Posted on 05/16/2007 9:18:38 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
I've given these matters some thought, actually.
(1) A pilot on a sortie who is extremely busy throughout and who will be back on an aircraft carrier or an airbase in a few hours inhabits a different morale environment than a soldier deployed on the ground, whose days alternate between vicious combat, and sitting around for hours watching and waiting and keeping ready.
(2) Logistically, a bombing sortie is a much less involved matter than a large ground deployment. It is easy to stop a bombing sortie on a second's notice by radio and have the pilots on their way out of theatre the next minute.
This is not possible with a ground deployment - once troops are committed it takes months to extract them.
(3) Deploying ground troops is also very significant from the viewpoint of national reputation. A bombing sortie goes in, hits or misses the intended targets, and leaves. It's quite binary.
A ground deployment requires time to achieve objectives, those objectives are multifaceted, and the perception of the deployment's activities are often as important as what is actually accomplished.
(4) As a result of all these factors, if you tell a pilot: "I'm not sure that sortie you ran yesterday was a good idea, now that I think about it" the pilot can reply: "Well, I'm back at base. The events you are discussing now belong to history. All I know was that I was tasked to destroy an enemy artillery emplacement, and I blasted it to smithereens. I did my job."
If you tell a soldier: "Well, you may have risked your life killing large numbers of the enemy in close combat, you may have lost some close friends, but now I think that the whole thing was a bad idea. Your work is completely unappreciated and your efforts were emaningless. Enjoy the next few months as you engage in an orderly redeployment" what is the soldier's reaction going to be?
Where is his morale going to go?
What does that make the USA look like - a country that betrays its own troops' sense of mission, a country that backs out of its obligations out of ennui?
It takes mental gymnastics to equate the two kinds of deployment.
OLD HOOSIER: So anyone who doesn't agree with you doesn't believe in anything? Anyone not willing to commit to this war for the next decade is a chicken and a traitor? This thing is nearly done, thank goodness. Bush will be remembered with Woodrow Wilson, and Rumsfeld with McNamara.
When America goes to war there should be one objective, victory. Before and after the war, overt expressions of lessons learned and second guesses are valuable. During the war, supportive suggestions are valuable - calls of retreat and defeat are not. This war is not about my opinion or people who agree or disagree with me. War is never about individuals. War is a social phenomenon; a continuation of politics by other means. As I said, it's about victory. If you think this war is almost over, you're missing major indicators of a conflagration likely to rage for decades. On the other end of the fight, I'm convinced American foreign policy will have moved toward empowering our natural allies in the region and consensual government will prevail. In that instance, the political force behind the original effort will be credited for success of the entire experiment. It will not mimic Vietnam because the stakes are too high to fail. The conflict in Vietnam did not occur in the heart of global energy reserves. Abandoning this fight is not an option. Our nation may take a break... but we will be at this until it is won.
I very much doubt that you are an adult. If you ever reach the point where you can attain a triple digit score on an IQ test, you may be able to understand what you’ve proven about yourself in this thread.
Personal attacks. The signature of an imbecile.
I notice you didn’t respond to my very valid point that this man has earned the right to his opininon (and implicitly has way more knowledge than you). You are such a witty arm chair general. Recently put your balls on the block for your strong hawkish position?
As I pointed out, in America no one has to "earn" the right to have an opinion, not even to have the wrong opinion like Bacevich Sr. does.
Recently put your balls on the block for your strong hawkish position?
No I haven't.
My brother, serving his third tour in Iraq as we speak, puts his on the block every day for his strong hawkish position.
Part of my miniscule contribution to the war effort is simply not undermining him and stabbing him in the back like Bacevich Sr. is - and criticizing backstabbers like Bacevich Sr. when they do so.
You are such a witty arm chair general.
That's all Bacevich Sr. is these days - less the wit, obviously.
He served our country for years and his son just paid the ultimate price. Leave the man alone. He isn’t against our troops. There is a difference!
More or less, I'm sure...
And this country is neither.
Is there something specific about the Middle East - and Islam - that prevents those societies from being reformed and transformed?
Absolutely, 100%, yes.
Iraqis are Muslim. Freedom, self-determination and Islam are completely incompatible. But, the leadership of the country believe that the ol' Red, White, and Blue and a few Soldiers can completely change the entire identity of a culture in a few years. Sure...I got a bridge for you, too, if you believe that...
Not understanding that you made the first personal attack, even after it has been pointed out to you with proof. What does that make you?
This is a tragedy, but it should be remembered that every American who has encouraged the enemy to keep fighting has contributed to the deaths of our soldiers.
You claim the right to say whatever you want, while you attempt to restrict those who have fought to give you that right. You as much as said Colonel Bacevich's stand and writings on the War in Iraq got Lt. Bacevich killed.
They fought, as my son and I have fought, to protect your right to say things that are stupid and idiotic.
You've shown yourself to be unworthy of what the sacrifices of others have given you. The stench of your kind sickens me.
Alas, low life, have you no shame?
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