Photo: The enemy.
When I was young, my dad used to tell me, “You can win the battle and still lose the war.” Knowing that he had served in the Army, I sort of had to believe him.
His message became more meaningful once I got married. And much more meaningful, during the divorce.
As things turned out, I never served in the Army myself. But like I said: marriage and divorce.
Other people have offered observations about war. Like for example, Mark Twain:
“God created war so that Americans would learn geography.”
Mr. Twain excelled in the art of humor, and sarcasm. He also felt a strong aversion to war, but he kept his opinions hidden from the public until his family published a book he wanted printed posthumously: The War Prayer. If I had written that book, I would have likewise been afraid to release it, while I was still alive.
Some wars, however, are necessary.
Another noted personality with ideas about war was Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher Sun Tzu, who wrote The Art of War back in 544 BC.
“To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.”
The enemy we need to subdue, in 2025, as the nonprofit sector — the charitable organizations that are threatening our American way of life.
The question is, can we subdue them without fighting? Without the need for guns, and bombs? I believe we can.
Or rather, I believe our President can.
The main problem with nonprofits — other than the fact that they consistently fail to make a profit — is their attacks on our President. We have a President because every country needs a President, unless they have a King or a Dictator. Our President happens to be Donald J. Trump, who described the problem with nonprofits so eloquently a few months ago:
How do so-called “nonprofits” get away with spending all of their time and money on “getting Donald Trump.” That’s not the deal. We are watching these thugs and sleazebags closely!
Luckily for all of us, the nonprofit sector has been struggling for years to remain financially solvent, which has made the war against thugs and sleazebags easier to win.
Just take away their funding. Problem solved!
The most dangerous nonprofits are probably the ones that feed people. In the first place, people should be feeding themselves. But also, we have to understand that food is a weapon of war; maybe the most important weapon, in fact. But our President has other weapons available, like for example Executive Orders.
Advancing United States’ Interests When Funding Nongovernmental Organizations
The United States Government has provided significant taxpayer dollars to Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs), many of which are engaged in actions that actively undermine the security, prosperity, and safety of the American people. It is the policy of my Administration to stop funding NGOs that undermine the national interest.
I therefore direct the heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) to review all funding that agencies provide to NGOs. The heads of agencies shall align future funding decisions with the interests of the United States and with the goals and priorities of my Administration…
This is probably exactly how Sun Tzu would have conducted a war against nonprofits, if there had been nonprofits in China in 544 BC.
Back in June, the American Red Cross announced it would scale back regional emergency response teams — despite record flooding and wildfires. The reason: a $120 million shortfall tied to rescinded FEMA reimbursements.
Simultaneously, the Emerson Collective was inundated by emergency appeals — stretching from food security nonprofits in Arkansas, to refugee resettlement efforts in New York. “Many partners are in existential danger — not from mismanagement, but from political abandonment,” says an internal memo.
These aren’t isolated events. They’re examples of how you win a war.
Underrated writer Louis Cannon grew up in the vast American West, although his ex-wife, given the slightest opportunity, will deny that he ever grew up at all. You can read more stories on his Substack account.