OK, FC, I disagree with you about the Pledge of allegiance, look at the words, it says REPUBLIC, GOD, our flag does NOT represent the Empire, it represents our Republic, and our Freedom! They just fly it, kind of like the moses carrying the ten commandments etched in the wall behind the supreme court.
"There are two things never to be lost sight of by a military commander. Always mystify, mislead, and surprise the enemy, if possible; and when you strike and overcome him, never give up the pursuit as long as your men have strength to follow; for an army routed, if hotly pursued, becomes panic-stricken, and can then be destroyed by half their number. The other rule is, never fight against heavy odds, if by any possible maneuvering you can hurl your own force on only a part, and that the weakest part, of your enemy and crush it. Such tactics will win every time, and a small army may thus destroy a large one in detail, and repeated victory will make it invincible." - Stonewall Jackson