Can we please take off the kid gloves and get serious about this terrorist situation? Let's save the political considerations for "after" we've deterrorised a country. Our people in uniform shouldn't be, and need not be dying for political points. We need to close out Afghanistan, as quickly and as professionally as possible. A lot of American blood, as well as American taxes dollars, are being wasted in Iraq due to the idiot way we're executed the war in Afghanistan. We're chasing all over the Afghan mountains for bin Ladin and his merry band of jihadist. NATO is in charge of the International Security Assistance in Afghanistan; so let them deal with it. We have our fair quota of soldiers attached to them. We have a large contingent of unattached special operations forces, scouring the mountains for brother bin Ladin's where-abouts; among other things.
So why is it that the Taliban has increased it's presence, each year since 2006? Why are there more; not less; al-Qaeda attacks over that same time period? Why is it getting worse and not better? Why are we advocating sending 1000 more troops over there? Many Americans that have family members serving in the Armed Forces, are wondering the same thing. Twenty-three short months ago, we where assured that all was well in Afghanistan. It was supposed to be a simple matter of infusing President Hamid Karzai's government with financial aid; support infrastructure developement; and all would be gravy from that point foward. Poppy production has risen well beyond pre-invasion levels. Didn't I read an article in 2004; shortly after President Karzia took office; that those fields would be replaced with traditionally acceptable crops?
Guess you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Wheats and veggies, just dont stimulate the ole Afghan interest, eh? Bloody hardliners. Well; if any good came out of all of this; the myth that Afghanistan couldn't be effectively invaded; due to it's geography, was debunked. Five problems. A rush to execute a war without determining military, political and economical ramifications; in terms of our interest as well as the Afghan people. A rush to establish a government before completely nutrelizing the resistance and eliminating the enemies ability to fight. A rush to rebuild, without establishing secured areas of operation. An example is; we knew of the poppy culture in-country. We knew of the Afghan history of violent political rifts; alone tribal, political, as well as religious lines. That it shifted with the winds. So we turn to the Pastuns to deliver Afghanistan from centuries of tribal lord-monguring? Truth be told; Afghanistan should've been; and still should be; systematically destroyed and "rebuilt", from the ground up. With the establishment of a legitimite, recognized government; it won't be as possible a scenerio as when we first went in.
Like with Europe; Afghanistan should've been divided and sweep clean from the outset; at the 35th and 33rd degree of lattitude lines. Imagine this. We knew there would be refugees and colladeral damage. We knew it would cost a pretty penny to execute and win this war. We knew we wante to get the terrorist cells out of Afghanistan. We knew Afghanistan was ripe with poverty, lack of basic services in large segments of the countryside. We knew that warlords, tribal rule and poppy crops was the stable of the economy; alone with a substancial smuggling market. So, what's next? We prematurely help install a government, then turn over operations to NATO. Besides running the Taliban out of power, we've accomplished exactly dick, for the securement of Afghanistan. Canada's PM is openingly threating revolt from Afghanistan.
Why? Political postering; or does he see what I'm seeing? Senseless deaths and waste of money? NATO is having a hard time getting boots on the ground. A simple case of to many chiefs, and not enough indians. We had control of this at the front end, and we should have kept it that way, until there was a clear military victory and a clear path to recovery in place. There wasn't then; and there isn't now. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, are trying to get NATO members to buy into commiting troops to the hot spots of Afghanastan; even at this late date.So, what agreement was made prior to NATO assumming command from the US - Northern Alliance group? What was the mandate?During the military build up to the first Gulf War, of 1991; we housed hundreds of thousands of troops in the Saudi desert. Built hundreds of tent cities, with all the basic creature comforts. Three hots and a cot. Toilet and shower facilities. Male and female.
