|
Over the last few months, there has been much to celebrate about the display of American military capability. As I've written numerous times, the last year has transformed public perception of the American military, replacing images of the fall of Saigon and Kabul with those of B-2 bombers carrying out a heroic 37-hour operation, or of American commando forces singlehandedly bringing a Venezuelan dictator to justice. We have shown the world—and reminded ourselves—that the United States has both the capability and the will to fight for our freedoms and our national interest. Even many of those skeptical of the particular manner or goals toward which we have deployed our military recognize the sheer courage and unmatched prowess of our military forces.
Most importantly, however, is that while we have reaffirmed our will and our capability, we have also not lost our ethos: leave no man behind. On Easter Sunday, the United States government confirmed rumors that we had exfiltrated our missing airman after he was lost for two days in the mountains of Iran. While his pilot had been quickly recovered, the weapons system officer had landed a significant distance away after ejecting and was forced to climb nearly 7,000 feet and hide in a mountain crevice for safety. The rescue operation, reportedly involving over 100 special operations officers, reads like a spy novel—much like Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Absolute Resolve.
More than that, however, it reads as confirmation of a promise: That the United States lives up to the promises it has made to our military and will leave no one behind. This promise further distinguishes us as the greatest military in the world. Not only are our armed forces the strongest and best-equipped, but America fights both for and with our enlightened principles in achieving our goals—something that our adversaries will never be able to match. As we confront a dangerous geopolitical environment filled with revisionist actors, it is heartening to see from this weekend’s remarkable rescue effort that our military has not forgotten what makes America so special.
God bless our servicemembers and all those involved in ensuring their security, protection, and rescue.
-Carrie Filipetti, Executive Director of the Vandenberg Coalition
|
