Finding Our Way

America’s Dark Night

My nation now knows more about waging war than it does about anything else. We know what can be done with different guns, missiles, fighter planes, even the nicknames given to aircraft carriers. Retired military officers, now TV stars, have explained the details of battle strategy, demonstrated every weapon in America’s arsenal, and paraded soldiers on morning TV wearing the newest battle gear.

I remember listening to a pilot on TV excitedly describe his night vision goggles, how he could see where his bombs landed. When the bombs hit, our TV screens showed only plumes of fire and shattered buildings floating eerily in the air. But this pilot saw the destruction in detail.

I remember using those same night vision goggles. ...