Draw Down

[BBF]

I'm beyond comprehension!
 
Now that the CiC has announced when and by how many men the troops are to be recalled who could be happier then the enemy??
When and where else has such a betrayal be caused by a leader on its own people??
 
What better aid could the taliban and associates receive?
 
 They have been handed victory.
 
All they need to do is to minimize  action and go to the ground to recoup. Once the Infidels are less in number or all gone, the country is wide open. The Afghan Army won't stop them, actually I think a large number will join the taliban.
 
IMO the Lives, health and wealth spend in Afghanistan have now become a wasted effort.

[Shu]

To be honest Afghanistan was a wasted effort to begin with. As soon as the US invaded Bin Ladden ran to Pakistan.

The reason for invading Afghanistan was to get Bin Laden becuase the Taliban had refused to give him up. Afghanistan will not have a democracy becuase the people do not really want one. What would democracy mean to the average Afghani? Nothing really.
With Bin Laden gone there is no real reason to remain.

Admiral Mike Mullens said he thought there was some risk involved but once the US is out of Afghanistan the risk to the US is reduced. He didn't actaully agree or disagree with BHO.

These limited warfare scenarios are really not like a world war II victory. The mission was accomplished, there are things going on the back side the general public is not aware of. Thats what wiki leaks is for.

[Conan The Librarian]

It may as well be now because it was a complete waste of lives and accomplished nothing. What if it were a draw down in 10 years? The same concerns you raise would be true then too, wouldn't they? The generals always seem to have grave concerns about getting out too soon but they never seem to understand whether we should be there in the first place.

[lakota]

All it is is a campaign move. The additional troops he ordered in will be home by September 2012 just in time for him to crow on the campaign trail about how he is keeping his promise and ending the wars.

[Sourdough]

The people of Afghanistan are still socially, religiously, and economically, stuck back in the middle ages.  Their society and many of their religious beliefs will not let them embrace the modern world.  So no matter what happens the average person will continue to live in their comfort zone of poverty and worldly ignorance.  Karzi is currently loading his administration with Anti American members.  As soon as we are out he will sell out to the highest bidder.

Personal opinion, he will be assassinated within a year.  The opportunities for corruption are too great, and Karzi is not strong enough to maintain his corupt control once our troops pull out and are no longer protecting him. 

[SHOOTALL]

No one yet has conqured Afghanistan .

[srussell]

All it is is a campaign move. The additional troops he ordered in will be home by September 2012 just in time for him to crow on the campaign trail about how he is keeping his promise and ending the wars.

  and that a fact. he could care less about our troops

[jimster]

They have been handed victory.

I was figuring there was nothing to win, after several thousand solders dead fighting in the middle east and like places there's somebody out there figuring we were winning or something?

No one yet has conqured Afghanistan .

Still true today, and would still be true 3 years from now. That is a hard fact many people fail to recognize.  They just can't accept the fact we have not won a war for a very long time, and not because we can't...because we won't, we do everything half ass-ed trying to be moderate and look a certain way, and that costs lives and lots of money we don't have.  In most cases we should not even get involved in other countries at all. 

We have given much of our wealth and a lot of young lives that can't be replaced, and for what?  All I hear is "so they don't come here", and they already ARE here.  Along with a few other terrorists from the south along with most the people that run our governments who also terrorize us.   

[powderman]

All it is is a campaign move. The additional troops he ordered in will be home by September 2012 just in time for him to crow on the campaign trail about how he is keeping his promise and ending the wars.

YEP. Playing politics with American lives. POWDERMAN. 

[Shu]

The US did not enter Afghanistan with the intent to conquer. The interest was in Bin Laden and Al Queada. If you want to say Afghanistan is lost thats fine. The entire US military was not thrown against it, simply put it was very limited in scope.

There is nothing special about Afghanistan that keeps it from being conquered, it just like any other country would fall if invaded with the intent to conquer. Even the Soviets in the 1980's did not put thier full military might against it.

Wars with limited goals are not like conquering or pounding into submisson like WWII. IMHO America needs to stop this minimalist war effort and either unleash the military or stay home.
If 250,000 Marines, and 250,000 Soldiers would have been sent in at once, Afghanistan would have crumbled easily and people would understand the results much easier. Half A$$ed steps bring about half a$$ed results. Thanks alot policy makers.

[yellowtail3]

I can opine, but I'm no expert on Afghanistan. I don't think most of the people there want US troops there, and I don't think we gain a lot being there. Many here will criticize President Obama for breathing, let alone for doing the job he was elected to do.

Perhaps it's time to end this one. Some will be disappointed, as they'd like to kill a few more Muslims, but I think we'll be okay without that war.

[BBF]

YT3
Very much so as Shu's post states. Nothing gained but a substantial loss achieved.I don't think Afghanistan is invincible. It would take a 100 % effort to neutralize all resistance and a long occupation to keep it that way.
Bottom line would be: What for ??

[Dinny]

Wars with limited goals are not like conquering or pounding into submisson like WWII. IMHO America needs to stop this minimalist war effort and either unleash the military or stay home.
If 250,000 Marines, and 250,000 Soldiers would have been sent in at once, Afghanistan would have crumbled easily and people would understand the results much easier. Half A$$ed steps bring about half a$$ed results. Thanks alot policy makers.

For obvious reasons I have to remain reserved in what I say. I have been to Afghanistan and I agree with what Shu said. We're spread way too thin over there...

Thanks, Dinny

[jimster]

The US did not enter Afghanistan with the intent to conquer.

That's been a problem for sure.  Maybe we should start staying home until we decide to conquer.  You hit the nail on the head. 

I totally agree with your comment on the minimalist war effort, it does nothing but get our people killed over long periods of time with no results.  Most the time we just wind up fighting more enemies 20 years down the road we trained and armed 20 years earlier.

The interest was in Bin Laden and Al Queada.

We trained and armed him as well.  Then we had to kill him.  Even after his death, we are still there with the minimalist war effort and Bin Laden is not even of interest anymore.  Funny how that works.







 

[Shu]

Dinny,
again thank you for your service!! And to all others who answered the call. (I don't get tired of saying thank you).

Bin Laden is gone but that does not mean Al Queda is all the sudden friendly. There will always be hatred in the world (unfortunately).

There will be more extremists in the continuing days. Unfortunately with hatred sewn so deep and a mistrust the muslim world has for America. Maybe America should let the muslim world solve thier own problems for awhile. Stop giving them aide monies and stay out of their politics.

[BBF]

Dinny,
............................................
 
 
 Maybe America should let the muslim world solve thier own problems for awhile. Stop giving them aide monies and stay out of their politics.

An excellent idea. Unfortunatly out of (US)country interest have other plans and enough influence that this will not happen.

[rockbilly]

Vietnam revisited!

Will we ever get involved in another war where we see it through to the end?  Why waste the resources and throw our troops to the wolves if we don't intend to see it through?  I agree we should have never commited troops to this effort, we did so lets go for a win, get the dizzy leaders in Washington out of the war and let the General fight it.

[BBF]

and Korea.