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Victory in Iraq is in sight, but much will need to be done by the next administration, Republican presidential candidate John McCain told fellow military veterans Monday.
I read an article this morning about members of the Taliban armed with guns and strapped with explosives attacking a U.S. military base in eastern Afghanistan, while fighting near Kabul. Several French soldiers were left dead and of course the suicide bombers got their wish.
Suicide Bomber? In all the major world conflicts there has been a known opponent. You didn't have to guess who the bad guys were. In World War I, the German U-boat ring sought to sink all supply ships headed for Britain in order to starve the island. It sank the Lusitania as part of its efforts. 1195 people died, including 128 Americans. This was pivotal in the U.S. joining forces with their allies in the war.
Fast forward to World War II, there was a mad man on the loose in Germany. Japan saw it's opportunity and joined in the mayhem. Early one Sunday morning they decided to take the ultimate step of displaying their pseudo-superiority and bombed Pearl Harbor. Again, America was thrust into another conflict.
Countries knew who the enemies were and the allies waged a concerted effort to restore peace to many nations....but this time it's different.
After 9/11...well actually after Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban claimed responsibility for over 3000 deaths in just a few hours, America again set out to bring him and his stooges to justice. It was then we began really hearing the term "War on Terror" - not any specific individual, nation, or territory...just a fight to defeat terror/terrorism.
Terror is defined as an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety - and every American (I'm sure) experienced some degree of just that after 9/11.
Still the question that weighs heavily on my mind is this....how can you battle an ideology? One that's so viscerally endoctrinated in these people that they're willing to blow themselves to pieces just to take out a few other people. The ironic thing is their victims are usually innocent of anything other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
We are so inherently different from these "terrorist". Do you know anyone right off
hand in your circle of friends that would strap 30-40lbs of explosives to their chest, walk in a building; get on a bus or stand in the middle of a busy shopping center and detonate without any questions.
I'm sure you don't and if you do, you might want to find a different set of friends!
I guess what I'm trying to say is I think we're in a real precarious predicament. I can't actually visualize that this will ever end.
We've certainly killed many of the ring leaders of the Taliban and Al-Queda. Yet suicide bombers, new leaders, and eager youth courageously ready to pick up and do their part in these countries were terrorist have a strong-hold are popping up everyday.
We're so disadvantaged. We're not fighting an army or a militia. We're fighting civilians (insurgents). Our military doesn't know who's the good guy and who's the bad guy. We're just there in an attempt to maintain as much order as possible while these make-shift governments try to establish or regain order...Just pure chaos if you ask me.
So, when Senator McCain says we're winning...I'm just curious as to what score board he's looking at because it's not being displayed on my JumboTron.
Roschelle Nelson is a Registered Nurse by profession and mother, wife, freelance writer, mentor, friend and genuine lover of life by choice. Roschelle has achieved success with several business ventures. She enjoys writing, meeting new people and considers life a precious gift. View her blogs Admissible Banter and Sagacious Rambling. Her views on life, current news, work and family are never dull and often sprinkled with humor and wit.
I am baffled by the lack of response to this article. This was a great piece about our inability to wrap our around the issue of terrorism and ways of combating it. McCain declared mission accompished in Iraq in 2003. So now, what constitutes real victory? This is all a Republican ploy to make it sound like McCain knows what he is talking about regarding foreign affairs. There is NO victory over terrorism as you note. We should have learned our lessons from the Vietnam conflict. You cannot bully an ememy that is elusive and doesn't value human life. The best we can do is try to contain the terrorist's impact. Once again, good work on an article that deserved more traction. Be well
Thanks James. I'm glad you enjoyed the article. It really doesn't matter so much about the number of responses/replies that I get after submitting an article. I write about things that are important to me; my views, my opinions. I do appreciate feedback - positive or negative but it's still ok. thank you for commenting and I appreciate your readership a great deal.
» left by robert melaccio sr. (94 days 1 hour ago.)
Roschelle another good article. Our government is giving away our troops immunity top stay there for an indefinite time. God help those kids when they are dragged before a court. We have lost over 5000 and how many more do we need to lose. This is an End time war, religious and ethic against religious and ethic and it has been going on for centuries and it will not stop until one wins for good. First the Jews and then each other. It is sadly that simple. Obama wants to pull out those troops out, ok good for him, but then send them to Afghanistan to defeat the terrorists. Well Is he going to allow them to WIN or are they going to be handcuffed? We want and we need these troops home and now more then ever with Russia stretching its evil out. The latest news is that many in Afghanistan are turning back toward Taliban rule, fact. A very large percentage. If that happens all for nothing. It is a sin of immense proportions. Now Jim made a remark how dismayed he is. Why.This is America today and the point of my frustration. It is the sad fact that we allow usury, the breaking of law, exploitation, greed to prosper and we don't care who's kid is off fighting a war it isn't mine. People, that is for now, those who are not the have not, are doing well and frankly they agree with everything this government is doing., except when they lose money. Those 50% of eligible voters who do turn out are split right down the middle between both parties election after election. They love one or the other and it matters not works, they have theirs and you go get yours. They could run Santa and The Good fairy and they would vote. It is that pathetic. Anyway great article, keep them coming. Best regards, Robert- I'm fiery today so don;t mind me, I just can't believe some of the things I come across.
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