2025-04-30T00:00:00Z

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The question arises: what truly prevents Western powers, particularly the United States, from achieving decisive victories in war? The answer may seem straightforward, yet it appears we are unwilling to learn from our history and continue to face setbacks. Our efforts often resemble half-hearted attempts, lacking the necessary resolve to secure a win. We cling to the fantasy of swiftly and cleanly winning wars, all the while attempting to coax our relentless adversaries into adopting our way of life.

To emerge victorious in conflicts, it is evident that mere access to advanced weaponry and significant financial resources will not suffice. So, what do our enemies possess that we seem to lack? They embrace a profound understanding of the often-overlooked insights of German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, who articulated the essence of human drive with his phrase die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung, which translates to the world as will and vision. To overcome the cunning, cruelty, and stagnation inherent in humanity, we must demonstrate extraordinary tenacity (Durchhaltevermoegen) and engage in an unflinchingly honest appraisal of our current circumstances.

Regrettably, we seem to falter on both fronts. Entering conflicts with the mindset of victims, we fall prey to our own complacent propaganda. This leads us to ignore the possibility that our adversary's vision might be clearer, and certainly more resilient, than our own. A genuine inquiry into our enemy's complexity and resourcefulness, alongside a recognition of our vulnerabilities, is conspicuously absent due to a media landscape that prioritizes sensationalism over substance. Political leaders, often guided solely by their political agendas, further complicate this picture.

While Schopenhauer, along with his philosophical contemporaries like G.W.F. Hegel, may not have been the most affable figures, their critiques of human activityboth individual and collectiveremain profoundly relevant even two centuries later. Their ideas resonate as some of the most insightful analyses of human behavior since the days of the Old Testament. Yet, the dense prose associated with their works, combined with our modern impatience, presents a formidable barrier to their study. This is compounded by a lingering belief stemming from the aftermath of World War II that all German philosophers laid the groundwork for Adolf Hitler's ideologies. While figures like Nietzsche and Heidegger have been criticized for their associations with Nazism, it is crucial to remember that Hitler did not concern himself with philosophical doctrines during the atrocities of the Holocaust. Holding Hegel accountable for Nazism or Marxism is akin to blaming Abraham Lincoln for the institution of slavery.

We must shift our perspective from disdain to learning. In the 19th century, American intellectual life thrived during a golden era that spanned from Ralph Waldo Emerson to William James, drawing inspiration from German thought. The devastation of the world wars fostered a willingness to purchase German automobiles, yet simultaneously, it cultivated an unwillingness to engage with some of the most profound philosophical ideas simply because they were articulated in a foreign language. This aversion has created a convenient excuse for underwhelmed studentsa ready-made justification for academic disengagement.

In the late summer of 2004, I found myself in northern Iraq, invited by the Kurdish government. During my stay, Marine General James Mattis led a determined and highly skilled force into Fallujah, a city known for its insurgent activities. After a week of intense combat, he was on the brink of achieving a significant victory. However, global media coverage ultimately undermined our efforts. Seeking career-defining headlines, both U.S. and international journalists reported insurgent propaganda as fact, claiming that we were indiscriminately killing civilians and attacking hospitals. In Washington, the political leaders who had instigated the war grew anxious, prompting President George W. Bush to issue a halt to operations in Fallujah. The Kurdish officials with whom I was watching the situation unfold were deeply disheartened, understanding that our forces would inevitably have to return in a matter of months, facing even greater challenges and losses.

This lack of commitment at the highest levels of government had already cost us dearly. We had essentially lost Iraq not during the First Battle of Fallujah but even before reaching Baghdad. An American division commander, more attuned to political considerations than military strategy, attracted headlines by refusing to allow his troops to search a suspect mosque. Instead, he insisted that his soldiers 'take a knee' out of respect for Islam. This decision inadvertently ensured that mosques would become safe havens for insurgents, stockpiles for weapons, and centers of terrorist operations. The consequence? Thousands of American lives were lost because we demonstrated a lack of seriousness in our approach. Ironically, this general was later promoted and continued to pursue a high-profile career in Afghanistan.

Ultimately, there is no worthwhile achievement without victorya victory that remains attainable if our resolve surpasses that of our adversaries and our understanding of the situation is free from the delusions of wishing for a cost-effective war. The United States must refrain from entering conflicts unless we are genuinely prepared to win, regardless of the costs or criticisms that may arise. Nevertheless, we seem destined to engage in the quagmires of our own making repeatedly, under the false assumption that our enemies will embrace us once they witness our virtues. Unfortunately, it seems we only need a few years to forget the lessons of our most recent failures and the toll they exacted. As the greatest superpower in history, measured by our wealth and military capabilities, we find ourselves lacking in willpower and blind to the realities of human nature. One can almost hear the echoes of Schopenhauers ghost, admonishing us to wake up and learn from our past.