OBL's Dead. What does that mean for AfPak War?

[tekisui]

Poll question: OBL's Dead. What does that mean for AfPak War?

I can see this going one of a couple of ways. It could be hailed as a success and a justification to get out of Afghanistan and Pakistan. We were able to get the guy at the top which would suggest we have met that elusive and ill defined objective of 'disrupting and dismantling al-qaeda'.

Or, it could he hailed as a justification to continue the war. Proof that AQ has been given cover in Pakistan and that our operations are working and need to continue. Additionally, how the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan react will play a role. Will there be escalations in violence as reprisals?

Personally, I think this closes the book on open-ended war in AfPak. The American people have already grown weary of the wars, approval is at an all time low. Two or three years from now, when we are still there. Still killing and still dying. Still wasting billions of dollars a week, there will no longer be a justification in the minds of Americans. It is time to call it over. Call it a win, if you want. But, please, let's call it over.

[leftstreet]

1. Freeing up resources for other occupations

Most likely

[Poll_Blind]

2. Hope? Withdrawl. Fear? Escalation. Likely? Status Quo.

PB

[lonestarnot]

3. Two months short of draw down.

:shrug:

[tekisui]

4. I am still curious whether that drawndown will be significant or

just token. When will we be below surge numbers? When will we be out completely?

[lonestarnot]

14. Good questions. I am still demanding an end. 8 years and how many trillions now and how many dead

or worse?

[coalition_unwilling]

The Taliban has already announced the launch of a spring offensive.

So I would expect the cycle of violence to intensify and the quagmire to continue.

[Warpy]

5. Continued occupation is going to be really hard to sell

to anyone but Republicans who find some sort of inexplicable joy in knowing we're at war somewhere.

However, the generals are going to want to keep it going.

[MineralMan]

6. As the Magic 8-Ball says, "Ask again later."

Too early to tell.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Flowers and candy from the Afghans. Complete withdrawal. Massive cuts in defense spending.

Not to mention the pearly gates and streets paved with gold.

[SteppingRazor]

8. I don't think it changes much, but it opens the door to do so.

What I mean is, politically, there was no way we were every going to leave that area of the world with Bin Laden still alive. At least now, it's a possibility.

[Ganja Ninja]

9. They aren't coming home anytime soon.

They just scored a truckload of new intelligence materials and it will take time go through it and follow up on it.

[TheWraith]

10. It will mean that the drawdown continues as scheduled, I beleve. nt

[tekisui]

11. The drawndown is so ambiguous and ill defined, if is mostly meaningless.

No numbers, no rate, no end date.

[Myrina]

12. ... you assume that OBL was the reason we had troops there?

... when we have satellites that can read the face of a watch of a guy riding a camel in the desert? He could have been taken out with a surgical strike at just about any time over the past 10 years. Foot soldiers on the ground had little to do with 'smoking him out'. They're there to claim and protect pipeline land and make sure our 'national interest$' are protected. Nothing will change.

[frebrd]

13. +1

[TheKentuckian]

15. I don't see what is different in practical terms which is why I don't really grasp the emotional

release of emotion.

Call me when the Patriot Act is off the books, BushCo is on trial for their parts in this, and the troops are home and the mercs disbanded.

[Zorra]

16. This invasion has very little to do with OBL. Nothing will change immediately. nt

[Hell Hath No Fury]

18. Nothing will change for a long time --

We've invested -- and I do mean "invested" -- too much there. We'll be be there for the long haul, much like Germany and Japan.

[Old and In the Way]

17. A rapid withdrawal....I hope.

The whole purpose of our Afghanistan canpaign was built on getting OBL. We did that...time to exit. There's nothing more to be gained leaving our troops in this Godforsaken rockpile...Obama needs to use this moment of earned prestige to drive this point home and extricate ourselves from this quagmire. The window of opportunity is now. Who is going to stand in opposition?

[damntexdem]

19. Should or does? I answered does: status quo.

But should: bring them home.