“Do you think we can win in Afghanistan?”
Amanpour: “Secretary Gates, the majority of the American people believe that America can win in Afghanistan, do you think America can win in Afghanistan?”
Gates: “From the time I took this job I have tried both in Iraq and Afghanistan to avoid terms like winning and losing, because they become very loaded in our domestic debate, but they also become loaded around the world.
“I think the key thing is to establish what our objectives are, and can we achieve our objectives”
Wild Thing’s comment………
OMG, that is lilke Obama has said he did not care about a victory.
One thing we know for sure, Gates would never say “I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.” Aren’t we all just equal now?
Thanks to Gates and Obama they must be proud of themselves as they say things like this that raises the enemies’ self-esteem.
Memo to Mr. Gates, well then sir it appears as if you have made a bad career choice. Maybe you should be coaching kindergarten soccer.
When my son was 5 years old and played T-Ball, they wouldn’t say who won or lost as they didn’t want any of the little kids to feel bad. I wonder if Gates realizes this isn’t a T-Ball game? If we’re not in it to win, then we need to get out.
I’m tired of the PC stuff (tie game, everybody wins, let’s go get ice cream!). Where is the incentive for anyone to do any better? I always tell my girls, “well, how can you make it so you do win next time?” and I expect them to learn from losing. It’s part of life. There’s nothing wrong with being on a winning team.
I have been involved in Athletics my whole life, as an Athlete and for 36 years as a High School Coach.
One of the greatest benefits of sports and competition at any level, is the building of character. When you participate, you learn something about yourself, you learn how you compare with the person next to you, You compete not only against someone else but against yourself. If you have any drive or self respect, athletics brings those attributes to the forefront.
Our PC society has been taken over by those who do not have that inner drive to succeed, do not see the value of winning,do not see the respect, not fear that goes toward someone or in the case of War,the Country, who succeeds in emerging victorious.
At one time, this Nation was the leader of the free world, because we were the biggest and the strongest. We used our power to do good and benefit other nations, less able to defend themselves. With this President,who downgrades all that this nation stands for and has accomplished, we are just another kid on the block, subjected to the bullying tactics of others.
We(Our Leaders), have lost their heart and will to be the best, and we the people, are suffering the consequences.
It is that imbued UN philosophy of negotiated truces, it ignores human nature and it’s quest for dominance, all that matters is avarice. Very few of us know the thin line between callous indifference and compassion nor the raw human emotion of survival where you must win or lose to exist. Let’s just pull all the American troops out around the world and stay home to play their game. Wouldn’t that only be fair? That way the world Olympic games of survival can play out in every home for every pacifist’s enjoyment. They’re reasonable, why, just talk to ’em!!!!
Hi Sean,
One of the greatest benefits of sports and competition at any level, is the building of character.
Our leaders (I use the term loosely) have no character.
If we can’t talk about winning, then what is the alternative ?
The Habit of Winning
by Vince Lombardi
“Winning is not a sometime thing. You don’t win once-in-a-while. You don’t do things right once-in-a-while. You do them right all the time.
Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game, and that is first place. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay, and I don’t ever want to finish second again. There is a second place bowl game–but it is a game for losers played by losers. It is and always has been an American zeal to be the first in anything we do and to win, and to win, and to win.”
This is what patton talked about in that speech. ‘American’s love a winner and won’t tolerate a loser.’ We haven’t been allowed to win a war since, in 64 years.
We have the equipment, the know how and the best trained Troops in the world but we don’t have a leader with any kind of spine to use them.
Somebody said, watch what obama does not what he says, he talks a good game but doesn’t have the guts to run it up the middle and in for the touchdown. It’s 4th and inches and the gutless Soutpiel Puppet will defer the TD to be fair. He’s a gutless hack.
During our airlifts to Islamabad Pakistan in the 80s we ferried Mujahadeen rebels to get medical care in the US and then back to Islamabad. I asked them after they got their new limbs and glass eye balls, “Where is your home?” They replied, “No home to go to… Go back to KILL more Russians!” These guys are FEARLESS to the max…….
This is what we’re up against folks! They die and get eternal poontang in their casbah harem from 72 virgins and they really mean business!
BobF., thanks for sharing about that.
I feel so strongly that there always
should be win or lose involved at
all ages.
Lynn, me too so much. This PC stuff
is destroying the character of our
country and to have it in the
military is dangerous.
SEAN, DITTO all you said and thank you so
much for sharing about being a coach.
I agree totally.
Well said SEAN.
Jack, so true, excellent way of describing it.
Mark, that was great, thank you.
Darth, thank you so much for sharing about
that. Wow see yes that is what we are up
against and Obama etc. ignore it and don’t
care what our troops face 24/7.
They need to be able to let the R.O.E go and
do what they are best at.