This is why we're losing Afghanistan...

Major Joseph R. Jackson, the lead governance and development advisor with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, directs Marines as they escort Holly Barnes, the field program manager of the District Stabilization Team in Kajaki for the U.S. Agency for International Development, on a patrol here, March 13, 2012. The Marines escorted officials from USAID and the U.S. Department of State to the bazaar to meet with local business owners and workers at the health clinic. For the first time since 2006, businesses began returning to the Tangye Bazaar after coalition forces cleared the area of insurgents and brought security to the Kajaki district center.  Photo by Sgt. Jacob Harrer

Lance Corporal Juan R. Sanchezvelazquez, a motor transport operator with Golf Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, walks across a bridge here during a patrol into the Tangye Bazaar, March 13, 2012. The Marines escorted officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Marine Corps to the bazaar to meet with local business owners and workers at the health clinic here. For the first time since 2006, businesses began returning to the Tangye Bazaar after coalition forces cleared the area of insurgents and brought security to the Kajaki district center.  Photo by Sgt. Jacob Harrer

Corporal Diego E. Castaneda, a motor transport mechanic and assistant patrol leader with Golf Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, directs his Marines during a patrol here, March 13, 2012. The Marines escorted officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Marine Corps to the bazaar to meet with local business owners and workers at the health clinic. For the first time since 2006, businesses began returning to the Tangye Bazaar after coalition forces cleared the area of insurgents and brought security to the Kajaki district center.  Photo by Sgt. Jacob Harrer

Lance Cpl. Paul L. Mares, a cannonier with Golf Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, provides rear security with his M240 light machine gun during a patrol here, March 13, 2012. The Marines escorted officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Marine Corps to the bazaar to meet with local business owners and workers at the health clinic. For the first time since 2006, businesses began returning to the Tangye Bazaar after coalition forces cleared the area of insurgents and brought security to the Kajaki district center.  Photo by Sgt. Jacob Harrer

Read the captions above.

Then do what I finally did and step back and think about the implications of Sgt Harrer's words.

Marines are supporting the US Agency for International Development.

Think about that in the larger context of the war.

We're no longer about chasing down the bad guys.  If that was the case then we could pull out and let SOCOM do there thing the right way.  WITHOUT SUPPORT OF CONVENTIONAL UNITS.  I mean they are elite right?

No, we have thousands of Marines and Soldiers in country trying to develop a primitive culture...trying to get women's rights for women that don't want it...in essence we're fighting a war of special interests.

The powers that be are trying to make this back water country into a mini USA.

That's why we're losing.  Classic counter insurgency failed.  It failed because we've bastardized the concept.

And for that I blame military leadership of all services.

Mission accomplishment first.

Troop welfare second.

We can't accomplish this mission.  Time to leave now.  We know it, the Afghan's know it and the American public knows it.

Time for military leadership to finally admit the truth and end this waste of money and lives.