AEI and bouncing back from small wars

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Thursday, September 24, 2009 - 6:21 PM Share

Speaking of invading Iraq: The American Enterprise Institute may have been wrong about that launching that war, which I believe has been the biggest mistake in the history of American foreign policy. But, hey, everyone makes mistakes. They are holding what looks to be a good conference Friday about irregular warfare and psychological resiliency.

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EXPLORE:HEALTH, IRAQ, MILITARY

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SOLDIERSDIARY

7:10 PM ET

September 24, 2009

suicicde numbers

Although suicide rates are higher than they have been in recent menory. I am curious if anyone has info on what the rates were in past conflicts. I don't think it is fair to compare current rates to that of the cold war military.
What were the rates during Vietnam? WWII? Knowing these numbers may more accuratly reflect how well the army handles the well-being of the force during times of continues deployments and conflict.

TOM RICKS

7:26 PM ET

September 24, 2009

Talk about highest ever

I heard some talk recently that they are the highest ever. I remember reading that the rate in the post-Civil War Indian-fighting Army was very high.

ADMIRAL

9:38 PM ET

September 24, 2009

AEI

A front for professional liars, arms merchants, spies and neocon war criminals. Just another crime family in the DC mafia.

SEANMCBRIDE

1:31 AM ET

September 25, 2009

Banishment to Mars

Money quote from Thomas Ricks on the Iraq War: "the biggest mistake in the history of American foreign policy." How is it that a think tank that enjoys major responsibility for this "mistake" (oops) is still in business? Shouldn't all AEI members be banished to the hinterlands, or Mars? And they are still agitating to expand the Iraq War to all the nations on the Clean Break target list, with not the slightest indication of shame or apologies for the multi-trillion dollar disaster in Iraq. Imagine if a management team had done to, say, Microsoft, what the AEI has done to the United States. There would be accountability. Heads would roll.

CHARLIEFORD

1:40 PM ET

September 25, 2009

Wouldn't LBJ's decision to . . .

. . . escalate in Vietam look like a worse decision (at least at this point)? Or, was there more "choice" involved in the Iraq decision, and that exacerbates the mistake?

KOTKINJS1

1:46 PM ET

September 25, 2009

AEI hasn't learned anything.....

....and they're trying to force the same BS down our throats again:

http://www.understandingwar.org/press-media/commentary/afghanistan-force-requirements%20

The question is, will 'we' the taxpayer learn anything and let them cajole our government into doing it again?