Letters: The drone war

Re “Afghans recall deaths by drone,” Dec. 1

The United States has not won a war in Asia since World War II. The difference between World War II and Afghanistan is asymmetrical warfare.

In World War II, Japan had capabilities and equipment similar to the U.S. Its soldiers wore uniforms. That war was symmetrical, and we won.

In Vietnam, the enemy often dressed like everybody else and fought mostly guerrilla style. That is asymmetrical warfare.

In Iraq, President George W. Bush sought to overthrow a dictator, thinking Iraqis would welcome U.S. intervention. They didn’t. It wasn’t long before we were fighting ordinary Iraqis who took up arms. These are the people we thought we had liberated.

Now we are conducting a campaign of aerial terror in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The drones are devastating the civilian population, indicating we are not solving the problem of asymmetry. We can never win such a war and must remain militarily out of them.

Geri A. Mellgren-Kerwin

Burbank

ALSO:

Letters: When enough stuff is enough

Letters: Pope Francis pushes his church

Letters: Gender equality vs. the rape crisis