Those who wanted to get their views of our recent tragedy off their chests have deluged us with articles. Most of them, besides their sentiments being clearing projected, have the writer's form and a profound ability to communicate. Here is an excerpt of an especially enlightening, long letter I received from Dr. Tony Kern, Lt Col, USAF (Ret), Former Director of Military History, USAF Academy.

"We must also be patient with our military leaders. They know what they are doing.

Unlike Americans who are eager to put this messy time behind us, our adversaries have time on their side, and they will use it. They plan to fight a battle of attrition, hoping to drag the battle out until the American public loses its will to fight. In this euphoric time of flag waving and patriotism, it is difficult to believe and acknowledge that generally America lacks the stomach for a long fight. But we need only to look as far back as Vietnam, when North Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap (also a military history teacher) defeated the United States of America without ever winning a major tactical battle. Reviled and spat upon less than three years later after they were cheered onto war by fellow, flag waving Americans in 1965, the American soldiers returned defeated.

Although we hope that Osama Bin Laden is no Giap, he is certain to understand and employ the concept. We can expect not only large doses of pain like the recent attacks, but also less audacious sand in the gears tactics, ranging from livestock infestations to attacks at water supplies and power distribution facilities. Designed to hit us in our comfort zone, these attacks force the average American to pay more and play less eventually eroding our resolve. But it can only work if we let it. It is clear to me that the will of the American citizenry - you and I - is the center of gravity the enemy has targeted. It will be the fulcrum upon which victory or defeat will turn. He believes us to be soft, impatient, and self-centered. He may be right, but if so, we must change. The Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz, (the most often quoted and least read military theorist in history), says that there is a remarkable trinity of war that is composed of the (1) will of the people, (2) the political leadership of the government, and (3) the chance and probability that plays out on the field of battle, in that order. In last Tuesday's attack, we lost a piece of ourselves alongside those who died in the World Trade Center, The Pentagon and the planes.

The will of the American people will decide this war. If we are to win, it will be because we have what it takes to persevere through a few more hits, learn from our mistakes, improvise, and adapt. If we can do that, we will eventually prevail. Everyone I've talked to in the past few days has shared a common frustration, saying in one form or another, "I just wish I could do something!" You are already doing it. Just keep faith in America, and continue to support your President and military, and the outcome is certain. If we fail to do so, the outcome is equally certain.

God Bless America.

EDITOR'S NOTE:
As Genviev has told you, we have had a steady flow of over twenty five e-mails a day dealing with the catastrophic events of September 11th. We won't get to publish them all but we will try to capsulate them over the coming months.