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War by committee—remember Vietnam?
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by YankeeJim | June 27, 2010 at 05:16 pm
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Vietnam was a fiasco and ended in disaster because the executive branch and congress were at odds and the military was given impossible direction and conflicting support.
In the case of Afghanistan, America’s purpose was to root out the Taliban for providing safe haven to al Qaeda and to eliminate the terrorists. The al Qaeda fled to Pakistan and the Taliban dispersed to strongholds, and Americans have been running around chasing them ever since.
In the process, we significantly weakened the Taliban, and supported the creation of a “democratically-elected” government with Karzai as a two-term President. His government remains corrupt, weak, and unviable without 1) strong US military support, 2) strong financial support.
We’re essentially buying people off to temporarily let us have our way, for awhile, until the inevitable departure.
The American public and the President are aiming for a date-certain time period, while military leaders resist that. They want some flexibility. They should be granted flexibility in the form of weeks not months.
Dribbling along and dabbling at nation-building is simply wrong because the US does not have the financial capacity or political will to do that in Afghanistan. Besides, they don’t want us to either.
As I understand it, General Petraeus wanted a surge to weaken the Taliban and to give the Afghani government time to get on its feet and in charge. It doesn’t appear that this is going to happen. That is not a military failing; it just isn’t in the cards.
So, if distinguished and experienced Ambassador Holbrooke is one who is saying “let’s get out of here,” I applaud him. He is not one who should be leaving. If General Petraeus is lobbying for more time to make nation-building work, he should be directed by the Secretary of Defense to focus on an orderly departure.
I don’t know about Eikenberry as he seems to be the odd man out, being a former General, and just redundant.
As for Senators Feinstein and Graham, they should simply butt out. If they have an opinion, pick up the phone and call the President. Public jawboning with FoxNews is the type of behavior that got us into the Vietnam and now Afghanistan fiasco.
Bring the troops home at once. Save taxpayers’ dollars on a wasted war effort.
“Petraeus May Need a New Team in Afghanistan, Senators Say
Published June 27, 2010
Two influential senators suggested Sunday that President Obama clean house on the civilian side of his Afghanistan war team if Gen. David Petraeus cannot get along with the same diplomats who may have sparred with outgoing Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., also said the withdrawal timetable needs to be flexible, though the president has set July 2011 as the deadline to get out.
The senators spoke just days after McChrystal resigned over a Rolling Stone article in which he and his aides were quoted mocking the Obama administration, particularly Amb. Karl Eikenberry and Special Representative Richard Holbrooke. The article reflected deep divisions between the military and civilian side of the war effort.
While lawmakers were nearly unanimous in saying Obama had to change generals after the article, Feinstein said those diplomats should not get a free pass with Petraeus. Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," the senator said Petraeus must be a "command presence" on the team.
"(Petraeus) should make the calls. If he can't work with the ambassador, the ambassador should change. If he can't work with Holbrooke, that should change," Feinstein said. "I think we put all of our eggs in the Petraeus basket."”
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Joseph Conrad (not verified)
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YankeeJim
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at 17:44 on June 27th, 2010
I've got a good documentary for you to check out Jim. It's called "Iraq for Sale", most of the interviews are all private contractors who worked in Baghdad. It's about the real reason for our nonsensical continuation in this war, the billions of dollars in lucrative no bid, cost plus, DoD and DoS contracts.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6621486727392146155#
at 01:41 on June 28th, 2010
Thanks JoshArizona for the reference, and I know first-hand what this is about.
at 23:53 on June 27th, 2010
The American empire hasn't learnt,or seems inclined to learn,lessons from Vietnam war.It was an unjust war like other wars.Imposition of democracy,where it suits American imperialists and all kind of unstinted support to brutal dictators where it suits the same imperialists.
Karzai is neither an administrator nor entertainer like Asif Ali Zardari,president of Pakistan.In fact he is slave with all the pretensions of a master.Once allied troops leave Afghanistan,Karzai would be the first rat to desert sinking ship.Afghanistan will witness one more civil war,paving way for return of Talibans(for American and Pakistani establishment Return of Dracula).
Better US imperialists forget remembering wars and plan time-bound withdrawl of troops from occupied lands.Prevention of more Vietnams should be guiding principle of US foreign policy.
at 02:31 on June 28th, 2010
The fact that Fox News got two senior ranking members, one from each party, to come forward like this, truly means that Senate leaders are concerned. That is good reporting.
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Joseph Conrad (not verified)at 11:25 on June 29th, 2010
Sadly, the ruling political, military and corporate elites of America persist in refusing to accept a simple fact - their Oil, Gas, Minerals, Water and Areable Land are just that - THEIRS! Since the Monroe Doctrine, this nation has been driven by its 4 RAGES - Racism, Arrogance, Greed, Egotism & Self-Aggrandizement - to attempt to perpetuate their Wealth & Power through Genocide, Violence, Pillage and Theft in the Non-White Resources-Rich nations around the globe. If that view is untrue, why does the US have over 750 military installations in 195 nations on the planet? The Dollar is WORTHLESS, American youth are dying like FLIES in the Middle East, the US Environment is a WREAK and the Economy is spiraling into the Abyss of Destruction - all to protect the 'Interests' of American Elites! Next Up? Africa via AFRICOM and South America using 'The 3 Stooges' - Columbia, Peru & Chile! Be prepared...
at 14:03 on June 29th, 2010
I believe it Joseph Conrad. How about registering with us at NowPublic. Welcome aboard.
at 19:09 on June 29th, 2010
@Joseph Conard.You have explained beautifully the malaise of American system,the pernicious Monroe doctrine which has driven crazy administration to waging wars and wars to render unto devil what is God's.
at 07:21 on August 10th, 2010
What everyone here seems to be forgetting is that Vietnam, a disaster though it was, was fought to prop up an exhisting government. There was no United Fruit Company, no oil, no resources at all, that were up for grabs. In Vietnam, it was about supporting a democratic government against communist rebels.
And Afghanistan, also, has no economic value to the foriegn troops there. It has also long been known as an eater of armies. How many British soldiers died in their flight up the Khyber pass, and yet a few decades later, they were back. The difference is, this time, the regime that had been in power was a threat to the world, and brutal to it's people. To end this threat, NATO, troops went in, and toppled that regime. But what happens when the troops pull out? We have left a power vacuum, just as was done when the Mujahideen, with the aid of the west, were able to force out the Soviet Union. Indeed, what would happen, when the orphans of this war, and of the years of Taliban opression, grow up, if the western powers that toppled the regime left, and let it come back more brutal than ever?
In future, one would hope, that our various nations would think through the long term consequences before toppling governments, or putting troops on the ground. But once the mess is made, they have a responsibility to clean it up. If they do not, all of us, world wide, will live with the fall out. In a country so full of youths, where weapons can be less expensive than food, the risks from a hasty pull out are far to great