What are everyone's attitudes towards the war in Afghanistan

[Juche]

I know the war in Iraq is a mistake, but I do not feel the same about the war in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban was headquartered there, I feel we should be trying to go after them since that is where the actual terrorists are, in the Afghan/Pakistan region. I am aware that the US and Pakistan technically helped create the Taliban, just in case anyone brings that up. Because I figure I'm going to be beaten over the head with that fact, but it is not technically relevant to the goal at hand of stopping future terror attacks.

However, organizations like Al Qaeda have also gotten support from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, and we have not needed to declare war on them. And there are many ways to fight terrorism that do not involve war. Increased law enforcement, better prisons (supposedly many terrorists are converted to a life of terror in prison), funding for infrastructure projects (to build goodwill and turn the public against terrorism), funding moderate schools, letting the public see the consequences of extremism, funding media outlets, promoting non-violent ways for potential terrorists to act on their urges (democratic elections as an example like they had in Pakistan, where the Islamist parties lost badly), controlling and eliminating terror funding, etc. can all combat terrorism and support for terrorism, and do not involve civilian casualties the way wars do.

So what are everyone's arguments for or against the war in Afghanistan?

[boobooday]

1. I understand the motivations

but I think it is a futile enterprise.

[Ilsa]

2. My argument against the war in Afghanistan is that it probably won't

ever end in the next 10-20 years. Seems like it'll take about that long to "fix" the most basic of problems there. And from what I heard on a news program, Taliban men shave and change their mode of dress to fit in, while still clinging to their obscene ideals.

[Pharaoh]

3. I thinks it is

more about oil pipelines and corporate power than anything else. As most wars are:shrug:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. It's another Vietnam -

the idea of going after the Taliban in a ground war is laughable.

The only way to get the Taliban, or any terrorist group, is a war of spooks, intelligence, police work, infiltration, and all the things our spies are supposed to be doing. This "boots on the ground" nonsense is simply going to get more Americans murdered over there.

No one wins in Afghanistan. Ask the old Soviets. No one ever defeats them, and we're sending our soldiers to a certain slaughter.

I am woefully disappointed at what Obama is doing in the Middle East.......................

[Juche]

5. We had tons of warnings pre 9/11

On history commons you can see all the warnings we were given from various domestic and foreign sources about an upcoming terror attack before 9/11, some naming some of the terrorists and/or talking about it involving airplanes. So I agree with you, better intel and police work is key to stopping terrorism.

Can the police do a good enough job of capturing terror operatives in Afghanistan? I know in Pakistan the police caught Khalid Mohammed. Plus wars enrage the civilian populations and can drive people to terrorism out of revenge.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

10. We have very good intelligence operations

if they're left alone to do their jobs. No, I don't want to know what they do. It's ugly, I know that much, but I also know that, in this world, these people are vital to our well-being. So I say let them go and do whatever they have to do.

We're killing so many civilians in Afghanistan. Maybe more, per capita, than in Iraq. The people there already hate us, just as they despise Karzai, who can't make a move without his American bodyguards and security. "The Mayor of Kabul," they call him, with a sneer. We are going to suffer horribly in Afghanistan, all for nothing.

This is even worse than Iraq, because we already know what a failure Iraq was. Haven't these people in the Pentagon and the White House learned anything? What is WRONG with Obama?

It's all about infiltration, and snitches, and shoe leather. Good old-fashioned police and spy work. The days of John LeCarre should be recalled, and we should just let intelligence people do what they do best.

I know a few "consultants," and they are men and women who are real patriots, who also, of course, love the game. But they love their country, and every time I see one of them, I'm relieved. S/He's still alive. Then I wonder if I'll ever see him/her again.

I'm as kneejerk liberal as they come, but I applaud the spooks on our side, and know how much we need them....................

[ixion]

6. any hostile occupation is a mistake

and will not end well.

They don't call Afghanistan the 'Graveyard of Empire' for nothing.

[spanone]

7. who are we fighting? what are we fighting for? when do we win? what do we win?

:thumbsdown:

[TexasObserver]

8. Opposed. A bullshit war about nothing but pride and misdirected anger.

[nosmokes]

9. We should get out now. sooner the better.

[cherokeeprogressive]

11. The war in Afghanistan is a NO WIN situation.

I think it's pretty clear by now that a uniformed army will never again defeat an army whose combatants eat, sleep, and live with the general population, and wear the same clothes. American servicemen and women are universally hated. I would have thought we learned that in Vietnam.

I've seen no stated criteria which will allow us to decide without equivication that the Taliban has been defeated, and that American troops are no longer needed in the region.

Here's a point to ponder: The last member of the Taliban fighting force has not yet been born.

We as a nation can send drones to kill every wedding party and every funeral procession, as well as any other gathering of Afghani's we deem to be large enough to hide Taliban fighters, and still not kill enough Taliban to say we've actually won "the war".

I don't give a fuck who the president is, nor do I care why an American president sent troops there in the first place. The time to bring Americans home is now. The time was yesterday, the time was last week, last month, and last year.