There is no guarantee the United States can win this war, because our opponents have the cloak of invisibility, or at least, the ability to immerse themselves in the middle eastern sea of civilians. We must either devise a way to pick them out from the crowd, or destroy the sea of civilians in the bargain. It may even be that the entire mass of civilians is fundamentally hostile.
Having said that, the United States has no alternative but to fight -- with any and all means available, whether victorious or not. It will take years and will cause such a degree of deprivation and pain among us that future generations, if any live, will say, "how did they bear it".
Many precious things will be destroyed in the coming struggle. Places we knew. People we loved. Things we had. Things we used to do. Yet this is our destiny and burden. On with the fight. God bless America.
>>We must either devise a way to pick them out from the crowd, or destroy the sea of civilians in the bargain. It may even be that the entire mass of civilians is fundamentally hostile<<
Yes, they are hostile. So were the Japanese and the Germans.
We didn't have to kill all of them, and we don't have to kill all of the Moslems, either.
What we do have to do is to break their will to resist, and impose new government on them. That is not impossible, if we have the will.
Thirty years of Barney and Mr. Rogers, thirty years of getting the "news" from Katie and Matt, may have taken their toll, however.
If we lack the will, we should abandon Israel and get all of our people home ASAP. A few will still be willing to defend CONUS, where we will have some fortress advantages.
Either way, the world of yesterday at 8AM is gone forever.