DIVIDED WE FALL

54, '68, '72, '06 ..."HIKE," WHEN THE BATTLE BALL IS SNAPPED AND A PASS IS THROWN INTO THE AIR, WE CAN'T PREDICT WHERE IT WILL FALL. SOME PAST PLAYS IN WARTIME HAVE NOT TAUGHT US LESSONS FOR TODAY OR FOR OUR FUTURE. AT DIEN BIEN PHU IN '54, THE FRENCH CAPITULATED AND AMERICA CHOSE TO PASS ON ITS INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COMMUNIST INSURGENCY. BUT THIS RELUCTANCE TO ACT SET US UP FOR A FUTURE COMBAT. IN '68 AND '72, AMERICA WON BATTLES IN VIET NAM, BUT CHOSE TO PASS AGAIN, LOSE THE WAR AND SUBSEQUENTLY BOW OUT. IN '06, AMERICA IS WINNING ANOTHER WAR AGAINST TERRORISTS, BUT A MINORITY OF HOME-GROWN PROTESTERS CHOOSE TO CUT AND RUN. IF ANY LESSON IS LIBERALLY SPREAD OUT AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF HISTORY IT IS THAT A UNITED FRONT AGAINST THE ENEMY ALWAYS TRIUMPHS EVEN IF THE BATTLE IS FOUGHT TO THE LAST MAN LIKE AT THE ALAMO OR MASADA. THE ANCIENT GREEKS KNEW THAT VIRTU, STRENGTH, MANLINESS, FROM ROOT VIR FOR MAN, MUST BE MAINTAINED AT ALL COSTS. THE FRENCH UNDERESTIMATED THEIR ENEMY IN VIET NAM; WE UNDERESTIMATED OURS THERE TOO. DO WE UNDERESTIMATE HIM EVEN NOW IN IRAQ AND AROUND THE WORLD? IF SO, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE STAND, UNITED, BECAUSE LOSING 'VIRTU' IS, AS SHAKESPEARE APTLY PUT IT, "THE UNKINDLIEST CUT OF ALL."