Guest Gandalf Grey Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Swan Song for NATO: The real cost of defeat in Afghanistan By Mike Whitney Created Feb 13 2008 - 11:48pm It was supposed to be "the good war"; a war against terror; a war of liberation. It was intended to fix the eyes of the world on America's state of the art weaponry, its crack troops and its overwhelming firepower. It was supposed to demonstrate-once and for all-- that the world's only superpower could no longer be beaten or resisted; that Washington could deploy its troops anywhere in the world and crush its adversaries at will. Then everything went sideways. The war veered from the Pentagon's script. The Taliban retreated, waited, regrouped and retaliated. They enlisted support from the Pashtuns and the tribal leaders who could see that America would never honor its commitments; that order would never be restored. Operation Enduring Freedom has brought neither peace nor prosperity; just occupation. Seven years have passed and Afghanistan is still ruled by warlords and drug-merchants. Nothing has improved. The country is in shambles and the government is a fraud. The humiliation of foreign occupation persists while the killing goes on with no end in sight. War is not foreign policy. It is slaughter. Seven years later; it's still slaughter. The Taliban have taken over more than half of Afghanistan. They have conducted military operations in the capital of Kabul. They're dug in at Logar, Wardak and Ghazni and control vast swathes of territory in Zabul, Helmand, Urzgan and Kandahar. Now they are getting ready to step-up operations and mount a Spring offensive, which means the violence will only intensify. The Taliban's approach is methodical and deliberate. They've shown they can survive the harshest conditions and still achieve tactical victories over a better-equipped enemy. They are highly-motivated and believe their cause is just. After all, they are not fighting to occupy a foreign nation; they're fighting to defend their own country. That strengthens their resolve and keeps morale high. When NATO and American troops leave Afghanistan; the Taliban will remain, just as they did when the Russians left 20 years ago. No difference. The US occupation will just be another footnote in the country's tragic history. The United States has gained nothing from its invasion of Afghanistan. US troops do not control even a square inch of Afghan soil. The moment a soldier lifts his boot-heel; that ground is returned to the native people. That probably won't change either. General Dan McNeill said recently that "if proper US military counterinsurgency doctrine were followed; the US would need 400,000 troops to defeat Pashtun tribal resistance in Afghanistan." Currently, the US and NATO have only 66,000 troops on the ground and the allies are refusing to send more. On a purely logistical level; victory is impossible. The battle for hearts and minds has been lost, too. A statement from the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) sums it up like this: "The reinstatement of the Northern Alliance to power crushed the hopes of our people for freedom and prosperity and proved that, for the Bush administration, defeating terrorism has no meaning at all....The US doesn't want to defeat the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, because then they will have no excuse to stay in Afghanistan and achieve their economic and strategic goals in the region....After seven years, there is no peace, human rights, democracy or reconstruction in Afghanistan. The destitution and suffering of our people is increasing everyday. ...We believe that if the troops leave Afghanistan, our people will become more free and come out of their current puzzlement and doubts...Afghanistan's freedom can only be achieved by Afghan people themselves. Relying on one enemy to defeat another is a wrong policy which has just tightened the grip of the Northern Alliance and their masters on the neck of our nation." (RAWA http://www.rawa.org [1]) Gradually, the Allies will see that Bush's war cannot be won and that continuing the fighting is counterproductive. There is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and the political objectives are getting murkier all the time. This just adds to the growing sense of frustration. Recently Secretary of Defense Robert Gates tried to cajole the allies into sending more combat troops to fight in the south, but he met with stiff resistance . He said: "I am concerned that many people on this continent may not comprehend the magnitude of the direct threat to European security," Gates said. "We must not become a two-tiered alliance of those who are willing to fight and those who are not. Such a development, with all its implications for collective security, would in effect destroy the alliance." But support for the war is waning in Europe. This is America's war, not theirs. Europeans don't need to occupy foreign nations to meet their energy needs. Their countries are prosperous and they can afford to buy for fuel on the open market. Only America wants the war. It's all part of a geopolitical "grand strategy" to project US power into the region to control its resources. So far, there's no indication that the plan will succeed. Germany has the third biggest economy