Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A Decade Later, The Taliban Wins
IBD Editorials ^ | June 22, 2011 | Staff

Posted on 06/22/2011 5:33:41 PM PDT by Kaslin

War On Terror: Opposing our military brass once again, the president announces the pullout of 30,000 troops from Afghanistan. With complete withdrawal expected by 2014, the Taliban now know they've won the long war.

More than 1,500 U.S. service personnel have been killed during nearly a decade of war in Afghanistan. In October, when the 10-year anniversary of the conflict is commemorated, we can expect the White House to make the most of the milestone by declaring victory.

But when the Taliban come swarming back down out of the mountains and across the border from Pakistan, and either take over or become a big part of the Afghan government, the families of the fallen are going to ask the obvious question: What did our loved ones die for?

What answer will the commander in chief have for them? How will he convince them that the blood of over 1,500 Americans was not spilled in vain when Afghan women are once again flogged under Sharia law for crimes like appearing in public unaccompanied by a blood relative, or not wearing a burqa?

When the Taliban once again make Afghanistan a haven for al-Qaida or other terrorist groups plotting to murder Americans within our homeland, how will Barack Obama convince anyone that his Afghan policy was a victory strategy?

Three years ago next month, during the campaign summer of 2008, candidate Obama said of Afghanistan, "This is a war that we have to win." He blamed the Bush administration for allowing the "dumb" conflict in Iraq to consume resources desperately needed in what we were to believe he considered "the smart war."

"I have argued for years," Obama said back then, "that we lack the resources to finish the job because of our commitment to Iraq."

(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-47 next last

1 posted on 06/22/2011 5:33:46 PM PDT by Kaslin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

“the smart war.”

Smarter than Obama’s advisers.


2 posted on 06/22/2011 5:37:09 PM PDT by Brilliant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
Three years ago next month, during the campaign summer of 2008, candidate Obama said of Afghanistan, "This is a war that we have to win." He blamed the Bush administration for allowing the "dumb" conflict in Iraq to consume resources desperately needed in what we were to believe he considered "the smart war."

There is a technical term for people like Barry, the acronym for which is LSS.

3 posted on 06/22/2011 5:37:09 PM PDT by colorado tanker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
Hmmmmmm, It kinda reminds me of an old saying my father used to quote that goes something like:

"He who first calls for the spirit of truce shows weakness, and in the face of his enemy he surrenders."

Yup in the eyes of the Taliban we surrender! Now all we need to do is negotiate the terms by dotting the I's and crossing the T's. Then grab all our toys, leave the sandbox, and go home.

4 posted on 06/22/2011 5:45:21 PM PDT by R_Kangel (`.`)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Obama has SURRENDERED to the Taliban.......


5 posted on 06/22/2011 5:45:29 PM PDT by Gator113 ("GAME ON." I'll be voting for Sarah Palin, Liberty, our Constitution and American Exceptionalism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
But when the Taliban come swarming back down out of the mountains and across the border from Pakistan, and either take over or become a big part of the Afghan government, the families of the fallen are going to ask the obvious question: What did our loved ones die for?

That reminds me of the film of the young John Kerry confronting them about the Vietnam war: "How do ask someone to be the last man to die for a mistake?"

6 posted on 06/22/2011 5:50:55 PM PDT by BlackVeil
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gator113

“Obama has SURRENDERED to the Taliban.......”

Why not? He’s bowed to everyone else.

History, if there will be a future to write it from, will not be kind to Obama. Small consolation to the families of our dead, that.

I don’t think they totally died in vain because their sacrifice helped keep us safe for the last 10 years, but this is one hell of an insult to their memory.


7 posted on 06/22/2011 5:54:54 PM PDT by Norm Lenhart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Gator113
Obama has SURRENDERED to the Taliban.......

AfPak IS the Taliban.

8 posted on 06/22/2011 5:57:02 PM PDT by Jim Noble (The Constitution is overthrown. The Revolution is betrayed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Our troops should not be asked to fight except in the clear national interest, with a goal of victory, and which is pursued with all that’s necessary to achieve that goal. Obviously Afghanistan does not fit that model.


