Hey! Senators! Get This, War Is A Long Slog

Sometimes the Geek is convinced that the best experience for a presidential candidate is a couple of tours in combat, in the infantry. At least the Geek thinks that whenever he hears the wannabes quacking about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The other night at the Democratic debate, Senator Clinton, Senator Obama, and ex-Senator Edwards agreed that the US could not "win" in Iraq and, presumably for this reason, US troops should be withdrawn. See http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695208775,00.html.

Although Representative Tom Lantos of California is not a presidential candidate, his "thinking" runs in the same vein. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2166326,00.html. Apparently his concern is not that we aren't winning, but the simple fact that US troops are there.

The Geek has never believed that the invasion of Iraq was a good idea. He has always been of the view that our invasion of Afghanistan was conducted in the wrong way. From the giddy-up in both wars, he has seen bright intimations of disaster.

But none of that matters. The reality is that we are there. We can't turn the clock back. We've got boots on the ground in both countries. Now the problem is simple.

How do we retrieve two, count them, two policy blunders from the failure they so richly deserve?

The Geek agrees with candidates Clinton, Edwards, Obama, and Richardson. We cannot win in any meaningful sense of the word in Iraq. Neither can we "win" in Afghanistan.

And, to add to the comments of the wannabes, we cannot win in the "global war on terrorism."

As the Geek has written before: It is impossible to win against a tactic, a means of waging hostilities. Only an enemy can be defeated, not a method.

Terrorism cannot be defeated. Islamists and their ideology can--and must--be.

Only resolve, firmness and patience can defeat the Islamists.

This means that we must not--absolutely must not--lose in either Iraq or Afghanistan. As the Korean War demonstrated beyond a doubt to anyone well oriented in place and time, not losing is the necessary prerequisite to eventual victory.

Enter the combat infantry experience. Get a grip on it, candidates,

To make it simple, the basics of combat infantry life are simple. Hump a heavy weight on your back, preferably over rough terrain in weather that is either too hot or too cold. Even better do it with the wind in your face. This is improved if it is raining.

Add boredom to exhaustion. Then, just as the boredom numbs your mind, have someone shoot at you. Or have a mortar round land nearby. At your option, you can substitute rocket or improvised explosive device for the mortar round.

Fear spikes. You'll wake up beaucoup schnell. If you're real lucky you can fire your weapon at something. That will discharge some fear. Make you feel a little better.

If you're really, really, really lucky, you'll actually see a live hostile to shoot at. Maybe you'll hit him. Maybe you'll see him fall. This will make you feel even better. Or, perhaps not. Everyone is a bit different at that.

Then, when the noise stops, get up, and start humping again. The straps on your shoulders won't hurt for the next few minutes. Then they'll hurt worse. The rain will start up again. You'll get thirsty. Reach for your canteen. Find out its empty. Shit.

Have you won your little encounter with whoever?

Maybe. Maybe not.

It doesn't matter.

You haven't been hit. None of your buddies have been hit. You didn't lose. That's what matters. You didn't lose.

You feel a little better. As long as you can put one foot in front of the other, as long as you can keep on slogging, keep on yomping, you haven't lost. You haven't let your buddies down. You've done your job.

Senators Clinton, Edwards, Obama, Governor Richardson, Representative Lantos, the Geek has a question for you.

Do you, any of you, have the guts to keep putting one foot in front of the other? Do you have what it takes not to lose? Not to let your buddies down? Not to let your nation's future go down the tubes? Do you, any of you, have the right stuff to do your job?