in the world. Over the last few years, they have strengthened ties with Russia and made agreements that will satisfy their long-term energy needs. But German involvement in Afghanistan has put a strain on relations with Moscow. Putin thinks that the US is using the war to put down roots in Central Asia so it can control pipeline-routes from the Caspian Basin and surround Russia and China with military bases. Naturally, Putin would like to persuade Chancellor Angela Merkel to withdraw German troops from Afghanistan so he could strike a blow against the US-led alliance. Eventually, German leaders will see that its foolish to tweak the nose of the people who provide them with energy (Russia) just to support Washington's adventures. When Germany withdraws from Afghanistan; NATO will disband, new coalitions will form, and the transatlantic alliance fall apart. The cracks are already visible. Bush has said that the war in Afghanistan must continue or the country will become a haven for drugs, terrorism and organized crime. He says we are fighting a "poisonous ideology of Islamic extremism which threatens to become a global movement". But the Taliban and Pashtun tribesmen see it differently. They see the conflict as an imperial war of aggression which has only added to the suffering of their people. A recent report by the United Nations Human Development Fund appears to support this view. It shows that Afghanistan has fallen in every category. The average life expectancy has gone down, malnutrition has risen, literacy has dropped, and more than half the population is living below the poverty-line. Hundreds of thousands of people have been internally displaced by the war. Afghanistan now produces 90% of the world's opium; more than any other country. The booming drug trade is the direct result of the US invasion. Bush has created the world's largest narco-colony. Is that success? Presently, there are no plans to remove the warlords or improve the lives of ordinary Afghans. Reconstruction is at a standstill. If the US stays in Afghanistan, the situation 10 years from now will be the same as it is today, only more people will have needlessly died. Most Afghans now understand that the promise of democracy was a lie. The only thing the occupation has brought is more grinding poverty and random violence. There's no back-up plan for Afghanistan. In fact, there is no plan at all. The administration thought the Taliban would see America's high-tech, laser-guided weaponry and run for the hills. They did. Now they're back. And now we are embroiled in an "unwinnable" war with a tenacious enemy that grows stronger by the day. Eventually, the Europeans will see the futility of the war and leave. And that will be the end of NATO. _______ Mike Whitney -- NOTICE: This post contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material available to advance understanding of political, human rights, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues. I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 "A little patience and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people recovering their true sight, restore their government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are suffering deeply in spirit, and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public debt. But if the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at stake." -Thomas Jefferson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jerry Okamura Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 Same question as Iraq. Is success in Afghanistan important or is it not important, and why? "Gandalf Grey" <valinor20@gmail.com> wrote in message news:47b5d076$1$14652$9a6e19ea@news.newshosting.com... > Swan Song for NATO: The real cost of defeat in Afghanistan > > By Mike Whitney > > Created Feb 13 2008 - 11:48pm > > > It was supposed to be "the good war"; a war against terror; a war of > liberation. It was intended to fix the eyes of the world on America's > state > of the art weaponry, its crack troops and its overwhelming firepower. It > was > supposed to demonstrate-once and for all-- that the world's only > superpower > could no longer be beaten or resisted; that Washington could deploy its > troops anywhere in the world and crush its adversaries at will. > > Then everything went sideways. The war veered from the Pentagon's script. > The Taliban retreated, waited, regrouped and retaliated. They enlisted > support from the Pashtuns and the tribal leaders who could see that > America > would never honor its commitments; that order would never be restored. > Operation Enduring Freedom has brought neither peace nor prosperity; just > occupation. Seven years have passed and Afghanistan is still ruled by > warlords and drug-merchants. Nothing has improved. The country is in > shambles and the government is a fraud. The humiliation of foreign > occupation persists while the killing goes on with no end in sight. > > War is not foreign policy. It is slaughter. Seven years later; it's still > slaughter. The Taliban have taken over more than half of Afghanistan. They > have conducted military operations in the capital of Kabul. They're dug in > at Logar, Wardak and Ghazni and control vast swathes of territory in > Zabul, > Helmand, Urzgan and Kandahar. Now they are getting