Stop the Escalation

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Perhaps, but that article is also over two years old.

[nowhereman 1]

Joe you aren't offering a solution because you don't have one & once again your reply has absolutely no substance to it... basically you are glossing over the fact that Bush didn't have an end state in mind & Obama does. As for the "this from a veteran" quip that is just plain stupid... many veterans (e.g. Generals) had significant input for Obama's plan (he didn't just lock himself in a room & come up with it himself).

Yes I have, put in the original requested amount of troops from his generals, and don't announce to the enemy when you're leaving. Can you explain to me how its good for the enemy to know when you're leaving?

OK try to think of Obama's decision in business terms... he took over as CEO of a failing business & he's trying to get the business back on track. In order for this to happen the CEO has to set goals, measurements for success & deadlines. Without doing this you can't make a profit & the business will go bankrupt. Don't get wrapped around the axle about the 2011 date... it is a goal & since it's based on conditions on the ground it is subject to change.

Its hard for someone who accepts whatever Obama does and never disagrees (except for your token "i disagreed with him in this one instance") to comprehend any alternatives.

You are under the very false impression that I am unable to think for myself... this tactic is often used by the bitter conservatives that are upset that Obama won the election. I have a vast amount of military experience & 3 college degrees... I have been there, done that & got the T-shirt. Trust me I am fully capable of forming my own opinions, especially on military related subjects.

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

I'm thoroughly disappointed in Obama over this...seriously.

ditto

Charles please elaborate on your opinion... Joe is doing an awful job trying to articulate his & as a fellow vet I'd like to hear yours.

if russia couldn't pacify that country with more troops on the ground than we have now, we're just kidding ourselves to think we'll do any better.

i think it's time to pull pitch and cut our losses.

Except we were supplying and training them at that time.........

and don't think someone else won't be doing the same.

Who? Iran? Elements of Pakistan?

probably just a small part of the list. i'm sure some saudi money is finding it's way there too. and given chavez's hate for us, probably some of his too.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm thoroughly disappointed in Obama over this...seriously.

ditto

Charles please elaborate on your opinion... Joe is doing an awful job trying to articulate his & as a fellow vet I'd like to hear yours.

if russia couldn't pacify that country with more troops on the ground than we have now, we're just kidding ourselves to think we'll do any better.

i think it's time to pull pitch and cut our losses.

[Nina~ 431]

I'm thoroughly disappointed in Obama over this...seriously.

ditto

Charles please elaborate on your opinion... Joe is doing an awful job trying to articulate his & as a fellow vet I'd like to hear yours.

if russia couldn't pacify that country with more troops on the ground than we have now, we're just kidding ourselves to think we'll do any better.

i think it's time to pull pitch and cut our losses.

I agree with you guys. We have lost a lot of men in Afganistan and if the Russians could not secure the region, then the chances of us doing it is pretty slim.. However there is a lot more to it than just "cutting our losses". Pakistan is on tethering on the verge of being a failed state. If the US pulls out of Afghanistan now, it won't take the Taliban long to overthrow the government in Pakistan and establish a dominance in the region... Imho, bad bad idea to pull out now!

[Peikko 1,575]

I'm thoroughly disappointed in Obama over this...seriously.

ditto

Charles please elaborate on your opinion... Joe is doing an awful job trying to articulate his & as a fellow vet I'd like to hear yours.

if russia couldn't pacify that country with more troops on the ground than we have now, we're just kidding ourselves to think we'll do any better.

i think it's time to pull pitch and cut our losses.

You do remember that part of the reason that the USSR couldn't defeat the Afghans was because at the time, the US was fighting with the Afghans?

I have every sympathy with demilitarizing this campaign, but none for leaving it to suffer the consequences of decades of outside interference.

Edited December 2, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[Kevin and 10]

I'm thoroughly disappointed in Obama over this...seriously.

ditto

Charles please elaborate on your opinion... Joe is doing an awful job trying to articulate his & as a fellow vet I'd like to hear yours.

if russia couldn't pacify that country with more troops on the ground than we have now, we're just kidding ourselves to think we'll do any better.

i think it's time to pull pitch and cut our losses.

Except we were supplying and training them at that time.........

and don't think someone else won't be doing the same.

Who? Iran? Elements of Pakistan?

probably just a small part of the list. i'm sure some saudi money is finding it's way there too. and given chavez's hate for us, probably some of his too.

