Time to fold e’m up!

Today is Memorial Day here in USA, when we remember the soldiers who died for our country. Memorial Day becomes even more poignant when we have our soldiers currently fighting and sacrificing their lives overseas.
I have been reading and watching news stories related to the trials and sufferings of USA military in Iraq and Afghanistan. In both countries, our service men and women live in extremely dangerous surroundings, under attack by an enemy they cannot see (like it was in Viet Nam?) The stealth attacks on them with bombs and IED’s are getting more sophisticated, and frequent (they average over 80 a day in Iraq!).
In USA, we are told that our military is in Iraq and Afghanistan to make the lives of the people there better -- by establishing democracy and removing terrorists. It is very clear that the Iraqi and Afghani people do not see things the same way. Most of them hate Americans, and want them out of their country right away. (Today’s news story about the riots in Afghanistan is ironic in its timing). The USA military personnel, comprised mostly of young men in early twenties, are equally frustrated and angry. They know they are not appreciated, and that every ‘local’ can be an enemy who wants to kill them. Some vent their frustrations by committing horrible atrocities like what happened in Abu Ghraib and Haditha. Altogether USA is in a no-win situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, with no end in sight. It is high time for USA ‘fold e’m up' and come back.
“You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run”
– The Gambler, by Kenny Rogers