ready to step-up > operations and mount a Spring offensive, which means the violence will > only > intensify. > > The Taliban's approach is methodical and deliberate. They've shown they > can > survive the harshest conditions and still achieve tactical victories over > a > better-equipped enemy. They are highly-motivated and believe their cause > is > just. After all, they are not fighting to occupy a foreign nation; they're > fighting to defend their own country. That strengthens their resolve and > keeps morale high. When NATO and American troops leave Afghanistan; the > Taliban will remain, just as they did when the Russians left 20 years ago. > No difference. The US occupation will just be another footnote in the > country's tragic history. > > The United States has gained nothing from its invasion of Afghanistan. US > troops do not control even a square inch of Afghan soil. The moment a > soldier lifts his boot-heel; that ground is returned to the native people. > That probably won't change either. General Dan McNeill said recently that > "if proper US military counterinsurgency doctrine were followed; the US > would need 400,000 troops to defeat Pashtun tribal resistance in > Afghanistan." Currently, the US and NATO have only 66,000 troops on the > ground and the allies are refusing to send more. On a purely logistical > level; victory is impossible. > > The battle for hearts and minds has been lost, too. A statement from the > Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) sums it up > like > this: > > "The reinstatement of the Northern Alliance to power crushed the hopes of > our people for freedom and prosperity and proved that, for the Bush > administration, defeating terrorism has no meaning at all....The US > doesn't > want to defeat the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, because then they will have no > excuse to stay in Afghanistan and achieve their economic and strategic > goals > in the region....After seven years, there is no peace, human rights, > democracy or reconstruction in Afghanistan. The destitution and suffering > of > our people is increasing everyday. ...We believe that if the troops leave > Afghanistan, our people will become more free and come out of their > current > puzzlement and doubts...Afghanistan's freedom can only be achieved by > Afghan > people themselves. Relying on one enemy to defeat another is a wrong > policy > which has just tightened the grip of the Northern Alliance and their > masters > on the neck of our nation." (RAWA http://www.rawa.org [1]) > > Gradually, the Allies will see that Bush's war cannot be won and that > continuing the fighting is counterproductive. There is no military > solution > to the conflict in Afghanistan and the political objectives are getting > murkier all the time. This just adds to the growing sense of frustration. > > Recently Secretary of Defense Robert Gates tried to cajole the allies into > sending more combat troops to fight in the south, but he met with stiff > resistance . He said: > > "I am concerned that many people on this continent may not comprehend the > magnitude of the direct threat to European security," Gates said. "We must > not become a two-tiered alliance of those who are willing to fight and > those > who are not. Such a development, with all its implications for collective > security, would in effect destroy the alliance." > > But support for the war is waning in Europe. This is America's war, not > theirs. Europeans don't need to occupy foreign nations to meet their > energy > needs. Their countries are prosperous and they can afford to buy for fuel > on > the open market. Only America wants the war. It's all part of a > geopolitical > "grand strategy" to project US power into the region to control its > resources. So far, there's no indication that the plan will succeed. > > Germany has the third biggest economy in the world. Over the last few > years, > they have strengthened ties with Russia and made agreements that will > satisfy their long-term energy needs. But German involvement in > Afghanistan > has put a strain on relations with Moscow. Putin thinks that the US is > using > the war to put down roots in Central Asia so it can control > pipeline-routes > from the Caspian Basin and surround Russia and China with military bases. > Naturally, Putin would like to persuade Chancellor Angela Merkel to > withdraw > German troops from Afghanistan so he could strike a blow against the > US-led > alliance. > > Eventually, German leaders will see that its foolish to tweak the nose of > the people who provide them with energy (Russia) just to support > Washington's adventures. When Germany withdraws from Afghanistan; NATO > will > disband, new coalitions will form, and the transatlantic alliance fall > apart. The cracks are already visible. > > Bush has said that the war in Afghanistan must continue or the country > will > become a haven for drugs, terrorism and organized crime. He says we are > fighting a "poisonous ideology of Islamic extremism which threatens to > become a global movement". > > But the Taliban and Pashtun tribesmen see it differently. They see the > conflict as an imperial war of aggression which has only added to the > suffering of their people. A recent report by the United Nations Human > Development