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2016-10-19 Afghanistan

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Posted by Besoeker 2016-10-19 14:02|| || Front Page|| [11135 views ] Top

#1 Important to keep in mind, top level "leadership" of the services rests with appointed civilians, not generals.

Of course we wouldn't expect Foreign Policy magazine to make mention of that subtle fact.

Posted by Besoeker 2016-10-19 14:15|| 2016-10-19 14:15|| Front Page Top

#2 The Mongols succeeded in the region today referred to as Afghanistan. Mongols waged 'war'. That's the difference. How's that "Kinder Gentler" stuff working out for you.

Posted by Procopius2k 2016-10-19 14:42|| 2016-10-19 14:42|| Front Page Top

#3 It strikes me that in general no one had a clue what victory would look like. To P2k's point the Mongols didn't have that problem.

If you want to try and set up the remainder to take care of themselves you first have to make sure that there is ONLY the remainder.

When was the last time that we sent in our troops with an explicit goal and vision of victory?

Posted by AlanC 2016-10-19 15:16|| 2016-10-19 15:16|| Front Page Top

#4 Remember, irregardless of what you do, if you lose, you are wrong.

"Our Generals" have failed us in more than one war.

We would have had a better start as a country Had we hung Chs Lee at first chance.

Shitheader General Winder should have been hung as an example to others, instead he spawned. :(

A first rate badtard and a father of one

Posted by Shipman 2016-10-19 15:20|| 2016-10-19 15:20|| Front Page Top

#5 Two events immediately come to mind, AlanC.
Panama and Grenada.

Posted by Skidmark 2016-10-19 16:30|| 2016-10-19 16:30|| Front Page Top

#6 Okay Skid, we swatted a couple of flys, somehow that doesn't seem too impressive.

Posted by AlanC 2016-10-19 19:09|| 2016-10-19 19:09|| Front Page Top

#7 As Clausewitz said, "Killing is the sine qua non of war," When all the enemy is dead, the war is over. Not a politically sellable approach in the soft n tender West these days.

Posted by M. Murcek 2016-10-19 19:57|| 2016-10-19 19:57|| Front Page Top

#8 The fact that afghan society is mostly corrupt, illiterate and tribal and the fact that the Taliban were fanatically motivated by Islam while the govt was also motivated by Islam was going to be a problem.

We never really had a way to address the corruption, etc. and never even had the stomach to recognize the Islam problem.

Posted by lord garth 2016-10-19 21:14|| 2016-10-19 21:14|| Front Page Top

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