[xzins]

The last 5 years is testimony to the fact that Democrats, Republicans, the Media, and Beltway types in general, use our troops for political ends.

If Republicans were truly interested in the troops they’d be screaming bloody murder for them to come home on the basis that a nation must be attempting to win a war for it to be ethical to ask its military members to shed their blood.

This is not the case. We have clearly lost far more “withdrawing” from this war than we did fighting it.

The never ending retreat from Afghanistan — giving the enemy many final shots, changing the Rules of Engagement so that our troops effectively are not permitted to fire on known enemies and absolutely forbidden if those enemies are in buildings.

And Paul Ryan underscores Republican contempt by taking money from those fighting the war.

[smoothsailing]

You’ve said it far better than I could, and I completely agree.

[bigheadfred]

YOU WONT READ MY ANSWER BECAUSE I AM CENSORED AGAIN ON DOUBLE SECRET PROBATION

[Girlene]

If Republicans were truly interested in the troops they’d be screaming bloody murder for them to come home on the basis that a nation must be attempting to win a war for it to be ethical to ask its military members to shed their blood.

Agree, xzins. The Rules of Engagement in Afghanistan were modified in July of 2009 by Stanley McChrystal. Even after McChrystal resigned, Petraeus kept these same restictrive rules. Congress to scrutinize rules of engagementThe idea was to "win the hearts and minds" of the Afghanis by limiting any and all civilian casualties. It didn't work. They never changed strategies to try to win the war/peace in Afghanistan.