Fund appears to support this view. It shows that Afghanistan > has > fallen in every category. The average life expectancy has gone down, > malnutrition has risen, literacy has dropped, and more than half the > population is living below the poverty-line. Hundreds of thousands of > people > have been internally displaced by the war. > > Afghanistan now produces 90% of the world's opium; more than any other > country. The booming drug trade is the direct result of the US invasion. > Bush has created the world's largest narco-colony. Is that success? > > Presently, there are no plans to remove the warlords or improve the lives > of > ordinary Afghans. Reconstruction is at a standstill. If the US stays in > Afghanistan, the situation 10 years from now will be the same as it is > today, only more people will have needlessly died. Most Afghans now > understand that the promise of democracy was a lie. The only thing the > occupation has brought is more grinding poverty and random violence. > > There's no back-up plan for Afghanistan. In fact, there is no plan at all. > The administration thought the Taliban would see America's high-tech, > laser-guided weaponry and run for the hills. They did. Now they're back. > And > now we are embroiled in an "unwinnable" war with a tenacious enemy that > grows stronger by the day. > > Eventually, the Europeans will see the futility of the war and leave. And > that will be the end of NATO. > > _______ > Mike Whitney > > > > -- > NOTICE: This post contains copyrighted material the use of which has not > always been authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material > available to advance understanding of > political, human rights, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues. > I > believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of such copyrighted material as > provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright > Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 > > "A little patience and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their > spells dissolve, and the people recovering their true sight, restore their > government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are > suffering deeply in spirit, > and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public > debt. But if the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have > patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning > back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are > at > stake." > -Thomas Jefferson > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest * US * Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:06:08 -1000, "Jerry Okamura" <okamuraj005@hawaii.rr.com> wrote: >Same question as Iraq. Is success in Afghanistan important or is it not >important, and why? That 'success' is the destruction of the USA, to you, isn't it, bushkultie. >"Gandalf Grey" <valinor20@gmail.com> wrote in message >news:47b5d076$1$14652$9a6e19ea@news.newshosting.com... >> Swan Song for NATO: The real cost of defeat in Afghanistan >> >> By Mike Whitney >> >> Created Feb 13 2008 - 11:48pm >> >> >> It was supposed to be "the good war"; a war against terror; a war of >> liberation. It was intended to fix the eyes of the world on America's >> state >> of the art weaponry, its crack troops and its overwhelming firepower. It >> was >> supposed to demonstrate-once and for all-- that the world's only >> superpower >> could no longer be beaten or resisted; that Washington could deploy its >> troops anywhere in the world and crush its adversaries at will. >> >> Then everything went sideways. The war veered from the Pentagon's script. >> The Taliban retreated, waited, regrouped and retaliated. They enlisted >> support from the Pashtuns and the tribal leaders who could see that >> America >> would never honor its commitments; that order would never be restored. >> Operation Enduring Freedom has brought neither peace nor prosperity; just >> occupation. Seven years have passed and Afghanistan is still ruled by >> warlords and drug-merchants. Nothing has improved. The country is in >> shambles and the government is a fraud. The humiliation of foreign >> occupation persists while the killing goes on with no end in sight. >> >> War is not foreign policy. It is slaughter. Seven years later; it's still >> slaughter. The Taliban have taken over more than half of Afghanistan. They >> have conducted military operations in the capital of Kabul. They're dug in >> at Logar, Wardak and Ghazni and control vast swathes of territory in >> Zabul, >> Helmand, Urzgan and Kandahar. Now they are getting ready to step-up >> operations and mount a Spring offensive, which means the violence will >> only >> intensify. >> >> The Taliban's approach is methodical and deliberate. They've shown they >> can >> survive the harshest conditions and still achieve tactical victories over >> a >> better-equipped enemy. They are highly-motivated and believe their cause >> is >> just. After all, they are not fighting to occupy a foreign nation; they're >> fighting to defend their own country. That strengthens their resolve and >> keeps morale high. When NATO and American troops leave Afghanistan; the >> Taliban will remain, just as they did when the Russians left 20 years ago. >> No difference. The US occupation will