I wish there were an easy answer ...
So then CB other than declaring failure do you have a solution in mind to turn the tide and quell this sea of blood-thirsty exploding sapiens?
I wish I did ... I am tired of adding the names of neighbors, friends, acquaintances, former shipmates and those who's names I recognize but who I have never met, to a too long list of those who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq since 9/11. If these wars (except for Afghanistan), had never happened ... I could have died a happy man. Afghanistan was righteous.
Instead, GW Bush declared an undeclared war without any thought as to what would be necessary after the "enemy" was beaten, to be able to declare victory and bring our military home.
His "Mission Accomplished" was so much tripe. Here we are, we have been in Iraq longer than it took for WWII to run it's course and we are no closer today to bringing our troops home than we were the day GW declared "Mission Accomplished" from the deck of an Aircraft Carrier. The fact the personnel of the carrier placed the banner on the island is immaterial ... GW Bush took the opportunity for a 'photo op' that featured the banner to trumpet "HIS" triumph.
All of you know I am biased where either of the Pres. Bush's are concerned ... I make no bones about it - what gripes me the most are the decisions they made in my name and the policies they set in my name (most of which I disagree with). This is
NOT a bash Bush post ... I am trying to honestly answer bulldogg's question ... but ... it is almost impossible because of the cost to so many.
IF we just pull out with out being able to sound a resounding "Mission Accomplished" for real, then it is just another Vietnam ... but ... on the other hand, how much higher will my personal list of "KIA" end up rising before we can answer up that we accomplished what we started out to do?
I REALLY WISH THERE WERE AN EASY ANSWER ... BUT .....