Our Must-Win War
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20 March 2009
By now, President Barack Obama must be acutely aware of the spiraling AfPak situation. Senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman have penned a very smart piece about the tough road ahead. There is a subtly to this piece insofar is it might indicate the Obama Administration is quietly bucking what is likely a very expensive and exhausting plan from the Pentagon. Active duty Generals cannot make such public declarations as seen coming from Senators McCain and Lieberman, but military leadership can get its message out in other ways.
At least part of the problem is obvious: we have half-stepped on AfPak for more than half-a-decade. At the current rate, we likely will see endless war until we wash our hands and come home. Anything short of severe effort is likely destined to fail. Therefore, this writer will be watching closely, and if President Obama is ready to take the hard decisions that will be required to win, then I am one man who will support him from the ground in Afghanistan. But if it looks like he is blinking at this moment of truth, or not heeding the advice of his Generals, this writer would sadly recommend that we cut losses and abandon Afghanistan. This is it. The first moment of truth and war for President Obama. The stakes are high.The 'Minimalist' Path Is Wrong for Afghanistan
By John McCain and Joseph Lieberman
Thursday, March 19, 2009; Page A15
Later this month, the Obama administration will unveil a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan. This comes as most important indicators in Afghanistan are pointing in the wrong direction. President Obama's decision last month to deploy an additional 17,000 U.S. troops was an important step in the right direction, but a comprehensive overhaul of our war plan is needed, and quickly.
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Comments
I'm not sold, one way or the other, on what America should do in the region. Nor am I an armchair quarterback trying to call plays without my butt on that bloody field to take the hits (while guys like Michael Yon risk all to inform us).
For what it is worth, here is, in brief, how I feel. That part of America that seems to care has paid with blood for whatever ground and progress weƒ??ve made there, and leaving would return a sanctuary to al Qaedaƒ??s and Talibanƒ??s butchers. Leaving them alone the last time cost America dearly.
The leaves me asking myself two questions. If not in Afghanistan now, then where and when should we fight and defeat those enemies? Does it make sense to just say that weƒ??ve punished them enough for now, withdraw, and plan to go back to kill more later, after they come and kill more of us?
The answer I keep coming up with is we should be all in to win there.
But we should get the hell out, now, if all Obama wants to do is waste precious American lives to gain a better negotiating position. Negotiating accurately signals to the enemy that they winning.
Either win quick or don't fight it at all. Our political will is less than one year.
Obama will withdraw and blame Bush for a failed s"Stratagery.
I know it happened in Vietnam; I know it happened to Poland in WWII; I know it almost happened in Iraq; and I know it's happened many other times in history, but I can't imagine America abondoning our allies.
Those 3 million returned to Kabul and home freely, voluntarily, when the UN drove the terrorists and communists oot of Kabul, THE LARGEST VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
THINK, 3 MILLION REFUGEES NO LONGER COLD AND STARVING UP THERE ON THE BORDER. It was a testimony in their faith in the UN and the US. They voted for us with their feet, by returning home.
They want us to win! They want freedom. They want security. They want al Queda men dead. 3 million people do not return unless they have confidence that you will SAVE them. At no other time in history did this happen.
Pres. Obama needs to support the people of Afghanistan otherwise other countriies in the region will lose faith in America, and the UN. Tough as it is, we must stay and finish the job. We took it on; we must see it through.
And if he loses and betrays our soldiers and those Afghans who stuck out their necks (literally), he should be impeached.
But before we escalate we have to secure supply lines.
I am not yet aware of any secure supply lines to Afghanistan.
That is priority number 1.
What I do know, from personal experience, is that Mike may be doing his reports from the Hills of Kentucky or the deserts of Ca, or the fens of Boston.
I think it's goint to be a long, hot summer, people.
Will be have time to sweep someone else's porch when ours is about to become very dirty?
Pray for the innocent while you can.
Scary indeed.
I have a 1st Lt. Marine son in Okinawa, who is training 90+ marines to embed Af. in May, so my interest is heightened significantly, my son and his marines are dependending on a Commander in Chief who will do everything to help them succeed.
Keep us informed Michael.
Thanks,
M.L.Perry, Bellingham, WA
Global jihadists set up their Muslim kingdoms in oil/diamond/etc. rich countries in Africa, wiping out the native/Christian peoples in their way while we do nothing, while our military is slowly dying in the Vietnam of the Middle East. Our soldiers even "patrol" past the poppy fields (in effect protecting them), even as the drug profits support the jihadists who kill them off patrol by patrol by patrol. Meanwhile the place is becoming a breeding ground for future suicide bombers, already sick/dying from the constant radiation left behind from ignited DU (.5 micron-sized ignited DU isotopes that last for centuries and imped in the lungs and other organs are NOT like naturally occuring Uranium and do cause constant radiation damage in the tissues). So in a few more years, when our military is weakened and the jihadists have united and gotten stronger, the fighting will be brought here at home. What kind of resistence will we have left then?
Global jihadists set up their Muslim kingdoms in oil/diamond/etc. rich countries in Africa, wiping out the native/Christian peoples in their way while we do nothing, while our military is slowly dying in the Vietnam of the Middle East. Our soldiers even "patrol" past the poppy fields (in effect protecting them), even as the drug profits support the jihadists who kill them off patrol by patrol by patrol. Meanwhile the place is becoming a breeding ground for future suicide bombers, already sick/dying from the constant radiation left behind from ignited DU (.5 micron-sized ignited DU isotopes that last for centuries and imped in the lungs and other organs are NOT like naturally occuring Uranium and do cause constant radiation damage in the tissues). So in a few more years, when our military is weakened and the jihadists have united and gotten stronger, the fighting will be brought here at home. What kind of resistence will we have left then?
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