just be another footnote in the >> country's tragic history. >> >> The United States has gained nothing from its invasion of Afghanistan. US >> troops do not control even a square inch of Afghan soil. The moment a >> soldier lifts his boot-heel; that ground is returned to the native people. >> That probably won't change either. General Dan McNeill said recently that >> "if proper US military counterinsurgency doctrine were followed; the US >> would need 400,000 troops to defeat Pashtun tribal resistance in >> Afghanistan." Currently, the US and NATO have only 66,000 troops on the >> ground and the allies are refusing to send more. On a purely logistical >> level; victory is impossible. >> >> The battle for hearts and minds has been lost, too. A statement from the >> Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) sums it up >> like >> this: >> >> "The reinstatement of the Northern Alliance to power crushed the hopes of >> our people for freedom and prosperity and proved that, for the Bush >> administration, defeating terrorism has no meaning at all....The US >> doesn't >> want to defeat the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, because then they will have no >> excuse to stay in Afghanistan and achieve their economic and strategic >> goals >> in the region....After seven years, there is no peace, human rights, >> democracy or reconstruction in Afghanistan. The destitution and suffering >> of >> our people is increasing everyday. ...We believe that if the troops leave >> Afghanistan, our people will become more free and come out of their >> current >> puzzlement and doubts...Afghanistan's freedom can only be achieved by >> Afghan >> people themselves. Relying on one enemy to defeat another is a wrong >> policy >> which has just tightened the grip of the Northern Alliance and their >> masters >> on the neck of our nation." (RAWA http://www.rawa.org [1]) >> >> Gradually, the Allies will see that Bush's war cannot be won and that >> continuing the fighting is counterproductive. There is no military >> solution >> to the conflict in Afghanistan and the political objectives are getting >> murkier all the time. This just adds to the growing sense of frustration. >> >> Recently Secretary of Defense Robert Gates tried to cajole the allies into >> sending more combat troops to fight in the south, but he met with stiff >> resistance . He said: >> >> "I am concerned that many people on this continent may not comprehend the >> magnitude of the direct threat to European security," Gates said. "We must >> not become a two-tiered alliance of those who are willing to fight and >> those >> who are not. Such a development, with all its implications for collective >> security, would in effect destroy the alliance." >> >> But support for the war is waning in Europe. This is America's war, not >> theirs. Europeans don't need to occupy foreign nations to meet their >> energy >> needs. Their countries are prosperous and they can afford to buy for fuel >> on >> the open market. Only America wants the war. It's all part of a >> geopolitical >> "grand strategy" to project US power into the region to control its >> resources. So far, there's no indication that the plan will succeed. >> >> Germany has the third biggest economy in the world. Over the last few >> years, >> they have strengthened ties with Russia and made agreements that will >> satisfy their long-term energy needs. But German involvement in >> Afghanistan >> has put a strain on relations with Moscow. Putin thinks that the US is >> using >> the war to put down roots in Central Asia so it can control >> pipeline-routes >> from the Caspian Basin and surround Russia and China with military bases. >> Naturally, Putin would like to persuade Chancellor Angela Merkel to >> withdraw >> German troops from Afghanistan so he could strike a blow against the >> US-led >> alliance. >> >> Eventually, German leaders will see that its foolish to tweak the nose of >> the people who provide them with energy (Russia) just to support >> Washington's adventures. When Germany withdraws from Afghanistan; NATO >> will >> disband, new coalitions will form, and the transatlantic alliance fall >> apart. The cracks are already visible. >> >> Bush has said that the war in Afghanistan must continue or the country >> will >> become a haven for drugs, terrorism and organized crime. He says we are >> fighting a "poisonous ideology of Islamic extremism which threatens to >> become a global movement". >> >> But the Taliban and Pashtun tribesmen see it differently. They see the >> conflict as an imperial war of aggression which has only added to the >> suffering of their people. A recent report by the United Nations Human >> Development Fund appears to support this view. It shows that Afghanistan >> has >> fallen in every category. The average life expectancy has gone down, >> malnutrition has risen, literacy has dropped, and more than half the >> population is living below the poverty-line. Hundreds of thousands of >> people >> have been internally displaced by the war. >> >> Afghanistan now produces 90% of the world's opium; more than any other >> country. The booming drug trade is the direct result of the US invasion. >> Bush has created the world's largest narco-colony. Is that success? >> >> Presently, there are no plans