Complexities in Iraq, ignorance in Congress

W. Thomas Smith:

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I used to say Iraq is a mess, but winnable. I was wrong. Iraq is not a mess. It is complex, and, yes, still winnable.

If there is any aspect of this war that is a mess, it is the militarily stifling mess created by the micro-managing politicians who think they know something about warfighting and the classic principles of war (you know, the basics as fleshed out by the likes of Clausewitz, Jomini, and Frederick the Great). Those birds on the Hill have obviously never read any of the three. And the majority of the most vocal of the war critics have never even worn the uniform of our country. Yet some have even gone so far as to suggest that they have military backgrounds based on their holding seats on armed services committees.

Then there are my favorites like Reid, Pelosi, Biden, and Murtha, all of whom have consistently given aid and comfort to the enemy with declarations of a "lost war," a "disaster," and a "failed policy;" as well as referring to our Marines here in Anbar as being "cold-blooded" killers. What do they — save perhaps the agenda-driven turncoat Murtha — really know about war?

This is not to suggest that they might not have flown in for a bite of lunch at Camp Victory out by Baghdad International Airport, or gotten a guided tour of the Green Zone. But I personally can't imagine any of them spending any real time out here on the ends of the earth. And how can they possibly make claims that the war is "lost" and a "disaster" unless they've actually experienced it? There is simply no way that anyone so eager to pull the plug on this effort can appreciate the realities of Al Anbar much less Iraq unless they've suffered in this heat, driven multiple times up-and-down these dangerous supply routes, patrolled the cities and towns, interacted with shepherds, shopkeepers, and the sick, aging, and unemployed living in some of the most impoverished villages on earth. How can they appreciate the realities of this effort unless they've been shot at a few times, sat for endless hours — sometimes days — with exhausted Marines and soldiers under the sun and stars of an isolated battle position. Fact is neither the politicians nor the most vocal of the antiwar crowd have a clue as to what is really going on — the good and the bad — out here. But they've somehow convinced much of America they do.

I suspect that this reflects the opinion of many of the Marines that Smith is embedded with. It certainly reflects this former Marines' opinion. The ignorance of warfare in Congress is appalling. The desire of Democrats to lose for political opportunities is appalling. This fundamental failure of leadership by a political party in this country is something we need to all be concerned about. But we also need to be concerned about helping the guys on Qaim and elsewhere finish their mission as the winners they are.