Wilso, just FYI, I've far more first-hand experience of war, and its impact on freinds, family, and acquaintences than I, or any sane person, would wish to have. And while I don't deny the US became entangled in that mess stupidly, I don't agree we "lost"; we simply "lost interest", understandably so given the inept Washington-based mismanagement by micromanagement. The American military won the battles, but was denied the means and in-theater lattitude to win the war. Though embroiled in the conflict, I was no proponent of the policy.
Kara, I don't trivialize anyone's death or injury. Every single one is a tragedy, a waste, an outrage. it would be infinitely preferable that all could be avoided. Believe it or not, I grieve for the victims, and for their loved ones. I simply do not ascribe to the recent level of casualties, military and civilian, any operational significance. The "Prime Directive" of war fighting is to divorce one's self from one's emotions and to engage one's opponent in as dispassionate and ruthlessly efficient manner as is practicable within the rules of warfare. Casualties, direct and colateral, material and human, are to be minimized to the greatest extent possible consistent with the protection of one's own forces and the accomplishment of the assigned mission, usually, but inescapably not always, in that order. I do not enjoy war, I detest it. I do however know war, I have done it and I have studied it, and I understand its practice. It is by nature the very dirtiest of businesses, but if undertaken, it calls for cold, detached, cost/benefit-driven, efficient, business-like prosecution.
I reserve my condemnation to those who's intransigence and defiance compelled The US to engage them militarily, and who continue to place at risk both American lives and those of their countrymen. I regret very much that war became necessary, I had hoped it would not, but that I cannot change. It happened, and we're at war. I very much would have liked to see more emphasis placed on, and more resources allotted to civil affairs. I would have preferred a more well-thought-out interim government. I wish more effective pre-attack diplomatic groundwork had been achieved. I wish the
casis beli had been more accurately presented. I wish people I know and love had not been there. There is a tremendous lot with which I am unsatisfied. None of that alters the fact that now we are there, nor does it absolve us from undertaking everything required to enable the Iraqi people to bring themselves into partnership with the world community. We owe it to them to see this through, and getting upset about it does them, now the focus of the entire matter, no good whatsoever. Regardless why we find ouselves in this situation, it is the situation in which we find ourselves. Wishing it away won't work. We've got work to do.
hbob, sometimes you're a real hoot
Good one!
