So, ‘xactly what cost did you pay?
Many of us who were there saw, watched and handled some really neat stuff that wasn’t really there.
As far as the war’s overall value? In my exspereince and to my knowledge, both first ahnd and through open source data, is that about 3 US brigades worth of foreign fighters won’t be bothering our shores. They are being entertained by their reward of virgins.....
As to the cost in blood and treasure, sure, no war that is not in your own backyard is ever worth it. But on the other hand, Iraqis now have the opportunity to figure it out on their own, how they do that is up to them. They now produce over 3 million bbls of crude per day, selling much for revenues and supplying their own internal needs. We but some of that oil too.
I hope they do well in memory of our fallen.... If not, that’s on them.
best;
There is no way to know what the ultimate effects of our operations in Iraq will be, but the change is profound.
The Nazi-inspired totalitarian Ba’ath Prty is gone. The party-line North Korean-like state media has been replaced by hundreds of newspapers and pervasive cell phones and satellite TV dishes. There are all kinds of groups shouting at each other in public and in the press - in Arabic. Not much of such debate could go in front of most Arabs before. Now folks in other countries can follow the arguments over the Internet.
I remember one TV show that was popular for a while in Iraq after the liberation. Some convicted terrorist would be strolled in front of the cameras in handcuffs to be confronted/berated/assaulted by the widows and orphans of his victims. Attitudes changed measurably on how cool it was to be a jihadi terrorist targeting civilians “sticking it to the man”.
Many don’t want to admit it, because their pride is offended by having their Army’s ass kicked twice by us, but they saw first hand a lot of principle in the American system and decency in our people.
We kicked the door open and gave them a chance and a glimpse of freedom. Its on them now.