Afghanistan

We have recently learned that we are pulling out of Afghanistan where we are conducting an "unjust war" against "innocent people." POTUS is charged with a difficult task of deciding what is best for the country, even though the military may not recommend a withdrawal (but rather an increase). This is a political decision that probably isn't very easy given the limited support in the U.S. and the very difficult task of controlling a large country with limited forces. However, that difficult task has been created by the President himself, in condemning the wars from the outset and hmmm-ing and hawww-ing about whether he should send more troops in the first place. That difficult task, is now all the more difficult because we will have even fewer boots on the ground. This is a departure from the Powell "overwhelming force doctrine" which makes little sense.

We would like to make it very clear that we disagree with this withdrawal because it will be viewed as a disgrace to those injured or killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. Having lost an extended family member, this affects me to some degree. It has affected my family a great deal more. I can only imagine their frustration at hearing this news but I do not speak for them.

However, even in disagreeing with POTUS' decision, and as much as I hate to say it, perhaps it's a good thing we are pulling out now because it is becoming clear that POTUS doesn't seem to understand what's going on. A half-hearted war is the surest way to get a lot of soldiers injured or killed. General MacArthur was correct when he observed, "War's very object is victory, not prolonged indecision. In war, there is no substitute for victory."

Granted, an early withdrawal will probably get US Citizens killed down the road, but we can only hope our counter-surveillance will be sufficient to prevent another attack. Lord knows TSA is doing its job (sarcasm).



The basis of my comments comes from POTUS' recent "gaff" while speaking to a very important group of soldiers:

Recently while addressing the US Army's, 10th Mountain Division, POTUS failed to recall the facts surrounding the first posthumously awarded Medal of Honor. For those of you who aren't military, or on planet Earth, the Medal of Honor is the highest honor that can be awarded for military valor. It is a big deal. The award is frequently awarded posthumously because going beyond the call of duty will almost always get you killed. The person who received the first MOH, should probably stick out in your mind. If you are going to give a political speech about it, you should probably get your facts straight because if you don't, you're really going to look like a jerk and people will write blogs about you.

I do understand POTUS has a lot on his plate lately. Especially, between trying to "fix" the economy and apologize for all of America's horrible mistakes, but this "slip" can only serve as an insult. I am hopeful that an apology was issued to the family. Knowing a few military people, I'm sure they would welcome the apology and not think twice about it. However, for me, I'm not that forgiving. I see this as one more example that POTUS is out of touch. There is no point in conducting a war if you are going to cripple the men and women who are on the front lines by ordering stand downs and giving out "peace" awards for "courageous military restraint." (oxymoron). There is no doubt that war is the greatest harm mankind can visit upon the Earth but against an enemy that sees murder as the only approach, you really have no choice. Al Qaeda will do anything in its power to kill you and your children. That is not a joke. It is not an exaggeration. Why then, are we not committed to returning the favor?