I link to this "blog post" from Chuck Spinney with some reluctance. The site, Battleland, is a combination of Time Magazine and CNN and it has the subtitle "Where military intelligence is not a contradiction in terms". That is so blatantly over the top that it should need no condemnation. The comments for the linked below blog post are also mostly over the top.
But, the issue of the post is important and thus should be given distribution.
The question of staying in Afghanistan, how long we stay, how many troops we keep there and how much money we spend on development/reconstruction should all be the subject of a lively debate within our nation. There are a lot of reasons for staying in Afghanistan and there are lots of reasons for getting out. These are not issue that should only be discussed in the recesses of the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense and the National Security Council. While a City Council voting against a war seems a little much, a discussion on local blogs and in local newspapers seems entirely in order.
So, discuss.
Regards — Cliff
I'm not sure if we can be friends with both Pakistan and India.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I can tell, India is a better bet.
Does that help?
I agree that in the larger arena of Southwest Asia, India is the horse to back. In fact, we have been backing India, on and off, for five or so decades. And, I understand there is some move afoot to invite India to help out in Afghanistan.
ReplyDeleteThe question is, do we have to remain there to keep Pakistan from going over the edge. Put another way, how many more American lives is it worth to avoid nuclear war on the sub-continent?
This is assuming that Terrorists trying to purify the earth will not again reach out and try to tag us from bases in that area.
Regards — Cliff
"..Terrorists trying to purify the earth.." ?
ReplyDeleteI heard they prefer Texas.
I can't help but be naughty. };-D>
Ah, but that was two years ago.
ReplyDeleteNow the target is still Texas, but it is the Insurgents, belay that, Drug Cartels operating out of Mexico.
Over at Small Wars Journal we have the story of what appears to be a targeted (or random) killing of a police officer in San Antonio, with some 28 rounds fired from an automatic weapons.
More later on this blog.
Regards — Cliff
I'd like to bring the troops home. But I don't think we should give them badges until they properly decompress.
ReplyDeleteSemi-auto weapons can make short work out of a complicated situation, as you have noted before.
I don't think that the discussion is isolated or minimal. I think that the overwhelming number of Americans want us out of that part of the world by COB tomorrow if it were possible.
ReplyDeleteThe reasons for staying are largely esoteric and frankly, IMHO, without national benefit. I'm not sure why Americans should really care if Pakistan and India decide to turn each other into green glass. For my money, that will be one country that Obama won't be able to spend billions to visit in his next term. In fact, were it to spread to include the entire Middle East, that wouldn't be a bad thing. Oh yeah, the oil thing. Well...maybe we need to cut back on our oil consumption....or better....consume oil "made in America".....something we really don't do much of.
Now having shot off my mouth about MY view.....trust me......there is nobody inside of the Beltway who really gives a royal rat's patoot what any of us learned folk believe or desire....and thus.....way beyond the Heartland's ability to decide. The Great Unwashed simply don't have the requisite pedigree to weigh in on such lofty decisions....