Bing West Quotes
War is about killing on both sides until one side says I will do what you want me to do.
Bing West, Assistant Secretary of Defense (Republican), Military Analyst, Writer and Ex-Marine, C-SPAN, After Words, October 23, 2005
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
In this case, he was referring to the situation with the Barbary Pirates who had an incredible extortion racket going in the Mediterranean. If nations would pay them an annual sum each year, they would not attack and seize merchant ships of that country and sell the ships and goods while holding the sailors for ransom. Jefferson favored and authorized war—a naval attack which for many reasons the European nations had not done (they just paid the tribute). Then a peace treaty was finally signed—the first American Treaty.
He was retired when he appeared. It was shortly after the September 11 attack and the Taliban Government of Afghanistan was giving sanctuary to Al Qaida and bin Laden. The President had given them an ultimatum to turn them over.
General Grant had the fort surrounded and the confederate general hoped to surrender the fort and allow him and his men to leave to fight again some other day. This was often agreed to so the military objective would be gained without the casualties of a battle. However, Grant and Lincoln did not simply want to gain forts and territory. They wanted to end the war. Those Confederates who survived the battle were taken prisoner and were out of the fight.
Francis J. "Bing" West is an American author, Marine combat veteran and former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs during the Reagan Administration.
