Senator Sanders Unfiltered: An Unwinnable War

[Portis1Luv]

The coalition doesn't have to "win." All they need to do is secure the opium trade.

[kaduisaui]

I wish politicians would tell the truth for once.

If oil corporations wage war to steal resources then they would be breaking the law so they have America do the dirty work for them. American soldiers die so private corporations can control the World's oil reserves and make profit by selling Americans more oil?

It's fucked up and we must somehow stop it. I just don;t know how to forcibly remove the corrupt weak politicians.

[lowellriggsiam]

Common war policy relies on their being a centralized agency, one willing to surrender. It relies on people not wanting to die. It relies on being able to identify the enemy. It relies on conventional wisdom. Of course the war is unwinable they have no centralised command, they don't care if they die, nobody know who they are, and there is no conventional wisdom.

[chytowncubz]

Its unwinnable because eastern civilization has a 180 degree idealogy compared to western civilazations belief in "logic" and "liberty". We are fighting a people that have their God and religion cemented into the deepest part of their souls for hundreds of years and generations. We can kill many dictators and over through many regimes but they will always pop up and cause a threat to our western ways. The history of man has always been the same, just technology has changed the way we see it.

[Ivannahumpalo1]

This statement is so culturally void that it doesn't warrant a response, and yet...

People respond to inscentive... it's that simple. Religion is always trumped by culture... period. If we as a nation come to understand those two things, REALLY understand them, then we will win in spades. So long as there are weak, lazy, pandering politicians floating around seeking to sharpshoot the effort, things will remain complicated and slow... end of story.

[newbetterandhappy]

Not only do we fight unwinnable wars at the expence of both sides, we also make weapons that are used against our own people..

Look at videos for: sound cannon Pittsburgh.

Their real enemy is whoever will dare question their authority. Obama was there in Pittsburgh while this atrocity was happening.

[TalladegaTom]

1:07 or so.

Thank you Senator Sanders.

Sir, you are SO right on that.

What ARE the Victory Conditions for this stupid war?

I never hear anything about that.

I think if you asked the average American what the Victory conditions for the "war on terror" actually are, you would not receive a decent answer and would likely receive many different ones.

America needs a clear definition.

[bndkllr2]

zestymike is right.

so called "conservatives" use these wars to pump billions of dollars into defense contractors who all contribute exclusively to the conservatives re-election campaign and the cycle never ends. My country has been sold out. What a shame.

[rungy07]

These are ILLEGAL UNDECLARED wars. They are immoral, we have spent 4 trillion dollars on these over the last EIGHT years. Enough is enough.

[VideoProductionTips]

The U.S. is addicted to war. Pitiful.

[Ulrna]

Newer research shows ADD/ADHD is hereditary genetic condition.

[zestymike48]

Oh yes, all in the name of fighting "terrorists", you know, those guys who were responsible for 9-11, right?  We have plenty of "terrorists" right here at home. Just ask the department of homeland security. They are called freedom fighters and whistleblowers and conspiracy theorists, the face of the new "terrorist". They are anyone who speaks out against this government/democracy BY THE PEOPLE. They are the ones who exercise their right to freedom of speech if they are too critical.

[pokeinsider]

Pass the PUBLIC OPTION now call your Congressman and tell them to PASS the PUBLIC OPTION.

[WJJ1968]

Wheher we call it a war or a counter-insurgeny, we cannot afford it. We are broke. In 2001 the thought that the terrorosts could win was laughable to me but if we don't stop all these entanglements we will go the way of the U.S.S.R. and they will watch us fall.

[zestymike48]

LOL, we are MORE than just "broke", we are in the red, overdrawn to the tune of 11 TRILLION dollars and counting. Our credit is shot. Who says that war is big business? The only ones getting money are the defense manufacturers Building bombs and guns and tanks and planes, now that is where the profit is my friend!.

[WJJ1968]

Indeed. Thanks for the feedback.

[cheguevara1970]

I really hate politics, but this guy is an amazing politician.

