Rethink Afghanistan: Experiences in the Afghanistan War

[mransar1000]

Americans r flopp in Afghanistan no use to send more army its usless ur army is hopeless and Allah is with Mujaheedeens they r not terrorists the terrorists is America who r killing many of muslims in afghanistan, iraq, pakistan, palesteen, nigeria and many more and main reason for attacks were these countries resources now in afganistan there is 1.8 billlion tons of oill in iraq too etc etc my frnds search ur self

[newminkey]

Some good points in this video, yes there is a lot of incompetence in the fight against the Taliban. But it's illogical to conclude that the Taliban should not be fought. The correct conclusion is better intelligence, more sensitive handling of ordinary Afghans. Sadly though, the Taliban use the ordinary population as human shields. The key point is this: there will never be justice or economic prosperity until the Taliban is eliminated.

[Spook1906]

For many of us Soldiers, Marines, etc, who support "rethinking" this whole thing, it is not just about yelling out that we oppose everything about this "conflict" and then trying to pull ALL personnel and resources out and just go home. There are some fundamental military processes that were not, and still are not, being implemented because of the back and forth political grandstanding that has absolutely nothing to do with military operations...and I'm talking about both sides of the isle.

[Roethlisberger1]

You cant just pull out of somewhere by just a few bad storys and bad missions. When we went over there we said that we would get rid of the Taliban and other militants and thats what we must do at all costs. War is horrible but Peace after was is Wonderful. It always get worse before it gets better. so we have to finnish our job and help the Afghans to a better life and not leave them to the mercy to the Horrible people that will take our place if we just pull out now. Blessed Be. )0(

[The213momadzahi]

@Roethlisberger1 we need to get rid of the taliban? who created the taliban? have u even read a book about them? the CIA TRAINED THEM! wat are u saying? afghans never wanted the taliban in the first place. it started out by the CIA training pakistani orphans go look it up.

[1kar4life]

this war is no different from all other wars=poppy-fields

[1kar4life]

uhhh, obama,uhh obama,uhhh obama

[cephal0p0d]

If only we lived in such a fluffy and perfect world!

Oh to be able to pull out of Afghanistan without having it become a base for extremists to topple Pakistan! A world where Pakistan was stable, and not in posession of four dozen nuclear weapons and a functioning industry to produce more! A world where Afghanistan wouldn't just go right back to the Taliban! YAY!

If we lived in that world I could finally have that rainbow-shitting unicorn I've always wanted! And a jetpack!

YAY!!

[dartsp]

@cephal0p0d

If you're not in Afghanistan saving America from the 100 Al-Qaeda terrorists, then you are in a fluffy world. If you believe in these wars then I must ask; are you in the Army protecting US? If not, then you are another chicken hawk talking tough but doing nothing. We had 8 years of an administration filled with chicken hawks and it appears, early on, that we might have another 4. This isn't the "good war", we missed that war 8 years ago when bush went to Iraq.

[cephal0p0d]

Ah, I see: Unless someone has had direct experience, one cannot discuss a topic.

So by your logic, only electrical engineers can discuss consumer electronics. Bye-bye CNET!

Only a dangerous fool loves war, but it takes an even bigger and more dangerous fool to ignore a clear and present danger in pursuit of short term goals.

[dartsp]

0p0d; You may discuss any topic you desire, credibility would then be the issue. You might want to check the credentials of the folks at CNET, they arent welders. You can talk about heart surgery but if your experience is Greys Anatomy, you probably dont know what youre talking about. A generals job performance is measured by the task, win the war. He is programmed like the Terminator, never stop fighting. The generals that said Enough! got replaced by bush and rummy got fired.

[dartsp]

@cephal0p0d

Listen to the soldiers that have been on the ground and have performed acts of war and are not pleased with what they did. There is an increase in soldier suicides and in domestic violence in military families; do I have to slow this down for you to understand? More suicides in a month than killed in the war. Do you think multiple tours of duty, performing violent acts of war, and families splitting up because of extended separation might be the cause? Get a clue!

[cephal0p0d]

It has always been the case that war causes psychological trauma to everyone it touches. And it's yet another terrible cost of the terrible practice that is war. Your point?

And I can't help but notice that, instead of actually addressing mine, you preferred to go right to appeals to emotion and ad hom attacks.

Klassy.

Nothing says 'authoritative source of information' like arguments that are the verbal equivalent of a middle school slap-fight.

