Exit Strategy-"To build an E/S in advance, leaders would literally have to know the unknowable."

military.com ^ | August 12, 2005 | Jeff Edwards

[wagglebee]

We have an exit strategy. Our strategy is to kill as many terrorists as we can while training the Iraqis to take over their own security and to help them develop a representative government while we're doing all the other heavy lifting. When they're ready to run their own country, we'll exit. What part of that don't you understand, Senator Biden?

What is important to understand is that this is truly a life and death issue for the United States of America. The Cold War (including Vietnam) was really just a series of "proxy wars" between America and the Soviets, neither side would be destroyed if we pulled back at certain points. And Reagan finally understood that we could spend the Soviets into collapse.

But none of this is true with the terrorists, we must fight them head-to-head. And we must remember that they have been preparing for this war for 13 centuries, the memory of the medieval Crusades is still alive with them. But the first notion the West had that Islam was a threat were the wars between the Arabs and Israelis, yet even then Americans never felt there was a threat. Jimmy Carter's willingness to abandon American interests in the Middle East gave the Islamofascists the determination to pursue larger targets. The War on Terrorism DID NOT BEGIN on September 11, 2001, this was just the day when many Americans first realized that it was a war we could no longer pretend wasn't there. If we "exit" the Islamofascists will become even bolder, and they will not stop until we are all dead.

[Tolik]

Nailed It!
Moral Clarity BUMP !

This ping list is not author-specific for articles I'd like to share. Some for the perfect moral clarity, some for provocative thoughts; or simply interesting articles I'd hate to miss myself. (I don't have to agree with the author all 100% to feel the need to share an article.) I will try not to abuse the ping list and not to annoy you too much, but on some days there is more of the good stuff that is worthy of attention. You can see the list of articles I pinged to lately  on  my page.
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[Choose Ye This Day]

I was hoping you saw this.

[Tolik]

Yes, thanks for the heads-up. I am back to the Internet world for a short time, then back to the Internet withdrawal again.

[RottiBiz]

Thanks FMC. Excellent essay.

[Choose Ye This Day]

I was internet-deprived for a month, when we moved here from Minnesota. It was painful. I'm finally up-and-running with DSL now.

[anton]

Every week, 2000 Americans die in accidents, 600 take their own lives and 300 are murdered. All are preventable at some level of cost or effort. Most are economically preventable. We just don't care enough, and are willing to accept the deaths in exchange for the convenience of, say, not using an alcohol interlock on all cars, etc. Our military deaths are as tragic as our domestic deaths, just not as preventable, and we incur those deaths to try to avoid or delay the eventuality of millions of deaths. I'd give my life to make a difference in the safety of millions; it would be an honor.

Hey, wait a minute, isn't that what most all of our military families are telling us?

We need an exit strategy when the job is done. Reality? It will never be done.

[Excuse_Me]

1944 you meant?

He said Truman, so it would have to be '45. Otherwise he should have said Roosevelt.

[kenavi]

I forgot to mention about that. Thanks.