I am currently serving on active duty as an officer and I ask one question. How many men do we have to lose to declare a victory over the insurgency in Iraq. I feel that the line between what is right and just and what is downright wrong are being strongly twisted. As a soldier it is our right to fight and defend the nation, but it would appear the politicians at home refuse to acknowledge the fact that their sons and daughters are dying for no reason. The cost of the war is far greater than any reward. The focus of our military should be to protect our homeland and not police the middle east. Sure we must also monitor and contol the fascist governments around the world, but I see the role in Iraq to be very bleak and will not amount to anything of value. We should instead devote all our efforts on international relationships to fight terrorism instead of wasting soldiers lives for roadside bombs. An american soldiers life is too precious to die for no cause, and no cause is greater than to do what is right. I feel that if the leaders had sons wounded they would abandon this ill planned holy war and focus on repairing diplomatic relations with the muslim world.
The only way to destroy the terrorists is to make friends with the mainstream muslims and make them buy in to fighting the terrorists. We as americans come off as crusaders and that is because of the leaderships views towards the muslim world . We would serve our country better if we would stop trying to kill everyone and instead focused on peace with legitimate allies. For example, Turkey and Israel come to mind.
The path to victory does not have to be death