What happened
A retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel has spoken out about the importance of clear political objectives and effective military strategy before sending young Americans to war. The lieutenant colonel, who has 28 years of active-duty service, including two tours in Vietnam and the liberation of Kuwait in 1990-91, emphasized that winning battles is not the same as winning wars.
The author drew on his experiences in Vietnam and Afghanistan, where he witnessed corruption, inadequate strategy, and unclear political objectives, ultimately leading to military failure. In contrast, the First Gulf War demonstrated what can happen when political objectives and military strategy are aligned, with a clear mission, sufficient forces, and a broad international coalition.
The lieutenant colonel argued that before sending Americans into harm's way, politicians owe them clear answers to eight key questions, including what vital national security interest is being defended, what the mission is, and how the region will be returned to peace when the mission is accomplished. If these questions cannot be answered, the author believes that politicians have no business asking young Americans to kill and die.