to remove the warlords or improve the lives >> of >> ordinary Afghans. Reconstruction is at a standstill. If the US stays in >> Afghanistan, the situation 10 years from now will be the same as it is >> today, only more people will have needlessly died. Most Afghans now >> understand that the promise of democracy was a lie. The only thing the >> occupation has brought is more grinding poverty and random violence. >> >> There's no back-up plan for Afghanistan. In fact, there is no plan at all. >> The administration thought the Taliban would see America's high-tech, >> laser-guided weaponry and run for the hills. They did. Now they're back. >> And >> now we are embroiled in an "unwinnable" war with a tenacious enemy that >> grows stronger by the day. >> >> Eventually, the Europeans will see the futility of the war and leave. And >> that will be the end of NATO. >> >> _______ >> Mike Whitney >> >> >> >> -- >> NOTICE: This post contains copyrighted material the use of which has not >> always been authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material >> available to advance understanding of >> political, human rights, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues. >> I >> believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of such copyrighted material as >> provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright >> Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 >> >> "A little patience and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their >> spells dissolve, and the people recovering their true sight, restore their >> government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are >> suffering deeply in spirit, >> and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public >> debt. But if the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have >> patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning >> back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are >> at >> stake." >> -Thomas Jefferson >> >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jerry Okamura Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 " US " wrote in message news:kd8jr3517km5fhlv0r9j9954n6t2mo9oba@4ax.com... > On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:06:08 -1000, "Jerry Okamura" > <okamuraj005@hawaii.rr.com> wrote: > >>Same question as Iraq. Is success in Afghanistan important or is it not >>important, and why? > > That 'success' is the destruction of the USA, to you, isn't it, > bushkultie. > Still not answering the question asked. But I will show you the courtesy you chose not to show me. The answer to your question is, how will "success" result in the destrutcion of the USA? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest * US * Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 On Mon, 18 Feb 2008 09:16:17 -1000, "Jerry Okamura" <okamuraj005@hawaii.rr.com> wrote: >Still not answering ... You can't answer for yourself, but it's obvious. You hate Americans, as you're a mere bushfilth. On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:06:08 -1000, "Jerry Okamura" <okamuraj005@hawaii.rr.com> wrote: >Same question as Iraq. Is success in Afghanistan important or is it not >important, and why? That 'success' is the destruction of the USA, to you, isn't it, bushkultie. >"Gandalf Grey" <valinor20@gmail.com> wrote in message >news:47b5d076$1$14652$9a6e19ea@news.newshosting.com... >> Swan Song for NATO: The real cost of defeat in Afghanistan >> >> By Mike Whitney >> >> Created Feb 13 2008 - 11:48pm >> >> >> It was supposed to be "the good war"; a war against terror; a war of >> liberation. It was intended to fix the eyes of the world on America's >> state >> of the art weaponry, its crack troops and its overwhelming firepower. It >> was >> supposed to demonstrate-once and for all-- that the world's only >> superpower >> could no longer be beaten or resisted; that Washington could deploy its >> troops anywhere in the world and crush its adversaries at will. >> >> Then everything went sideways. The war veered from the Pentagon's script. >> The Taliban retreated, waited, regrouped and retaliated. They enlisted >> support from the Pashtuns and the tribal leaders who could see that >> America >> would never honor its commitments; that order would never be restored. >> Operation Enduring Freedom has brought neither peace nor prosperity; just >> occupation. Seven years have passed and Afghanistan is still ruled by >> warlords and drug-merchants. Nothing has improved. The country is in >> shambles and the government is a fraud. The humiliation of foreign >> occupation persists while the killing goes on with no end in sight. >> >> War is not foreign policy. It is slaughter. Seven years later; it's still >> slaughter. The Taliban have taken over more than half of Afghanistan. They >> have conducted military operations in the capital of Kabul. They're dug in >> at Logar, Wardak and Ghazni and control vast swathes of territory in >> Zabul, >> Helmand, Urzgan and Kandahar. Now they are getting ready to step-up >> operations and mount a Spring offensive, which means the violence will >> only >> intensify. >> >> The Taliban's approach is methodical and deliberate. They've shown they >> can >> survive the harshest conditions and still achieve tactical victories over >> a >> better-equipped