You could certainly find worse.

Allen West, presumptive GOP nominee in FL-22, steeps his latest blog post with the Classics.

[UPDATE: A reader writes, “Alas, the Cicero quotation that Allen West is using is fake.” Apparently the quote originates from “A Pillar of Iron,” a historical novel about Cicero. In addition to West, U.S. News & World Report has been among those fooled.]

As we analyze our most critical issue in America, truly the world, it comes down to economic/fiscal principles and policies. As a career military officer I remember the first books we were mandated to read as Second Lieutenants; Rommels’ “Attacks” and Sun Tzu’s “Art of War”. Later we read the strategic writings of Carl von Clausewitz, Jomini, and studied the campaigns of Alexander and Hannibal.
Why was that important?
During Operation Desert Shield/Storm the quick demise of the Iraqi Army came due to the tactic of envelopment. One of the earliest recorded uses of that tactic came during the Second Punic War of the Carthaginians against the Romans at the Battle of Cannae. It was conceived and executed by Hannibal.
It is therefore not too amazing that I was able to find a fundamental quote from ancient history which we shall use as a basis for this month’s piece.
“The budget should be balanced, the treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome becomes bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.” Marcus Tullius Cicero, 55 BC