This is Sobering Assessment

This is a sobering assessment by General Conway, straight talk and to the point.

The theme of the annual convention, sponsored by AFCEA International and the U.S. Naval Institute, was, "U.S. at a Crossroads: Where - and How - After Iraq." The theme was addressed in many speeches and forums over three days, but General James Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, chose to focus on the current hot wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and their impact.

Surprisingly, the plain-speaking general, characterizing both fights as "the first battles of a long, long war against terrorism," said he does not expect it will be America that wins them.

"It's not a war that we can win," Conway said. "It is a war that moderates in the region must win over time for us to eventually be successful. It has to be handled from within."

Wars driven by religious extremists have happened several times before in history. Foreign forces alone cannot prevail. "They (the moderates) are the ones who have to decide that they've had enough," Conway said.

Conway goes on to take assessment of Afghanistan. It is an important read, in full, as it will almost certainly be taken out of context when the press gets a hold of it. Political agenda's aside, we observe a call for clear strategy, comprehensive, core to gap and interconnected from civilian to military. Talking points are cheap, bumper stickers are shallow.

General Conway yearns for what Americans are looking for 6+ years after 9/11, solutions. He states with conviction the Marines are ready, the question that lingers is who else is willing to step up, and while unstated, he is looking to Washington for leadership.

Show me the elected official post 9/11 who can't manage the challenges we face, or wants to turn and run from those challenges, and I'll show you a person not fit for the seat they fill as a leader of our nation. Obama, Clinton, McCain, ... rhetoric is cheap and simple solutions to complex problems demonstrate a lack of aptitude expected from Commander in Chief.

Great article. Read it all.