The troops don’t want to pull out without a win because that would mean all the lost lives and limbs of their brothers were for nothing.
You nailed it.
It seems like they were for nothing. The histories of the geographical areas now called Iraq and Afghanistan tell a tale of repeated failures at civilizing them, at least in the western way.
“pull out without a win because that would mean all the lost lives and limbs of their brothers were for nothing”
That’s completely childish thinking. So are we supposed to lose hundreds more so it has “meaning”? The best way to honor those lost is to not lose more pursuing a war where we have to be careful not to insult the enemy or their religion.
It’s meaning was lost when we decided that they should ever be trusted with a weapon or self governance. It’s meaning was lost when we have to show difference to islam. It’s meaning was lost when McChrystol refused fire support to men in battle.
It’s meaning was lost when our troops were told not to be critical of Afghan moslem pedophilia.
“all the lost lives and limbs of their brothers were for nothing.”
Yes, I’m afraid so. At least all those lost after the first six months. We should have gone in, and killed as many bad people as we could find. Screw Gitmo; just kill them and leave the bodies for the crows.
Then we should have left.
I look at everything, everything, from an eternal point of view. Those who served because they love their country, their families, their brothers in arms, and do their part out of love, have not loved in vain. No Greater Love is never given in vain.
No one is blind to how the douche bag pissed on the Iraq effort.
On a twist of the old saying used in the stock market "Don't throw good money after bad."
Don't throw away living blood after the dead.
It was all for nothing. The 5th column made sure of that. They should come home full of rage against this government.
Bingo!
“The troops don’t want to pull out without a win because that would mean all the lost lives and limbs of their brothers were for nothing.”
As they did in Iraq (we called it a win after our midnight flight from the country)...
I seriously hope these troops don’t believe victory is possible; to “win” in Afghanistan would require a type of war no leader in the US will ever sanction, and as long as Islam exists “our” Afghans will gladly train their weapons on US troops. Overthrowing the Taliban was a worthwhile goal in light of 9/11, but there was really no plan beyond that. We should have left after killing whatever Taliban leaders we could find (using eatraordinary and illegal means to do so); that would have been sufficient (and just).
So what constitutes a win?