Is Another Surge in Afghanistan a Good Idea?

The Imaginative Conservative ^ | 17 May 2017 | Joseph Mussomeli

[lurk]

If we did 100 surges, it would not help. The culture, terrain and neighboring countries would remain as they are, and the dead are replaced by childbirth.

Only the gospel of Christ on the cross can make the change we desire.

[John O]

It is important to remember that Afghanistan is not our enemy. And the Afghani people as such is not our enemy.

islam is our enemy. And as long as we lack the will to destroy islam (kill or convert every last adherent of it) then we have no business being there.

Let the savages kill each other and be done with it. But if any Afghani moslem tries to leave that hell hole, kill them.

The best answer would be to seek out any non-moslems, get them to safety and then neutron bomb the entire country. 15 to 20 years later repopulate that area with the non-moslem Afghanis that we saved.

(Please note that this same strategy works on all other moslem hell holes too. Either we go in to win (destroy islam) or we should just stay home)

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"It is important to remember that Afghanistan is not our enemy. And the Afghani people as such is not our enemy."

The best answer would be to seek out any non-moslems, get them to safety and then neutron bomb the entire country

Ok, you make the above statement and then the second statement. It makes no sense. This isn't Iraq, there are no non Muslim minorities, you realize that, right? The country is like 99.9% practicing Muslims. So what, evacuate the .01% non Muslim and then nuke everyone else?

[John O]

So what, evacuate the .01% non Muslim and then nuke everyone else?

Now that you say it that way it makes even more perfect sense!

Islam is the enemy. The only way this war ends is if we all die, or if they all die. Their scriptures give no other options.

[Eric Pode of Croydon]

and it has to be done in cooperation with Pakistan working their side of the border

Pakistan is our enemy.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"Pakistan is our enemy."

In many ways you are correct. Let's just say that it's in our mutual self interests to work with Pakistan on this. Keep in mind, Afghanistan is land locked. The only way right now to re-supply our troops over land from a sea port is through the Hindu Kush, i.e. through Pakistan. There seems to be a new route that could open up that India is working with them on and that would involve going through an Iranian port, again that appears to be a non starter for us.

As far as getting anything done in Afghanistan, we have to partner with Pakistan. Yes, they have been an unreliable partner and a lot of that has to do with the whole Pashtun thing. A lot of the IS are infiltrated with tribes from the Pashtun people. As unreliable as they are, we do share a mutual interest with Pakistan in getting rid of Al Qada and the Taliban and on that goal we have to work together. They believe their main enemy is India and so their focus is east. However, they realize that Al Qada and the Taliban are also their enemies. We have to make them elevate that threat in their eyes.

[bert]

But you must keep in mind the strategic value of Afghanistan. With forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran is surrounded.

The Taliban and the bad Pakis are trivial compared to Iran

[bankwalker]

With forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran is surrounded.

That's where we were a little over 8 years ago, but something happened that cost us our advantage.