“Stability operations have become an inescapable reality of U.S. foreign policy. Establishing security with soldiers and police is critical because it is difficult to achieve other objectives—such as rebuilding political and economic systems—without it.”
I wonder why it is we think we need to rebuild the nations we liberate/destroy. Because it worked, more or less, in Japan and West Germany? Well, that was good for Japan and West Germany. And it was good for us to have allies against the Soviets. But how’s it going to help, at long last, to have Free Iraq as an ally? As if wouldn’t have hated Iran without us. How much of a help, really, has Pakistan been? Or Saudi Arabia?
I don’t know. What I do know is there’s an alternative. Hit fast, hit hard, and get out. Don’t pinge all your hopes on making Afghanistan a respectable nation. Let the Taliban have it. When (not if, but when) camps pop up again, go hit them again. Play to our strength, which is our ability to smash stuff up.
I agree.
I think that from now on we should destroy only those nations that we want to STAY destroyed.
It will eliminate the need for all this talk about “rebuilding”.