Yes, I know all about the strategic bombing in WWII. My thesis for my BA in history was on the use of nuclear weapons in WWII. For my MA, it was on the conventional strategic bombing campaign against both Germany and Japan.
Those methods were part of the overall effort, to gain unconditional surrender. We won. And unlike our many wars since, our WWII enemies have stayed surrendered to this day.
And to remain certain, we posted and continue to keep posted, sufficient troops should trouble there occur.
Obama's abandonment of our hard won gains in Iraq and soon in Afghanistan serve to encourage our enemies. They interpret that as our weakness.
It appears our military and political leaders lack sufficient will, to beat our enemies into submission and keep them there, opting rather to kick the ball down the field, for somebody else to deal with later.
Each major muslim country has stern autocrats, willing to not let the radicals gain the upper hand. Saddam, Khadafy, Assad, the Saudis, the Pakistanis etc.
Imperfect as they are/were, they are better than the option of letting the radicals take over. Obama seems to vacillate over this reality.
