Right off the bat, I want to state I'm not talking about the entire history of the US armed forces. I'm talking about the modern US military.

The surge proved one thing - the US military transformed itself, by sheer stupidity, into the underdog. The surge's very existence remains an explicit admission of failure. If events in Iraq proceeded in a better way, one wouldn't reccommend a surge in the first place. If things were going better, one wouldn't argue a need to maintain a surge.

Obviously the military is not doing a good job. Only a biased, subjective twit would conclude otherwise.

Five years and no Bin Laden. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq rage on. Nearing a trillion dollars in treasure spent and no end to the wars in sight. Iran, of all nations, has exploited the situation. In a cruel twist of fate to the Americans, Iran finds herself in a strengthened position then the mullah heads ever dreamed possible in 2003.

And some think the US military has done a good job?

My question is what the hell are they good at? With all seriousness, what the hell are they good at? Again, what is it Americans think the US military is good at?

Firing $25 million dollar missles to kill two, maybe three low level insurgents and their infant children? Losing millions of dollars in Humvees to one dollar pipe bombs?

The poor souls even failed to complete their main mission (catching Osama) before purposefully agreeing to, or going along with, creating another problem (the Iraq war).

With all honestly, the current US military is really and I mean really capable of following the orders of people who don't know what they're doing. That much is certainly clear.

I do really want to know, what the hell are these guys good at?

Don't give me that patriotic garbage either. I want hard real world answers.

The US military is one of the best in the world. And the two things the US has that makes us untouchable (from a military standpoint) are our navy and air force. We're the only country in the world that can support multiple carrier groups operating around the world. We've got first strike capability with our navy, not only with planes and missiles (nukes if need be thanks to our subs) but also soldiers/marines. We can have troops on the ground in any country within 24 hours. Not many others could boast that claim. Then we have the greatest air force in the world. Our air force not only maintains air superiority but it can also put bombs on target, once again, anywhere in the world within 24 hours.

Our military is awesome, top notch. Our civilian leadership however seems to have nullified the advantage our military grants us. We believe Osama is in Pakistan but we won't let our boys go get him. Not only that but our army is not built for occupation. We're small and highly trained. We can overrun and overpower other countries but we can't occupy. You need a lot of bodies to cover the occupied ground and we don't have those numbers. Less than 200,000 troops to occupy a country with over 20 million doesn't work so well. Don't blame the military, blame the civilian leadership.

Realistic wrote:Right off the bat, I want to state I'm not talking about the entire history of the US armed forces. I'm talking about the modern US military.

The surge proved one thing - the US military transformed itself, by sheer stupidity, into the underdog. The surge's very existence remains an explicit admission of failure. If events in Iraq proceeded in a better way, one wouldn't reccommend a surge in the first place. If things were going better, one wouldn't argue a need to maintain a surge.

Obviously the military is not doing a good job. Only a biased, subjective twit would conclude otherwise.

Five years and no Bin Laden. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq rage on. Nearing a trillion dollars in treasure spent and no end to the wars in sight. Iran, of all nations, has exploited the situation. In a cruel twist of fate to the Americans, Iran finds herself in a strengthened position then the mullah heads ever dreamed possible in 2003.

And some think the US military has done a good job?

My question is what the hell are they good at? With all seriousness, what the hell are they good at? Again, what is it Americans think the US military is good at?

Firing $25 million dollar missles to kill two, maybe three low level insurgents and their infant children? Losing millions of dollars in Humvees to one dollar pipe bombs?

The poor souls even failed to complete their main mission (catching Osama) before purposefully agreeing to, or going along with, creating another problem (the Iraq war).

With all honestly, the current US military is really and I mean really capable of following the orders of people who don't know what they're doing. That much is certainly clear.

I do really want to know, what the hell are these guys good at?

Don't give me that patriotic garbage either. I want hard real world answers.

I wouldn't say they're doing terrible, but I also wouldn't say they're doing wonderful either. This kind of war is a different animal than those in the past.

The issue isn't the job the soldiers have done but the strategy given.

