The mission in Iraq has not been accomplished

The U.S. Army’s official history in discussing the Vietnam War legacy points out that success rests not only with military strategy, but in analyzing the nature of a conflict. It uses terms like humility and sophistication as part of the overall review.

Old Uncle Sam with sleeves rolled up and muscles bulging, which was a symbol prevalent during World War II, would impress few today. A single man with explosives strapped to his chest or roadside bombs are more potent than many of America’s mightiest weapons. Uncle Sam scratching his head, a pose unbefitting our beloved national symbol, would be more appropriate.

Politicians who applauded Bush’s announcement in 2003 are now backing away, claiming he either didn’t say mission accomplished or that they didn’t applaud. The fact is that while they are trying to save face, members of our military in a foreign land are trying to stay alive.

Since Bush stood on that ship and declared success, 3,900 American men and women have died, and 24,000 have been wounded. Around another trillion dollars has been spent on the war. Our military leaders have no answer on how to quickly end the conflict, suggesting it will take as long as is necessary.

The fear hangs heavy among the military to avoid another Vietnam War situation where we cut our losses by a frantic withdrawal, created by public demand and not military success.

Can one forget the confusion of our mighty Army not knowing in which direction to shoot as it withdrew? There were no victory parades for hundreds of thousands in uniform who came home to the United States in the mid-1970s. In fact, there was hostility directed at some men in uniform by those who blamed them and not politicians for getting our nation into such a situation.

One soldier who had faced hostility said, ‘‘You know, we go over there and tell them their house is dirty before we get our own house clean.”

The sad thing is that the same can be said today about flexing our muscles in a land with a culture we do not understand. It is differences in our cultures that have made this a war we can never win. Meanwhile, politicians secure in their beds refuse to say ‘‘enough already.” They send our young men and women to fight and be killed and wounded, and for many, to suffer even after they return home.

Rand Corporation conducted a study that shows that one out of five returnees suffer from post traumatic stress disorder, about 60,000 men and women. The disorder disabled many who returned from the Vietnam War and other conflicts.

No, the mission has not been accomplished; there is no end to the war in sight.

The conflict was a bad one from the start because time wasn’t taken to consider larger issues, strategies and objectives, as the Army’s history said must be done. Now our young people are paying the price for a mission created by politicians that has failed and will continue to fail.

As the Vietnam War returnee implied 30 some years ago, we can no longer police this complex world when we haven’t resolved the complexity of our problems at home.

Paul Gordon is a local historian, and was mayor of Frederick city from January 1990 to January 1994. His column appears weekly. You can reach him at prg202@comcast.net. To submit a letter to the editor in response to this column, log onto www.gazette.net, and click on the Speak Out tab.