Disclaimer: War is not glamorous, war is not beautiful, war is not romantic. War, as defined by Clausewitz “is an act of violence to compel our opponent to fulfill our will.” Therefore, war is brutal, ugly, cruel, repulsive — add your own descriptor.
We have seen too many stomach-turning images of our casualties of war.
A Foreign Policy “photo essay” shows what war — civil war, sectarian war, whatever form of war — really looks like and what it has done to the people in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Why the long “disclaimer”?
Because even in war moments and images can be captured by the lens that can be striking, hauntingly beautiful and emotive. Because these images — despite the nature of the beast — show the courage and the loneliness of our troops; their awesome responsibilities, dedication and vulnerability; the splendor but also the remoteness and desolation of their patrols and duty locations.
The following images, taken by military photographers, are presented here in that spirit.
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Sean Abrusci provides security during a patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 5, 2013. Abrusci is assigned to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment.
Lead image: Airman 1st Class Alec Blackmon provides security overwatch as the sun goes down at Camp Oqab in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Ben Bloker)
All photos and captions: DOD
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.