enemy. They are highly-motivated and believe their cause >> is >> just. After all, they are not fighting to occupy a foreign nation; they're >> fighting to defend their own country. That strengthens their resolve and >> keeps morale high. When NATO and American troops leave Afghanistan; the >> Taliban will remain, just as they did when the Russians left 20 years ago. >> No difference. The US occupation will just be another footnote in the >> country's tragic history. >> >> The United States has gained nothing from its invasion of Afghanistan. US >> troops do not control even a square inch of Afghan soil. The moment a >> soldier lifts his boot-heel; that ground is returned to the native people. >> That probably won't change either. General Dan McNeill said recently that >> "if proper US military counterinsurgency doctrine were followed; the US >> would need 400,000 troops to defeat Pashtun tribal resistance in >> Afghanistan." Currently, the US and NATO have only 66,000 troops on the >> ground and the allies are refusing to send more. On a purely logistical >> level; victory is impossible. >> >> The battle for hearts and minds has been lost, too. A statement from the >> Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) sums it up >> like >> this: >> >> "The reinstatement of the Northern Alliance to power crushed the hopes of >> our people for freedom and prosperity and proved that, for the Bush >> administration, defeating terrorism has no meaning at all....The US >> doesn't >> want to defeat the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, because then they will have no >> excuse to stay in Afghanistan and achieve their economic and strategic >> goals >> in the region....After seven years, there is no peace, human rights, >> democracy or reconstruction in Afghanistan. The destitution and suffering >> of >> our people is increasing everyday. ...We believe that if the troops leave >> Afghanistan, our people will become more free and come out of their >> current >> puzzlement and doubts...Afghanistan's freedom can only be achieved by >> Afghan >> people themselves. Relying on one enemy to defeat another is a wrong >> policy >> which has just tightened the grip of the Northern Alliance and their >> masters >> on the neck of our nation." (RAWA http://www.rawa.org [1]) >> >> Gradually, the Allies will see that Bush's war cannot be won and that >> continuing the fighting is counterproductive. There is no military >> solution >> to the conflict in Afghanistan and the political objectives are getting >> murkier all the time. This just adds to the growing sense of frustration. >> >> Recently Secretary of Defense Robert Gates tried to cajole the allies into >> sending more combat troops to fight in the south, but he met with stiff >> resistance . He said: >> >> "I am concerned that many people on this continent may not comprehend the >> magnitude of the direct threat to European security," Gates said. "We must >> not become a two-tiered alliance of those who are willing to fight and >> those >> who are not. Such a development, with all its implications for collective >> security, would in effect destroy the alliance." >> >> But support for the war is waning in Europe. This is America's war, not >> theirs. Europeans don't need to occupy foreign nations to meet their >> energy >> needs. Their countries are prosperous and they can afford to buy for fuel >> on >> the open market. Only America wants the war. It's all part of a >> geopolitical >> "grand strategy" to project US power into the region to control its >> resources. So far, there's no indication that the plan will succeed. >> >> Germany has the third biggest economy in the world. Over the last few >> years, >> they have strengthened ties with Russia and made agreements that will >> satisfy their long-term energy needs. But German involvement in >> Afghanistan >> has put a strain on relations with Moscow. Putin thinks that the US is >> using >> the war to put down roots in Central Asia so it can control >> pipeline-routes >> from the Caspian Basin and surround Russia and China with military bases. >> Naturally, Putin would like to persuade Chancellor Angela Merkel to >> withdraw >> German troops from Afghanistan so he could strike a blow against the >> US-led >> alliance. >> >> Eventually, German leaders will see that its foolish to tweak the nose of >> the people who provide them with energy (Russia) just to support >> Washington's adventures. When Germany withdraws from Afghanistan; NATO >> will >> disband, new coalitions will form, and the transatlantic alliance fall >> apart. The cracks are already visible. >> >> Bush has said that the war in Afghanistan must continue or the country >> will >> become a haven for drugs, terrorism and organized crime. He says we are >> fighting a "poisonous ideology of Islamic extremism which threatens to >> become a global movement". >> >> But the Taliban and Pashtun tribesmen see it differently. They see the >> conflict as an imperial war of aggression which has only added to the >> suffering of their people. A recent report by the United Nations Human >> Development Fund appears to support this view. It shows that Afghanistan >> has >> fallen in every category. The average life expectancy has gone down, >> malnutrition has risen, literacy has