It was supposed to be over in a day. It was supposed to be at best a token battle. So confident were the citizens of Washington DC, so trusting in the official assurances of swift and easy victory that they hitched up their horses and carriages and rode out to the hills overlooking Manassas. They took with them picnic baskets, fruits, wines, and juices, desiring refreshment while they watched General McDowell advance the Union Army against the Confederates. It was to be great sport, well worth the watching, and later, the re-telling. There could be little doubt of the outcome. The Union Army was larger. The Union Army was better equipped. The Confederacy was short of steel works, and many of their guns were made with brass components, which wore out quickly and would not take heavier caliber loads. All went well until late afternoon on the 21st of July, 1861, when Confederate forces flanked the Union Army and drove them into retreat. The retreat turned into a rout.
As Lincoln watched the remains of the Union Forces arriving back into Washington DC, he realized that what had been assumed to be a short battle was going to turn out to be a very long and very costly war, even if victory was eventual.
History repeats itself.
The invasion of Iraq was sold to the American people as an easy victory over a weak foe, weakened in fact by the United Nations sanctions and disarmament. No worry, short war, your kids are safe and will be home in a few weeks. Tune in to CNN for the latest videos of fireworks tearing through people's homes. Not to worry, you won't be shown the torn bodies of the children. You need your full attention for those commercial breaks for beer, snacks, and diet soda; refreshments while watching the fun.
Only, it isn't fun any more. Our kids are being captured, crippled, and killed. The mighty US military has been brought to a standstill in the desert, and kicked out of Basra. Casualties are higher than publicly predicted or public admitted. The defenders have shown surprising resilience to invasion.
It was supposed to be a show, an entertainment, bloodless and lossless conquest in prime-time, only it did not turn out that way.
Now we know how the spectators at Manassas felt as they followed the defeated Union Army back to Washington DC in 1861. Even though victory is eventual, we now know what the war will really cost.
"When in doubt, do it!" Fatty Arbuckle
As Lincoln watched the remains of the Union Forces arriving back into Washington DC, he realized that what had been assumed to be a short battle was going to turn out to be a very long and very costly war, even if victory was eventual.
History repeats itself.
The invasion of Iraq was sold to the American people as an easy victory over a weak foe, weakened in fact by the United Nations sanctions and disarmament. No worry, short war, your kids are safe and will be home in a few weeks. Tune in to CNN for the latest videos of fireworks tearing through people's homes. Not to worry, you won't be shown the torn bodies of the children. You need your full attention for those commercial breaks for beer, snacks, and diet soda; refreshments while watching the fun.
Only, it isn't fun any more. Our kids are being captured, crippled, and killed. The mighty US military has been brought to a standstill in the desert, and kicked out of Basra. Casualties are higher than publicly predicted or public admitted. The defenders have shown surprising resilience to invasion.
It was supposed to be a show, an entertainment, bloodless and lossless conquest in prime-time, only it did not turn out that way.
Now we know how the spectators at Manassas felt as they followed the defeated Union Army back to Washington DC in 1861. Even though victory is eventual, we now know what the war will really cost.
"When in doubt, do it!" Fatty Arbuckle
