Comments on: Entangled In Afghanistan

By: andy

andy — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:22:30 +0000

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.]

By: Robert Glisson

Robert Glisson — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:59:50 +0000

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.

By: Myron Pauli

Myron Pauli — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:41:05 +0000

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.

By: M. B. Moon

M. B. Moon — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:35:38 +0000

“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.

By: Myron Pauli

Myron Pauli — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:34:45 +0000

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.

By: Vic Jones

Vic Jones — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:06:42 +0000

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.

By: Myron Pauli

Myron Pauli — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:13:22 +0000

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.

By: M. B. Moon

M. B. Moon — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:59:45 +0000

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?

By: Robert II

Robert II — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:12:01 +0000

“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?

By: michel cloutier

michel cloutier — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:36:38 +0000

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.