My opinion with respect to Gen McChrystal and Afghanistan

[thewiseguy]

What he did was wrong but do not forget he was promoted to be the commander of Afghanistan war by President Obama. His firing will be no triumph for this administration nor does it reflect any change in the state of Afghan war.

The truth of the matter is we are stuck in Afghanistan with no end in sight. Unfortunately Obama has committed more troops and money to this endless war and this administration supports Karzai who cheated his way in as the president.

Where is the fucking outrage on that? Karzai's brother is the governor of Kandahar and he is involved in the opium trade and yet American troops lose their lives on a daily basis to protect his interests? Why not be mad about that? You would think someone in the White House would remember a thing or two about the Soviet's invasion of Afghanistan.

and what are we discussing instead? Will Obama show leadership and fire McChrystal's ass? Never mind the countless troops who have been dying in Afghanistan for god knows what.

[babylonsister]

1. There is supposedly an end; this mission was given 18 months.

Were you not paying attention? Whether that will happen or not, no one can say. I'm hoping it happens sooner.

To gop senators' dismay, Petraeus affirmed that “July 2011 is etched in stone.”


http://washingtonindependent.com/87265/to-gop-senators-dismay-petraeus-and-flournoy-affirm-july-2011-inflection-point-in-afghan-war

[tekisui]

2. That mission being the surge.

The surge will begin to end July 2011. No word on number coming home at that date or the rate of those to follow. At best, we will just start to work towards the 2009 pre-surge numbers. There is still a lot of war to be had in Afghanistan.

[babylonsister]

4. So this is the surge we're currently in? And it will draw down

in July 2011? No word on anything yet, as that might be difficult to do, predict what will be happening.

Hey, I want us home, too. I gave Obama and his think tank the benefit of the doubt. But if McCrystal was in that tank, I have to rethink what I was thinking. :crazy:

[thewiseguy]

3. and what will happen by then?

We will achieve victory? We will train enough soldiers for Karzai's brother to run his own drug cartel?

[tekisui]

5. *Some* troops will come home.

That is all.

Hell, the way things are going they might still have not figured out how to run the previously-touted Kandahar Operation. The one that was supposed to start months ago, but we won't begin to even evaluate until December. The same one that had been called the must-win turning-point of the near decade long war.

Don't get in a hurry looking for the door. We'll be in Afghanistan through Obama's entire administration (one or two terms).

[babylonsister]

6. I don't know, you don't know, nobody knows. I'm just saying you're

misrepresenting what was done.

[thewiseguy]

7. How am I misrepresenting?

There is no end in sight. Is there?

We are stuck there fighting a war that can not be won.

[babylonsister]

8. I just mentioned 18 months when you said there was no

end in sight. You misrepresented. I recall the lead up to that decision and all the experts Obama consulted with.

I bet there will be an end in sight by then if not sooner.

I do not want us to be there either, but I am not privy to all the info the people in the know are, so I just can't justifiably second guess them.

[thewiseguy]

9. There is an end to every war

When I said there is no end in sight, I meant to say this war is not winnable. Now Obama could consult the entire universe. That would not change a thing.

He needs to bring the troops home rather putting more manpower there.

When are you going to question this strategy? When we have got more American troops dead with nothing to show for? The writing is on the wall....

[babylonsister]

10. Oh please. Now you change your original premise?

YES, he needs to bring the troops home, I 'get' it, and agree. So does Obama. And Obama questioned the strategy from tons of experts, and this was the compromise. The time is almost up and we will get out of there.

We both want the same thing.

Good night.