2Dragons wrote:
Generals win wars and politicians lose wars. We haven't won a war/conflict since WWII because Congress thinks they can run wars from their chairs in DC.
Well let's see how true that statement is:
1. Korean war (1950-1953): S.Korea is a vibrant democracy today. N Korea is a despot nation run by the 3rd generation Kim dictatorship acting as a buffer zone between S.Korea and China. OFFFENSIVE
2. Vietnam war (1961-1975): S.Vietnam fell to N Vietnam when we withdrew material support in 1975. DEFENSIVE
3. Lebonan (1982-1984): Peacekeeping force only. Left after the airport bombing killed 241 marines and another 60 multinational forces. DEFENSIVE
4. Grenada 1983: Rescued American students and stopped Cuban military operations OFFENSIVE
5. Panama 1989: Removed Noriega Regime after Panama's declaration of war against the US and for state sponsored drug smuggling into the US. OFFENSIVE
6. Gulf War 1 1991: Kicked Sadam Houssain out of Kuwait. OFFENSIVE
7. Samalia 1993: Peacekeeping forces only. Withdrew after "Black Hawk Down". DEFENSIVE
8. Bosnia (1994-1995): Halt Bosnian ethnic cleansing. OFFENSIVE
9. Kosovo 1999: Halt Serbian ethnic cleansing. OFFENSIVE
10. Afghanistan (1991-2012): Remove terrorist threat responsible for 9/11. OFFENSIVE. Troops remained to prevent Afghanistan return to terrorist haven DEFENSIVE
11. Iraq (2013-2010): Remove Sadam Houssain. OFFENSIVE Iraq is a fledgeling democracy.
12. ISIL (2012-2019): Eliminate ISIL threat to US in Syria/Iraq. OFFENSIVE
I think that when the military is allowed to win, we win. But when our military is placed in defensive theaters and only absorb punches, our enemies are embolded and we get tired, then we lose.
I don't think the lesson is we generally LOSE, but that we should only use the military only when we want to WIN. Defensive missions are a loser for the US.