As an Afghanistan and Iraq vet myself, let me say I'm very moved by your family's committment and sacrifice. And it's quite understandable--that's putting it lightly & not the right word--that you are not a "war hawk." Nor am I. I'm so glad to agree that the ball is now in Team MAGA's court and that it's time for them to pass the long-overdue Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan aid bill.
I don't *think* anyone is seriously proposing US ground troops go toe-to-toe w/Iranian forces--not that any type of US airpower is risk-free. Bombing Iran--not that I'm advocating that necessarily or that I think we're close--involves confronting their air defenses and they're respectable.
IMHO, Israel is a special friend of the US; the current Israeli *government,* however, is like your friend who always insists on driving drunk (and when you try to be the least bit stern responds back that you don't love him enough!). Not sure how much you know about Israel, but you'd probably like their people. They have their crazies, too but since almost everyone serves in uniform, their people are much more clear-eyed about war & peace than Americans. People & elected leaders are not afraid of being called "unpatriotic" for criticizing/questioning their gov't or security establishment, as they--the people--have already risked their lives for the nation. And men stay in the reserves until 40.
Everyone has skin in the game. In the US, I think it's now *less* than 1% of the population that serves or is the immediate family of someone in uniform. It's a lot easier for politicians & talking heads to come up with grandiose foreign policy pronouncements when the servicemembers are just numbers, not family or friends.
(To be clear, however, some of the elites' sons *do* serve and even some of the elites have; Eliot Cohen was a reservist called to active duty and his son was an Army officer, I believe.)
Vietnam and Iraq are examples of what happens when "tough" but reasonable foreign policy goes off the rails. A lesson to learn from both sad wars is how to tow that line. We're not going to invade Iran, obviously, and its currently impossible for the people to overthrow the regime.
So, whether the Left, Right, or Center likes this or not, the reality is that we must "keep Iran in check." That means a long, patient struggle with a lot of action in the shadows. We can't be pacifists, as you point out, but I'd argue we should aim to be "owls" instead of hawks or doves.
Thank you again--sincerely--for your family's sacrifice to our great country.
Bill, how long has the Middle
East been at war with one
faction of itself or another?
Your memory must be very
cloudy on how we got into
the messes of Gulf War II and
Afghanistan. How'd they turn
out for us?
I'm a Vietnam Gold Star wife.
My grandchildren served in
Iraq and Afghanistan. I am
not a war hawk. I'm not a
pacifist either if we're
attacked. I believe in
supporting our allies up to
a point. Personally, I don't
want to see US boots on the
ground in combat for the rest
of my life.
You should be talking to the
TrumpMaga House reps and
Speaker to get that bill for
aid to Ukraine, Taiwan and
Israel voted on. That's what's
needed now. Not armed
combat.
As an Afghanistan and Iraq vet myself, let me say I'm very moved by your family's committment and sacrifice. And it's quite understandable--that's putting it lightly & not the right word--that you are not a "war hawk." Nor am I. I'm so glad to agree that the ball is now in Team MAGA's court and that it's time for them to pass the long-overdue Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan aid bill.
I don't *think* anyone is seriously proposing US ground troops go toe-to-toe w/Iranian forces--not that any type of US airpower is risk-free. Bombing Iran--not that I'm advocating that necessarily or that I think we're close--involves confronting their air defenses and they're respectable.
IMHO, Israel is a special friend of the US; the current Israeli *government,* however, is like your friend who always insists on driving drunk (and when you try to be the least bit stern responds back that you don't love him enough!). Not sure how much you know about Israel, but you'd probably like their people. They have their crazies, too but since almost everyone serves in uniform, their people are much more clear-eyed about war & peace than Americans. People & elected leaders are not afraid of being called "unpatriotic" for criticizing/questioning their gov't or security establishment, as they--the people--have already risked their lives for the nation. And men stay in the reserves until 40.
Everyone has skin in the game. In the US, I think it's now *less* than 1% of the population that serves or is the immediate family of someone in uniform. It's a lot easier for politicians & talking heads to come up with grandiose foreign policy pronouncements when the servicemembers are just numbers, not family or friends.
(To be clear, however, some of the elites' sons *do* serve and even some of the elites have; Eliot Cohen was a reservist called to active duty and his son was an Army officer, I believe.)
Vietnam and Iraq are examples of what happens when "tough" but reasonable foreign policy goes off the rails. A lesson to learn from both sad wars is how to tow that line. We're not going to invade Iran, obviously, and its currently impossible for the people to overthrow the regime.
So, whether the Left, Right, or Center likes this or not, the reality is that we must "keep Iran in check." That means a long, patient struggle with a lot of action in the shadows. We can't be pacifists, as you point out, but I'd argue we should aim to be "owls" instead of hawks or doves.
Thank you again--sincerely--for your family's sacrifice to our great country.
Owls instead of hawks or doves. Very good.
Agree with much of what you said. Thank you for your service.