Would you treat a wounded Hezbollah soldier in the sands of Iraq? If you were a fighter pilot, would you release 1,000-pound bombs in support of Iranian surrogates on the ground? My fear is that today, we’re asking our elite warriors to do both. It’s going to happen, it’s just not acknowledged. Our bureaucracy doesn’t condone bad news and a counter narrative. Instead, our bureaucratic institutions report back that everything is awesome. Our foreign policy doesn’t seem awesome.
I don’t know if there even is an Iraq today. Instead, we have the Iranian client state formerly known as Iraq. Iranian influence reigns supreme, so where do we fit? As someone who was on the ground, trying to help the Iraqi Security Forces, it was hard to find my place. I can’t imagine what it’s like today. Even though the Pentagon has a swanky new Inherent Resolve website, I can’t help but think the problem set is not a fixable one via Iraqi proxies. Briefing increasing numbers and tossing in “trainers” alone won’t work in the long run. It will, however, allow many to gain combat rotations and put others, often those in the special operations community, in unnecessarily dangerous positions without a clear understanding of their role as combatants. Our influence in Iraq is wavering and, unfortunately, the region has a short memory. Friends are easily converted to enemies.
Iran is a nation where people are regularly hung to death, and their goal is to export their Islamic revolution across the Middle East. Likewise, we seek to export our democratic revolution across the globe. Conflict is inevitable. How can we cooperate with one another when our raison d’etre is to liberate others based on our way of life?
Who do we want to shape the world? I vote for us, and no one else. I believe in the motto of the U.S. Army Special Forces: De Oppresso Liber, “To free the oppressed.” I’m not sure sharing Iraq with a sectarian entity is in line with what we believe. The Iranians seek to oppress the Sunnis of Iraq, non-sectarian or not.
We need a redrawing of how we solve problems in national security. As a citizen, you should be questioning your leadership when the DoD spends $500 million to fight ISIL and produces a culminated “four to five in the fight.” Four to five in a fight against an army? It would have been appropriate if Gen. Lloyd Austin III, commander of U.S. Central Command, had giggled or winked when he said that. We’ve lost our way on this one. I’m not sure what the best way to move forward is, but I’m beginning to believe this is going to become more complicated as time progresses.
Courtesy of jihadintel.meforum.org
Featured image courtesy of jpost.com
Would you treat a wounded Hezbollah soldier in the sands of Iraq? If you were a fighter pilot, would you release 1,000-pound bombs in support of Iranian surrogates on the ground? My fear is that today, we’re asking our elite warriors to do both. It’s going to happen, it’s just not acknowledged. Our bureaucracy doesn’t condone bad news and a counter narrative. Instead, our bureaucratic institutions report back that everything is awesome. Our foreign policy doesn’t seem awesome.
I don’t know if there even is an Iraq today. Instead, we have the Iranian client state formerly known as Iraq. Iranian influence reigns supreme, so where do we fit? As someone who was on the ground, trying to help the Iraqi Security Forces, it was hard to find my place. I can’t imagine what it’s like today. Even though the Pentagon has a swanky new Inherent Resolve website, I can’t help but think the problem set is not a fixable one via Iraqi proxies. Briefing increasing numbers and tossing in “trainers” alone won’t work in the long run. It will, however, allow many to gain combat rotations and put others, often those in the special operations community, in unnecessarily dangerous positions without a clear understanding of their role as combatants. Our influence in Iraq is wavering and, unfortunately, the region has a short memory. Friends are easily converted to enemies.
Iran is a nation where people are regularly hung to death, and their goal is to export their Islamic revolution across the Middle East. Likewise, we seek to export our democratic revolution across the globe. Conflict is inevitable. How can we cooperate with one another when our raison d’etre is to liberate others based on our way of life?
Who do we want to shape the world? I vote for us, and no one else. I believe in the motto of the U.S. Army Special Forces: De Oppresso Liber, “To free the oppressed.” I’m not sure sharing Iraq with a sectarian entity is in line with what we believe. The Iranians seek to oppress the Sunnis of Iraq, non-sectarian or not.
We need a redrawing of how we solve problems in national security. As a citizen, you should be questioning your leadership when the DoD spends $500 million to fight ISIL and produces a culminated “four to five in the fight.” Four to five in a fight against an army? It would have been appropriate if Gen. Lloyd Austin III, commander of U.S. Central Command, had giggled or winked when he said that. We’ve lost our way on this one. I’m not sure what the best way to move forward is, but I’m beginning to believe this is going to become more complicated as time progresses.
Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world.
PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States
Scrubba Wash Bag
Our ultra-portable washing machine makes your journey easier. This convenient, pocket-sized travel companion allows you to travel lighter while helping you save money, time and water.
Our roots in shooting sports started off back in 1996 with our founder and CEO, Josh Ungier. His love of airguns took hold of our company from day one and we became the first e-commerce retailer dedicated to airguns, optics, ammo, and accessories. Over the next 25 years, customers turned to us for our unmatched product selection, great advice, education, and continued support of the sport and airgun industry.
COMMENTS
There are on this article.
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.