Reply #87: note the characterization here

[HankyDubs]

"the far left" --> referring to the majority of Du'ers as if they were extremists. Marginalize and insult, good job!

The first argument put forward for days by the far Left was that bin Laden was a foggy old man who was assassinated. Now the argument is that bin Laden was the man all along, now that he is dead, why is the US staying in Afghanistan.

I don't think there's any inconsistency here. The "far left" (the majority of the US public wants to leave afghanistan, btw...far left?). The first part of your statement is straw man, never heard anyone describe him as a foggy old man. But even if we accept your characterization, the death of Bin Laden is a great excuse to GTFO of Afghanistan. That's why we invaded the country, remember? He's dead, mission accomplished time to go!

The United States would not have taken out bin Laden if it was not in Afghanistan.

How do you figure? We wouldn't have killed OBL if we weren't in an entirely different country?

The United States will not get to the number 2 man in al qaeda without operating bases in Afghanistan.

Oh so now the goalposts move. Then if we "get" the #2 man, then we need to "get" the #3 and then #4 and then on and on. Endless war, trillions wasted to "get" a few individuals?

There is absolute no certainty that if the United States leaves Afghanistan now that it won't have to invade that nuclear armed nation a few years down the line to eliminate another incubator for terrorism.

Again, afghanistan and pakistan are two different countries, it seems like you don't understand this. There is no absolute certainty that we need to invade Pakistan either, seems like wasting trillions on "no absolute certainty" is quite foolish. I'll say what other have already said here...Pakistan has nuclear weapons! Invading countries with nuclear weapons is no joke. If we ever did "need" to invade pakistan we would find a ready ally in India, but again we are talking about the beginning of WWIII here.

I trust President Obama more than I trust the far Left..

60% of the american people want to get out of afghanistan. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2011-05-10-Afghanistan-mission-bin-Laden-troops-poll_n.htm?csp=34news Is that the far left? Marginalizing DU'ers again, btw.

The the day of fighting machines is in the distant future, until machines can take the place of skilled soldiers, the United States will need soldiers in outposts like Afghanistan.

Oh great, rise of the machines.