Obama's Afghanistan Policy
52Let' see here:
If we send in another 30-40,000 troops next year, that is another 30-40 million dollars on top of the 1.2 billion already being supplied to provide incentives for the low level Taliban fighters to get jobs instead of fighting US troops (for each soldier there, it costs $1,000,000 for a year), declare to the Afghanistanis that the US will not be there forever, even though, most likely for another 3-5 years (making the this the longest war the US has ever fought), Obama is praying it will be over.
Oh, we are also training the Afghan army to take over, something that will only work if Allah blesses it.
Does this resonate with anyone out there? A sort of Deja vu feeling? Like, maybe we have been down this road before?
We have. You know what it is. Vietnam. There for 10 years, billions spent supporting a corrupt government and trained an army that simply collapsed when under a real attack and the US was not there to save their ass. We tried our best, but in the end, all for nothing because the will of the people inside and outside of the army, inside of the government were corrupt and\or unwilling to fight with conviction at a cost of 50,000 or more US soldiers. The enemy was as elusive as the Taliban or al-Qaeda, in fact, the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong set the standards for terrorism and guerilla warfare. Where do you think Osama bin Laden and others learned their craft?
Obama knows this. The American general's know this. Yet, as if the ship has a stuck rudder, we are following a similar course while we try new strategies. A hit and miss approach. Once again, it is a recipe for failure due to the nature of guerilla warfare. In Vietnam, we won most of the battles yet we lost the war. Ditto for Afghanistan!
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Perrya - While I agree on some things such as the frustrations the troops feel. I think we also have to give Gen McCrystal a chance to succeed. The sides being drawn in the US are the same as they were in Viet Nam the Dems want to cut and run, and I would suspect will in the end. The corruption in their Gov is there and probably will be there, Gen M has got to find a way to deal with it, and change it. But it would be wise to remember that while the Taliban may only have wanted Afghanistan before all this Operations in Pakistan are proving their expansionist agenda. Do not be fooled about it they are as dangerous to the rest of the world as AQ, maybe more so since so many do not see it yet. The other point I would make that having opened this can of worms (which I believe was necessary)has generated a fight to the death that the Taliban recognizes but we have not. IF it settles at anything less it will never be over. Get ready for that this is a war of generations, that will rival the 100 year war and may exceed it's 116 years duration. Be prepared you heard it here first.
Perrya - I too understand the fusteration,...Hugging my Son before he leaves for a plane that takes him thousands of miles away from me not knowing if he will return on his own 2 feet or draped with the Flag is a very hard thing for a parent to do. As much as I wish they didn't have to go,..I know in my heart of hearts we just can't back down. I do feel a lot more confident now that Gen. McCrystal is there, If anyone can turn things around, It would be him. I believe Gen. McCrystal when he says, success is possiable, and if & when it comes apprearant it's a losing battle, he will be the first to say so. I just hope Obama and the Government gives McCrystal everything and anything he needs and more. We have to do something,and backing away isn't one of the choices. So as long as they are fighting over there,..Its up to us here at home to send as much support as we can; Via carepackages and letters of appreciation. A wise Ret. Military officer had once said,.."We have it give till it hurts, they do for us " He was absolutly right !! Keep in mind, The talibans, AQ and the Islams radicals has a mission for killing every American,..And sadly they won't Ever quit that mission. My son fights now,..In hopes of his children and grandchildren won't have too.
I do want to say also, I think its great people including yourself speaks what they are thinking, disscussions are important, no matter what side of the fence your on. It shows compassion and concern for those serving and dying in far away lands, and that I do appreciate.
perry a - I agree also with the sentiments from Army Infantry Mom it's a national discussion that needs to occur. God Bless and as always AIM God Bless you and yours..
I do support the war to a point, there is a need, but the cost is mindboggling and there is no end in sight. at some point, and Obama knows it, one must call it quits. Let's say we democratize Afghanistan,leave and then it is all over again and worse in Pakistan, where there are nukes. Then, the taliban and AQ return in Afghanistan after we left, do we get to do it all again? In Vietnam, the new general was Westmoreland, he was also the guy who would turn it all around. Now, come to find out, back in 69, he concluded the US could never win without committing to 20 yrs or so. Even if my sons were there in Afghan, I would be raising the issue. There must be an end to it, whether we win or lose. If the Obama plan fails to yield results, one can hear the exit strategy get louder and louder. Short of dropping nukes or conducting massive bombing raids on the enemy sites, little will change. America has a real problem with admitting defeat, as did the French (they got us into Vietnam).
Perry - I was going to stop commenting here until you got your history wrong again, Gen Westmoreland was MACV Commander from 1965-1968, (making him the first)Gen Crieghton Abhrams was CG MACV from 1968-1972, He changed the strategy of Gen Westmoreland, then had it changed again to Vietnamization by Pres Nixon. But even so the defeat of the VC and NVA forces by the South Viet Nam Army in Tet 1972 lead to accelerated withdrawal on the US part, after that withdrawal the South Viet Nam Army held off the NVA for two more years and only lost when our congress cut them off from spare parts and ammunition. The failure of Viet Nam was wholly in the political arena, and there is the fear I have for this war as well. And I think that our troops are as cogent of this history as well which adds to the frustration since they could do everything right and the war can still be lost right here in the American Halls of Congress. Seems that is what we all should be making sure doesn't happen again. As for the costs If the administration would start a War Bond Campaign I would bet it would do fairly well and probably make a significant dent in the war debt. I know I would buy some. Thanks again for you spirited and honest debate. We need more folks like ya.
You are looking at finer points about the commanders etc., which mean little to our debate. I agree Nam was lost in the political arena and the American public forced that upon them. It is a shame and waste that America may have to endure it all over again. The only reason why the US went to Afghan is because AQ was in the hills there. prior to that happening, the US had no interest in getting involved in the Afghan taliban thing. QA led us there. Now, they may not even be there and we are now in a real no exit mess. Had we killed Obama in the tora bora hills back in 2002 or so, maybe the US might not even be there now.
Concur
perrya Hub Author 2 years ago
Your points are well taken, yet, i sense political sides are being taken. I do know history well, and I am not the only person (many senators follow the same thinking) about the Afghanistan path and Vietnam. Taliban want afghanistan, just as the north vietnamese wanted south vietnam. Al- qaeda wants more than just that. It will not stop by winning Afghanistan, but when is enough, enough? The cost of this war is staggering, more troops in Vietnam did NOT translate into a strategic win in the end, neither will it in Afghanistan. The corruption there is as bad as it was in Vietnam at all levels, the military cannot alter this, only its people, which so far are not willing. Same as it was Vietnam. We train their army, even now, they units trained in afghanistan cannot be trusted much, just like many of the south vietnamese divisions. If the US pulls out of afghanistan and the taliban increase attacks, the same will occur eventually-the taliban will win. There are no good answers, just like in Vietnam. Time is on their side in all scenarios if the afghan government and its people remain corrupted. The US soldiers in Afghanistan, when asked their views, echo what their fathers did in Vietnam, they just hope to survive and go home. Many feel it is a vicious circle fighting insurgency. Again, time is on their side because the US cannot stay there permanently. The taliban can.