Seems like a lot of people in the USA and Canada are against 'the War'. They blithely make these comments without really taking the time to realize that 'the War' is being fought on many different fronts in different countries, with many different methods, and with many different motives, means, and objectives.
I am in Afghanistan. There are also people fighting in Iraq. Afghanistan is not near Iraq. It is next to Iran, and also borders several other countries, including China and Pakistan.
First, some brief background might be in order. We (USA and the Coalition Forces from many, many nations) have been here the longest. We came here very soon after 9/11 after it was thought that Osama bin Laden was hiding out here. He is probably in the general vicinity - if not here, then Pakistan. He is the main reason we first came here. Finding him is definitely the main reason that the people of the world were given to justify our presence and continued presence here. We are still fighting his al Qaeda terrorist group (both here and in Iraq), as well as the Taliban, and Hezb-i-islami groups, and other assorted scumbags. We are also helping to rebuild Afghanistan, largely through Coalition military Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), government agencies (USAID, USDA, USDOS, etc.), and NGOs (non-governmental organizations).
What did you, dear reader, think we were doing here? Why did we come to Afghanistan? Why are we still in Afghanistan? Is it the same as Iraq? Are you against us here in Afghanistan when you say you are against 'the War'? Do you even think of Afghanistan when you even say the words 'the War'?
It seems we are the 'Korean War' of the new millenium. Historians call that conflict 'the Forgotten War'. My dad's brother - my Uncle Charles - gave his young life as a Marine there. I think we are largely forgotten in Afghanistan, or are unfortunately lumped in with the war in Iraq. Granted, the whole shebang is being marketed as the 'Global War On Terror', so it can get a bit confusing.
Do I like being here? Do I like losing my buddies and fellow soldiers at the hands of these animals? I hate war in general - and death, destruction, and violence - but the jihadists and Muslim extremists do not. Their eradication alone will bring world peace. Their version of their religion teaches them to hate us (Westerners, and all non-Muslims). The evil mullahs teach that we are not human if we aren't Muslim, like them. We are nothing but animals fit for slaughter in the most inhumane ways if we do not convert to Islam.
People decry the purported 'abuse' at Abu Graib prison - but at least the enemy that we take as prisoners still have their heads attached when we are through with them. I have a photo in my desk at the VA of an Iraqi prisoner being 'abused'. The caption reads: "If wiring the scrotum of one Iraqi prisoner to a battery terminal will save one American life, all I have to say is.... Red is positive and Black is negative." A lot of the outrage over Abu Graib in the West was fueled (surprise) by the leftist mainstream media who hated President Bush before 9/11. President Bush and by default anything associated with him (including the military) are demonized, vilified, ridiculed and disdained. He can do no right, even when he does do the right thing.
Our enemies don't follow laws, and rules, and the Geneva Convention. They don't give a shit about any civilized, modern laws of warfare. They don't give a rat's ass whether you march for peace, have a sign in your yard, attend a protest, light a candle, burn the US flag, or hate our commander-in-chief. Doing these things certainly affects our morale, though. (By 'our' I mean the military. We soldiers fighting the battle on the ground).
The terrorists certainly won't change their minds overnight, that's for sure. They have thought this way for centuries - it was their jihad on the West that brought about the response from Rome and predominantly Roman Catholic Europe called the Crusades. But we are trying to change all that by 'winning hearts and minds' here, and elsewhere in the Islamic lands. I, and many soldiers, deplore war and violence, as I noted above. I really wish I was out of a job (my Army one, anyway). Maybe our great-grandchildren will live in peace - but my wish is for that to come about much sooner rather than later....
If wishes were horses, then fools would ride. I'll keep wishing until the horses come home ...
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5 comments:
I think part of the reason Afghanistan is 'forgotten' is that the Bush administration spent so much time conflating the operation against al-Qaeda and the removal of Saddam in Iraq.
The other part is that the media chose to focus on Iraq over Afghanistan for many reasons, some valid and some not so much.
Fault also lies in the public- both pro and anti-war. Many of the pro-Iraq camp shifted their focus to Iraq, especially when it became so difficult, while the virulent anti-war left began to conflate both conflicts (which is what I think you address most in your post).
For the record...
I'm a centrist Democrat who supports the mission in Afghanistan, but I'm ashamed that the government did such a lousy job of putting effort into rebuilding, and generally turning its full focus to Iraq. I DID support the mission in Iraq because I believe removing a brutal dictator is a just cause. But once again I think the administration is completely incompetent in how the aftermath was handled. Sadly I believe they give lip service to the troops, doing little for them while they are on the ground and even less for them when they return (including their families).
What I want is competent government. responsibile government that will stop handing piles of money to corporations that have no accountability, and see the money instead be given to the boots on the ground.
If I were a Congressman, I'd start having real soldiers testify as to what is going on, where they think help is most needed.
Also I'd like to see a tax cut for all veterans of the war, and another REAL GI Bill that rewards people who have put their lives in harms way.
(there more to say but this has been long already)
Right on Ron. I have to agree with you whole heartedly. The democrats and republicans will bash each other every chance they get. However, they both are guilty of "handing piles of money to corporations that have no accountability".
Becky
Democrat, republican, australopithecus-politicianacus ...all the same to me.
But I vote democrat.
Ron makes some excellent points, like you, ask a soldier being one of the most genius.
Aww my little sister's been here.
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