Kevin - Respectfully submitted, when I think of cutting edge, top-drawer, grind'em to dust powerful fighting forces, I think of Spain and the Philippines. Yeah, right. The terrorists already knew going in that Spain and the Philippines would fold like soft cotton. They know we won't. This isn't some elaborate test they're conducting, they're simply taking body count where they can. And as far as the bully picking on the weak kid, I agree - read my first post. Remember though that an eviscerated bully picks on no one. Ooh Rah ! Force Recon.
And by the way, whenever I've had to confront a superior number I always go for the throat of the toughest one, since that pretty much guarantees it'll be just him and me. The other punks won't want to take on the guy who's pounding their baddest.
BA Busa - If I may say to you, the job's already done. We've accomplished all stated goals going in, to the best of my knowledge, and then some.
And if there's continuing training of the indigenous forces to be done, and I believe there is, it can be done off location.
And BigDawg - This statement is a bit disturbing: "Fact of the matter is we're in it for the long haul now, as mentioned earlier we pull out now and it's the Clinton administration all over again." What in the freakin world could you possibly mean by that???
Anyway, time for breakfast.
Steve