I can't even imagine. Sitting here at my desk, sipping my coffee - my hat is off to all of our armed forces. My question, though, which I hope isn't disrespectful - is just how much efficacy does a foreign army have to really establish lasting change?
The thought comes to me that like a river that eventually erodes rock to find its way to the ocean, freedom or democracy will eventually find it's way - just perhaps not on the "McDonalds-fast-good" schedule that we've come to expect.
Might we be better off allowing nature to take it's course, until their society finally becomes educated or desperate enought to collectively through off their shackles of feudalism and backwards theocracy - and concentrate on making our own society a better and more shining example of what is right about freedom and democracy?
I recall being in the Soviet Union in 1979, long before the wall came down, and getting the clear and unmistakeable impression that things were going to change, whether the Kremlin relented or not.. and sure enough, it did - without a shot being fired.
Maybe we should re-examine the example of Russia and Germany, and realize that, eventually, democracy and freedom will prevail from within - and not also forget the example of Vietnam and Korea, that, forced efforts at installing democracy before it's fully accepted will never prevail - particularly where foreign forces in fact, or at least in appearance, seek to install "friendly" governments.
