General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBring All of Our Troops Home from Afghanistan Now, President Obama.
There is simply no plausible rationale or even an excuse anymore either militarily, economically, strategically for the United States of America to continue on one day longer in this war-without-end that once was Bush's War, but is now, sadly, President Obama's war. This mayhem has gone on and on for far too long. The promise of a scheduled pull-out should have been expedited, not delayed. Our troops are worn out and have sacrificed enough of their mental health, their blood, limbs and lives in a war that, as John Kerry initially said, should have been a police action. Instead we are still occupying a nation (I use that word "nation" loosely only for sake of geographically defining the quicksand in which our brave men and women in uniform are allowed to remain stuck) whose people do not want us there and whose corrupt leaders line their pockets with wasted American treasure as they mock our country openly.
Other nations, especially China, are building railroads, energy pipelines and mining for Afghan minerals and metals while our sons and daughters are in harm's way protecting their enterprises which have no financial benefit to the American people. To paraphrase an old song, they are getting the gold mine and we are getting the shaft.
Several years ago, former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton brazenly told Pakistani government officials to their faces that she couldn't believe that they did not know where Osama bin Laden was hiding. It turns out that they were indeed hiding the man that killed 3,000 Americans on September 11th in 2001 while the American taxpayers were pouring billions of dollars into the government of that "ally". And in the end, the capture of Osama bin Laden turned out to be exactly what our current Secretary of State had called for..."a "police action". Both the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were never necessary. Never.
Osama bin Laden attacked us and we invaded two nations -- that did not attack us -- and occupied them for years causing the deaths of millions and burdening our nation financially and in the end we wound up having to violate international law without the knowledge of our Pakistani "ally" and cross into their nation to bring that murderer to justice.
Trillions of dollars of staggering debt and bills to pay for these two wars now invoiced to the war-weary and jobless American people. And how are we asked to pay for those wars? Our fellow country men and women now are facing horrific cuts and "reforms" to their promised Medicare, Social Security, public education and more. Our nation's infrastructure is crumbling in front of our very eyes from our electrical grids and harbors to our bridges, roads and freeways. We all know this. And we are too god-damned silent about it. Rebuilding that infrastructure here at home would create millions of direct and indirect jobs. Again, right here at home where charity should begin.
Across the country our mayors and city councils are cutting and cutting back on vital services, laying off workers and even going bankrupt while we are continue with idiotic war that we can not afford! Listen to my former Los Angeles Mayor Anthony Villa Vallaraigosa:
"How did we get to a deficit and a debt larger than at any time not only in U.S. history but in human history? We got involved in two wars that, no matter what you think about those wars, we haven't paid for...That we would build bridges in Baghdad and Kandahar and not Baltimore and Kansas City, absolutely boggles the mind."
Enough is enough. We as a People must raise our voices and end this god-damned war and bring our troops home to their families because if we don't this shit is just never going to end.
There is a time and place for use of our military. President Bill Clinton used it in the Balkans to stop genocide. I believe he should have used it in Rwanda to prevent another genocide. And while some may argue about our recent limited use of the military in Libya, everyone should be glad we did not wind up occupying that nation, too.
But Afghanistan? It's almost 2014. Some of the babies that were born at the beginning of that war are actually entering high school! This is simply madness.
President Obama, it's time to lead. You alone -- not the Generals, not defense contractors, not our corrupt allies -- are the Commander and Chief. Prepare your speech now and get on national television and declare to the American People before Thanksgiving that you will be ordering a speedy end of the War in Afghanistan and you will bring our sons and daughters home.
Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)Troops are coming home as we speak. Draw down to 10k troops should happen in 2014.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)David Zephyr
(22,785 posts)Yes, Tierra_y_Libertad, "we lost (again). Get out. Get over it."
The promised and "planned" withdrawal is not acceptable.
grasswire
(50,130 posts)Why are fresh troops being sent? Why are NG troops and reservists going over? My cousin's son is on his second deployment. He's not even a warrior. He's an army band member. French horn.
Why?
bluestate10
(10,942 posts)a theater the same. Would you rather see a troop serve in Afghanistan from now until June 2014 without getting rotated out? I agree that the war has been way too long and that our country expanded it's initial mission, which was to get bin laden and as many of his lieutenants as possible. I frankly prefer Drone war to deal with terrorists, with the current range for a Drone being around 1500 miles and getting longer by the day, our troops could launch Drones from ships at sea. I honestly don't care about the argument that using Drones is cowardice. Why should our troops risk their lives tracking down murderers when those killers can be killed from long distance?
grasswire
(50,130 posts)Why would we want to keep the number the same? I thought we were getting out.
David Zephyr
(22,785 posts)Skittles
(153,113 posts)yet the soldiers I sent a care package to yesterday have been there two consecutive years
Jamaal510
(10,893 posts)"I frankly prefer Drone war to deal with terrorists, with the current range for a Drone being around 1500 miles and getting longer by the day, our troops could launch Drones from ships at sea. I honestly don't care about the argument that using Drones is cowardice. Why should our troops risk their lives tracking down murderers when those killers can be killed from long distance?"
joe_sixpack
(721 posts)Having served in Iraq, I want to remember that people are still dying. I want to read the names, see where they are from, what branch of service they're in. Hell, I still have many comrades that are rotating over there. Does anyone still pay attention? Do people just gloss over when they see the small article buried deep and low in the papers with the thumbnail photos that says "in memoriam" or "Service members lost or killed in the line of duty"? Because it seems except for the families, the rest of the country has moved on.
