"U.S. leaders publicly proposed escalation of the conflict, not only risking a wider war, but also risking disrupting America's wider alliance network." But the did not escalate the war, they just talked.
This is the problem. It was the problem in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and many other places. We in the West take half-measures afraid of "escalation" to the point that we achieve neither victory nor defeat but rather a war that continues until we get tired of it and run away, Vietnam and Afghanistan in particular.
Perhaps it is our enemies who should fear escalation? Perhaps we should let our armed forces do what armies are supposed to do, win the war. And if they can't win the war, replace the generals with someone else.
Truman had a General who wanted to win the war, but rather than support him, MacArthur was replaced with some who wanted to fight a war, but without a plan to win the war.
Lincoln fired many generals until he got one willing to fight. And Grant brought both escalation and victory.
Mike Bunkermeister Creek
