It seems President Obama is celebrating his recent win of the Nobel Peace Prize by secretly sending more troops to Afghanistan than he said he would. From the Washington Post:
President Obama announced in March that he would be sending 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. But in an unannounced move, the White House has also authorized — and the Pentagon is deploying — at least 13,000 troops beyond that number, according to defense officials.
I’m not sure I understand the benefit of a never ending, military occupation of Afghanistan. How many years (or even decades) must pass before we realize that our blood and treasure might be better spent elsewhere?
Or maybe not spend at all?
No matter what we do, no matter how many troops we send, at the end of the day, Afghanistan will be Afghanistan. There is nothing we can do militarily or otherwise that will change that.
Lee B.
/ October 13, 2009I agree with your sentiments, Rick. I’m also concerned with China’s massive military buildup, and the fact that the rest of the world seems like they could give a rat’s ass about Iraq or Afghanistan. As a father, I really fear a draft- I firmly do not believe in either one of these causes (you and I served together and are both vets- I do support the troops) and would have no issue driving my sons to the Canadian border rather than contributing them to this wasteful effort.
Cathy
/ October 13, 2009Well said, Rick and Lee. My husband is a Vietnam War vet, and he would gladly drive our son to Canada. We just don’t seem to learn that you just can’t go into a country and force a way of life. Afghanistan and the other countries in the Middle East have always been tribal societies, and will return to being tribal societies the moment we leave. Heck, they’re tribal societies as we speak. Democracy isn’t gonna work there.