As a veteran of Beirut, the punitive raid on Iran warmed my soul. I always believed that the real reason for the US involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan was that we geographically surrounded Iran. Unfortunately we never took advantage of it to damage or weaken Iran. We have been fighting them in one way or another since the late 70’s. This punitive raid will be a model for future success in defending our interests. I can die happy now. 24 MAU, this one is for you. See you in Valhalla.
I don’t know how to tell you this, but we lost the Vietnam war on the ground. We tried desperately to spread the war by bringing down the governments of nearby nations, but that didn’t disguise the fact that we were losing. We tried to expand the war to Cambodia and Laos, and slaughtered a lot of people in the process, but in the end we lost the war to the NVA because our troops were not eager to die for a cabinet war any longer, and children such as myself preferred our fathers be alive and healthy and not sent home in body bags.
The argument Mark Moyar made in his books was that our intervention in Vietnam prevented Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore from becoming communist death camps like Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. But none of the troops fighting there knew or cared about that, and I've never met one who thought we won Vietnam. My point was that the troops knew they had kicked Charlie's ass and were proud of it. The troops in Beirut knew they got their asses kicked and never mentioned it. My father and 3 of my four uncles fought in Vietnam, and I was in Beirut, so I'm aware of the human costs of war. I'm more concerned with a dysfunctional leaders who precipitate conflicts but ham string the military response with ridiculous assumptions and insane rules. Not crossing the DMZ, or mining North Vietnam's harbors because LBJ thought it might draw in the Chinese, not allowing combat units to cross the Afghan/Pakistan border because George Bush believed that was imprudent. Not launching a massive punitive raid on Iran after they blew up our embassy and Marine barracks, and kidnapped/tortured to death the CIA station chief in Beirut because reasons. President Trump just demonstrated what happens when you do not take counsel of your fears. Leaders like that reduce the number of body bags coming home. His predecessors ensured our military sacrifices were made in vain by their vanity, hubris, and refusal to acknowledge the folly of incrementalism or proportionate response.
My father was went over three times as a B-52 pilot with Operation Arc Light, and then had to do a full tour as a helicopter pilot for the CIA. No uniform no insignia on the chopper they gave him a laminated copy of the Geneva convention in case he was shot down. But the Geneva convention doesn’t apply if you are behind enemy lines without your uniform…
You're father and I have much in common. I spent 7 years in Afghanistan, all of it outside the wire. During that time, I worked as a security contractor and an implementer for USAID. I was also a plank owner in Dewey Clarridge's Eclipse Group - better known (by the NYT) as the Pentagon's Private Spy Ring. I, too, had no insignia or government cover, and I was a singleton operator who was detained in both Afghanistan and Pakistan while out and about doing my thing. There were thousands of stories about us over the years - most of them BS but I did write a little about it on the FRI blog.https://freerangeinternational.com/2024/10/25/i-spy-how-human-intelligence-is-supposed-to-work/
The military didn’t let bin Laden get away … the CIA escorted him to Abbottabad for safe keeping until Obama needed to kill him to get reelected … ugly but true
As a young Infantry Officer with Mike Company 3/2 in February of 1979, I was seconded to 2/2 who was ahead of us on the air contingency rotation. Several of us in 3/2 were called in on 20 February to stand by to deploy with 2/2. The basis of the mission for 2/2 would be to support a NEO for the US Embassy in Teheran. A small force from Golf 2/2 deployed to Cyprus and stood by as President Carter and Cyrus Vance dithered. The rest is history. The failure to deal with the Mullahs and their “revolution” led directly to the Beruit barracks bombing and the murder of our Marines. One of whom Master Sargent Roy Edwards who was a great mentor and colleague of mine. It was personal and still is. We have been led by political cowards for decades and now we have someone trying to truly get something constructive done and all we hear is caterwauling from an American press and Americans safe in their beds that Orangeman Bad is evil and has to go. What this President understands is if you’re going to use force than use it. The asshats like John “I was in the room”Bolton and others that want to fight forever wars are equally cowards. If we’re going we’re going to locate, close with and destroy by fire and maneuver, THE ENEMY! Otherwise don’t send us. Additionally having served with several Marines that were at the Battle of Hue’ and the Siege at Khe Sanh when it was said and done the NVA AND the Viet Cong were finished. But, same story political will was lacking and likely we shouldn’t have been there in the first place without proper mission and resolve to accomplish the mission. But this is what happens when only 1% of us serve. I am angry in my dotage and unforgiving of the those that have made such disastrous decisions. But for those of us here that have served in whatever branch and in whatever capacity, “we few, we happy few.” Semper Fi to all..
I spent seven years in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, so I know Islam well. I also know that at some point in the future, we will have to deal with the way Rome dealt with Carthage. Otherwise, our descendants will be listening to the call to prayer 5 times a day.
I was in the USAF Security Police Academy. At the time, the Marines sent those selected to be MPs to the SP Academy for training. They were great guys, and we AF troops got along well with them.
When the Beirut bombing happened, every Marine, including the instructors, wanted to go over and get payback. I'm pleased to see that a measure of the payback happened.
