Posted on 07/11/2013 1:15:42 AM PDT by neverdem
Afghanistan: President Obama's new strategy for what he once called "a war that we have to win" is a "zero option" of irrevocable defeat. The world's strongest military power can no longer win wars.
The most iconic image of U.S. humiliation in Vietnam is the photo of hundreds of Vietnamese in Saigon in 1975 scrambling to the roof to reach an American helicopter and be saved from death or slavery at the hands of the victorious communists. "Yankees Go Home" it might have been captioned.
There are no such memorable images symbolizing America's failure to finish the jobs in Iraq, and now Afghanistan. But the message to friends and enemies alike is actually stronger than that resulting from our Vietnam failure. It is this: We no longer have the stomach for war.
The lyrics of George M. Cohan's famed war anthem "Over There," have been rendered comical: "The Yanks are coming ... and we won't come back till it's over, over there." Imagine "Over There" translated into Pashto, and the hilarity among the Taliban's bloodthirsty fanatics, as they today scheme their return to power.
"Yeah, the Yanks came, in all their might. And we patiently rope-a-doped them — for over a decade — until they grew tired of expending blood and treasure. And finally scampered home to their cushiony, infidel lives before it was anywhere near over."
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, for all his flaws, is the first-ever elected leader of Afghanistan, and was originally helped into power by the U.S.But in a June 27 videoconference, U.S. and Afghan officials tell the New York Times that Karzai personally let Obama know he has no illusions about what the president is up to in organizing direct negotiations with the Taliban: Obama is throwing Afghanistan's fragile democratic government to the Islamist wolves...
(Excerpt) Read more at news.investors.com ...
In Iraq, the war was "won" when the Hussein government fell.
We lost the rather unfocused and quixotic occupations however.
The US is in full retreat accross the planet thanks to the Obama Administration.
Both our enemies and allies know it. America is just...not there or hiding behind the teleprompter.
Not only are we in retreat, we are apologizing, indecisive and biting our finger nails at every possible decision making threshold.
Proud America that believed in “American Exceptionalism” has now become a Cateresque, navel-gazing pansy.
“It is mistaken to call Iraq and Afganistan “lost wars”.
In Iraq, the war was “won” when the Hussein government fell.”
We lost in Iraq; we replaced a bad man with worse ones, then fled at midnight so there would be no “1975 Saigon” pictures. What would you tell the parent of a dead soldier that their son accomplished in Iraq?
Afghanistan is Act II of the same show.
This country has a long string of wars it did not want to win - Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan. We manage to win the battles because of our valiant men, but then screw up the aftermath. Our political leaders think it’s alright for our troops to die and be mangled, but the apple cart must not be upset. Politicians must never be allowed near a war; they are too dangerous - for our side.
And for the NSA trolls, FU.
bump to the top
Poppies?
Obama’s “promise”
That’s a joke, right?
He is one of THEM and not one of US. End of story.
LLS
It’s not just the U.S. that has lost people in Afghanistan. Why anybody trusts the left wing fool in the White House is beyond me.
-——We lost the rather unfocused and quixotic occupations however.-——
I would argue that time is a factor in the equation of change. History does not occur in orderly 90 day increments. The outcome in Iraq is far from being determined.
Obama understands that the change he wants will not occur during his presidency. He is making a political decision. Which of two bad choices makes me look better? Staying or leaving? His interest lies only in the propaganda he can generate for his own self image.
No more lives are worth these animals.
This is a 50 year old problem, and Obama is the result, not the cause.
A nation that knew how to win wars would NEVER have elected Carter, or Clinton, or either Bush. The focus on Obama is misguided.
W chose to lose in Afghanistan by 2003.
The people of The United States have supported war for 11 years. Our Soldiers in combat have done a great job. The politicians have been hit and miss. Our admirals and generals have failed us. They are paid to win our wars, and they can’t do it.
What loss in Iraq are you talking about?
I was there 2004 - 2007. We didn’t lose S. We deposed and prosecuted the Ba’athists, stabilized the country, transitioned rule to a national, constitutional representative republic, and then left just as we said we’d do.
Iraq is the first democratically-elected government in Muslim history and many thousands of multi-national theocratic militants died along with Saddam Hussein trying to prevent that.
Now shut the hell up!
get ready for a flood of Afghan refugees we will have coming in.....more Muslims yipeeeeee!!!!!
Our military culture is broken. We Americans believe that the traits that allow a person to rise to the top of the military are also traits that make for good managers and combat leaders. They don’t. We have a group of emperors with stars who are running around with no clothes on. The culture of the United States military needs rigorous examination. We can afford, as a nation, to fight for 11 years in Afghanistan and lose. But, what of our future enemies? Will they allow us the luxury of having only occasional battlefields within our borders? Our admirals and generals are paid to win our wars. They are paid to make fighting with our nation so horrible that none will dare to attack us. They have failed. And it’s not just one or two admirals and generals. It’s the whole miserable lot. Eleven years. Name one admiral or general who retired in disgust over our failed senior military leadership? None. They are all fine with the thousands dead and billions wasted.
This.
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.