Something I've not seen here but should be noted regarding our "not winning" in Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan, is the fact that our troops in those wars were severely handicapped having to "fight" under the "Rules of Engagement." Those highly restrictive "Rules of Engagement" came from various Presidents/Commanders In Chief, State Departments, and sanctimonious politicians. They told our generals and admirals, "Go over there and fight ... but you can't, you can't , you can't, you can't, you can't ..........................."
Lincoln's "Rules of Engagement" to Grant, Sherman, etc., were, "Go kill the enemy, win this war, and get it over with, whatever it takes."
Were there to have been a bunch of Southern ragtag guerilla bands operating in the northern border States, Lincoln's "Rules of Engagement" would have been the same. "Go kill the enemy, win this war, and get it over with, whatever it takes."
Onerous, restrictive "Rules of Engagement" don't win wars.
L.W.
