Our goals in war are determined by politicians
To win the hearts or make enemies pay
Changing minds harder than destruction
Creating a vacuum easier than to sway
Though revenge and destruction create a hole
To be filled by terrorists after we’re gone
Per chance making them pay for their actions
Better than training them to govern alone
Peace through superior firepower
Requires a return when new powers use force
Clear objectives and a plan for withdrawal
Transparency begins at the source
For changing hearts and minds a fool’s game
The course of action with the least loss
Should be upmost in the minds of leaders
Ever mindful of how great the cost
When we drag out action with no clear plan
Sons and daughters sacrificed for naught
Ending up mired in a swamp of uselessness
Like a spider’s web our forces caught
No true leader mentions acceptable loss
When no reasonable objective exists
Given a mission which gains nothing
For glory unable to resist
Save our troops and use maximum force
Send a message to the terrorists lust
We value our troops more than your people
If you attack us in no mercy trust
JBentley-07April2023