Why are we in Afghanistan?

[Gaspar]

Can anyone tell me why the hell we are still in Afghanistan?

We are spending billions to build schools and train police over there, and they hate us.  We're launching hundreds of drone strikes, killing hundreds of "terrorists" and getting nowhere.  It's like trying to eradicate an infestation of cockroaches by shooting rubber bands at them.

We got Sadam, we got Bin Laden, time to cut bait!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/world/asia/koran-burning-afghanistan-demonstrations.html?hp

[Hoss]

Can anyone tell me why the hell we are still in Afghanistan?

We are spending billions to build schools and train police over there, and they hate us.  We're launching hundreds of drone strikes, killing hundreds of "terrorists" and getting nowhere.  It's like trying to eradicate an infestation of cockroaches by shooting rubber bands at them.

We got Sadam, we got Bin Laden, time to cut bait!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/world/asia/koran-burning-afghanistan-demonstrations.html?hp

Wow, for once something we are in total agreement with...

[RecycleMichael]

President Obama pulled out 10,000 troops from Afghanistan last year and has announced plans to pull out 23,000 more by this summer. That will leave about 70,000 troops. Military leaders say they want at least that many through at least the end of 2012.

I agree gaspar. We need to pull out faster than that. I am sure that Al Qaeda is going to flourish as soon as we leave, but we can't be there forever.

That is the thing about sending troops to fight overseas. It is really hard to get out.

[JCnOwasso]

I completely agree.  There is no reason for us to still be fighting this war.  The longer we stay the more likely it is that we will have a complete break down in relations.  It has been close on several occasions, but luckily we have avoiding a full on pissing contest.  

There is a certain faction in Washington that believe leaving Afgan is a bad idea and would most likely call the president "irresponsible" full pulling our troops out.  There is a larger faction on a "fair and balanced" knews network that would have a field day with this, which would result in me having to see another 50 or so facebook posts from my republican family members discussing how Obama is killing this country, or proof that Obama is a muslim lover.

But really, I agree with Gas.  

[swake]

It's time to go. Now.

We have no self interest reason to be there anymore and aren't making things better for the locals, who don't want us there anyway.

[Gaspar]

They have stores, schools, women free to walk around in the streets.  Our experiment of trying to offer American freedom, government and lifestyle to a culture that is clearly not willing to sacrifice for it should be over!

Those who are thankful of liberation from Taliban rule are obviously not motivated or thankful enough to defend their new freedoms. They've simply transitioned from being dependent on one group to being dependent on another.  You simply cannot deliver freedom to people.  They have to earn it, and they clearly have not.

Return them to their masters.

The only reason we are still there is because we would much rather get our hands soiled with the blood of our young men and women then we would with producing our own energy.

[Gaspar]

President Obama pulled out 10,000 troops from Afghanistan last year and has announced plans to pull out 23,000 more by this summer. That will leave about 70,000 troops. Military leaders say they want at least that many through at least the end of 2012.

I agree gaspar. We need to pull out faster than that. I am sure that Al Qaeda is going to flourish as soon as we leave, but we can't be there forever.

That is the thing about sending troops to fight overseas. It is really hard to get out.

I've come to the conclusion that Al Qaeda and the Taliban are not our enemies.  They are just different names for the same disease.  That disease if funded 100% by us.  Stop the foreign aid, stop the protectionism, and let them collapse into barbarism.  That's the only way they can possibly give birth to a society willing to survive, and a people willing to die for their freedom.  Most likely the sands will simply swallow them, Isreal will annihilate them, or they will become Russa's problem for another hundred years.

[carltonplace]

They have stores, schools, women free to walk around in the streets.  Our experiment of trying to offer American freedom, government and lifestyle to a culture that is clearly not willing to sacrifice for it should be over!

Those who are thankful of liberation from Taliban rule are obviously not motivated or thankful enough to defend their new freedoms. They've simply transitioned from being dependent on one group to being dependent on another.  You simply cannot deliver freedom to people.  They have to earn it, and they clearly have not.

Return them to their masters.

The only reason we are still there is because we would much rather get our hands soiled with the blood of our young men and women then we would with producing our own energy.

Agreed that it is time to go. I sincerely hope that the fragile freedoms that Afghani women have barely begun to enjoy will not erode after we leave.

[we vs us]

I think that we're to the endgame in Afghanistan.  I don't think anyone wants to be there any more.  I think that also includes the Pentagon.  However, I'm pretty sure the Pentagon will insist on as slow and as "orderly" a drawdown as is politically possible, because they know how shaky things are, how bad things can go if the transition is botched, and who will take the blame if the situation going further south. 

I don't know how much of that matters, now, though.  A drawdown -- and a pretty quick drawdown, all things considered -- is a central part of Obama's budget considerations going forward and so I think you'll see this end sooner rather than later, devil take the hindmost.

[jacobi]

I think one would be hard pressed to find someone who didn't agree with you Gaspar, myself included.  This a lesson that countless militaries have found out in past (not the least of which was Alexander the great): once you go into afgahnistan, you will not leave the victor.  Occupation there is a slow war of attrition.

That said, letting them fall into barbarism and thinking that there will just be Russia's problem seems a little short sighted.  It's what allowed planes to be flown into buildings.  That said, I am NOT suggesting a course of action other than withdrawl.

I'm glad we can agree. 

[we vs us]

A little bit of wisdom from our English brethren, via Rudyard Kipling circa 1895:

"When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.
       Go, go, go like a soldier,
       Go, go, go like a soldier,
       Go, go, go like a soldier,
          So-oldier _of_ the Queen!"

No one wins in Afghanistan.  No one has ever won in Afghanistan.  They don't call it the Graveyard of Empires for nothin'.

[Townsend]

You fell victim to one of the classic blunders - The most famous of which is "never get involved in a land war in Asia"

Princess Bride

[RecycleMichael]

Maybe Ron Paul is right about this topic.

"The one thing for certain is that our national security is not threatened by us not being in Afghanistan. Our national security is much more threatened by us being in Afghanistan."

[JCnOwasso]

You fell victim to one of the classic blunders - The most famous of which is "never get involved in a land war in Asia"


Princess Bride

You sir, win the interwebs!

[heironymouspasparagus]

Can anyone tell me why the hell we are still in Afghanistan?

We are spending billions to build schools and train police over there, and they hate us.  We're launching hundreds of drone strikes, killing hundreds of "terrorists" and getting nowhere.  It's like trying to eradicate an infestation of cockroaches by shooting rubber bands at them.

We got Sadam, we got Bin Laden, time to cut bait!

'Cause we are on the schedule established by the previous regime.  And I am very glad to see you are here now.  

We should have been out by now.  If Obama wanted to do something meaningful and prove some leadership, he would accelerate this.  (Keeping in mind we peaked not long ago with 140,000 or so - now down to...

*Edit - finish the sentence from the crash....*

...around 80,000. 

Down by 40% or so. 

Kind of like the deficit - I am listening to Witless Mitt (dog abuser) right now lying about how the deficit has doubled under Blobama - when it has actually gone down every year - when the debt changed (as in got bigger) by about 1.9 trillion and is now changing by around 1.1 for this next budget.  About 40% reduction.

Would never have figured Mitt for a Kid Rock fan.  This must be re-run...