We Americans have ended 2010 engaged in two lingering, bitter, costly, unpopular, long-term wars – in Iraq and in Afghanistan. And sadly, we enter the new year of 2011 engaged in the same wars.
These are conflicts we cannot easily, quickly or perfectly win – but that we cannot afford to abandon, either.
Both of our two wars surely will be “different” in 2011. There will be changes that we cannot accurately predict, but must deal with lest there be worse consequences – such as terrorists seizing control of Iraq or Afghanistan in our absence.
Our options are neither clear nor satisfactory.
There will be losses of lives, huge expenses and some other painful results.