Why do we call Afghanistan the US's longest war?

[Recursion]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine%E2%80%93American_War

The Philippine-American war lasted 14 years. During that time, 4000+ Americans were killed and 3000+ wounded (so, it was roughly the same intensity as Afghanistan). It also featured attempts at nation building, a protracted insurgency, a corrupt local government, anti-US Islamic extremism, and horribly high civilian casualties (1 million or more by some estimates).



(Uncle Sam, chained to the tree of Imperialism and pulled around by a colt labeled "Philippines")

The only person in the US who even seems aware of this war is Petraeus; he used several examples from it in his counterinsurgency doctrine for Iraq.

I know we've had a ton of "forgotten wars" in the US, but this is probably the worst one for us to have amnesia about, given the wars we're currently fighting.

[bring_em_home_bush]

1. because it "officially" began in 1899 and "officially" ended in 1902

after President Emilio Aguinaldo's surrender. But yes, guerrilla resistance continued for many more years, and this is very much a "forgotten war."

[realisticphish]

2. While it's not really the same

the "Indian Wars" could conceivably be given the definition of a continuous war. As soon as settlers crossed the Appalachians (and even before then), I would say there was a constant state of hostility for about 200 years, assuming you include the plains and western tribes. At best, there might be temporary truces and cease-fires, but it was always simmering

[Chulanowa]

3. Becuase it just doesn't!

Fucking facts, getting in the way of talking points!

And that cartoon may have been inspired by some of the shit we were doing to Filipinos. If Americans want to look at a war that had some real atrocities i nthe course of it, this is the one. Makes My Lai look like a sweet 16 party.

[oneshooter]

4. The Korean War has yet to be ended.

There is no surrender or Peace Treaty signed. Only a Cease Fire signed in 1953.

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas