printWithdrawal from Afghanistan “would be based on conditions on the ground.” That’s the latest about-face from the Obama administration. The date of departure is apparently “aspirational.”
Defense Secretary Robert Gates: “If it appears that the strategy’s not working and that we are not going to be able to transition in 2011 then we will take a hard look at the strategy itself,” he said, adding that the president reserves the right to adjust his decision. “We’re not going to just throw these guys into the swimming pool and then walk away.”
“McMussolini” has been pushing for this.
On the phone today to South Africa, I was reminded by my father of what’s at stake: the lives of some of the finest men this country has to offer; the prospect of being killed and crippled for naught.
“We’re not going to just throw these guys into the swimming pool and then walk away.” Robert Gates
Of course we will after sacrificing enough American lives, eyes, limbs and minds to uphold our “honor” (see Vietnam).
The US military beat the crap out of the Vietnamese commies. We have complete air supremacy in Af-Pak-Iraq, encrypted communications, “smart” bombs – and yet we control only the land we occupy at any minute. The entire Vietnam war STRATEGY hinged on “the South Vietnamese government” – they had a million man army ON PAPER – which all folded in 5 weeks in 1975.
It is MADNESS to spend (print) $500,000,000,000 over the next 5 years to go after 100 Al Quedans who can move to Yemen…. – and, furthermore, pursuing the war could be counterproductive. I despise Al Queda but I recall the quote from Victor Laszlo in “Casablanca”:
Victor Laszlo: ” And what if you track down these men and kill them, what if you killed all of us? From every corner of Europe, hundreds, thousands would rise up to take our places. Even Nazis can’t kill that fast.”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034583/quotes
Obama’s STRATEGY rests upon (a) centralized friendly Afghan & Iraq governments and (b) “real” Islam at peace with modern Judeo-Christian culture. Hence, you can have 500,000 “troops”, drones, … the finest men/equipment that borrowed counterfeit money can buy and it still will not “WIN” this Iraq/Yemen/Pakistan/Somalia/Iran/Sudan war.
From Russia Today:
“For some, Matthis Chiroux is a hero. Others label him a US traitor. The 25-year-old is an army sergeant-turned-war-resistor, and one of roughly 8,000 US soldiers who have reportedly deserted the army since 2003.
He accuses the US military of having become a corrupt institution built upon spreading death as a response to nations’ problems by means of conducting illegal wars.”
10 minute video interview:
http://rt.com/Top_News/2009-10-11/us-military-spreading-death.html
I wonder if this about-face (exit to be based on conditions on the ground) had anything to do with this? http://www.facebook.com/notes/sarah-palin/finally-a-decision-for-afghanistan-were-in-it-to-win-it/187151958434
For whatever godawful reason, the untalented Palin who, unlike Ronald Reagan, didn’t have the right stuff to finish even one term as state governor, is now a “player” in American politics and I guess potentate Barack has to cop to her viewpoint on occasion.
No exit date; no exit strategy except what it takes to “win” on the ground.
This is horribly disgusting. We will never “win” on the ground. As the courageous Mr. Hoh has noted, Al Qaeda now operates successfully from several countries including western nations, and cannot be defeated by U. S. troops thrown to the wolves in Afghanistan.
I’ve always despised the necons; but where is the antiwar American left? Probably just a collection of hypocrites, if they don’t condemn this “surge” plan outright.
The only surge at work is the surge in the bank accounts of executives at Boeing, Lockheed Martin, GE, and at the companies that make those ridiculous pilotless drones. Oh, and for the lobbyists who shill for these companies. And for the critters in Congress who loot us daily to pay for this nonsense.
Jack: Why should anyone desert the military when all one needs to quit is to “discover” and announce their gayness. No oath is violated.
Barbara: Sarah mentions, “ensuring that these countries never again serve as bases for terrorist attacks against America and our allies.” Weren’t the attacks on 9/11 planned in GERMANY and AMERICA? How many of the “hijackers” (if any) ever set foot in Afghanistan?
As a general matter, wars are not football games. Most are not “won”. America fought Spain to bring Democracy to Cuba. Cuba has had dictatorship almost continually since 1902. In 1918, we fought to make the world “safe for democracy” – no elaboration is necessary. World War II was begun for the sake of a free Poland and a free China. Victory seems rather elusive at times.
Sarah thinks we’re in it to “win”. I’m cynical enough to believe that Obama’s motivation is 99.9% political — so he doesn’t appear to be the guy who “lost” Afghanistan until after re-election in 2012. Hard to say which is better – the philosophical pygmy or the egotistical hypocrite??? I guess with Obama, one can always hope that political considerations will move him into a correct decision.
Help Your Nation: Support Desertion.
From “The Nation” (left liberal) against the surge:
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20091214/engelhardt