Endless War category archive
Mission Creeps 0
The writer of a letter to the editor of the Las Vegas Sun, one who has experience with military strategy, makes an important point. I do not necessarily agree with every word and sentence, but his main point is quite relevant to dis coarse discourse. A snippet:
To make valid command decisions, there must be a definite mission presented.
(snip)
What was our defined mission in Vietnam? Other than getting Obama bin Laden and his group, what was our defined mission for entering and remaining in Afghanistan?
Wasted Warriors 0
Afterthought:
Over the last decade until the withdrawal began, the Afghan war probably got more coverage on the NCIS television show than it did on major U. S. television news broadcasts.
Image via Job’s Anger.
The Culpable Criticize the Capable 0
I normally don’t pay much attention of Ross Douthat–he has a long history of rationalizing the irrational–but, as my old boss used to say, “Even a blind pig finds an acorn sometimes.”
All the News that Fits, War and Mongers of War Dept. 0
Sam and his crew marvel at how much noncombatants seem to love themselves some combat (which, natch, they will view from afar).
A Tune for the Times 0
Warning: Mild language.
Lessons Unlearned 0
In the first half of this week’s episode of Le Show, Harry Shearer reads from the August 16 “Lessons Learned” report of the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR).
It is not pretty, but it needs to be heard.
You can download the Special Inspector General’s reports (PDF) from the SIGAR website.
I would not call this “recommended listening.” Rather, I would call it required listening.
Those Who Ignore History . . . 0
. . . condemn themselves to repeat it, as Frances Coleman points out in a powerful piece.
Read it yourself.
The Republican Alternative Reality 0
Seth reminds us that those who are now complaining about the events in Afghanistan are the same persons who made the war, then lied about its progress for two decades.
Afterthought:
I think blogger Vixen Strangely may be onto something.
The full post is at the link.
Missing the Point 0
Michael in Norfolk delivers himself of an epic rant about how our media is missing the point. A tidbit:
Click the link for the rest.
Pressing for War, Reprise 0
While on the topic, Gwynne Dyer offers an historical perspective on the roots of Islamic radicalism. Her article provides a context sadly lacking from dis coarse discourse.
Those Who Ignore History . . . . 0
A Random Memory:
I remember standing outside my workplace in the smoking area (it was right outside the back door and, yes, I freed myself from that addiction over a decade ago, thank heavens) with my boss at the time (he was, by the way, a really good boss and a pleasure to work for), a veteran army NCO who, among other things, had participated in “drug interdiction” efforts in Central America.
He was enthusing over President George the Worst’s proposed war in Irag, saying that he was glad “there is a Texan in the White House.”
All I could say in reply was, “I have a bad feeling about this.”
And the Moral of the Story Is . . . . 0
Writing at the Des Moines Register, Afgan war veteran Sophia-Helene Mees de Tricht says that there’s a lesson to be learned, if only we would learn it.
But more to the point, this was never a war that could be won. Even as we fought it, we weren’t sure what the goal was. I grew up a lot the day I realized that we were there because we as a nation lashed out in anger and pain, and we’ve been stuck ever since. Ending this cycle of violence, a direct result of our tenuous occupation of that country, is the right thing to do.