There's really nothing honourable about dead American soldiers in an unjust war...

[tslust]

Originally Posted by horizontal

brit soldier from both afg and iraq disagrees with this nonsense.

soldiers are prepared to kill and risk the same, but we are there to do our best to bring killing to an end

iraq - right idea, wrong reasons, poor strategy, better outcome, hope for the future...thanks to the very many men and women of a few good armies, no thanks to a very few of them who were disgraced

afg - right idea, average strategy, getting better day by day, hope for the future, thanks to ...etc

it makes it all worthwhile when the elders and traders speak to us in private and beg us to stay, to extend the safe zones, and please dont leave

proud to be a soldier, proud of the youngsters i lead in horrible places in horrible circumstances, proud of the genuine good we have done, sad that young muslim lives are thrown at us by bigotted mad leaders who pontificate in the hills and madrasas

what have you done today to make you feel proud?

General Carl von Clausewitz points out "The War of a community - of whole Nations, and particularly of civilised Nations - always starts from a political condition, and is called forth by a political motive. It is, therefore, a political act." In Iraq, the politicians seemed to agree on reasons for invasion. The military went in and did their job. Hussein's government didn't surrender, it simply disolved. Then the politicians couldn't decide on when "combat operations" should end, also they couldn't agree on what the overall strategic goals should've been. That is why our soldiers are still in Iraq. Not for Bush, not for obama, not even for oil; but because of the scheming and squabbling politicians (from both parties).