How Many More?

(Source)

Yesterday was the 16th anniversary of the attack on the United States which saw the deaths of 2,977 innocent men, women, and children. Over 6,000 were injured that day as well. Since then many more have died due to the injuries they sustained that day, or because of what they were exposed to, there in the streets of New York.

But that was just the beginning...

Our men and women are still being wounded and killed. And for what?

Iraq is a colossal mess, as is Syria.

The invasion of Iraq was a mistake. Was Saddam a bad man, deserving of his fate? Probably. But that was not for us to decide. Did Saddam threaten U.S. interests?

No.

Going into Afghanistan was the right move, that's where Al Qaeda was holed up, they were directly responsible for the attack on 9/11. Were they the only guilty parties?

Of course not.

Once upon a time this country knew how to fight a war. When we were attacked by the Japanese we went after them with everything we had. Same with the Germans.

Unconditional surrender.

Then Korea happened. Our politicians drew a line which could be interpreted to not include the Korean peninsula. So the enemy crossed it and we had to do something.

So we fought. Sort of. Korea is still divided and poses an even larger threat than it did in 1950. Why didn't we fight the good fight there? Two reasons. The politicians were afraid that the Chinese Communists and the Soviets would escalate the war, and the Joint Chiefs were afraid that Korea was a diversion to keep our attention focused away from Europe, which they felt was more important strategically. (Why is Europe so goddamned important anyway? Then AND now.)

What about Vietnam? Again, the politicians were afraid of what the enemy would do.

Afraid of what the enemy might do? What are we, Liechtenstein? Are we some second or third rate power who must tread lightly lest the bullies of the world take our lunch money?

If we're going to go to war, then damn it, go to war. Declare it, set the objectives, then go in and start breaking shit and killing people until the enemy says "Enough!"

Do that often enough and soon we won't have any enemies. At least not any that will admit to it.

Damn it, the enemy should be afraid of what we might do!

Why do our idiot politicians (in and out of uniform) always take counsel of their fears?

Of course, Congress has been abrogating their Constitutional duties for years now, the individual members more concerned with getting re-electing than doing their jobs. We have had a series of bad or incompetent Presidents who have been ill-advised by their advisers. Can't really blame the advisers for being idiots, if you pick bad advisers, then listen to them, well, who's to blame there?

We need to get out of the Middle East. Support Israel and those who wish to play nice with the Israelis (a pretty small group). As to the rest, let them sort their own messes out. If their squabbles spill out into the rest of the world, then crush them.

Afghanistan has become for us what it was for the British and the Russians, a sinkhole where we can spend the next century pouring money and treasure into it and have no result at the end. I truly think we could have won the thing if we had gone in hard. We should have slapped Pakistan hard as well. After all, that's where Bin Laden wound up and many trails lead to Pakistan intelligence (ISI) as the creators of the Taliban.

Good friends, neh?

What a mess. How many more lives will it take before we hold our government accountable?

I despair.