9 posted on 06/22/2011 5:57:24 PM PDT by luvbach1 (Stop Obamania in 2012)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

That would be Tahl-eee-bahn


10 posted on 06/22/2011 5:59:41 PM PDT by bigbob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: luvbach1

Ditto to your post!!! I propose a new model with the Gadsden flag as the symbol - cross the US at your own peril, defend and detect threats, massive reprisal guaranteed. Would have worked in both Iraq and Afghanistan.


11 posted on 06/22/2011 6:04:26 PM PDT by T-Bird45 (It feels like the seventies, and it shouldn't.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: colorado tanker

Baraq will get a free pass from the MSM.

I’ve not watched a bit of it tonight, but I can predict the pundits will be praising Baraq’s wisdom and comparing him to the “unreasonable” Bush.


12 posted on 06/22/2011 6:05:00 PM PDT by nascarnation
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: colorado tanker

Try using lieing sack of fecal material, that can be used in public.


13 posted on 06/22/2011 6:10:35 PM PDT by phormer phrog phlyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

The US falls to liars and crooks. Not surprising since both sides now are run by are liars and crooks. Oh, well, why blame the Taliban?. Surrender here, occured long before we pull out of Afghanistan.


14 posted on 06/22/2011 6:12:05 PM PDT by dforest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: luvbach1

Exactly. We have no business nation building. Just because we tear crap up in a country doesn’t mean we have to rebuild it for them either.
We don’t fight wars to win anymore. I am sorry for all the wounded and lost lives of our men in Afghanistan but until someone shows me that they are in a war to win, it I don’t want to see our men lose their lives or limbs anywhere.
We could have been in and out of Afghanistan in 6 mnths if there was a will. Same for Iraq or anywhere else.


15 posted on 06/22/2011 6:13:27 PM PDT by sheana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: indylindy

We’ve been in that country ten years. What have we changed there?

Have the locals taken up baseball? Have the women gotten rid of those beekeeper outfits?

If we really wanted to change Afghanistan, we should have taken a generation of youth out of the country and educated them in the west. Let the women learn to drive cars and use computers.

Then, the upcoming generation would never want to go back to the old ways. (And Afghanistan is a country
where the vast majority of the people are under 30.)

We should also have arrested every other mullah in sight
and restricted Koranic preaching.

We could have made a difference. Instead, we ran a few patrols, took and area only to give it up, and fundamentally changed nothing.

I await only now the rapid changing of sides by all of those who sided with us there, in order to curry favor with the Taliban.

A sudden evacuation from Kabul is not out of the question (a la Saigon); together with entire army
units suddenly changing sides.


16 posted on 06/22/2011 6:23:15 PM PDT by CondorFlight (I)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
When the Taliban once again make Afghanistan a haven for al-Qaida or other terrorist groups plotting to murder Americans within our homeland, how will Barack Obama convince anyone that his Afghan policy was a victory strategy?

He won't be trying to convince anyone that pulling out of Afghan so quickly was a victory strategy. He'll be too busy planning how to use the next major terrorist attack on the US to get the Super Patriot Act through Congress.
17 posted on 06/22/2011 6:27:46 PM PDT by af_vet_rr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
What answer will the commander in chief have for them?

"Well, you see, I'm a Muslim."

18 posted on 06/22/2011 6:29:02 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg ("Mr. Romney and Mr. Obama are not rivals, they're running mates." - Rep. Thaddeus McCotter)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nascarnation
Baraq will get a free pass from the MSM.

What do you mean "will get", because I've seen some in the media already acting like Al Qaeda is finished and is no longer a threat, thanks to the surge and killing of Osama Bin Laden.
19 posted on 06/22/2011 6:29:29 PM PDT by af_vet_rr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: CondorFlight

What you say is all true. But you know, it is hard to sell people on our way of life if your own country is rejecting that which you want them to mimic.

Our biggest problems are internal. Until we get that right, we are a waste and who would believe anything we say.


20 posted on 06/22/2011 6:33:09 PM PDT by dforest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-47 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson