Article

2012-04-26 Afghanistan

A Marine Two-Star: Why Afghanistan Is Like Vietnam

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by tipper 2012-04-26 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11132 views ] Top

#1 The analogy is simple - Vietnam sucked up a huge amount of the weaponry being handed out to revolutionary movements by the communist bloc. Millions of Chinese starved to death because Mao had to keep the Indochinese guerrillas hip deep in artillery shells and SKS rifles. The Soviets probably took a fair amount of damage to their economy because of the huge weapons-related loans to their proxies that were never paid back.

Afghanistan is fulfilling a similar role. Without Uncle Sam pulverizing the jihadists there, the quasi-NGO jihadi financiers and armorers will shift their attention to other targets. People who say that the war is taking up too much money are nuts. The military-industrial complex has spent about 5% of GDP during the War on Terror - roughly the average for the past 6 decades. It's the welfare state complex that's been killing us - it went from a low single digit % of GDP at the beginning of the 19th century to about 30% today.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2012-04-26 00:23|| 2012-04-26 00:23|| Front Page Top

#2 It's the welfare state complex that's been killing us - it went from a low single digit % of GDP at the beginning of the 19th century to about 30% today. Posted by Zhang Fei

But, but, but that's where the 'urban party' VOTES are located!!!

Posted by Besoeker 2012-04-26 06:47|| 2012-04-26 06:47|| Front Page Top

#3 It's the lack of perceptible results that has Americans turning against the conflict and making excuses for why. When debt looms badly money issues take the forefront.

Basically the US needs to figure out what to do about Pakistan if we are ever to seriously deal with Afghanistan. We are not ready to do that.

Posted by rjschwarz 2012-04-26 08:51|| 2012-04-26 08:51|| Front Page Top

#4 Basically the US needs

to start drilling at home and/or buying Canadian. And deal with Dar solely via cruise missiles/strategic bombers.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2012-04-26 10:23|| 2012-04-26 10:23|| Front Page Top

#5 100% agree with G(r)omgoru.

Posted by Rjschwarz 2012-04-26 14:35|| 2012-04-26 14:35|| Front Page Top

#6 Always wondered why US do not drill at home?

Posted by Gruth McGurque5303 2012-04-26 14:42|| 2012-04-26 14:42|| Front Page Top

#7 Always wondered why US do not drill at home?

Environmental laws, endangered species laws, laws regarding 'discovered' archeological sites, lack of suitable terrain and airspace, organized (usually non-local) and media-supported opposition...

Posted by Pappy 2012-04-26 22:34|| 2012-04-26 22:34|| Front Page Top

#8 ...Senior Executive Service (SES) and Civil Service(GS-14/15)revolving-door, deeply-embedded careerist Marxists just agitating and doing the anti-Christ's work...Destabilizing things at any DOD-related Agency/Department on the "Home-Front".

Posted by canalzone 2012-04-26 23:42|| 2012-04-26 23:42|| Front Page Top

23:42 canalzone
23:38 Silentbrick - Halliburton Lost Drill Bit Division
22:58 rammer
22:50 JosephMendiola
22:50 texhooey
22:42 JosephMendiola
22:36 JosephMendiola
22:34 gorb
22:34 Pappy
22:29 Pappy
22:24 Pappy
21:56 swksvolFF
21:18 Bright Pebbles
21:18 Bright Pebbles
21:01 Alaska Paul
20:50 Glenmore
20:48 abu do you love
20:46 Glenmore
20:44 Glenmore
20:43 Rambler in Virginia
20:39 gorb
20:17 Alaska Paul
19:46 Procopius2k
19:45 Vortigern Hupoluse1541