Politically Correct War

The war in Afghanistan has been going on for at least 80 years with different players bringing peace to that little country by killing one group or another.  Usually, there is a powerful country, Great Britain, Russia, or the United States helping them.  Afghanistan has learned to milk this war for all the money it can get.  They make a living from the conflicts there, but in no time has a country put the kind of politically correct rules of engagement on a fighting force.  These are the kinds of things that get soldiers killed and allies questioning the help they get.

I can't imagine a Russian soldier consulting an attorney before shooting people shooting at a friendly force.  I can't imagine the British having someone in Whitehall decide what targets to strike.  I can't imagine a US force with the fighters at risk in a war zone trying to piece together an argument for shooting at an enemy right in front of them.

The words of Carl Von Clausewitz come to mind here, but I can paraphrase the whole commentary:  "In times of war, the spirit of benevolence has no place." You turn loose the armies and let them fight in the best way they know how.  Innocent people will die in this conflict.  Soldiers will die too.  If we are too careful about protecting either one of those at the expense of the other, we will lose the war.  A description of the rules our soldiers fight under is in Michael Phillips' story in yesterday's Wall Street Journal, Afghan War Rules Leave U.S. Troops Wondering When It’s OK to Shoot.  This White House has a unique perspective on war, one that would sacrifice winning for looking good.  Between November and January of next year, that House needs a good house cleaning, regardless of who wins our national election.