"Duty Faithfully Performed"

“In many ways I think we can all take some satisfaction — regardless of whether you are for or against how we got into Iraq, the fact is we can take some satisfaction in the fact that we are now heading them in the right direction,” Panetta told an audience of U.S. diplomats Wednesday at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

In the end, Panetta described the purpose of the war as an attempt to turn Iraq into a stable, self-governing democracy after decades of dictatorship under Saddam Hussein. During his trip to Afghanistan, he did not name Hussein directly and made no mention of the failed search for weapons of mass destruction, which the Bush administration had cited as justification for the 2003 invasion."  Washpost

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"I need not tell the brave survivors of so many hard-fought battles, who have remained steadfast to the last, that I have consented to the result from no distrust of them. But, feeling that valor and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that must have attended the continuance of the contest, I determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen." 

"You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed; and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you his blessing and protection."   Lee

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It seems apt.  pl

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iraq-war-draws-to-quiet-close/2011/12/14/gIQAPEjLvO_story_1.html

Comments

[toto]

So... we lost?

[Fred]

Very apt.

[walrus]

Now to quit Afghanistan.

[confusedponderer]

One would hope that American politicians, or politicians everywhere for that matter, are determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose serve their countries.

[The Moar You Know]

The question for those interested in peace is - how do we stop this from happening again?

I don't have an answer to this question, by the way. Just asking.

[jr786]

The best thing that come out of all this is some mechanism, some forced imposition of patient, thorough and transparent determination of the national interest before we ever go to war under the same circumstances as we did in Iraq.

It looks as if fate will give us another chance.

[Bobo]

May God extend his blessings and protection to this young couple pictured as only he knows the difficult path they have chosen while we mere mortals need to insure our government upholds its promises in assisting them as they move through life.

[Farmer-don]

Other than they are both speeches at the end of a war, they have nothing in common that I can see.

Lee's at least had a purpose, to help ensure the fighting would stop, and healing could begin.

The Iraq war was so pathetic, that even a good reason for it having been fought could not be found by the speaker.

[Matthew]

Walrus: We are entering the age of Reverse Dollar Diplomacy. See http://www.zerohedge.com/news/imf-says-europe-needs-external-assistance-russia-pledges-use-proceeds-sale-us-treasurys-help-eu

[Doug Tunnell]

Hear ! Hear !

[The Moar You Know]

Haunting photo. The look of unmitigated terror on the bride's face should haunt the dreams of everyone who has seen that photo. I hope God helps them out a lot because the challenge they are facing is beyond the scope of mortals to deal with.

[Fred]

I believe it is still 'condition yellow' in every square inch of the Republic.

[Jim Ticehurst]

"We are not defined by Tragedy...But How We Carry On.."

[William R. Cumming]

Exactly when does the US turn over Iraqi Airspace to the Iraqis?

[Mark Logan]

Farmer Don,

Panetta tried to say what Lee did, but was very clumsy. Lee's eloquence was needed, IMO.

I have the flu today, and was laying on the couch watching the casing of the colors ceremony. The CNN commentators were pressing their people on the scene to make comments. The mindless, ignorant hacks would have them yakking into their mikes right at the moment the colors were being furled. I am most pleased they had the decency to remain silent and leave the people who were talking into their ear pieces to just piss-off.

Our guys performed splendidly, and paid the awful price. That's all we are honoring here today.

[VietnamVet]

Colonel;

A few comments on the furling of the flags of the Iraq War that will not be mentioned by the pundits:

Vietnam Vets said “Never again”. Again happened; once again.

The 20 year war with Iraq has ended with the increase in Iranian influence as the only significant outcome.

The combination of Israel first neo-cons and for profit warriors was unstoppable.

As for the future:

The world economy implodes with the collapse of the Euro. The Israelis risk Armageddon with the attack on Iran. The War Profiteers will push for a second Mexican Incursion. The Elite will hire more rent a cops to guard their gated communities from the offspring of the collapsing American Middle Class

[Chil]

They've gone their separate ways.

[New Orleans]

If the Vietnam generation couldn't remember the lessons of the Gulf of Tonkin, we can have no expectation that subsequent generations will grasp the lessons of WMD.

[bth]

"...the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed..." beautifully put.

[turcopolier]

bth

Drafted by Lt. Col. Charles Marshall, a cousin of George C. Marshall. Lee changed about three words in the draft. pl

[securecare]

The words of a gentleman.

[bth]

Col., so I was interviewed by NPR Here and Now about the end of the war today and got an opportunity to slip in the spirit Lt. Col. Marshall's phrase as, "The American soldier can leave with the satisfaction that comes from a duty faithfully performed." It seemed appropriate.