[dartsp]

0p0d, is it Klassy you desire.

How about the carefree, callus manner in which you refer to a war with no end in sight? American soldiers are assigned 15 18 month TODs followed closely by another and another and maybe another. The point I made was that the suicide and domestic violence the Army is experiencing is far above their average. We hid under desks for years because of the Soviet missile threat, did that happen?

Yet you boil it down to a Unicorn and a jetpack, that's Klassy ace!

[cephal0p0d]

Show me carefree or callous. I'll wait.

Also, STILL WAITING for you to stop whining and actually address my actual topics:

- we have no other choice

- Afghanistan and Pakistan are inseparably linked, fail one, lose both

Also still waiting for you to lay off the ad hom and debate like a big boy.

[dartsp]

0p0d, Ive pin pointed the carefree and callus, you just dont comprehend well. Shrugging off our soldiers becoming mentally damaged, violent and dying with it has always been the case... and wishing for a unicorn and jetpack displays little concern for the soldiers. I dont care if you have an I support the troops! ribbon, which is useless.

Afghanistan and Pakistan are not ours to loose, and Iraq did not attack us! You havent served, you go save them brave heart.

Questions answered again

[cephal0p0d]

Aah, so you're still sticking with the appeal-to-emotion, strawmen, and ad hom whining tactics then. At least you're consistent.

Feel free to respond again when you grow a pair and want to discuss why you think we should leave, how that would work, and why. I won't hold my breath though.

[dartsp]

0p0d, you shouldn't hold your breath anymore, the brain damage is apparent.

It's viewed as an emotional appeal to you because you've not had your ass on the line. The reality is there is nothing to be won, we're already lost too much and we continue to drop lives and money. That is called reality. What is it that you think we can win by being there? Has any outside country ever won anything in Afghanistan? NO! If you think there is something to win, why havent you gone there to win it?

[cephal0p0d]

I'm a little embarrassed that I haven't thought to ask you this: you keep going on about this.. have YOU gone there and put YOUR ass on the line?

If so, thank you, and I'm sorry you had to, I can't imagine what that must have been like.

If not, I suggest you quit embarrassing yourself by invoking things you know nothing about, having not been there.

That said, this is all still one big appeal to emotion. You still have not offered any actual alternative plan, nor addressed my points.

[dartsp]

Unfortunately yes, but I didn't support it then and I don't now. We've done far more harm than good.

Enough said.

[cephal0p0d]

If I were young enough and in good enough shape, I'd join the national guard, if only to have a hand in putting down the rightard uprising they keep promising is just around the corner.

But I'm not. I'm too old (39), and my knee is jacked up.

[dartsp]

0p0d, age does take its toll and I wish we could stop the killing. Members of the Guard are taking much more of the tasking than they were created to cover, it's ashame.

Happy Holiday to you and yours.

[1969pontiac1]

Sometimes the only way to end a war, and it is sad. You can send food and water and try and help, but once you leave the thugs will take it over again and begin planning how to kill Americans or other nations. This would be a hard call to make. if we keep going like we are, sending more troops is not the answer. This will going on until hell freezes over. You have to pull all our troops out and carpet bomb the whole country. It will cost incenet lives but that is happing anyway.

[qualityrkc]

what will carpet bombing solve other than wiping out the population and growing anti american sentiment in that region?If you want muslims to stop trying to kill you then STOP KILLING MUSLIMS. HOW DOES THAT NOT MAKE SENSE??

[faaronshreman]

"Go fuck yourself" is not helpful input (so to speak). We need to listen to these soldiers on the ground and get their stories to the ears of the powers that be. Killing more civilians, leaving more children orphaned and mothers powerless, is not the way to win hearts and minds. More communication is essential.

[alkolaqi83]

wow this video is reality there

pres. bush i mean obama no more wars we had enough if u really want to help send food and water

[cephal0p0d]

Um.. We are sending food, water, building infrastructure, etc. Billions worth. Claiming otherwise is absurd.

But if you don't protect those assets, they're destroyed or stolen by the Taliban and all you've done is waste time and money and get more people killed.

[dartsp]

0p0d, I see your Unicorn arrived and took you off to dream world.

