Article

2008-11-13 Afghanistan

Two Thirds of Brits want to withdraw from Afghanistan

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Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2008-11-13 11:29|| || Front Page|| [3 views ] Top
File under: Al-Muhajiroun

#1 IIRC, surveys in france are about the same; though, I certainly can understand, and agree to a point, with the feeling of both brits & french. I think I'm not alone, even here, in not really seeing the point of the war until now : ISAF fight, eventually lose men, and even while infliging disproportionate casualties on the taliban, they're on the losing side of the war of attrition (huge cost to maintain forces over there, compared with the wealth pakistain extracts from graciously leaving supplies go while propping up ennemy forces & opium trade; limited manpower, against the never-ending supply of islamic automations from pakistain's madrassa factories).
I'm certainly no strategist, but this so far constraints british forces (among others) in the position of having to suffer casualties, with no end in sight - how much time in afghanistan? The taliban only have not to lose, in the present situation, british opinion can feel that (cf. theRoss Kemp serie), and there's no apparent, obvious british interest over there, especially more since anti-americanism tells people that this is an "imperialist/unjust/illegal/... war", "for oleoducs",... (yeah, 7 years since 9/11 have shown that western attention span IS short), so the people's reaction, UK or french, is "let's have the yankees get themselves out of this one all by their own", no matter what alliances say. It's selfish, but it's understandable.

Posted by anonymous5089 2008-11-13 12:08|| 2008-11-13 12:08|| Front Page Top

#2 It must just be a coincidence that these stories are popping up in the MSM just as Bambi has to consider how he's going to handle Afghanistan. Oh, oh, oh, I know, he'll work for a 'negotiated solution' (*) which allows him to pull our troops out with 'honor'.

(*) defined as giving the Taliban everything they want.

Posted by Steve White 2008-11-13 12:22|| 2008-11-13 12:22|| Front Page Top

#3 War is not a game, it's a very serious business. If you're not in it to succeed, you're screwed. The US has, to this point, been a "nice guy", just trying to give the Afghanistanis a chance to develop western-style government. The problem is, the nation is mired in a tribal mindset that it will take a dozen generations to flush. At this point, even I'm for pulling out - and salting the totally destroyed towns and villages of Afghanistan after we do. Pull out through Pakistan, and leave it equally devastated. Let India have what it wants from the remains of the carcass, and let the rest rot. If there's ever another terrorist strike that can be traced back to this part of the world, nuke it. Keep nuking it until there aren't even insects left alive, and the worms glow a bright blue. I have no sympathy, respect, or courtesy for those with the mindset of a seventh-century savage that wants to tear down what they cannot understand.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2008-11-13 13:32|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2008-11-13 13:32|| Front Page Top

#4 OP, I agree with you, except for using nukes (unless we are hit with chem or nukes). The fallout would flow over India, a critical ally of ours going forward. I don't want that to happen to them.

But we should definitely employ your favorite arc light strategy should we get the slightest hit that originates in this region.

Afghanistan is not sustainable. It is not going to be a democracy of any recognizable form in our lifetime. Wasting blood and treasure on it is just plain stupid. Better to make sure that Iraq is a success and give our military personnel a breather.

Posted by remoteman 2008-11-13 15:01|| 2008-11-13 15:01|| Front Page Top

#5 OP your comments are ridiculous but at least you used something different then your usual 'arclite' temper tantrums.

Posted by Yosemite Sam 2008-11-13 16:06|| 2008-11-13 16:06|| Front Page Top

#6 YS, I spent 26 years in the Air Force, and several of them drawing ARCLIGHT boxes for use in Vietnam. I also had the "unusual" experience of being within 25 miles of one, so I have a sense of what they're like on the ground as well. They worked in Vietnam - read some of the stories told by survivors. The thing they feared the most was an ARCLIGHT strike.

Like anything else, from a slingshot to a thermonuclear weapon, it's just a tool. However, it's a very USEFUL tool, and our failure to use it has been one of the most significant failure of this war. Go back and read some of the comments under the photos in the essay, "Korengal Valley Photos". I guarantee you that if we ARCLIGHTed that valley, the locals that survived would be TERRIFIED of supporting the Taliban, and would refuse to even discuss the issue with an outsider. We cannot win the "hearts and minds" of these tribals until we instill stark, abject fear into them, because the only other feeling they have for us is contempt.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2008-11-13 18:23|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2008-11-13 18:23|| Front Page Top

#7 There is really only one reason to fight in A'stan - the people who are fighting against us are depraved and seriously need killing. The problem is you can't easily kill just the most depraved - you are bound to hit some 'innocent' women & kids and baby ducks. You either kill 'em all and let Allan sort 'em out, or leave and let them kill each other until they come after us here again, or continue this attempt at 'civilized' war. In general it is better to be on the offensive and choose your battlefield rather than try to protect everywhere. It's a tough nut to crack, and that's the real reason we went to Iraq in the first place (WMD was a good 'excuse'). This is one of those cases where it sucks to be the boss and to have to decide.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2008-11-13 18:56|| 2008-11-13 18:56|| Front Page Top

#8 As to using ARCLIGHT strikes, there is an adage that if you grab a man by his balls, his heart and mind will soon follow.

If you are willing to instill the fear that an ARCLIGHT brings, you will have taken the balls of the man on the ground. His heart and mind will not be far behind.

Posted by Abu do you love">Abu do you love 2008-11-13 20:41|| 2008-11-13 20:41|| Front Page Top

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