U.S. Pulling Back in Afghan Valley It Called Vital to War

[RamboLiberal]

Source: New York Times

KABUL, Afghanistan — After years of fighting for control of a prominent valley in the rugged mountains of eastern Afghanistan, the United States military has begun to pull back most of its forces from ground it once insisted was central to the campaign against the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

The withdrawal from the Pech Valley, a remote region in Kunar Province, formally began on Feb. 15. The military projects that it will last about two months, part of a shift of Western forces to the province’s more populated areas. Afghan units will remain in the valley, a test of their military readiness.

While American officials say the withdrawal matches the latest counterinsurgency doctrine’s emphasis on protecting Afghan civilians, Afghan officials worry that the shift of troops amounts to an abandonment of territory where multiple insurgent groups are well established, an area that Afghans fear they may not be ready to defend on their own.

And it is an emotional issue for American troops, who fear that their service and sacrifices could be squandered. At least 103 American soldiers have died in or near the valley’s maze of steep gullies and soaring peaks, according to a count by The New York Times, and many times more have been wounded, often severely.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/25/world/asia/25afghanistan.html?_r=1&hp

[Vincardog]

1. Occupations only ever end one way

[bvar22]

8. The Occupation of North America by Europeans was successful,

..though they DID have to slaughter the indigenous population, steal all their land, and imprison the handful that remained.

Something like that might work in Afghanistan...

[Vincardog]

10. Do you see millions lining up to emigrate to Afghanistan?

[bvar22]

19. I could see myself in large field of Poppies.

Beautiful flowers!


One more good surge ought to do it!
I can see a light at the end of the tunnel!

[Vincardog]

20. emigrate |ˈemiˌgrāt| Leave one's own country in order to settle permanently in anothe...

[JDPriestly]

17. Immigration, not occupation.

There is a difference between immigration and occupation. Europeans occupied South America perhaps, but they immigrated to North America, just as the Asian ancestors of the Indians had many centuries before.

[bvar22]

18. Immigration means becoming assimilated within the existing culture.

That did NOT happen in North America.
The lands were taken FROM the existing peoples who were displaced.
There was a very organized US Military Operation to "clear" the "Indians/Savages" from the western territories to make the West "safe for settlers" after the Civil War.
I've always found it ironic that the same army that Freed the Black Man in the South
was used to commit genocide against the Red Man in the West.

When the Asian ancestors immigrated here many centuries ago, they did not displace an indigenous people...at least none that the archeologists have identified.

[JDPriestly]

22. Immigration is derived from immigration which, according to my dictionary

means 1. to come to a country of which one is not a native, usu. for permanent residence. 2. organisms found in a new habitat. 3. to introduce as settlers.

That is from Random House Webster's Dictionary 2nd ed. 1997

Assimilation is not a factor in the definition of immigration.

[bvar22]

24. OTOH, the definition of "Occupation":

"Control of a territory by a military force."

I wonder why all those early settlements were called "Forts"?
...especially in the American West.

[AKDavy]

2. No matter what happens

Losing this war will somehow be portrayed as having "met our objectives."

[bvar22]

9. I would be OK with that.

Just declare "Mission Accomplished" and get the hell out.
Iraq too.

[AKDavy]

21. The mission has been accomplished

The Power Elite has made a profit on death and suffering.

The end of the war isn't going to be a function of mission completion, it's a question of greed.

[xchrom]

3. recommend

[ceveritt]

4. Afghanistan ...

... has long been known as the graveyard of empires.

Recall the first Anglo-Afghan War.

Bring the troops home now.

[Populist_Prole]

6. I wish they'd just declare "mission accomplished" and get out of there

Let the semantics sort themselves out. Seems to be the only way out really. It's totally unwinnable.

[Imagevision]

5. be the poppy fields...

[Vinnie From Indy]

7. I find the whole thing insane

Trillions of dollars to chase tribesmen around mountains THEY have lived in for centuries?

[julian09]

11. How long does it take to train Afghan army

seems the Taliban are better than US at training their side.
Got to keep the corruption going, I guess.
A US or NATO service member would be on their third deployment before an Afghan can stand up for HIS country.
How many coalition soldiers died in that valley for their Afghan freedom, make the whole place a mine field.

[gimama]

12. goood points..

& Welcome to DU, YOU!:hi:

[dreamnightwind]

23. Seriously?

"How many coalition soldiers died in that valley for their Afghan freedom, make the whole place a mine field."

You think our people have been dying for their freedom? We're so altruistic, amazing how good-hearted the US is. (

If this was an actual indigenous revolution we were supporting, their people would be quite capable of being trained and mobilizing security forces. They're less capable when they're not particularly excited about the job we're telling them they have to do. They're not convinced it's in the interest of their people.

The Afghan people didn't ask us to join them in a fight for freedom. We invaded their country, then dug in for a seemingly endless occupation while we trained police and troops to protect our interests over there, which have little to do with their freedom.

I think we've done quite enough phony liberating for awhile.

Apologies in advance if I misunderstood your post. I can't stand to see the people of an invaded, bombed and occupied country being blamed for their lack of enthusiasm to serve their new masters.
`

[LiberalLovinLug]

13. "sacrifices could be squandered'

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand the "looney left" will be once again (sadly) correct about this as well.

From - sacrifices will NOT be squandered

to - sacrifices COULD be squandered

and soon - sacrifices HAVE been squandered

[Sonoman]

14. "The next three months are critical."

How many time have we heard that malarkey?

There was just no way our troops could handle that terrain.

Sonoman

[frylock]

16. a modified friedman..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedman_(unit)

[frylock]

15. would you like fries with your hamburger hill?

wtf obama? what. the. fuck.

[M155Y_A1CH]

25. Kick

In case this was missed in the Friday news dump.
:kick: