Planning for war

It is always good to have a plan for emergencies. A plan in case of fire in your home may save your own life, or the life of a family member. A plan is a good idea in case of a natural disaster. Insurance is a part of planning, the attempt to spread financial risk. Planning for war is no different. War is the ultimate emergency. The deliberate taking of life is the most violent and destructive action we can engage in. To NOT plan for this emergency is to be irresponsible. I find it interesting that many so called ‘progressives’ who are anti-war (As most people are) call planning for a potential war ‘warmongering’ or ‘the drumbeat of war’. Yet the economic heart of ‘progressive’ ideology is central economic planning. The idea of planning is recognized as valuable in economic terms by the government, yet the planning for potential warfare by this same government is seen as dangerous and undesirable. I guess the difference between my views and the ‘progressive’ view is that government cannot plan ANY economy well. Government cannot plan for war well either, as one of the basic rules of war is that “No battle plan ever survives first contact with the enemy”. But, as in the case of personal emergency, planning CAN be of great value in case of war. Planning for war begins with an estimate of your capabilities and your potential enemy’s capabilities. The first rule of war is to ‘Know thy enemy’. The second rule is to ‘know thy self’. Planning helps address these issues. Many times, your estimates are not accurate. However, to have a starting point helps you think about many things that you would not have. This starting point also gives you the ability to make adjustments more readily than if starting from ‘scratch’. This is NOT ‘warmongering’ nor is it “Marching to the drumbeat of war”. It is wise.