Why we don't win wars anymore

I admit it is a terrible subject when you put it that way, but even a pacifist will admit that there are wars that have to be won. We just have not fought many of those recently, although, come to think of it, the War on Terror, the American and Western response to 9/11, was a war that was won. Not clearly and not forever, but a statement was made that indiscriminate destruction of innocent lives will be followed by a outburst of violence that will forever change not only the few who started the conflict, but the many who allowed the seeds of destruction to germinate in their backyards.

What to make of Iraq though? That historical error of judgement of global proportions. The most optimistic message of that war is that to prevent aggression you must not only speak loud and clear but also be willing to play show and tell with the United Nations. Thinking about Iran, that message is clearly not being universally understood nor universally agreed to. And, it is pretty clear to me that it cannot and should not. The United Nations may wish that all nations submit and adhere to its charter, it cannot force its will upon those who resist or violate. Peace on earth is a humanistic ideal, not a political one, nor a religious one.

We did not win in Vietnam, not if you believe that you can only win when those you fought submit themselves to you. Those days may not be over, but there are few wars that are won by the conquered signing a declaration of defeat. Japan did, but they attacked us. They had to be brought down to their knees. General Lee surrendered, because if you can't secede you have to agree to stay in the Union. In Vietnam life has gone on and we are trading partners now, but history will continue to show that we attacked them and we burned them with napalm. What were they going to sign? That they would never not attack us again? That they would hand us their ancestral homeland? That they would call us Master? That's what is meant by 'what is the endgame'.

Iraq is on its own now, trying to set up a democracy to replace a despicable dictator chased away by  an aggressive bully who could not wait to get his facts straight and a hundred thousand plus martyrs that clog up the road to paradise. Now ObL is dead and gone we can finally leave Afghanistan. Are you ready for Iran? It is so tempting, I agree, but there is no need to rush. Before we jump the gun, let's wait until we agree what lesson we want to teach them and at what point we decide to go home. At least for those who will be lucky enough to have a home to go back to.