Russia may be supplying some of the arms.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/as...ncy-817230.html

Name any county that doesn't ike the US and they could have a part in it.

if russia couldn't pacify that country with more troops on the ground than we have now, we're just kidding ourselves to think we'll do any better.

Didn't Ghengis Kahn fail there too?

[Peikko 1,575]

no idea why afghanistan is a national security issue to the US and not europe. europe is using us.... again!

bring troops home from everywhere: korean, japan, germany, spain, england, the works.... invest in a navy if we want to be everywhere. we put troops in most of these countries to spread democracy a long time ago... mission accomplished, bring the troops home.

Oh wow, just wow, I knew something like this would come....

Is misinformation this bad in the US or...? Are you just very young or have memory loss issues?

You know that most of european countries chose to send troops to Afghanistan rather than to Iraq when Bush calls for it, right?

Most of the european countries (except the UK) screamed and screamed again that the real threat was coming for Afghanistan years ago.

France with NATO forces sent specialized units to help Afghanistan forming and training their own decent army to stop their civil war.

Europe army presence is there before you even knew what Afghanistan means...!

And if we, frenchies with Lafayette, didn't "spread democracy" in your country, you'd have a queen right now.

Your sequence of events are way out of line. And, of all countries in Europe, France has always been the least likely to help defend Europe.

Way to go with the love DED.

[Nina~ 431]

if russia couldn't pacify that country with more troops on the ground than we have now, we're just kidding ourselves to think we'll do any better.

Didn't Ghengis Kahn fail there too?

Gengis was a war lord who invaded countries only for the sole purpose of looting and taking the wealth back to his people. So we are talking about a different kettle of fish here... Also, it was a different century and a different political era.

[mawilson 2,133]

No blood for oil. I want it stopped. I will call and tell them to stop funding the troops.

There's oil in Afghanistan???

[HAL 9000 96]

I'm thoroughly disappointed in Obama over this...seriously.

ditto

Charles please elaborate on your opinion... Joe is doing an awful job trying to articulate his & as a fellow vet I'd like to hear yours.

if russia couldn't pacify that country with more troops on the ground than we have now, we're just kidding ourselves to think we'll do any better.

i think it's time to pull pitch and cut our losses.

Except we were supplying and training them at that time.........

and don't think someone else won't be doing the same.

Who? Iran? Elements of Pakistan?

probably just a small part of the list. i'm sure some saudi money is finding it's way there too. and given chavez's hate for us, probably some of his too.

Venezuela Appreciation Thread will come soon.

[Joseph & Ana 0]

I'm thoroughly disappointed in Obama over this...seriously.

ditto

Charles please elaborate on your opinion... Joe is doing an awful job trying to articulate his & as a fellow vet I'd like to hear yours.

if russia couldn't pacify that country with more troops on the ground than we have now, we're just kidding ourselves to think we'll do any better.

i think it's time to pull pitch and cut our losses.

Except we were supplying and training them at that time.........

I can only cross my fingers we're out BEFORE Obama's projected exit date.

After all he needs a good platform to campaign on in 2012.

[HAL 9000 96]

So what's your answer Joe??

[Joseph & Ana 0]

No blood for oil. I want it stopped. I will call and tell them to stop funding the troops.

There's oil in Afghanistan???

No but perhaps you've heard of the trans-afghanistan pipeline proposal? It would technically still be about oil. Nice try though.

[Joseph & Ana 0]

OK try to think of Obama's decision in business terms... he took over as CEO of a failing business & he's trying to get the business back on track. In order for this to happen the CEO has to set goals, measurements for success & deadlines. Without doing this you can't make a profit & the business will go bankrupt. Don't get wrapped around the axle about the 2011 date... it is a goal & since it's based on conditions on the ground it is subject to change.

So CEO's typically divulge their internal strategy to their competition? I think not. Obama's never run anything and it shows.

You are under the very false impression that I am unable to think for myself... this tactic is often used by the bitter conservatives that are upset that Obama won the election. I have a vast amount of military experience & 3 college degrees... I have been there, done that & got the T-shirt. Trust me I am fully capable of forming my own opinions, especially on military related subjects.

You're starting to sound like BY. You are capable, yet you don't do it. Tooting your own horn doesn't lend you any credence. Was Hitler a good source for military strategy?