http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/07/world/asia/in-dwindling-afghan-war-air-power-has-become-a-way-of-life.html?hp
"Weary of the costs of a long war, Western military forces have already
begun withdrawing and handing greater security responsibility to Afghan
forces. One worry, several officers said, is that these air operations
have become essential, necessary for ground units that are operating in
contested areas of Afghanistan and hoping to maintain influence, or even
survive. And the Afghan government has nothing to match the role they
play."
Forty years ago the United States, weary of the costs of a
long war, withdrew forces handing greater security responsibilities to
the South Vietnamese. Air operations had become essential to holding
back the North which had begun to mass its units. The South Vietnamese
had nothing to match our air power.
Nixon, to force the South to
sign the Paris Peace Accords, promised that any violation by the North
would be met by substantial US Air and Naval support. The United States
turned its back, forgetting that promise. There was no honor then.
There was only shame.
Draw your own lesson.
