http://cnsnews.com/news/article/susan-jones/us-doing-damage-control-both-iraq-and-afghanistan-says-retired-military?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=marketing&utm_term=facebook&utm_content=facebook&utm_campaign=n-afghanistan-damage-controlU.S. Doing 'Damage Control' in Both Iraq and Afghanistan, Says Retired Military Commander
January 5, 2015 - 6:47 AM
By Susan Jones
(CNSNews.com) - Retired Army Lt.-General Daniel Bolger, who served in both the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, says those wars were "failed campaigns" that have left the United States in "salvage" mode:
"Right now we're just in damage control. We're talking about end of combat operations. Our enemies, the Taliban and ISIS, are talking about winning," Bolger told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.
"In Iraq, we have sent in just enough guys (roughly 3,000 troops) to help the current Iraqi government try and hold on to what they have. In Afghanistan, we're trying to do a similar thing with about 10,000 troops in a land locked country where the supply lines run through Pakistan and Russia -- a pretty tricky area to fight in even under best circumstances."
Bolger has written a book about Iraq and Afghanistan titled, "Why We Lost," and he is calling for an independent commission to answer that question.
"I think the reality is, the U.S. military is all about winning battles, but wars are an act of the entire country...[W]e have to determine what we're doing wrong that's preventing us from winning," Bolger told NBC's Chuck Todd.
"In a military sense, Chuck, I could tell you...the military can give you a quick victory over a conventional army. It cannot deliver a rebuilt country in the place you go. That takes an effort in the entire U.S. population and government and moreover it takes the commitment of the American people for the long-term."
NBC correspondent Andrea Mitchell agreed with Bolger that "We're winning battles, perhaps," although not against ISIS. "And I think this goes back also to the volunteer army, the lack of engagement by the country," Mitchell opined.
Chuck Todd noted that "it's small town America who is fighting the wars. It's new immigrant populations...lower-income America that's fighting these wars. Nobody is disputing that this military isn't well equipped. The question is, do we -- this strategy of dealing with terrorism and terror groups, this military -- there maybe isn't a military solution."
NBC panelist Matt Bai of Yahoo News said the U.s. has "no discernible strategy."
"Look, I talked to (former U.S. Sen.) Jim Webb (D-Va.). I'm going to be with Webb this week about, you know, he's thinking about running for President. This is something he is adamant about, wants to start a debate with Hillary Clinton or whoever runs in the Democratic field about these endless engagements. I think it's important, because I think this is actually where campaigns really matter."
Todd said he's convinced that "the improving economy means foreign policy could be the dominant topic of 2016."
Webb is a Vietnam war veteran who served as assistant secretary of defense and as Navy secretary during the Ronald Reagan administration. In September, he said he was "seriously looking" at a Democratic presidential campaign in 2016; and as various press reports noted, he started hiring staff last week.