[Ivannahumpalo1]

This arguement is flawed at its core. We aren't fighting a war in Afghanistan, we're fighting a counter-insurgency. There is a VERY distinct difference. Lets not let the facts, good or bad about Iraq or Afghanistan get in the way, though... more speeches about how many more troops have to die! More speeches about how brave the troops are! -OR- how about we stop wringing our hands, focus on winning, yes WINNING, do it, pack our rucks and go home? It's DOABLE. Doing less is lazy and contemptuous

[deloran918]

OK, fighting a war means using soldiers, guns, tanks, helicopters, bombs, etc. Fighting an insurgency means using soldiers, guns, tanks, helicopters, bombs, etc. So, what is the VERY distinct difference that enables us to tell the two apart?

[Ivannahumpalo1]

If you have to ask, I'd consider you unqualified to discuss it... but for starters, you need two states to have a war, two armies, a front line, etc... all VERY distinct.

[deloran918]

Nope. You're wrong.

[Ivannahumpalo1]

LOL... alright, qualify the difference between a war and a counterinsurgency. Then, I'll tell you what the difference is and you can tell me I'm wrong again... LOL

[Awalk2008]

Is it really doable? This is a war unlike any we've ever fought. Both Britain and the Soviet Union were thrashed in Afghanistan; what make us think we can do better? We need to start bringing our troops home and spending those billions of dollars here to improve our lives and our future. What we should do (along with the rest of the industrialized world) is address the underlying problems that lead people to join groups like the Taliban or al Qaeda: poverty, hunger, hopelessness, etc.

[Ivannahumpalo1]

I contend that it is exactly like several wars we've fought... we've just forgotten how to fight them. Up until around WWII, the ability to fight an irregular war was an expectation of American military officers. We invented insurgency in its present form and perfected counterinsurgency about 100 years later. It's been done before and is doable again. Most people with a stake in the war only figured this out in/around 2007-2008.

[Christian121y]

Exactly.

The fact that we have to "ask" ourselves just what victory is,is a sign of our amnesia in itself.

The left of this country seems to think we're "losing" because of high casualties yes?

So why does it not occur to the left that a "victory" is when the bastards stop shooting us!!!

We MUST defeat this terrorists and these theistic fascists.The left MUST NOT get yet another chance to "appeal" to these tyrant's "better nature.

[Christian121y]

It didn't work in 1776,,didn't work in 1861,didn't work in 1939,didn't work in 1975,and it sure as hell didn't work in 2001.And it WON'T work in 2009.

[Christian121y]

Also if the Left believes COIN is an unwinnable tactic,just how do they think we won the Plains Wars,Phillipines Insurrection,Spansh American War,the Quasi War,and the Barbary States Wars?

Insurgency is a TACTIC NOT A SIGN of ideological victory.

[turneriver]

Lazy and contemptuous? That may describe my housekeeper, but characterizations like that are ridiculous when speaking of our national interest. The question is...what are we doing there now? Bin Laden is not there anymore. That's the guy we went in there to get, and Rumsfeld's with his war on the cheap philosophy let him out of the bag by using mujahadeen to capture him instead of US forces. It's a poor, fractious tribal country, no resources, and no reason for us to be there anymore.

[Ivannahumpalo1]

For starters, righting a horrible injustice committed by the US a few years back. Ironically, it was our assistance to Afghan rebels during the cold war, followed by a "cold shoulder" that created the situation we're in now.

[WellIAMScottish]

Senator Sanders - you ROCK! I am so very happy that you are speaking logic! You couldn't have found a more genuine outlet for your expressions than Brave New Films. I hope to see much more from you, Senator Sanders, in the coming months/years.

[WellIAMScottish]

Apparently there's unlimited moneys to slaughter people on the other side of the world, but anyone who wants to care for an American without health insurance is labeled a "nazi".

The US is so messed up, backwards, and cruel. Look, the reason I continue to live in my home country is because I love almost all the people here I know. I know rational, intelligent, friendly, humane, compassionate, progressive Americans. It blows my mind what I see on the internet, stupid Americans embarrassing us.

[WellIAMScottish]

We really could be the greatest nation on Earth once more, if we could get rid of our corruption, out racism, our general bigotry, and our brainwashed idiots.

Progressive Americans are some of the friendliest, most caring, most compassionate people on Earth.

Obama was supposed to be one of us. Turns out he's just another corporatist who thinks it's acceptable to slaughter brown people. American progressives are sorely disappoint in the President. But healthcare for Americans? "Fuck Off"

[drmondman1]

stop ww3

search

9291C91B46A34875

on youtube

[420gma]

Why do the repubs like killing so much !? I think they are want to be mass murderers !!!

