"Obama's War"
DJ was kind enough to post a good thread on Woodward's book, and I would like to attempt opening a conference discussion (vs. screaming match) about the OEF war itself, the tactics mostly, if that is possible here. If it degenerates, then I ask Mods to please move it to polyticks or shitcan it altogether.
Here are some thoughts to run up the pole, in earnest seeking opinions from better men/women than me:
The Woodward book contents, which I have not digested in full, as reported thusfar are extremely disturbing to me, though not surprising. It isn't "news" so much as it is partial validation of suspicions I've/we've had and yelled back and forth about here on PF since the 2002 period of time.
Most of us will recall back in the day when PF had a number of polls and uncountable threads started re: 9/11, the build-up, which war and where and when, pre-emptive war, "quagmire", "Vietnam all over again" and etc etc etc.
In 2002 I was among those who made an effort to persuade the powers that be to avoid, at all costs, any kind of land war in that region. I did so vigorously, attempting in my own primitive way to predict what has pretty much taken place since that time - though not as simplistically as I put it back then.
I then favored, and still do today, a retaliatory strategy and tactics, swift and brutal and repetitive until the bad guys "got the message" - not only to hold down the expense of logistics, but to better deal with what might be crudely described as the 21st Century Viet Cong nature of Al Qaeda and Taliban et al.
Since the current POTUS came into office, and was given charge of GWOT (excuse me, "Overseas Contingency Operations"), I waited until now to say that I do not believe his administration can be trusted with warfare, and most importantly, with the lives of our cubs.
Knowing that it is all but impossible to contemplate an orderly and swift withdrawal (not, as I do not, anymore giving a crap what the Afghani's or Iraqi's do to one another or to their neighbors), I ask of the wise ones here on PF, WTF now?
We're back to the murderous ole FUBAR of a ROE that is killing our fighters. I hated that 45 years ago, and for that reason I hate it far more today.
Can or will the combat commanders pull this out, and how much patience have they got with the current POTUS?
Does anyone on the horizon have the nuts to cut the troops loose to hunt down and kill the enemy at will and in detail?
WTF... over
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