I am getting tired of hearing the buzz phrase, “Stay the course.”  It implies that one should never alter a preconceived course, or adjust a plan.  Perhaps it pays homage to those who formulate their opinions early on, and never change them.  There is no room for doubt in their world.  Rather than think of this as loyalty to one’s core values, I see it as narrow-minded and stubborn.  The refusal to listen to advice, and alter a plan accordingly, is getting people killed in Iraq.

Since the phrase has a nautical connotation, I compared it to my experiences navigating ocean-going ships, worldwide.  When danger was ahead, we altered course.  Not to do so was dereliction of duty, and could have resulted in a disaster.  Avoiding collisions and bad weather helped, not hindered, the effort to reach the next port safely.  In fact, the shortest distance between two points on the earth is not a straight line -- it is a curved one, necessitating many course changes.

In my years at sea, there was a legendary captain we called Captain Veego.  He steadfastly refused to look at the weather maps, or listen to his officers.  No matter what the weather was ahead, he would keep his course and order that, “Vee go!”  Eventually, he drove a ship into high seas at full speed, and damaged it so badly that costly repairs were necessary and he lost his position.  He was arrogant, but he was the captain and did not brook any dissenting opinions.

Blind adherence to a planned course, political or military, is not different, and is more dangerous, than that of the navigation of a single ship.  In a tumultuous situation, those who are prepared and willing to alter their course of action stand a better chance of succeeding.  To charge ahead regardless of the consequences implies that one has foreseen every conceivable circumstance, and has planned for it, with no adjustment necessary. 

If, for example, we already know what the exact road map for peace in the middle east is, why bother having career diplomats, or even a state department?  In a world where there is no negotiation with our allies or enemies, there is no need for them. 

A military course of action that is unalterable invites comparison to the famous “Charge of the Light Brigade.”  The horsemen in that famous assault were very brave, but their commanders sent these riders with lances against entrenched canon positions; many died for nothing.       

In a football game, when the coach calls for the halfback to run around the end, but the back sees three defenders waiting to tackle him, don’t we expect him to cut back and try a different route?  In a battle, don’t we grant medals to fighters who respond spontaneously to dangerous situations, and do something different?  Our political and military leaders should do likewise.  

My concern is that the hawks who drove our “ship” into the current “waters” in Iraq don’t know what other course to take, now that their plans have failed.  Further, that they think it is righteous to stay the course no matter what dangers lurk ahead.  An axiom to this methodology seems to be never to admit mistakes.  Talk about hubris!  The competent captains I sailed with would admit mistakes, and always had a “Plan B.” 

A healthy discussion amongst leaders and experts of many different political persuasions might yet result in a proper course for us in the Middle East.  Regardless of any faulty intelligence or misleading statements in the past, blindly holding course in this case will do even greater damage.  I fear, however, that Captain Veego did not retire, but has become President Veego.    

 

--KZ, 2006.