dropped, and more than half the >> population is living below the poverty-line. Hundreds of thousands of >> people >> have been internally displaced by the war. >> >> Afghanistan now produces 90% of the world's opium; more than any other >> country. The booming drug trade is the direct result of the US invasion. >> Bush has created the world's largest narco-colony. Is that success? >> >> Presently, there are no plans to remove the warlords or improve the lives >> of >> ordinary Afghans. Reconstruction is at a standstill. If the US stays in >> Afghanistan, the situation 10 years from now will be the same as it is >> today, only more people will have needlessly died. Most Afghans now >> understand that the promise of democracy was a lie. The only thing the >> occupation has brought is more grinding poverty and random violence. >> >> There's no back-up plan for Afghanistan. In fact, there is no plan at all. >> The administration thought the Taliban would see America's high-tech, >> laser-guided weaponry and run for the hills. They did. Now they're back. >> And >> now we are embroiled in an "unwinnable" war with a tenacious enemy that >> grows stronger by the day. >> >> Eventually, the Europeans will see the futility of the war and leave. And >> that will be the end of NATO. >> >> _______ >> Mike Whitney >> >> >> >> -- >> NOTICE: This post contains copyrighted material the use of which has not >> always been authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material >> available to advance understanding of >> political, human rights, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues. >> I >> believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of such copyrighted material as >> provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright >> Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 >> >> "A little patience and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their >> spells dissolve, and the people recovering their true sight, restore their >> government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are >> suffering deeply in spirit, >> and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public >> debt. But if the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have >> patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning >> back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are >> at >> stake." >> -Thomas Jefferson >> >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lorad474@cs.com Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 On Feb 15, 10:08 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dust4slugs Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 On Feb 18, 12:16 pm, "Jerry Okamura" <okamuraj...@hawaii.rr.com> wrote: > " US " wrote in messagenews:kd8jr3517km5fhlv0r9j9954n6t2mo9oba@4ax.com... > > On Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:06:08 -1000, "Jerry Okamura" > > <okamuraj...@hawaii.rr.com> wrote: > > >>Same question as Iraq. Is success in Afghanistan important or is it not > >>important, and why? > > > That 'success' is the destruction of the USA, to you, isn't it, > > bushkultie. > > Still not answering the question asked. But I will show you the courtesy > you chose not to show me. The answer to your question is, how will > "success" result in the destrutcion of the USA? Why should anyone answer your question, Jerry? It is the same question you have posed over and over again to no end. With your every post being about winning the war is the right thing to do. DUH! But at every turn are unable to give any specifics of how to win it (even if you did it wouldn't mean jack shit because you are not in charge, Jerry, get it! This and the FACT your DREAMS of grandeur don't mean squat, General Jerry Okamura. Wow, that does have a nice ring to it though, lol). If you had taken the time to read the article you would have noticed Afghanistan is undermanned, hence the war is un-winnable using current methods (a hint for you Jerry un-winnable doesn't mean success). Plus when it is taken into account that the entire military is in the same condition, one need not hesitate to assume the obvious. But as usual the obviousness of the situation escapes you. Question 4U General? Do you routinely play with plastic army men Jerry, and think Wal Mart is your supply depot for replacements. Then you are a Republican Jerry. As for the destruction of America, it will come from with in if the same political policies continue. I could sit here and spout Liberal politics and say to you they are right, because they are. I could also sit here and do the same with Rightwing politics and say they are right because on many levels they are. When politics leads to such obvious hatred toward others of your own countrymen the shit will eventually hit the fan. This as no country can survive such a deep division amongst themselves and continue (one need but look at the posts that occur here everyday, to see the futility of it all). There is only one thing America has to look forward to and that is a new president who is truly a decider and is not a divider. As yet I don't see one on the horizon, do you Jerry? If not then we all lose in the end, and there can be no measure of success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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