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In reply to the discussion: George W. Bush calls withdrawal of U.S. and other NATO troops from Afghanistan "a mistake" [View all]Ford_Prefect
(7,927 posts)existed at the time of the invasion. Among other critical points made was that it would take a minimum of 10 years, it would mean destroying and recreating the Afghan economy along with much of its infrastructure, and its culture. It would involve creating what would be seen as a 51st US state by our allies and enemies alike, and it would mean we would of necessity need to overthrow and replace the government of Pakistan along with numerous corrupt officials and their families.
All of these steps meant we would automatically become the new empire to be resisted. A situation ultimately doomed to failure by the cultures of the region along with the behavior and intervention of Saudi, Russian, Chinese, and "other" interested parties.
The same sources argued that there was a probable limit to what could be accomplished due to the hold the local warlords had over the culture and economy of Afghanistan.
As sad a thing as it is to leave people facing the retribution and violent oppression the Taliban will deliver, we never had the ability to prevent it as long as Pakistan and the Saudis supported and assisted them. I do not defend the choices made at any point. It was always a war we could not win and peace we could not guarantee.
I hold the opinion that Cheney, GOP Neo-cons and others in our government with an interest in owning critical oil and pipeline resources of the region used this situation to expand the mission beyond destroying Bin Laden and his local allies, if indeed that was the actual goal.