THIS IS WHY AMERICA FORGOT HOW TO WIN

D. Greenfield via Freedom Is Just Another Word ^ | December 8, 2023 | Daniel Greenfield

[skimbell]

Why don’t we win wars anymore? Listen closely to Austin, McChrystal and virtually every military head honcho in the last twenty years and the answer is obvious. We don’t set out to win wars by defeating the enemy on the battlefield, but on the battlefield of ideas. Our forces are led by a generation of politicians in uniforms who have been indoctrinated, beginning at the academy level, to think of wars as contests for the hearts and minds of enemy civilians.

[Salman]

"Winning" is s-o-o-o middle of the last century.

War is about making money for the "Defense" industry.

The hearts and minds routine is what they tell the peasants.

[bankwalker]

worth repeating ... the lefties already know this ...

This all starts with not keeping score in childhood games. It goes on with allowing bad behavior in schools because it’s just their culture. It continues with teaching boys not to have “toxic” (aggressive) behavior. It involves drugging boys to keep them under control. I’d argue the problem starts here with teaching children America is no better than, and arguably worse than, third world (defecation) pits. And I’m sure it’s really helpful to tell prepubescent boys they are really girls inside and need surgery.

The problem with losing starts in grade school in America.

[bankwalker]

it sounds like the real problem is gullible American teevee watchers.

[Gaffer]

We blew it when we changed the name from War Department to Department of Defense.

AND:

When we went from a war status arms producer —

that gave us the P-51 in 120 days,

that gave us the Willys Jeep,

that built 3 liberty ships every two days,

the B24 (most produced bomber),
the B17 that destroyed Europe,
and B29 that took down Japan,

plus the plethora of other effective weapons systems supplied by patriots not out to make a buck

to a MIC that learned pure greed and seduction of political office holders - expertly.

[bankwalker]

thanks ... but that link won’t load for me ...

[Yo-Yo]

You Having participated in both there was no Gulf War II medal, there was the GWOT, OEF and OIF. Having served during the duration of OIF and until 2016 during OEF, I can state unequivocally outside of news pundits, it was never referred to as Gulf War II.

Thank you for your service. Mine ended before the GWOT.

https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA466395
Defense Technical Information Center
Title: Gulf War II: Air and Space Power Led the Way

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/0503verb/
Ar and Space Forces Magazine
Title: Verbatim Special: Gulf War II

http://www.ipcs.org/comm_select.php?articleNo=1017
Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies
Title: Gulf War II: Some Reflections

I have no idea how old you are, but I remember vividly that when the Global War on Terror started after 9/11, the invasion of Iraq was commonly referred to as "Gulf War II."

I grant you that after 20 years of occupation, the moniker has fallen into disuse, and I also agree that it wasn't an "official" title of any campaign, but as you can see from both civilian think tanks and military sources I have cited above, Gulf War II was in use by more than just pundits.

[ChessExpert]

I favor dipping bullets in pig fat or blood, whichever works best.

[ChessExpert]

There is winning the war and winning the peace. We’ve maintained a military presence in Germany, Japan, and South Korea. We continuously funded the defense of Israel.

We promised South Vietnam that we would fund their defense and provide military support in case of a conventional attack from North Vietnam. After Watergate, the Democratic Congress defunded the defense of South Vietnam and passed laws that US forces could not operate in, over, or about South Vietnam. No wonder the Soviet Union re-equipped North Vietnam. North Vietnam then launched a conventional attack on South Vietnam. It was inevitable that South Vietnam would lose. High fives in Congress. Nixon was never credited for winning the war.

[Texas Fossil]

I’ve read Daniel Greenfield’s articles for many years.

This is one of the most accurate articles I have ever read. From him or anyone else.

Spot ON!

[ComputerGuy]

When you’ve got them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow.

[Texas Fossil]

But, one point that left me wondering was his minimal statement about our allies in N Syria, the Kurds. There are Kurds in Turkey, Iraq, Iran; but those inside of N Syria are totally different. For a number of reasons.

The defeat of ISIS in N. Syria could not have happened if it were not for the USA. And it could not have happened were it not for the Kurds, Syriac Christians, and N. Syrian Muslims combined. It was done in spite of Assad and they are still resisting.

Yes, I know about the influence of the PKK. But this is bigger than that.

Right now the Congress, lead by Rand Paul is discussing our continued presence in N. Syria. Trump told the military to pull us out. His orders were overridden, I assume by the CIA or the State Department. (not within the Constitution)

I reflect back on several other incidents going as far back as Vietnam war. (the Hmong & Montagnards in Laos and Cambodia)

They were both mountain people, very independent. Our presence/support made them powerful. It did not establish a country they could call their own. Both wanted that.

In the case of the N. Syrian Kurds, I believe most of our presence in Syria are CIA contractors. And that we are there to protect (close) the invasion path from Iran to Israel. Which includes the Kurds.

Some of my friends here, told me that they thought the Kurds were in fact the (biblical) Medes. It is also a fact that at a time there were 400,000 Jewish Kurds moved from inside Iraq/Iran to Israel (some air lifted).

The nations in the Middle East understand all this, the US media are idiots, don’t have a clue, or they have an agenda that the truth does not support.

[Texas Fossil]

Bump

[Texas Fossil]

Hearts and minds?

Yes.

[Mogger]

I just tested it again, worked for me.

[marktwain]

When countries have nuclear arsenals, they are not invaded.

Oh really? Like the country called The United States of America? That one? 60 million illegals in-country at last count and rising? That one?

It is hard to fight an invasion when your own leadership is orchestrating it.

It doesn't matter how good the army is, or how good your weapons are, if the leadership does not allow the army to fight or use the weapons.

[Aquamarine]

People are pissed because Israel fights to win and not play tit for tat and eventually lose.

[bankwalker]

it just worked fine ... thanks ...

[Trailerpark Badass]

I think the fact that none of those wars had anything to do with actually defending America probably has a great deal to do with it.

[PGalt]

Thanks for your post, Gaffer.

[Jim Noble]

That hasn’t worked since WWII

It didn't work then, either.

The Germans and Japanese didn't "fall in love"" with us. They were what is called "conquered" - you know, like:

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace may the heaven rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto - "In God is our trust,"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.