
<p>In one of the few bipartisan efforts in Congress, more than 120 members of the House are co-sponsoring legislation calling for the construction of a memorial on the Mall in Washington to honor the many Americans who fought, got permanently injured or died in our War on Terrorism. The Global War on Terrorism Memorial (<a href="https://www.gwotmemorialfoundation.org/">GWOTM</a>) would cover numerous conflicts throughout the world where the United States had “boots on the ground” – especially in the Middle East.</p>



<p>That presumably would include two major wars in Iraq, battles in Syria and the longest war in American history in Afghanistan – where my Marine grandson lost his life.</p>



<p>Being a member of a Gold Star family, I fully support honoring all those – like my grandson – who volunteered to defend American interests and security even when the interests and security were not always obvious. ; We should honor their service and sacrifice, for sure.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">While I fully support the creation of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial, there is a sad irony to such an honor.</h4>



<p>When honoring the men and women who served in World War I and World War II, there was a dual purpose – honoring those who served AND our nation’s critical leadership in defeating the authoritarian madmen and their dreams of dominating the world with oppression and violence. ; We clearly won those wars. ; Our enemies had to sign unconditional surrenders. They replaced the warmongers with democratic governments that now thrive in Germany, Japan and elsewhere.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">The Global War on Terrorism, however, will follow a newer tradition of erecting memorials to wars we did not win. </h4>



<p>Although we never signed a surrender, we clearly left the fields of battle in defeat. ; In Korea, we signed a cease fire. ; Officially, we are still in a state of war with North Korea. ; In Vietnam, we cut and ran – leaving many of our Asian allies behind to die in the killing fields.</p>



<p>In the first Iraq War, we stopped Saddam Hussein from taking Kuwait. But we left him in power to engage in terrorism throughout the Middle East and among his own people. ; And, in the second Iraq War, we toppled Hussein. But we pulled out our troops without securing the victory – leading to the rise of ISIS. ; We withdrew from Syria – leaving that nation to be reclaimed by the brutal Bashar al Asaad under the influence of Russia and Iran.</p>



<p>After President Carter refused to defend the Shah of Iran – an important ally – and allowed the Persian nation to be taken over by the brutal anti-American Islamic regime, we passed on every opportunity to use the military against the despotic Iranian leadership. ; We essentially failed to take our war on terrorism to the heart of international terrorism.</p>



<p>Even as we consider a monument to America’s war on terrorism, we are still at war in Afghanistan. It is our nation’s longest war. ; There has never been a definition or strategy for victory. ; It has been a war of attrition – somehow trying not to lose without really trying to win.</p>



<p>Even now, the discussion regarding Afghanistan is simply about when should we leave. ; It already appears that the Taliban will seize power the minute the last American boot steps onto an escape plane.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">It has been more than 75 years since America has won a significant war. But we have been engaged in one conflict after another ever since.</h4>



<p>Oh … there were a couple of victories. ; American troops ousted the evil Manuel Noriega from Panama and prevented a Communist takeover in Belize. ; Ironically, no one is suggesting we memorialize those victories. ; Perhaps they were too easy, too swift and without the international implications of the bigger conflicts. ; But not celebrating victories as we erect monuments to defeats is more than a little ironic.</p>



<p>We have often heard our Presidents remind us that we are the richest and most powerful nation in the world – by far. ; We have the mightiest military – second to none. ; And yet we cannot win wars against folks who fire machine guns from the back of pick-up trucks.</p>



<p>Shortly after my grandson lost his life in Afghanistan, I wrote of my hope that he wouldn&#8217;t have died in vain. ; As we now talk only of a withdrawal – a euphemism for surrender – I feel my grandson did die in vain. ; We can appreciate his noble intentions and personal sacrifice – and build memorials to his service. But the failure to win the war leaves me with a sense of bitterness toward those in Washington who wasted so many lives and treasure on endless wars we chose not to win.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>