Posted on 01/28/2020 5:45:57 AM PST by Zhang Fei
Why are we still there?
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I think Eisenhower addressed that in his farewell address. Recall his admonitions about “misplaced power” and the military industrial complex.
You make a good point.
MI Ping
As a % of national output, military spending is down 50% from Eisenhower's time. The civilian spending has doubled. There's a private sector-government cabal, but it's not in defense.
The real reason we're there? Genocide is not an option, but standing aside as future 9/11's are plotted in Afghanistan is not an option either.
but standing aside as future 9/11’s are plotted in Afghanistan is not an option either.
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So we’re there forever?
I don’t know anything about warfare tech, but could the plane have been brought down by a laser from a satellite?
“The real reason we’re there? Genocide is not an option, but standing aside as future 9/11’s are plotted in Afghanistan is not an option either. “
Absolutely correct! I think our defense spending should go even higher. Its not just the Idontgivea@#$@#astan countries we need to worry about. A strong nation is a free nation politics aside.
[So we’re there forever?]
The Afghan government isn’t uniquely incompetent. The problem is that unlike say, the Colombian government, which has fought a guerrilla insurgency for 50 years, but has been fairly stable in recent decades, the Afghan regime is brand spanking new as governments go. So the funding will taper down as the government gets its act together to the extent one can in that region of the world.
If you’re interested, the numbers for spending in Afghanistan and Iraq are on page 16 of this Congressional Budget Office document:
https://www.cbo.gov/system/files?file=2018-10/54219-oco_spending.pdf
The latest, unconfirmed report is that it crashed due to failure of the onboard oxygen system. Pilots were unconscious due to hypoxia. The aircraft belly landed on autopilot. 4 were onboard.
They were likely dead if oxygen failed.
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The intact fuselage indicates a survivable landing.
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The onboard BACN electronics has a self-destruct, likely the source of the fire.
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We would have had a QRF onsite if there might have been survivors.
It’s not?
[It’s not?]
I will serve gratefully!
[The latest, unconfirmed report is that it crashed due to failure of the onboard oxygen system. Pilots were unconscious due to hypoxia. The aircraft belly landed on autopilot. 4 were onboard.]
I read this am that the Towelaban attacked the QRF team which was apparently mostly Iraqi.
Indicates a low angle impact.
You can see by the video the Taliban all over.
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If there were a QRF, there would be nothing but dead Taliban and a large crater.
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We would have sanitized the site by air assets. We love large gatherings of the enemy.
Not really.
MIC was something he recognized and respected and acknowledged as a need. He cautioned politico’s and The People to make good use because the days of changing from making washing-machines to war machines overnight was no more.
His real admonishment was directed at academia.
(I’ve read his notes and drafts and they provide true insight about what his thoughts truly were. He was not hostile to the defense industry).
Post 39. . .you are correct.
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