The Lessons From Past Wars

There are lessons to be learned from past wars for those leaders interested and competent enough to be taught. Today Joe Galloway has a series of six lessons we might all benefit from learning.

• Lesson One: Don't get in the middle of another country's civil war.

• Lesson Two: Know and assess your enemy first. Study his history and culture with a sharp eye on his fighting ability -- and never underestimate him.

• Lesson Three: Arrogance and ignorance are almost always a fatal combination.

• Lesson Four: If your enemy can seek shelter across an international border where you can't chase him, then you have just ceded him the strategic initiative. He'll decide when and where to fight and for how long, and all you can do is react.

• Lesson Five: Don't begin a war without knowing what you hope to achieve and how you intend to get out.

• Lesson Six: War is too important to be left to the generals -- or to the politicians.

Now if we can find leaders willing and able to learn these lessons maybe the future will cease looking so very bleak.

Peace.