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I personally think we were where we needed to be in AFG and Syria. Using a few thousand SOF forces in a holding action is the best use of our personnel and budget. Nation building is ridiculous unless it is of such criticality that you are willing to spend 2 generations there and essentially colonize the place like Germany and Japan. Most of our engagements fail because decision makers always try to economize with forces or they care about global perception. If it is super critical then you go all out, dominate the battlefield and assume full control in rebuilding. If its not critical you go with the lightest footprint possible and just use SOF to keep the opposition from coalescing.So if we send military forces somewhere, how long should we keep them there?
I personally think we were where we needed to be in AFG and Syria. Using a few thousand SOF forces in a holding action is the best use of our personnel and budget. Nation building is ridiculous unless it is of such criticality that you are willing to spend 2 generations there and essentially colonize the place like Germany and Japan. Most of our engagements fail because decision makers always try to economize with forces or they care about global perception. If it is super critical then you go all out, dominate the battlefield and assume full control in rebuilding. If its not critical you go with the lightest footprint possible and just use SOF to keep the opposition from coalescing.
The genesis of ISIS was one goofball that emerged from a cave around 600 AD.I agree. The type of engagement with 4k SOF in Syria was perfect for a modern day conflict. We support an allied force with limited risk of putting our forces in harms way.
Leaving the Kurds high and dry is a significant concern. Walking away from allied local forces like we did in the first Gulf War was a genesis what would become ISIS. These were minority populations that we encouraged to rise up against Sadam that were abandoned to be butchered after we pulled back to Kuwait. We also halted our support for early versions of the Taliban after secretly supporting them against the Russians which left a gap.
Because surprise is not a critical element to sustainment operations. It wouldn't have made one bit of difference to give our allies a heads up and a 6 month lead. There are some things that make sense to keep secret, there are some things that don't. "I'm going to abandon you right away" is not a tactic that will work well in the long run.Thanks Stat
I always wondered why we did that.
Because surprise is not a critical element to sustainment operations. It wouldn't have made one bit of difference to give our allies a heads up and a 6 month lead. There are some things that make sense to keep secret, there are some things that don't. "I'm going to abandon you right away" is not a tactic that will work well in the long run.
You mean our friends who have taken advantage of us?Trump's most lasting legacy will be the damage he's done to enduring relationships with our allies. The trust we have with our allies that has endured through administrations (D and R) has been irreparably harmed, I fear.
You mean our friends who have taken advantage of us?
I guess SH is happy to get screwed by our " friends and allies"
Very telling
Not too good for the workers and communities who lost their jobs.Said as if the US has gotten no advantage in the relationship. Woe is the USA. We are so unfortunate.
I am thinking all the workers who got screwed by deals with our " friends" would disagree with you.
losing a job is more than a hand job.
I feel sorry for your wife if that is how you think.
Not too good for the workers and communities who lost their jobs.
What if you paid for a handjob but got penetrated instead?I'm just not willing to pay for a handjob then complain that I didn't get any penetration all the while claiming I got no benefit.
USA. Security agreements and access to the US market were done on the backs of blue collar workers. An Indian project director (in India) told me in October he respected Trump for sticking up for workers, and wasn’t troubled about the ruffling of feathers among allies. The Trump haters apparently care more about our image vs helping blue collar workers.What countries are you guys talking about?
mc
The Trump haters are so hateful there is NOTHING Trump could do or has done that helps Americans that outweighs their hatred.
Not too good for the workers and communities who lost their jobs.
What if you paid for a handjob but got penetrated instead?
It would be a bonus for you to be penetrated?Bonus?
Low cost labor from overseas accelerated automation.Mexico forced automation?
* Predict HORNS-AGGIES *
Sat, Nov 30 • 6:30 PM on ABC