SG I am a two tour combat vet by choice and frankly our soldiers have done okay in recent years. That said the rules of engagement and tactics particulary from Obama forward were wayyyyy past stupid. I had a good CO who drove home the purpose of the military is kill maim and destroy in defense of or in the name of the american people. Nothing else mattered and his stated objective was what I said with this addition. " To get us all home alive" . Once after a situation that we did not know how to deal with he said " when in doubt shoot we will sort it out later " Combat is ugly keeping our people alive and killing the oposition without remorse is required.

I hate war it serves no rational purpose but if you have to fight then you kill the SOB's not run around worrying about perception or how the oposition feels. My CO said one other thing that stuck." When up against a foe who is willing to die for his cause, talking is of no use you simply help him achieve that goal"

That is how you fight a war.