printB.O.’s latest on America’s exploits in Afghanistan: “This is not a war of choice, this is a war of necessity. Those who attacked America on 9/11 are plotting to do so again. If left unchecked, the Taliban insurgency will mean an even larger safe haven from which al Qaida would plot to kill more Americans. So this is not only a war worth fighting. This is fundamental to the defense of our people.”
I concur with Michael Scheuer, who disavows Obama’s deceit:
“How many Marines and soldiers will die in Afghanistan before the mainstream media dares to speak the truth and ask questions based thereon? Yes, it is the mainstream media that is keeping us locked in Afghanistan, and they are doing so for two reasons:
1. They will do almost anything to avoid asking President Obama a hard question that would delineate the depth of his deceit.
2. They now support the Afghan war because it is not the children of the elite who are dying and because it is now being fought for social policy reasons – women’s rights, educating children, etc. – and not for any reason that pertains to America’s defense or future security.
Let’s start with a basic contention: America has lost the war in Afghanistan, and any further U.S. casualties are useless. How to test this contention? The following questions put to the president or his chief advisers on terrorism and Afghanistan – John Brennan and Bruce Riedel – would help to clarify the situation for all Americans. If any of these three men answer honestly, we will be out of Afghanistan in 90 days. …”
Read the complete column, “Questions on the Eve of the Afghan Election.”
For economic, political and ideological reasons, America has embarked on a ‘perpetual war’ a la 1984. I believe that trying to analyze the current conflict in Afghanistan in terms of national interest, national security or foreign policy objectives is pointless. What matters is being at war. It thus becomes possible to go from victory to victory without ever really ending it.
“If left unchecked, the Taliban insurgency will mean an even larger safe haven from which al Qaida would plot to kill more Americans”
How much of a safe haven does it require to take flying lessons (only about flying, not landing or taking off)in the country you want to attack,obtaining some box cutters, some moslem zealots willing to commit suicide in honor of Allah,identify some flights that will require alot of fuel for their destination,hijack the flights and fly them and their passengers into certain structures. And thas’s only if you believe the honest media and not the truth commission. I guess Americans will eventually be remembered for something other than their founding fathers and a civil war — their blind obedience and willingness to sacrifice their lives and country to secure a democratic future for Afghans and Iraqis?
I look forward to the US being humbled by Afghanistan. With the Pacific guarding our western border, the Atlantic guarding our eastern border, Canada to the north and at worst, Mexico to the south, what excuse do we have for “defending” ourselves by stomping around the world making enemies?
These articles come to us at Naval Research Lab about the (futile) struggle to turn Afghanistan into Switzerland:
http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/08/11/taliban-rule-well-karzai-doesnt/
And: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/17/opinion/17iht-edsitaraman.html
And: http://blogs.reuters.com/global/2009/08/13/who-is-funding-the-afghan-taliban-you-dont-want-to-know/
It is becoming quite apparent that the US has absolutely NO strategy whatsoever other than “kill the Taliban”. The war against Al Queda turned into the war against the Taliban which turned into the war against Pushtuns on both sides of the Durand line. Like the Vietnam war “expansion”, this one could engulf Pakistan the way the US “war on commies” destroyed Cambodia.
Scheuer is right. It is volunteers such as the Marine recruit who was living in my basement (nice guy like most Marines but propping up Hamid Karzai is not identical with “serving America”) who might get killed. And the politicians’ kids get to text their pals while “listening” to Henry Badass Gates talk about racist America – so no big campus protests (Nixon’s gift to American Empire-building).
And meanwhile, that great “democracy” Afghanistan passes laws that allow men to starve their wives when they don’t perform sexually:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/…/afghanistan-womens-rights-rape
But a hip black Democrat is running the war so the media will give him a few more years before the s**t might hit the fan.
Although I was against both the invasion of Iraq and a continued presence in Afghanistan, (both for Constitutional and “just war” reasons, not to mention that the State thrives on war), my contention all along for those libertarians who sided with the left during their “protests” against Bush was that they never ceased being Statists. I understand the notion of joining forces during a stand against the State, but the left never stood against the State. They just didn’t like the guy who was waging the war. Now that it has become a politically correct war, rhetorically shined up by their “guy”, suddenly all their moral sensitivities have been placated, just as they were when Clinton began bombing Kosovo. It will be a long time, if ever, before Obama faces tough questions by the media and moral accusations from the left.
To Vic: LBJ was as “progressive” as any other President in 60 years but he lost the left on Vietnam. Without a draft, it will take time but even the Messiah can’t just schmooze for 7 more years on Corruptistan-Pakghanistan.
“Without a draft, it will take time …” Myron
Well, there is the “economic draft”. But OTOH, the Afghanis are not leftists. But OTOOH, I supported the Vietnam War but have learned my lesson. I doubt I’m alone.
M.B. Moon: I SHOULD have realized how f***ed up Vietnam was in 1968 when I met a cynical “kill the gooks” veteran and a pro-commie student whose dad was an ARVN general but I was a right-wing anticommie and too dense. My epiphany came in 1975 when I saw the million man ARVN collapse like a deck of cards and realized that it was all a colossal sham. Unfortunately, many (otherwise sound) people on the right buy off on the empire-building because: (a) XXX are “bad guys”, (b) they don’t like us, (c) the US stands “for freedom” – and hence, some intervention against XXX is justified.
I’ve learned my lesson but too many – including some “libertarians” and most “conservatives” still drink the interventionist Kool Aid.
In Myron’s first comment, his reference to DODBuzz, contains an interesting side article. Which describes what the present and proposed Healtcare mess is doing to the Department of Defense budget. Like Michiyo, my friend from Japan say’s “everything’s connected.” http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/08/13/health-costs-squeezing-dod-budgets/#comment-12831.
I’m a few hours from a flight to yet another forward operating base in Helmand Province and I am still wondering what our long term mission here is. I wish the American people could see the massive amount of money spent on the sprawling bases out here. If the amount of construction going on out here is any indication, we will be in Afghanistan for a few more years at the least.
[Stay safe; and keep in touch.]