As a veteran of Beirut, the punitive raid on Iran warmed my soul. I always believed that the real reason for the US involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan was that we geographically surrounded Iran. Unfortunately we never took advantage of it to damage or weaken Iran. We have been fighting them in one way or another since the late 70’s. This punitive raid will be a model for future success in defending our interests. I can die happy now. 24 MAU, this one is for you. See you in Valhalla.
Well said, sir. Many of us who served in Beirut feel exactly the same.
Bravo
I don’t know how to tell you this, but we lost the Vietnam war on the ground. We tried desperately to spread the war by bringing down the governments of nearby nations, but that didn’t disguise the fact that we were losing. We tried to expand the war to Cambodia and Laos, and slaughtered a lot of people in the process, but in the end we lost the war to the NVA because our troops were not eager to die for a cabinet war any longer, and children such as myself preferred our fathers be alive and healthy and not sent home in body bags.
The argument Mark Moyar made in his books was that our intervention in Vietnam prevented Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore from becoming communist death camps like Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. But none of the troops fighting there knew or cared about that, and I've never met one who thought we won Vietnam. My point was that the troops knew they had kicked Charlie's ass and were proud of it. The troops in Beirut knew they got their asses kicked and never mentioned it. My father and 3 of my four uncles fought in Vietnam, and I was in Beirut, so I'm aware of the human costs of war. I'm more concerned with a dysfunctional leaders who precipitate conflicts but ham string the military response with ridiculous assumptions and insane rules. Not crossing the DMZ, or mining North Vietnam's harbors because LBJ thought it might draw in the Chinese, not allowing combat units to cross the Afghan/Pakistan border because George Bush believed that was imprudent. Not launching a massive punitive raid on Iran after they blew up our embassy and Marine barracks, and kidnapped/tortured to death the CIA station chief in Beirut because reasons. President Trump just demonstrated what happens when you do not take counsel of your fears. Leaders like that reduce the number of body bags coming home. His predecessors ensured our military sacrifices were made in vain by their vanity, hubris, and refusal to acknowledge the folly of incrementalism or proportionate response.
My father was went over three times as a B-52 pilot with Operation Arc Light, and then had to do a full tour as a helicopter pilot for the CIA. No uniform no insignia on the chopper they gave him a laminated copy of the Geneva convention in case he was shot down. But the Geneva convention doesn’t apply if you are behind enemy lines without your uniform…
You're father and I have much in common. I spent 7 years in Afghanistan, all of it outside the wire. During that time, I worked as a security contractor and an implementer for USAID. I was also a plank owner in Dewey Clarridge's Eclipse Group - better known (by the NYT) as the Pentagon's Private Spy Ring. I, too, had no insignia or government cover, and I was a singleton operator who was detained in both Afghanistan and Pakistan while out and about doing my thing. There were thousands of stories about us over the years - most of them BS but I did write a little about it on the FRI blog.https://freerangeinternational.com/2024/10/25/i-spy-how-human-intelligence-is-supposed-to-work/
The military didn’t let bin Laden get away … the CIA escorted him to Abbottabad for safe keeping until Obama needed to kill him to get reelected … ugly but true
Where’s the payback for Mossadegh
You'll have to take that up with the spooks.
As a young Infantry Officer with Mike Company 3/2 in February of 1979, I was seconded to 2/2 who was ahead of us on the air contingency rotation. Several of us in 3/2 were called in on 20 February to stand by to deploy with 2/2. The basis of the mission for 2/2 would be to support a NEO for the US Embassy in Teheran. A small force from Golf 2/2 deployed to Cyprus and stood by as President Carter and Cyrus Vance dithered. The rest is history. The failure to deal with the Mullahs and their “revolution” led directly to the Beruit barracks bombing and the murder of our Marines. One of whom Master Sargent Roy Edwards who was a great mentor and colleague of mine. It was personal and still is. We have been led by political cowards for decades and now we have someone trying to truly get something constructive done and all we hear is caterwauling from an American press and Americans safe in their beds that Orangeman Bad is evil and has to go. What this President understands is if you’re going to use force than use it. The asshats like John “I was in the room”Bolton and others that want to fight forever wars are equally cowards. If we’re going we’re going to locate, close with and destroy by fire and maneuver, THE ENEMY! Otherwise don’t send us. Additionally having served with several Marines that were at the Battle of Hue’ and the Siege at Khe Sanh when it was said and done the NVA AND the Viet Cong were finished. But, same story political will was lacking and likely we shouldn’t have been there in the first place without proper mission and resolve to accomplish the mission. But this is what happens when only 1% of us serve. I am angry in my dotage and unforgiving of the those that have made such disastrous decisions. But for those of us here that have served in whatever branch and in whatever capacity, “we few, we happy few.” Semper Fi to all..
It is rare to find a writer who understands islam and speaks honestly about it.
Well said Sir, and I'm glad you got your payback that was long past due
I spent seven years in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, so I know Islam well. I also know that at some point in the future, we will have to deal with the way Rome dealt with Carthage. Otherwise, our descendants will be listening to the call to prayer 5 times a day.
Simper Fi!
I was in the USAF Security Police Academy. At the time, the Marines sent those selected to be MPs to the SP Academy for training. They were great guys, and we AF troops got along well with them.
When the Beirut bombing happened, every Marine, including the instructors, wanted to go over and get payback. I'm pleased to see that a measure of the payback happened.
As are we all, Daniel. Thanks for the kind comment.