How to Lose a War: Lessons from the Pentagon

Trying to Justify the Unjustifiable--in 2 Acts.

Hello All,

Before getting into the heart of this piece, I have a little favor to ask of those who are so inclined. Yesterday an open letter was released to members of Congress urging them to support desperately needed aid for Ukraine. I was honored to be asked to be one of the signatories. This issue is at a terrible crossroads now, as the House has still not scheduled a vote. If you are willing, please do circulate news of this letter on your own networks. The more coverage it receives the better—Much Appreciated!

I’m really trying to get my head around US policy these days—of both parties. The Republicans are at least easy to read—they are being dominated by the Trump faction and are acting with Trump’s desires clearly in mind. However what the Biden Administration really wants or believes is still confusing. In the last few days two of the strangest strategic visions have been put forward by the administration (from the Pentagon), neither of which makes sense and both of which are based on an idea of war-fighting that is incomprehensible.

US Strategic Bombers (B-24s) attacking German Fuel Production in World War II—the exact thing the US says Ukraine should not do now.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday made one of the strangest statements about war fighting that I have ever heard—so strange that I really hope he did not mean it. It came about when Austin was commenting on the US decision to oppose Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory. Austin not only openly admitted that the US was worried that the attacks would lead to a rise in fuel prices, he went beyond the political to try and provide a military justification to the American position. Austin basically said that instead of making strategic attacks on Russian war-fighting potential, it would be better for Ukraine to concentrate on attacking the Russian army in the field. His exact wording was: