[Shark Bait]

Originally Posted by sandytroop

Shark Bait and I soldiered together, and he knows... I was always big on the indig / cultural element. I think anyone raised watching the Vietnam War on TV and reading the books that followed could hardly resist the idea of helping people build their own free country, one secure village at a time. I always believed (still do, actually) that no investment matches the blood of patriots, and if people suffer to build their own country, it really is their country and they have an interest in the success of that enterprise. If Americans are willing to do the same, stand with them, teach them, guide where it's useful, while respecting the local "way", it can build loyalties and international relationships that no Secretary of State can compete with. Wars eventually end; Guerrilla commanders become Army Generals, Underground operatives become Senators, and an SF Team can be the catalyst for that growth beyond just thinning out the bad guy population.

Extremely well put Sandytroop!!