How do you think history will remember OIF/OEF?

2014-11-18T21:08:12-05:00

Fifty plus years from now, how do you think history will remember OIF/OEF? Do you believe that they will be remembered as just or unjust wars? Will school children learn of the larger operations like Operation Anaconda in the way we learned about individual WWII battles, or will they be overlooked in order to present the conflicts in a more macro fashion? How do you think future text books and our future culture will look upon this generation of warfighters and the conflicts they took part in?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 9:11 PM

2014-11-18T21:11:01-05:00

They will still try to twist the truth.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Nov 19 at 2014 10:36 PM

2014-11-19T22:36:22-05:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Its hard to project, but my money's on more similarity to Vietnam and Korea than WWII.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 19 at 2014 10:42 PM

2014-11-19T22:42:48-05:00

I'm almost afraid to follow this thread.

Response by MAJ Chris Ballard made Nov 25 at 2014 12:02 PM

2014-11-25T12:02:33-05:00

I think they will probably be viewed in a larger context of many American wars in the Middle East, starting with Lebanon in the 80s through the Gulf War in the 90s, etc., though I think it will take longer than 50 years to get that perspective. I don't think school children will learn of Operation Anaconda or Phantom Fury in the way we learned of The Battle of The Bulge or Iwo Jima. Most of the public is just too far removed from the war.

Also, it lacks the moral clarity of WWII, which is one of the things that makes it so nostalgic. Though I am proud of my service there, I can't help but think that history will show it as a costly series of bad ideas, wishful thinking, and lost opportunities.

Response by SSG(P) Jarrod Taylor made Apr 5 at 2016 9:08 AM

2016-04-05T09:08:32-04:00

This is certainly an interesting question. I am a history teacher now, and our generation's wars are showing up in textbooks. 50 years from now, I think these wars will be looked upon in ways that are comparable to how we study the Vietnam War, but without all of the discussion of social inequalities and the draft.

I can also see these wars being taught as a series of ongoing Middle East conflicts, where major policy changes and political movements are the focus, rather than actions on the ground. I was once told by a history teacher that the most important things to teach about war are the things that happen before and after. As a veteran, I tend to disagree. I believe that there are lessons to be learned from the service and sacrifices of those in uniform, regardless of the politics surrounding the war in question.

I wonder what great films, poetry, and literature will come from our wars? Will there be a 21st century Hemingway? What fantastic pieces will be read and analyzed to help students understand what life was like in combat?

It'll be interesting to see...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2016 9:11 AM

2016-04-05T09:11:12-04:00

Why don't you write me a 1000 word essay on it, Sarge.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2016 9:12 AM

2016-04-05T09:12:01-04:00

History is written by the victor.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2016 9:12 AM

2016-04-05T09:12:55-04:00

Iraq will be written about differently than Afghanistan. They were started for different reasons.

Response by SSG Michael Scott made Apr 5 at 2016 9:17 AM

2016-04-05T09:17:19-04:00

Civil War took 4 years, WWI 2,3,4 years, WWII 4 years. Why did OEF/OIF take 12-14 years????

Response by SSG Brian Hall made Apr 5 at 2016 11:20 AM

2016-04-05T11:20:38-04:00

It did go longer than Viet Nam, but the casualties were much fewer.

Response by SSgt Chris Blackmore made Apr 5 at 2016 11:43 AM

2016-04-05T11:43:01-04:00

It will be viewed as unjust. The 9-11 hijackers were SAUDI. Why exactly did we go after Iraq and Afghanistan?? One three letter word. OIL I'm sure I'll get blasted for this, but come on. Really?? Iraq and Afghanistan??

Response by PO1 Aaron Baltosser made Apr 5 at 2016 3:35 PM

2016-04-05T15:35:59-04:00

How it is remembered greatly depends in who is writing the history. Will it be written by haters of Bush and be described as an illegal lie filled war based on oil? Will it be written by the men and women that served there, that saw firsthand the carastrophic results of Hussein regime? Talked with Kurds that survived poison gas attacks that killed more than 100,000 Kurds. You may gain perspective, but unless you were involed in either you can't gain experience in those theaters. The Iraqi people were liberated from a dictator that would rape and murder at will. Talk with the 600+ EOD personnel that were horribly injured while getting rid of a couple hundred thousand rounds of chemical weapons. Afterward if you can write about it as an invasion and not a liberation of two countries I don't know what to tell you. Taliban are as horrible an influence as Hussein was. General Mattis is right. Some assholes just need to get shot.