[esoteric714]

Great idea. Let's pull out of Afghanistan now like we did at the end of the cold war. We all know how well that went. . .

[tripttwe]

Check out Triple G at 8thWorldEnt...

[BI30]

I'm no "Peace-nik", but it would be far more effective AND cheaper if all we did was FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE, building schools, hospitals, water treatment plants, etc, that benefited the people and created jobs. If the Taliban destroys them, you rebuild. Eventually, the people see who has their best interest at heart: you as a force for Good vs the enemy as a source of war & oppression. Eventually, they will reject them. We lose that support with every bullet fired.

[ThingNation]

or, not be there in the first place ...

[BI30]

True, but short of building a time machine, that ship has sailed. :)

[ldruide]

This used to be called the Marshall plan it's the only solution that your country have. The Afghan people whatever tribe Pashtun or other never accepted any outside rulers in all of history. Gensis Khan, Alexander the Great, England and the Soviet union all were defeated. Looks like the american and their so called alliance read NATO will have the same fate.

[antifaith82]

And just like the USSR, America is going broke to feed their military spending habit. At least Bush was out in the open, had no problem saying what he wanted to do. Obama promised change and now it looks like more of the same, especially with healthcare. Shows you how little power the puppets have...

[Zile77]

Afghanistan is Obama's Vietnam. Dems are terrible at running wars, always have been.

[jotunobsidianeyes]

Yeah like WW2.

[ThingNation]

except that Bush started it, other than that it's Obama's ... dumb assticle

[RoyalDemonforChrist]

you cant blame things on bush anymore. obama has had plenty of time. everything bad happening now is his fault. bush is gone.

[ldruide]

it was the neocons for 8 years, now it's Brejinsky and their friends of the CFR,Bilderberg group and Trilateral commission. Bush and Obama were and are just actors of this big human tragedy. Obama has no power all is dictated to him just like Bush was receiving his orders from Papa and Dick &friends

[antifaith82]

I just hope that the taliban doesn't take back control. This would be a disaster for me and my close friends, as the opium crop would disappear. More cheap, high quality heroin flooding the market, please!!! makes me want to shoot a whole bag up right NOW.

[420gma]

Please do !!!!!

[PersonalJesus348]

well case and point. We didn't declare against anything. We just sent troops. And its not like its a government. Just gang warfare with a different style.

[KreemieNewgatt]

AFGHANISTAN: Where empires go to die.

[Gripen1974]

Yes afghanistan, the graveyard of empires

[kaduisaui]

We will never have a discussion about the true goals of the American empire.

[Scoppertop]

We DO know what the goal is, Senator Sanders... securing an oil pipeline from the Caspian Sea basin through Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, & Pakistan to the Indian Ocean!!!! The only other way is through Iran... and of course, Iran said no!! THIS WAR SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY OIL COMPANIES, WHO SHOULD HIRE THEIR OWN SECURITY FORCES!! Tell the truth!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RuflessRecords]

I can't believe America's only Socialist Party senator would come out in favor of us quitting the fight in Afghanistan and letting the Taliban take back control of the country, presumably allowing terrorist camps again as before. Shocker! Socialists never back down from foreign dictators or terrorists, except all the time. Other than that, they're solid. The only evil they see is within democracies, that's where their only wars take place.

[jotunobsidianeyes]

Except WW2 and the Spanish civil war, and the war of Finland against USSR.

[PEPPYY22]

Yeah, socalists are pussies.

[joannacummings]

I agree with Senator Sanders 100 percent on this. While our attention is distracted by bank failures and the recession, our military presence in Afghanistan increases without much protest. And Karzi, who the US supports, seems quite useless as this country's leader, although he was the winner in the recent "rigged" election. The US needs to get out of Afghanistan and Iraq now in order to focus our efforts on issues such as health care reform and climate change.

[czubspenx]

The reason we are fighting these never ending wars is to support the "military industrial complex." They make billions off of these illconceived ventures. Wake up, America.

[Paolo7219]

The US is in Afghanistan because US rulers are showing their true colors. The US ruling class are corrupt, incompetent and overly inbred. They live in this fantasy world where they are an ultra-elite; when in reality, the world mocks them. The World Court has condemned only ONE country for international terrorism: the USA. Thank the US ruling class for that. US rulers have no qualms about bankrupting their own country in order to indulge their 'world empire' fantasies.

