Since I returned home, a darkness has grown in me as both I and our nation have failed to live up to the sacrifices of these young men and women. I had no expectation of “victory” in Afghanistan or Iraq, whatever that would mean. Nor did I expect some epiphany of strategic insight or remorse from the nation’s brain trust.Please read the whole thing...
I just found that I could not square the negativity, pettiness and paranoia in the discourse of our country’s elders with the nobility and dedication of the men and women I had seen and served with in Afghanistan.
Over time, as I listened to the squabbling, I realized that about the only thing Americans agree on these days is gratitude bordering on reverence for our military. It troubled me that the sum total of consensus in our discourse is deference toward the defenders of our nation.
Monday, February 4, 2013
We're Playing Defense – and That's the Problem...
Peter Munson is a Marine officer who recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan. He's written a very thoughtful piece, the heart of which starts with this:
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What a reversal of attitudes. As a Vietnam Era Vet I returned home to a United States where our military's role was hotly debated and the antiwar movement was huge. I was treated with derision for having served my county, especially as a volunteer. The only person that ever thanked me for my service was my Dad; everyone else treated me as some kind of freak.
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