Even alienated children want their fathers to fight

The following extract from 'FATHER? WHAT FATHER?, PARENTAL ALIENATION AND ITS EFFECT ON CHILDREN By Chaim Steinberger (Part One) It explains effects of parental alienation on children as they grow older and the importance of a father's absolute determination to maintain a relationship with his children. The research reviewed in this article shows that children want their fathers to fight for them, despite being alienated by Mother.

Its quite long but a very worthwile read :

Secondary Rejection(s)

Years later, when an alienated child ultimately realizes that he or she has been the victim of alienation and brainwashing and has lost out on so many years of joyful experiences that could not be shared with the alienated parent, the child will likely feel anger and alienation towards the programming or brainwashing parent.I54 As the child pulls away from that parent, it experiences a secondary loss from the alienation155 --the loss of the alienating parent as well.156

But that is not the sole extent of the harm to the alienated children. Alienated children are generally also angry with the target parent for "giving up" and not fighting harder to maintain a relationship with them.I57

That is because children attribute greater control and power to their parents.158 Because children need to feel protected, they must believe that their parents are omnipotent and powerful.159

Thus, children believe their alienated parent could break through and see them if only the parent had tried harder.160 When the parent becomes completely alienated, the child will likely blame him.161

Though a child may never actually verbalize these feelings, in the child's "inner, secret world" the child "fervently hopes" that the target parent will "be strong, brave, able to intuit their unspoken secret wishes," and continue to fight to see them until they are successful.162

Children expect:

that the target will know how to rescue them from the programmer/brainwasher and not give up. Target parents almost always express surprise upon hearing that their children want them to be strong and not submit or back away from litigation. Some of these children may seem overtly allied with the programmer but covertly wish the programmer's power be toppled. These children are fake conformers who appear to be programmed as a survival technique.

Too many parents retreat from pursuing increased time or joint or primary custody due to the mistaken perception that taking action could damage or permanently effect an already conflicted and confused child. Such parents often censor themselves, recoil, or back off after having been given advice that the cards are stacked against them in a no-win situation. Some parents find their finances depleted and, subsequently, are forced to give up. Others fear that litigation may cause more harm than good. Not having access to a crystal ball, they do not trust the wisdom of the legal system due to "horror stories" they may have collected about parents losing time or custody just seeking modification. And still others are unwilling to legally pursue their children due to apprehension of potentially serious emotional and economic assault to themselves, their remarriage, and/or their new family. The target parent's reaction to the programmer/brainwasher and to the child is clearly a key variable in the success or failure of the programme.163