Ron Peacock
Wooster, OH (PN)

"The following story was originally intended for the Pavo News 2006 edition, but was never published. Because of the ramifications, we thought the story important at the time. Since then, with the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld and the appointment of a new commander in the theater of operation, we were hoping things had changed. This does not appear to be the case given that NATO has tightened the rules of engagement after reported "civilian deaths" . Here is the story as it would have been reported in September of 2006." - The Editor

    I've been convinced for some time now that the US has regressed to a Vietnam mentality in the ongoing operations inside Afghanistan and Iraq. Following our militaries exceptional victories in both countries, the inevitable happened; the politicians took the reins and began the squandering of a brilliant military victory.

Our suspicions were first aroused after a number of administration officials began using Vietnam-era buzzwords such as, "winning the hearts and minds". These types of strategies did not work in Vietnam, nor did they work for the Soviets during their occupation of Afghanistan. Arguably, this mentality has never worked in the history warfare. Then, our handling of Fallujah, Mosul, Najaf and the Tribal Areas proved the government was willing to sacrifice the boots on the ground in and effort to fight a politically correct war. Surprise! It is not working. How sickening that our soldiers have sacrificed so much, for so long and their efforts are squandered away for the sake of political parties, global consensus, PC mentality and the personal agendas and/or egos of the powers that be.

Now, a major cause of concern, the Taliban has regained a foothold in Afghanistan. How will the US and NATO respond? Perhaps this USA Today article sums it all up. Yes, the Pentagon acknowledged it had allowed approximately 190 Taliban leaders to live another day, destined to fight and kill US armed forces, Afghan soldiers, innocent civilians and undoubtedly women and children. Why? They were in a cemetery attending a funeral for one of their vermin. This is unconscionable! We had them where they belong, in a cemetery! They were as good as tagged and bagged. Our hellfire missiles would have taken them out while conveniently providing the hole into which we could have shoveled and scraped their scattered and bloody body parts. Best of all, it was a cemetery; isn't that our objective, planting their foul jihadist bodies in the bosom of mother earth? Apparently not! Officials stated - coalition forces ``hold themselves to a higher moral and ethical standard than their enemies"; yes, we are a kinder gentler foe.

Today we have won the hearts and minds of nearly 200 radical, evil, Islamic fundamentalist. In their hearts they now have reason for hope; in their minds they can picture their future victory.

Here's how I see it. From this day forward, the blood of any Taliban victim is directly upon the hands of those that did not allow us to blast these scum to the hell they deserve. The administration and state department are just as culpable for maintaining the policies that allowed this unconscionable action (or lack thereof) to be a possibility. The victims of this inaction will be counted in the days, weeks, and years to come. Shame on those who are responsible.

No more bullcrap rules of engagement! The enemy must be destroyed wherever and whenever they are in our sights. They must be destroyed. They must be humbled. Their resolve must be broken, whatever the cost. I leave you with the following:

"To the degree your plans do not actually destroy your enemy's will and ability to fight, the realization of your plans may actually strengthen your enemy's resolve. If your enemy has any hope to believe his cause can win, even in his individual death, he may surprise you with the horror he can create in return." ~ Sun Tzu 'The Art of War'