[btigtime2]

You got it... Now what are we the people going to do about it? We are all too fat and happy to do anything.

[PressForFreedom]

Stop needless, useless, undeclared unconstitutional wars!

[Marth48]

The pictures of him at the beginning are not flattering.

[sisforshayla]

excellent, and so true.

[Nodrog666]

Wars are won when they are waged against people and nations. Not ideas. No amount of bullets can kill an idea, regardless of what that idea is. It's how America won its independence. We had an idea and we stuck to it. The British fought an idea and lost. Don't wage a war on perspective and expect to win. It just can't be done.

Don't wage war on terrorism, fight Bin Ladin and the Taliban, you know, the whole fucking reason we went over to the middle east? Or did everyone forget about that?

[HungryNomadicLion]

Sending more American troops into Afghanistan is like sending a bunch of ants into a termite colony and telling them to take it over. No matter how many termites get killed, there will be more. And even if the ants were able to gain control, the new birth of termites would just come back. What a waste of time, money and lives. It pisses me off too, because I was in the military (infantry) and might have went career if it wasn't for these counterproductive and immoral wars.

[anolmec]

you know perfectly well what 'the goals" in afghanistan are.....ask Haliburton about the gas pipeline they want to run into india, through afghanistan, if you are confused. Considering the Iranians have a competitive pipeline they want into India, through Pakistan, I am sure shortly you will be "confused" as to why we are fighting Iranians and Paki's next. O wait we are already waging war in Pakistan. WHAT A DISGUSTING COUNTRY aMERICA HAS BECOME.

[copcorona]

end the war on drugs now! 40 years of failure, billions wasted, end prohibition now!

[agitcam]

U.S. soldiers are in Afghanistan to protect the Oil pipeline and will be there as long as there is oil to be pumped through it.

[drmondman1]

WW3 is a silent war...

it's not comming, it's here, now, today & in your back yard...

search

9291C91B46A34875

on youtube

the only way to win is to stop it before it starts...

stop WW3

[ReliableInsider]

We need more Senators like Sanders.

[captcrais101]

time to use the power of the purse to bring our troops home.

[vlhamilton]

Gee, this sounds familiar. Just after the word comes out that the United States has spent $3 TRILLION on the Iraq War, Obama orders more troops to Afghanistan. What did he not understand from his base who WANT PEACE NOW. Please Mr. President bring our troops home NOW=there is no military solution to the problems in Afghanistan.

Yes, we need many more of you, Berni Sanders, and the great Brave New Films foundation is keeping us informed. Bless them both!!!!!!!!!!!

[jazzfan19605]

And God Bless Corporate Amerika, One Nation ABOVE The Law

[deque001]

The Corporatacracy is above the law. The little guy is beaten down with it. There are so many more of us. It's time to start fighting back with a massive wave of noncompliance.

[kazooga1234]

ron paul sucks

[danbowski40]

You suck!

[kazooga1234]

i dont want to make prostitution legal like ron paul and i dont want to get rid of the FDA and EPA like ron paul dose so i dont suck caz i care bout others unlike ron paul

[danbowski40]

Haha. When did Ron Paul say he would legalize prostitution?You neo-cons are always coming up with BS!

[kazooga1234]

on some show on tv i can prove it i will send u the link in a PM

[kazooga1234]

i tried the PM but it says only your friends can send u PMs its wimp com / legalizemarijuana and it was on abc

[theendofconfusion]

Sanders 2012!

[captcrais101]

I would rather see Bernie run in 2016. A Berine run in 2012 could lead to a republican win because liberals will be divided.

[RadarKat73080]

"Will be"? With all due respect Senator, it already is. "Unwinnable wars" are the American way sir!

2nd what the person above me said!

[quinnmcguee]

Bernie, please run in 2012. We need a real Progressive choice and not the corporate shills the Democrats are throwing out.

[kazooga1234]

we just need some1 who wont be a sellout and its more likely a dem wont be a sellout then a republican caz i think the deff of a republican is selfish basterd

[RustyTBone69]

@quinnmcguee I agree. I have worked hard on Bernie's campaigns. He would make a great President.