"Mere scare tactics used by liberal ideologues?" Here's the argument: All actions by the U.S. are unilateral, the U.S. military can't recruit and Penn State students are going to get drafted and killed in Iraq, Iran and/or Afghanistan ("U.S. Troops Abroad: Recruitment numbers show tough fight ahead," Feb. 2). Obviously anyone who would support this administration's foreign policy is an evil, insane madman.

Riddle me this: If this argument holds water, why are retention rates for the Army and Marine Corps at an all-time high? Why are men and women on their second and third combat deployments returning in record numbers?

This editorial is just another example of how some Americans do not understand nor have ever learned the timeless lessons of Carl von Clausewitz and Sun Tzu. Iraq is not another Vietnam. The professional, all-volunteer military is not on the brink of defeat and there will be no draft. Anyone who understands insurgency and the concept of "People's War" knows that to defeat a superior nation, the national will must be fractured. Those of us in uniform know we will win this war only if our nation stands behind them.

If Americans give up, we will lose this war.