The situation in Iraq seems . . . . bleak
I remember in the first Gulf War, there was universal support for military action, and a whole lot more troops involved (about 4 times the current number) in order to liberate Kuwait and . . well, not do too much beyond that. The reason the US and the UN had so much support was on the agreement that Hussein would not be removed from power. So we achieved the objective, and got the heck out, and everyone was happy (with some exceptions like Iraq and ironically the Saudi Arabian public).
This time I'm not seeing the same support, which is odd considering how much support we had immediately after 9/11. But we've managed to belligerently squander our relations with just about everyone, and have moved into Iraq again with the goal of . . . . what? I remember Colin Powell was the most reluctant in this administration to move in without a clearly defined objective. The lessons learned in Vietnam were still very stark and clear to him, but for some reason not to everyone else. And those lessons were not that long ago. Someone would think that they would be remembered. So why are we in Iraq now?
If our goal is to liberate Iraq and bring stability, peace and justice, we are losing the war.
If our goal is to defeat terrorism, we are losing the war.
If our goal is to strengthen our economy and lower gas prices, we are getting our buns kicked from one coast to the other.
If our goal is to imprison Saddam Hussein, we won. Yay!
I would be remiss if I did not mention how much respect I have for our fighting men and women out there. The current furor over the treatment of prisoners aside, their conduct and hardships have been incredible. I ask myself (in moments of morbid reflection) what would the public outcry have been like if Pat Tillman had perished AFTER the photos had been released? But thinking through that scenario doesn't lead me to very happy place, so perhaps this is for the best.
In either case, "There, but for the grace of God, go I". /salute
-H-
This time I'm not seeing the same support, which is odd considering how much support we had immediately after 9/11. But we've managed to belligerently squander our relations with just about everyone, and have moved into Iraq again with the goal of . . . . what? I remember Colin Powell was the most reluctant in this administration to move in without a clearly defined objective. The lessons learned in Vietnam were still very stark and clear to him, but for some reason not to everyone else. And those lessons were not that long ago. Someone would think that they would be remembered. So why are we in Iraq now?
If our goal is to liberate Iraq and bring stability, peace and justice, we are losing the war.
If our goal is to defeat terrorism, we are losing the war.
If our goal is to strengthen our economy and lower gas prices, we are getting our buns kicked from one coast to the other.
If our goal is to imprison Saddam Hussein, we won. Yay!
I would be remiss if I did not mention how much respect I have for our fighting men and women out there. The current furor over the treatment of prisoners aside, their conduct and hardships have been incredible. I ask myself (in moments of morbid reflection) what would the public outcry have been like if Pat Tillman had perished AFTER the photos had been released? But thinking through that scenario doesn't lead me to very happy place, so perhaps this is for the best.
In either case, "There, but for the grace of God, go I". /salute
-H-
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