David Zephyr
(22,785 posts)"Because it seems except for the families, the rest of the country has moved on."
It's not even in the news or on television anymore.
Moved on? Sadly, it seems like it.
Skittles
(153,113 posts)I have been sending care packages and postcards via www.anysoldier.com since 2004........2004!!!
joe_sixpack
(721 posts)Believe me, I know there are still people such as you, who haven't forgotten. I wish it didn't seem though, that a large portion of the country have let the war slip from their minds.
David Zephyr
(22,785 posts)idwiyo
(5,113 posts)TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)smaller bases, transferring control of military operations and prisons, etc. I'm not sure what your point is here.
Decaffeinated
(556 posts)I expect arm and leg flailing to be followed by the holding of breath until she gets what she wants...
Skittles
(153,113 posts)extended senseless wars are SUCH a hoot
Decaffeinated
(556 posts)... from the perspective of someone who actually has skin in the game and also has an inkling about the political, military and monstrous logistical requirements it takes.
Beyond that...
Skittles
(153,113 posts)Decaffeinated
(556 posts)Do you claim that withdrawal of the forces in Afghanistan isn't a political, military and logistical monstrosity?
Or are you in the stamp your feet, I want it NOW NOW NOW crowd?
Skittles
(153,113 posts)DONE HERE
Decaffeinated
(556 posts)Bigmack
(8,020 posts)Obama lost me during his first inauguration, when he didn't whip out a cell phone right there and tell the JCS to get our people out of that shithole. NOW.
Blow it in place if it doesn't fly or roll, and get the fuck out!
"skin in the game"....? Hey... we knew the job was dangerous when we took it. We also knew that policy decisions are waaaaaay above our pay grade.
You just let your CinC and the State Dept worry about the political stuff.
The Pentagon is full of logistics weenies.. they can figure that out... or the CinC will shitcan them and find somebody who can.
And the military side..? The troops don't have C-4 anymore? They can't blow their unused gear in place? They can't grab their rations and their battle rattle and climb into trucks/planes/MRAPs/whatever?
Let's hang around there until we lose more people. Let's hang around until the Taliban get stronger and attack our units as they try to leave in 2014.. or 2015...or 20wheneverthefuck.
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)Afghanistan ...
You only figured it out at the inauguration??
Bigmack
(8,020 posts).. at the inauguration. At that point, he had the actual power and didn't need to posture for the election.
He lost me because he confirmed that he was going to continue sending our people into that shithole/meatgrinder ... for NOTHING.
I believe that shows a lack of awareness and a callous disregard for lives. The continued drone attacks on civilians reinforces my belief.
I don't see any of these people... presidents... as either heros or villains. I don't have to support any of them without reservation.
Decaffeinated
(556 posts)... and they don't align with the military, economic and certainly not the diplomatic/political interests of the US.
Bigmack
(8,020 posts)..or diplomatic/political interests of the US have been served by losing a war in a country literally without a country?
How have those economic interests been served by us pissing away$6 Trillion on both those wars in the Sandbox? Oh, wait... opium production is at an all-time high. I guess some economic interests have been served.
What wonderful things have those drone strikes done for our political interests? Have we made lots more allies and friends all over the world?
And our military....? 2200 dead and thousands of wounded. Against an irregular force. We have air control, modern technology, endless supplies.. and the Taliban are expanding their control. Beyond morale issues, don't you think that might give other potential enemies ideas?
Tell me all the advantages of going there, being there for 12 years, and planning on staying there for the foreseeable future. Tell me all.
David Zephyr
(22,785 posts)!
morningfog
(18,115 posts)David Zephyr
(22,785 posts)This war is not even in the news anymore. December 2014 is now even being fudged. Madness. Thanks, morningfog.
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)That's un-fucking-acceptable.
David Zephyr
(22,785 posts)ISAF General: No Plans for Complete Afghan Pullout
Sep 03, 2013
KABUL, Afghanistan -- The commander of NATO ground forces in Afghanistan says there has been no discussions that the coalition would completely withdraw after 2014, despite continued uncertainty in political negotiations over the future of the international military effort.
U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Mark Milley, the No. 2 commander for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, calls the term "withdrawal" a misnomer.
"We have no indication whatsoever of a withdrawal completely from Afghanistan," he told Stars and Stripes in a Monday interview at his headquarters in Kabul. "We are going to change our mission, and we are going to reduce in size and scope."
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/09/03/isaf-general-no-plans-for-complete-afghan-pullout.html
Skittles
(153,113 posts)it's LOGISTICS!!
OMG these f***ing apologists
bvar22
(39,909 posts)OMG these f***ing apologists
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)OMG these f***ing apologists.
David Zephyr
(22,785 posts)I haven't posted much and I have been way too silent and I just can't let it pass anymore. I appreciate your intolerance of liberals being OK with this shit. You are the best.
Skittles
(153,113 posts)that time has passed by AT LEAST FIVE YEARS NOW
former9thward
(31,936 posts)Not combat. See how simple that will be?
avaistheone1
(14,626 posts)Time to bring our troops home.