Top officer offers a dire assessment on Afghanistan

Boston Globe ^ | 26 August 2009 | Bryan Bender

[dools007]

Exactly how do you conclude that by my definition England was not TOTALLY defeated?

I understand that you’re a Bushbot. But, the facts are what they are. The War of Independence was not over with the Patriot’s Bunker Hill victory. It had only just begun. The war ended with the British surrender at Yorktown and subsequent withdrawl from British Colonial America. The British were militarily TOTALLY defeated in America.

Similarly, the initial defeat of the Taliban in Afghanistan and Saddam’s army were only the opening battles in the War on Terror. Anyone who thought that would be the end of Islamo Terrorism was (I’m being charitable here) unrealistic. And you’re belief that we should have just packed up and gone home after the initial victories is ludicrous. As Patton once said “I don’t like taking the same real estate twice”.

Pulling American soldiers out of the Middle East and then sending them back to retake ground they had already gained is a concept only a demrat or RINO could endorse.

Oh, by the way, did or do you have a son or daughter soldier? Only someone with no vested interest in seeing the war actually won could think like you do. My son was deployed in harm’s way four times.

I’m OK with first two deployments—Kosovo and Afghanistan. I’m not okay with two subsequent deployments to Iraq. Actually I think America should not have to be involved with the Middle East at all. But we are dependent on it because the left in this country—and, I suspect, people like you—will not permit us to drill for our own oil.

[csmusaret]

I didn’t send my children I went myself. Your juvenile name calling doesn’t make your arguements any better, but it does tell me all all I need to know about your character. Please don’t waste any more of my time.

[airborne]

Destroy the poppy crops, where the Taliban gets the bulk of their money.

Use our superior technology to designate targets and use our superior Air Force to decimate those targets.

Repeat both as necessary.

[Night Hides Not]

I think a bit more respect is owed csm. If I read his handle correctly, he's a retired Army Command Sergeant Major. You just can't get much higher as a noncommissioned officer.

And I laud and respect you and your family for your contributions to this country.

Back on-topic: I'm withholding judgment until I see what the plan is for Afghanistan. So far, there is no clear objective. Worse yet, there appears to be no political will shown by our leadership to do what's necessary to win in Afghanistan.

Based on my limited knowledge of Afghanistan's history, the odds are stacked against us as it is.

[Palin Republic]

The original objective was to pacify the Taliban.

Mission creep led us into Pakistan and nation building.

But if we leave, China will be happy to step in and colonize one of the oldest Indo-European nations.

[MinorityRepublican]

We shouldn't try to stabilize Afghanistan. We should focus on making Kabul a thriving city-state and make that the metropolis of Afghanistan. Improve education and develop the economy in Kabul. Ignore the hinterlands, we'll just use Marines and Drones to keep the Taliban in check. That would be my strategy if I was the President. Shooting the moon in Afghanistan is not going to work. The British tried and so did the Russians, so why would we be any different?