Guys, I really do appreciate your critique of my comments. Whether you agree or disagree with my remarks that is fine with me, it is welcomed. I admit that I am having a tough time being objective about such a passionate issue. I welcome any comments that may possibly open a view of "the bigger picture".
All in all, I do think the momentum is on our side. My only fear is that we become so concerned about fighting the "good" fight that our hands are tied to repay such evil with enough force to prevail.
I see the media hype about Afghan casualties and it sickens me.
What about our men? Our allies too. We known some will die in non-combantant situations or even be killed by freindly fire or those procuring still hostile "hotspots". That sadly is war. But are they any less nobler?
Having said that, I personally feel that our primary objective should be to uproot these terrorist cells. Terrorist do not play fair and therefore neither should we. We live by our own might and honor but we should maintain the resolve to play dirty if need be. Should we really let other rogue factions think we are above that? This is after all something that other nations are witnessing.
Under these circumstance I don't think that we should give to much creedance as to what these middle-eastern nations think. Let them fear us. Fear is a good thing.
Just as a man would not dare to reason with the cobra who crosses his path, he avoids it out of respect for it's deadly striking power.
I don't believe we should "intellectualize" these arguements. Logic is a weakness at times, and I mean logic not strategy.
Strategy involves all the motives that pervade war, to the more complex to the most primal with the consideration of the enemy's logic included.
That being said, the enemy is pressed to wrap their logic around fear.
Fear is the motivating factor that presses all human beings.
Consider yours in your daily existence. Fear of poverty, shame, injury, failure,etc..ad nauseum.
I still think that an image of a Bin Laden corspe fell by US bullets would indeed send a very clear and powerful message.
Just for clarification,I am not opposed to goodwill amongst nations, nor nation builing. We did that with Germany and Japan. The stance we took with them only supports my point, in my mind anyway. Let nations see our compassinate side too.
All that aside, my comments about US casualties and our utilization of the NA to accomplish a deed that I feel our forces should have been committed to doing...
Remember when the NA was positioned outside the front lines of Kabul before we started taking out the hardened targets, the media and the free world were pressuring the US for action daily. I sometimes wonder if that had and effect. Several wanted the NA to advance but we were told that a Afghan coalition had to be constructed. At that point we had an oppurtunity to insert more forces. We even did a practice run in Afghanistan. Before that day we were being prepared for the possibility of sustaining a high amount of casualties. However we have already sustained over 3,000 casualties in a little place called NYC.
I disagree about us needing Pakistan to stage this assualt. We are more than capable of inserting and extracting enough man power and air cover with or without Pakistan. Retired and active Generals have even commented as much.
I think that the main concern with Pakistan was that we did not want to give them encouragement to ally with the Taliban and Al-Qeada.
However,we did see the pro-Taliban Pakistani element migrate across the border to shore up the Taliban position anyway. I say good. When all the cockroaches come out of the dark and ban together that simply makes for a better target.
I am not trying to be an authority on anything here. This is just how I see it and God knows I could be wrong. Anyhow, before I get of on another tangent, I wish peace and love to my fellow American brothers and sisters. God bless our fighting men and women. God bless America and the sacrifices for the liberty of all mankind.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! |