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A decision without hindsight by J.G.Fabiano I am told that hindsight is 20/20. Webster defines hindsight as: "Understanding of an event after it has happened." It is easy to make a decision on something after what you were trying to make a decision on has already taken place. I don't believe we can wait to make a decision based on hindsight concerning what is happening with the probability that we will be at war within the next few weeks. We can't because what is about to happen is both important and confusing. In order to attempt to understand our present situation one must look back into our history. It is said that those who ignore history are bound to repeat it. Since, as a society, we have had many wars I wonder if we, as a society, have the capacity to comprehend this simple fact? It is embedded in all of our minds that on September 11, 2001, our nation was brutally attacked. Many innocent men and women lost their lives. No one will forget this date and I am convinced that no one would ever want to. We countered this atrocity by destroying a terrorist regime in Afghanistan and to this day continue to take the terrorist group responsible apart. However, this is not the first time in our history that we were attacked. On August 10, 1964, our Congress approved a joint resolution concerning this attack. The resolution was produced: " To promote the maintenance of international peace and security in Southeast Asia. Whereas naval units of the Communist regime in Vietnam, in violation of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and of international law, have deliberately and repeatedly attacked United States naval vessels lawfully present in international waters, and have thereby created a serious threat to international peace." Whereas these attacks are part of a deliberate and systematic campaign of aggression that the Communist regime in North Vietnam has been waging against its neighbors and the nations joined with them in the collective defense of their freedom; and Whereas the United States is assisting the peoples of Southeast Asia to protect their freedom and has no territorial, military or political ambitions in that area, but desires only that these peoples should be left in peace to work out their own destinies in their own way: Now, therefore, be it That the Congress approves and supports the determination of the President, as Commander in Chief, to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression. The United States regards as vital to its national interest and to world peace the maintenance of international peace and security in Southeast Asia. Consonant with the Constitution of the United States and the Charter of the United Nations and in accordance with its obligations under the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty, the United States is, therefore, prepared, as the President determines, to take all necessary steps, including the use of armed force, to assist any member or protocol state of the South-east Asia Collective Defense Treaty requesting assistance in defense of its freedom. This resolution shall expire when the President shall determine that the peace and security of the area is reasonably assured by international conditions created by action of the United Nations or otherwise, except that it may be terminated earlier by concurrent resolution of the Congress."
The next couple of decades proved to be disastrous for our nation. Tens of thousands of our young men and women were killed. Many more Vietnamese were killed thus proving to one of the most powerful nations on the Earth that no nation has the power or right to make what it thinks is right happen through might. But, there was another point in our world's history when ignoring a threat proved to be equally disastrous. The following is the wording of the printed statement that Neville Chamberlain waved as he stepped off the plane on 30 September, 1938, after the Munich Conference had ended the day before: "We, the German Führer and Chancellor, and the British Prime Minister, have had a further meeting today and are agreed in recognizing that the question of Anglo-German relations is of the first importance for our two countries and for Europe. We regard the agreement signed last night and the Anglo-German Naval Agreement as symbolic of the desire of our two peoples never to go to war with one another again. We are resolved that the method of consultation shall be the method adopted to deal with any other questions that may concern our two countries, and we are determined to continue our efforts to remove possible sources of difference, and thus to contribute to assure the peace of Europe." Chamberlain read the above statement in front of 10 Downing St. and then said: "My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time --- Go home and get a nice quiet sleep." We all know that World War II occurred soon after. Hundreds of thousands of innocent people lost their lives because of what appeared to have been a mistake of policy. Looking back in history makes it difficult to know whether or not one is traveling the correct path. I would assume it is of utmost importance to trust the leaders of our nation and to have faith in both their judgments and their motives. As a teacher I don't want to see any of my students die without living out all of their dreams. As an American I don't want to see my way of life disappear. The only concept I understand is that I am beginning to believe that hindsight is a very ugly word. The End
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