Carl von Clausewitz, famous 17th century soldier, historian, and military theorist, had quite a bit to say on the intersection of politics and warfare. I highly recommend reading the English translation of his “Von Kriege” treatise called “On War”. Of particular note and applicability to present day is the point that politicians tend to make very bad generals.

To put these into context, lets take some recent comments from former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger:

Military victory is no longer possible in Iraq, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said in a television interview broadcast Sunday.

Kissinger presented a bleak vision of Iraq, saying the U.S. government must enter into dialog with Iraq’s regional neighbors — including Iran — if progress is to be made in the region.

“If you mean by ‘military victory’ an Iraqi government that can be established and whose writ runs across the whole country, that gets the civil war under control and sectarian violence under control in a time period that the political processes of the democracies will support, I don’t believe that is possible,” he told the British Broadcasting Corp.

First off, what effect dose such a pronouncement have on the will of the country and the will of our armed forces deployed in Iraq– especially from someone who should know better? Secondly, upon what detailed review and exhausting military experience is Kissinger relying to make such comments?

And why would Kissinger say this to the BBC as opposed to a domestic media outlet?

Kissinger is, without a doubt, a great politician and statesmen. However, his thoughts and beliefs go counter to what the Generals and leaders on the ground in the Iraq War believe, and so that makes them suspect and potentially politically motivated. Politicians who second guess seasoned and capable Generals loose wars.

The politicians had their chance at resolving the conflict with Iraq before it became the War in Iraq. That failed diplomacy is the primary fault for any War, no matter how justified it may be. For the politicians to continue to meddle in what they have failed to avoid is reckless and irresponsibles; and someone like Kissinger should know better.

As Clausewitz also pointed out, “War is nothing more than the continuation of politics by other means.”