The politicians don’t think we are in a real war. They haven’t suffered any losses. I wonder how different a war we would have fought if flight 93′s heroes hadn’t heard, and the plane smashed into the Capital. It would have gotten the attention of those who survived and replacement Congress critters. Perhaps we would be more focused on victory.

Important note: Remember the Air Force, Army and Navy main enemy is the other branches. That is why the Air Force wants to control close air support, even as they don’t want to do it. Jerry Pournelle’s Iron Law of Bureaucracy applies here and any fight for power.

In MASH, Frank Burns always represented the classic bureaucratic mindset, only concerned with process, with no sense of product. The spit and polish REMF in the flesh. This is nothing new. Lincoln had the same problems in the Civil War. Those only interested in being in charge, stealing resources from those who fight.

Staying a free people may require winning a war against the most dangerous of foes, those who feed bureaucracy. All bureaucrats should have a sign on their side of the desk, that asks: “Why are you doing this?”

I was just over at the bank, a clerk told me how they were being required to “be more friendly”, by following a script in what they said to customers. Yes, a “great” idea for customer relations. The robot school of public contact.
“My name is Sue.
How do you do?
Now you will die.
Good bye.”

The older I get, the more painful this paradox becomes: Civilization needs bureaucracy, yet bureaucracy can and will destroy civilization. The pit bull of bureaucracy needs a short leash, hopefully held by Sarah P.