We are paying billions for the construction of an infrastructure, but its not being built. The big contracts are awarded, Halliburton, then they sub-contract to a friend, then they sub-contract to another who brings slave labor in to build some sub-standard building which is never completed. Electrical work is done by unskilled labor and then soldiers are electrocuted in the shower. It gets better;

[dartsp]

Halliburton moves its HQ to Dubai to avoid taxes and giving its employees (workers) SS and benefits. Contracts continue to be awarded even though the construction isnt being completed.

Visit Iraq or Afghanistan and you might notice the lack of a functioning society, unlike before we blew everything to hell.

Turn off beck and hannity and get the news. Listen instead of talk about what you don't have a clue.

0p0d, wake up, come back to earth!

I know, ad hom attacks, yada yada yada!

[cephal0p0d]

Beck and Hannity?!

0_o

Retard.

I'm a very vocal liberal (in the true sense of the word) who caucused for Obama up through the county level during the primary. Had I more time, I would have worked for his campaign.

[dartsp]

0p0d, Retard? LOL have you lowered yourself :

Nothing says 'authoritative source of information' like arguments that are the verbal equivalent of a middle school slap-fight.

You sound like a fox idiot with the BS about building infrastructure and doing so much good. Ive noticed that you never dispute my statements, you just dont understand them. What kind of liberal thinks we should stay and not get out of these wars? Youd better think about that some more, it doesn't sell!

[cephal0p0d]

"You sound like a fox idiot "

Yes, I suppose for someone who gets all their opinions spoon-fed to them by random bloggers on DailyKos, that might seem to be the case.

We're already getting out of Iraq. We have a plan to start pulling out of Afghanistan in 2 years.

This is how it's done. You don't just ZOMG PULL OUT NAO GAIZ, because that creates a power vacuum that will be exploited and everything you fought for disappears.

Not that you care.

[dartsp]

0p0d, although I appreciate the DailyKos I seldom have the time to read it. I do read and listen to others that I respect for their progressive views or stances on current issues.

So, were getting out of Iraq, when will that be accomplished or even started with a real effort to leave and not just lable the troops differently; training or peace keepers. What exactly did we accomplish there?

A power vacuum; can you say shituation or maybe oxymoron? Afghan tribes will figure it out without us.

[cephal0p0d]

Yes, that happens, but it is not the sum total of what happens.

And as usual, you still didn't address the point: without security, no amount of humanitarian aid will make any difference.

[dartsp]

You miss the basic point 0p0d, we shouldn't be there! We are invaders of another country! We are killing innocent citizens of Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. We went over there 9 years ago to strike Al Qaida for killing 3,000 in NY and we've now surpassed that death toll 1,000 times over. Where does any of that make sense? It's absolutely ridiculous to continue on a path that has proven to be failing. If you believe in it get out in front of the cause. Its called put up or shut up!

[cephal0p0d]

One thing useful idiots on the left and right definitely have in common: bumper-sticker-slogan-grade policy.

I've already explained it to you several times very clearly, but you prefer to make appeals to emotion and avoid addressing those points.

And that's fine. You don't have to agree. I'll just keep debunking your myths until you stop or I get bored.

But just so you know, you're part of the problem: liberals like you hand conservatives elections by serving as negative examples.

[dartsp]

0p0d you have not explained or debunked ANYTHING!

You want to stay in Afghanistan but dont want to participate.

Were throwing money away for infrastructure that isnt being built.

The pentagon cant account for 8 billion dollars, gone and nobody is accountable.

What have you stated of fact?

You arent a liberal and certainly not a progressive, youve stated NOTHING! Tell me where your facts abound. You continue to babble about saying something but state nothing. Tell me your facts!

[cephal0p0d]

I don't want to stay in Afghanistan, but I recognize the need to prevent the entire area from destabilizing now that we ARE there, and the only way to do that is to proceed with the plan as it stands now. Which is a complete departure from Bush's "knock it over and forget about it for 8 years" non-plan. And I'm too old to join up.

[dartsp]

0p0d, fair enough, I hear what you're stating and we just disagree on the method to get out. Those countries manage to take care of their internal struggles without the interference of outsiders; us, Great Britain and the Soviets.

I look at our collection of 100 Senators and they cant figure out what is best for Americans, why would I believe they know what is best for any other country. Other countries have figured out the health care issue, not perfect but a work in progress. Merry Xmas!

[jdlaporte001]

All of you are a disgrace to the uniform

[limitedgovt999]

The past and current administration are a disgrace to real American's who respect the lives of all people.

[nickneffsik]

I think I can speak for at least a few people and say, "go fuck yourself"