Should we keep sending more troops to Mosul?

Agreed. There's no reason for suicide missions unless it's to bring MIA/POW home! Even then, red ants are there deadliest in large number!!! Even nature knows this!

We all remember the results of " the surge" don't we?

I agree but the only way to make it all better is to make that place a home to americans like in Germany or Korea because a little presense is not going to do anything. It would be a diffrent thing if it were a 2-3 years rotation for NCO's to just train the local forces. We need to show why it matters not just how to fight. This will not be achieved by only force and no connections or friendships forged with the local populase.

How long should we be a presence in any given theater? We've been in AFG for 15 years now. What is the end game? When can we realistically consider the war won and the mission accomplished?

PO1 Rodney Bracey - great question. I would say we have been Korea double that having served 3 hardship tours in various locations on the peninsula. The point is we the US Military are and will always be needed to help allies.

SFC Stephen King - After 15 years, are we helping AFG or just have too much invested to pull out and let nature run its course?

I think Sir the best thing right now is to listen to the troops (our side) and give them what they need to have and let them do what they need to do and have congress back it up 99.9%. I think now is the time for it since we are going back the way America was before. That in support as to what you have replied based on the main tread of discussion. It didn't work pulling out too early, because its not on the soldiers point of view who are boots on the ground who said it was good to leave. President Bush said it was over but to me that is a motivational quote for us (military) to finish what we needed to do and get it done. We came close but, it was cut too short.... this is just on my opinion. What we need to do is train the Iraqi forces more which is being done now by exposing them on real combat so they will get more experience. They already have enough tools for their internal issues to be solved. We left them a bunch of materials there to use, from wheeled vehicles and handheld weapon systems.

CPL Eric Escasio, agreed. I would also point out that we still have troops in Germany and Japan, and they are a force for stabilization of the world.

The same thing was becoming true in Iraq before our troops were pulled out prematurely, and the world has gone to hell in a hand basket ever since.