What was more important last week, the men or the mission?

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On July 2, 1863 some guys from mostly mid coastal Maine, at the very left end of the Union lines, faced a series of attacks, by larger, well motivated, and recently (very) victorious numbers (Chancellorsville). When ammunition looked too low to repulse another attack, they fixed bayonets, essentially gave up on living and charged in order to make their mission (protect the entire northern army’s line) a success.

In the spring of 1942, the entire Allied force in the Philippines, was expendable in order to hold and use up Japanese resources as the USA gathered itself for Midway the Southwest Pacific, and the invasion of North Africa.

On April 6th 1862, Generals Wallace (who was killed) and Prentiss held a surrounded position (Hornet’s Nest) for seven hours at Shiloh sacrificing their entire commands to give the Union Army under Grant and Sherman time to reorganize (they won the battle the next day) under attack.

In America we care for the lives of our men.

But there are moments ….

In a 60 minutes interview when Steve Croft asked President Obama what his major concern was ..”The president said his “biggest concern” was the safe return of the special operations team from its raid last Sunday of the Abbotabad compound.”

Does anyone have any doubt what the men on that mission thought their biggest concern was?

The mission was to get the son of a bitch and kill him.

I don’t want take away from Obama’s success. I also do not want to denigrate his worry over the lives of husbands, sons, brothers, and fathers on that mission.

His answer, however, should have been that his biggest concern was to be sure the mission was a success, and Bin Laden was killed, if we were going to risk our people. This answer of his, is a hallmark of what is missing in our effort.

Nothing on this world can make these missions safe or easy. Efforts born in concern for the safe return of our people as the primary worry, will CERTAINLY ensure disaster and death.

When you are the president, THAT'S THE JOB SOMETIMES.

Related articles

• Mission to get Bin Laden a tough call? (jbsanctuary.wordpress.com)
• 18 famous, and infamous, missions (cnn.com)