'' He then reveals that this throw-in-the-towel remark, however, did not come from Howard Dean or John Murtha -- but from Horace Greeley about the Civil War during the depressing summer of 1864. Hanson goes on to point out that it is not unusual for politicians to grasp on to minor losses and small bits of negativity in wartime, but that these pessimists are soon forgotten in the history books. He discuses the impressive improvements that have already been made in Iraq, and expresses his optimism for a full victory in the War on Terror. He writes Some Americans cannot see any of this yet, because we are still in our own summer of 1864. But as the conditions in Iraq improve, and comparisons to our sole loss in Vietnam ring hollow, expect critics to grow silent The blame game is not unusual on the impatient home front during American wars -- and is soon mostly forgotten after we finally win. Iraq is, and will be, no exception.