11 years later, we remember
It's been 11 years since the 9/11 attacks.
That terrible day began in pain and grief and horror, and in many ways, it hasn't let up.
We went into Afghanistan with a terrible revenge in our hearts -- and had the Taliban on the run when we diverted our efforts toward Iraq. Well, we're out of Iraq now, but we're still in Afghanistan -- our nation's longest war, ever.
Iraq isn't anything to write home about. It's not the sort of success we had rebuilding defeated Germany and Japan after WWII. Iraq's government is corrupt, dysfunctional and increasingly falling into Iran's sphere of influence.
Afghanistan is even worse. We gave the Taliban time to re-arm and reorganize while we were distracted by Iraq. We can hit them hard, whenever and wherever we want to, but it's almost like trying to hold back the tide. They won't go away because most of that country still lives in the 11th century.
Our troops have done their best, but they're really not designed for nation-building and bringing a country 1000 years into the "future."
We have asked more of our troops than we should have.
We could be like the British and be there 100 years, but it won't help. Which is why every American or NATO death there is so tragic. It will be good when our brave troops finally all come home.
Only then will the agony of 9/11 finally begin to be laid to rest. It will never be forgotten, but in time, like Pearl Harbor, the pain will eventually fade.
-- Kelly Everitt
- -- Posted by Dave Thompson on Wed, Sep 12, 2012, at 10:17 PM
- -- Posted by yniashi on Thu, Sep 13, 2012, at 8:01 PM
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