This is a Civil War observation that has it applications to today's war. This was in Civil War Times, Mar/Apr 2007. This is not a direct quote but a paraphrase. General Robert E. Lee was able to find military intelligence in reading Northern news papers. He was also able to get a feel for the politics of the North. He saw growing disillusionment with the war among Democrats and despair among Republicans. One of Lee's strategies in invading Maryland was to further demoralize the North and have a impact on the congressional elections of 1862. He believed that Confederate military success would help antiwar Democrats. He felt, if Democrats could gain control of the House of Reps., it would cripple the Lincoln administration's ability to carry on the war.
My words: It is interesting to see how history has repeated itself. Many of the same sentiments about the war that exist today existed then. President Lincoln replaced his top generals until he found the one that had the vision to end the war. That was General Grant. President Bush has done the same today with the war in Iraq. It is amazing to take the events of today, compare them with the events of the past and see how things are the same. Unlike what is reported in the media, it shows that the problems of today are not new. It shows that the plans of the enemy and thoughts of the enemy today are the same as the enemy of yesterday. It gives perspective.