War has become a thing where political correctness has to be considered. In short, it means we can't fight to win. If our military is too brutal, a war is long, the outcome is too dominate/thorough, our media will be all over it and public/world opinion sours.

Our military is extremely lethal and effective - minus large enough (due to massive cuts for the past 15 years). Still, we could have ended wars much earlier then we have.

If we are talking about the military leadership, then no, they are doing what makes them stay in the good graces of the admin. After all they have a retirement to protect. The soldiers are doing what soldiers in every war have done, they follow orders and do the best they can with those orders.

Realistic wrote:Right off the bat, I want to state I'm not talking about the entire history of the US armed forces. I'm talking about the modern US military.

The surge proved one thing - the US military transformed itself, by sheer stupidity, into the underdog. The surge's very existence remains an explicit admission of failure. If events in Iraq proceeded in a better way, one wouldn't reccommend a surge in the first place. If things were going better, one wouldn't argue a need to maintain a surge.

Obviously the military is not doing a good job. Only a biased, subjective twit would conclude otherwise.

Five years and no Bin Laden. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq rage on. Nearing a trillion dollars in treasure spent and no end to the wars in sight. Iran, of all nations, has exploited the situation. In a cruel twist of fate to the Americans, Iran finds herself in a strengthened position then the mullah heads ever dreamed possible in 2003.

And some think the US military has done a good job?

My question is what the hell are they good at? With all seriousness, what the hell are they good at? Again, what is it Americans think the US military is good at?

Firing $25 million dollar missles to kill two, maybe three low level insurgents and their infant children? Losing millions of dollars in Humvees to one dollar pipe bombs?

The poor souls even failed to complete their main mission (catching Osama) before purposefully agreeing to, or going along with, creating another problem (the Iraq war).

With all honestly, the current US military is really and I mean really capable of following the orders of people who don't know what they're doing. That much is certainly clear.

I do really want to know, what the hell are these guys good at?

Don't give me that patriotic garbage either. I want hard real world answers.

I have a few family members in Iraq as we speak, when they get back I can arrange a meeting with them and yourself and you can discuss your views with them. Let me know maybe over lunch, I am sure they would be gald to meet with you. Let me know.

well, let US know-----what do YOU think about the presence in your country? IS there any progress? Do you view them as positive, negative...what about the fallout of the occupation? do the kids look at us fearfully, hopefully...do they see us as friends or murderers?

Those are great questions. Kudos! The sound bites we get on the evening news would have us believe that everyone in Iraq, with the exception of the extremists thinks we are the best. Would like to hear from someone who sees it daily and get their opinion.

Wow realistic why don't you just come out and say you think things were better under Saddam. Our military is the best in the world. It's easy for people to stand and criticize while they do nothing. Unfortunately war is still war. Maybe once we've created smart weapons to do everything for us we won't have to worry about our military anymore. Someday soon we might have a computer running the whole country that makes no bad decisions. Why that little old computer would have known exactly how many troops to keep in Iraq. It could probably pinpoint the exact location of bin Laden with some kind of DNA sniffer. I've seen people lost in a small area of woods. Happens everyday in this country. Your remarks offend me! Who are you to criticize? Have you been over there? Sounds like you and Obama deserve each other. You can criticize the leadership but don't criticize our young men and women of the military that spill blood while your spilling your morning coffee.

Realistic,

Your questions or slandering views proves to me that a 2 years mandatory service should be considered and applied to the young people on this country. Perhaps then, the majority of those who profess to know what patriotism is, will have a better understanding. Why not enlist and find out yourself or take that trip? or is that an inconvenience on your part to find out the truth before you utter a discriminatory remarks about those who provided you the security and the freedom to open your bunghole? Ignorance are truly bliss!

Good things are happening in Iraq. The suicide tactics are different from any war. You won't see any good news because if its good its not news worthy. You wont see films like this played in the news media.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivhAJ2MqJCg

hahahaha!
You Americans are soooo funny.

killerbee wrote:hahahaha!
You Americans are soooo funny.

2 coins equal 35 cents, one is not a dime, what are they?

It's two quarters adjusted for inflation?

Rupchuk wrote:It's two quarters adjusted for inflation?

LMAO!! A+ for the effort!