The Afghanistan Quagmire
By: Les Carpenter III
Rational Nation USA
General Petraeus emphatically making the pitch for a continued presence in Afghanistan. At least until the job is done. Whatever, and whenever that may be. Does anyone else hear the argument for the Military Industrial Complex? Or is it just me?
Perhaps I am missing something here, and if I am please correct me. We have been in Afghanistan for nine years and have failed thus far to accomplish the mission of capturing or terminating the life of Osama Bin Laden. We have failed to eradicate the presence of the Taliban. We have failed to win the hearts and minds of the majority of the Afghani people.
So after nine years, other than satisfying the initial desire to get even with the 911 perpetrators, what have we actually accomplished. It seems very little of lasting value to the US, or the world at large for that matter. Given this why in the world would anyone believe a continued presence and loss of American lives will result in a final "victory."
America is without question the most powerful military power in the world. Given this there is little, if any doubt but what America could have decisively won in Afghanistan and brought our troops home much sooner. The fact we haven't gives credence to the notion we stay engaged in Afghanistan for other reasons.
Shades of Vietnam anyone?
Cross posted to Left Coast Rebel.
Via: Memeorandum
Rational Nation USA
General Petraeus emphatically making the pitch for a continued presence in Afghanistan. At least until the job is done. Whatever, and whenever that may be. Does anyone else hear the argument for the Military Industrial Complex? Or is it just me?
Perhaps I am missing something here, and if I am please correct me. We have been in Afghanistan for nine years and have failed thus far to accomplish the mission of capturing or terminating the life of Osama Bin Laden. We have failed to eradicate the presence of the Taliban. We have failed to win the hearts and minds of the majority of the Afghani people.
So after nine years, other than satisfying the initial desire to get even with the 911 perpetrators, what have we actually accomplished. It seems very little of lasting value to the US, or the world at large for that matter. Given this why in the world would anyone believe a continued presence and loss of American lives will result in a final "victory."
America is without question the most powerful military power in the world. Given this there is little, if any doubt but what America could have decisively won in Afghanistan and brought our troops home much sooner. The fact we haven't gives credence to the notion we stay engaged in Afghanistan for other reasons.
Shades of Vietnam anyone?
Cross posted to Left Coast Rebel.
Via: Memeorandum
I'm all for helping people escape tyranny, but I think it's a lost cause when the people won't raise up themselves to fight for their own freedom, and most don't seem to care.
ReplyDeleteYour point is well expressed Gorges. And spot on
ReplyDeleteI think we needed to go into both Iraq and Afghanistan, but not to spend years there. What we need to do in the case of any country that is determined to be a threat, is to throw everything we have at removing any possibility/capacity of those in that country harming us again.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, bomb the crap out of them.
If they want to choose to create a free and prosperous society, they can abandon their failed, destructive ways and do it. Most Americans would be more than willing to help the people of a country that is seriously trying to change to a free society.
If not, their choices are also their consequences. They are free to destroy their own country, but if they try to harm me or mine, we unleash the fury.
I don't think any good has ever come out of having politicians involved in directing wars. They need to leave it up to the professionals, people who are actually competent.