I had never before left a job unfinished, yet I was leaving my troops facing a maddening situation: we were playing defense. American policymakers were still restricting necessary tactical actions. I had been raised by Vietnam-era Marines who drummed into me the importance of making sure the policymakers grasped the nature of the war they were responsible for. Don’t get trapped into using halfway measures or leaving safe havens for the enemy. I believed I had spoken clearly. But I hadn’t gotten through.
