Winning the War or Winning the Peace?

America has gotten really good at winning wars. From World Wars 1 & 2 to Korea, Vietnam and scores of other conficts around the world, it is militarily correct to say that America has never lost a war. Our military has never been defeated by the enemy to the point where we ran home with our tail between our legs. Quite on the contrary, America's technological superiority, deep pockets, and innovation has spelled doom for our enemies time and time again. An excellent example of America's military dominance is the 1991 Gulf War. Operation Desert Storm saw the liberation of Kuwait from Saddam's Iraqi forces. Literally thousands of Iraqis were killed in ground engagements with US forces or by American air strikes. American casualties in the operation were less than 100 and most of these were from friendly fire! Politicians focus on winning wars but they seem to always forget about the aftermath. After all the bombs have stopped falling, what do we do with the mess we have made? In short, what good are all of our expensive toys if we can't win the peace?

Vietnam is an excellent example of this American problem. Militarily the war was a major victory. American involvement first began after World War 2 when France tried to regain control of their colony from the Japanese. The locals decided they wouldn't replace one imperial power for another so they began a communist revolution for independence. The war raged for several years until the French were finally cornered and defeated at Dien Bien Phu. Thanks to America's foriegn policy of containment and the famous domino theory, we were drawn in to someone else's war. However, unlike the French we were not defeated in battle. The Tet offensive that everybody claimed won the war for the communitsts was in fact a crushing military defeat. The Vietcong was massacred, so much so that they never again challenged Americans in battle. ALl future fighting was done by reular North Vietnamese forces. The reason that America lost the war is because they failed to win the peace.

Diplomacy is a tricky thing, you have to know when to be tough and when to concede. Howerever even more important than diplomacy is the military commitment to turning civilians against the enemy. This is not done through indicriminate bombing, a favorite past time of America. This is done through public works, building schools and roads and hosptials for the people we claim we are trying to protect. In counterinsurgency operations like the ones in Afghanistan and Iraq, it is impossible to win without the support of the civilian population. They represent a possible pool of recruits for the enemy that we must turn to our side. The information that they can provide is simply invaluable. Without a civilian shield to hide behind, the Taliban will be forced to either run or come out in the open where our military can deal with them. Recently Obama ordered a surge of American troops into Afgahanistan, similar to the one that appears to have worked in Iraq. However all of this will be for nothing if Pakistan falls.

Militants are inching ever closer to Islamabad, the capital of a secular muslim country with a sizable nuclear arsenal. Forget North Korea and Iran, this is the real national security crisis. If these radicals gain control of the Pakistani government and its nuclear arsenal then the results could be devastating. US and Coalition forces in the region would be in danger, India would be threatened and terrorist attacks like those on the hit show 24 could become a reality. America's foreign policy should be focused on winning the peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan as quickly as possible. Pakistan needs military assistance so that its fledgling democracy doesn't crumble and fall apart. World leaders have been whining about the dangers of nuclear proliferation, theft, and terrorism for almost twenty years. Now that its happening why isn't anyone doing anything about it? I'm not sure why there isn't a since of urgency about the events that are currently unfolding in Pakistan but there should be. The Obama administration is committed to keeping America safe. This would be a great place to start.