Originally Posted by
David A. Rowe
I will say that the reality is not at all like you imagine. It's difficult to relate what it's like when those things that these men have done and still do is your every day job. When you do things people can't imagine 16-20 hours a day for months. I can't relate to you what it feels like to spend a few days breaking down all the equipment and vehicles and hopping a C-17 flight back stateside. You pop in and out of two worlds that couldn't be more different like changing hats. After a while... downrange feels more like home than iPhones and top songs on the radio. You see a little more in common with the Taliban fighter who's your mortal enemy than the average American who just wants to mash the dopamine button. You can't help but respect him more, too.
Now, two decades later, I both want the president to secure the mission and redeploy everyone home... and I can't let go of the fact that the names on my arm are there solely because they were men who chose a hard path. That their government and country don't deserve them. Just like Jake. Imagine if two 8 year administrations had done what needed to be done. If we had been set loose to annihilate our enemies and built more schools. How many classes could have graduated with some education and skills? If the Taliban were truly gone and Afghans could generate their own wealth?
I don't know if the SEALs were sold out. I don't know if OBL is dead. I don't know if any of this constitutes the facts... the ground truth of what happened. All I know is that they aren't coming back, and we have more pressing concerns. And they wouldn't want us worried about them instead of the task at hand.