Article

2014-12-29 Afghanistan

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 John Frum 2014-12-29 12:23|| || Front Page|| [10 views ] Top

"These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion. The Taliban must act, and act immediately. They will hand over the terrorists, or they will share in their fate."
George W. Bush, Statement To Joint Session Of Congress September 20th 2001

Only weeks later there was this:

'In remarks endorsed by the US secretary of state, Colin Powell, Gen Musharraf said any post-Taliban government in Kabul should be "broad-based" and "multi-ethnic". It could include the "former king Zahir Shah, political leaders, moderate Taliban leaders, elements from the Northern Alliance, tribal leaders and Afghans living outside their country", he added.'

Western policy on Afghanistan became incoherent as early as 2001. Under these circumstances anything like winning the war was impossible.

The problem is that this is/was a war that neither the US or NATO could afford not to win.

A precedent has been established that fundamentally undermines Western deterrence.

I fear we are just now beginning to reap the consequences of this disaster.

Posted by Elmerert Hupens2660 2014-12-29 16:20|| 2014-12-29 16:20|| Front Page Top

#2 EH, I fear you are correct. I supported GWB because he was the best available but his "compassionate" conservative, PC, noblesse oblige was not up to the job.

He never named the enemy and therefore we could not have a strategy.

Obama was the result. Domestic concerns should have been put in the context of a true war and prosecuted accordingly.

Posted by AlanC 2014-12-29 16:30|| 2014-12-29 16:30|| Front Page Top

#3 Never gonna get the desired result in these hearts and minds bullshit war. Make them fear the hell out of you, I thought that and resource take over was what war is supposed to be about.

Posted by chris 2014-12-29 16:49|| 2014-12-29 16:49|| Front Page Top

#4 Never gonna get the desired result in these hearts and minds bullshit war.

Unless you do it LeMay way.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2014-12-29 17:06|| 2014-12-29 17:06|| Front Page Top

#5 "grab their balls and their minds will follow"

Either blow it the hell up or occupy and oppress.

Posted by AlanC 2014-12-29 17:58|| 2014-12-29 17:58|| Front Page Top

#6 Obama pulled out of Iraq and it is now chaos.

Afghanistan is soon to be chaos.

Benghazi Obama let our people die.

The air show in Kurdistan is just to keep things from spinning out of control too quirk.

Obama regime still needs more allies, Castro and an embassy in Tehran with the Mad Mullahs on the side of the Obama regime's side is another positive for the Obama regime.

With socialist latin Americans pouring through the Southern border, and the military being filled with yes people and soon foreigners, America as we knew it will be toast in two years.

Posted by Ebbomosh Hupemp2664 2014-12-29 20:48|| 2014-12-29 20:48|| Front Page Top

22:14 Ebbomosh Hupemp2664
22:05 Frank G
21:31 newc
21:09 Ebbomosh Hupemp2664
20:51 Ebbomosh Hupemp2664
20:48 Ebbomosh Hupemp2664
20:41 newc
20:40 newc
19:17 Redneck Jim
19:13 Ghostly Unusomble6825
19:06 Thing From Snowy Mountain
18:29 Ghostly Unusomble6825
18:26 Barbara
18:21 Ghostly Unusomble6825
18:13 Ghostly Unusomble6825
18:07 AlanC
17:59 Bright Pebbles
17:58 AlanC
17:40 Anguper Hupomosing9418
17:28 SteveS
17:13 Shipman
17:07 g(r)omgoru
17:06 g(r)omgoru
17:04 Besoeker