“When the locals don’t unite and defend their own liberty, the eventual outcome is never good. We’re seeing it again in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
But is that their innate behavior or them knowing that we might not be willing to back them all the way?
It depends. We were seeking aid from the French in the early years of the revolution. They were not enthusiastic. We secured a major victory at Saratoga without them. Once that happened, it ensured their support.