Development Not War

The Taliban is supported by the people of Afganistan because of it strict Muslim Religion; as long as Islam is the countries religion, the Taliban will always be welcomed and the US can NEVER win.

I thought Obama already kept his campaign promise and we're completely out of Afganistan. Wow, our guiding beacon of wonderfulness is as big a liar as Bush?

"Beware of foreign entanglements". -George Washington-

I love living in the U.S., but am opposed to its foreign policy of endless intervention. We can do better. Let's protect ourselves and leave everyone else alone. For this reason, I didn't vote for Obama, McCain, Bush, and I don't plan to vote for Obama, Romney, or Santorum. As long as people keep following the dictates of the Democrat and Republican parties, we will continue being sucked into these endless wars.

Mr. Turjoman,
You see little evidence from your computer in Goleta? Have you seen the actual evidence with your own eyes in Marjah today? Nawa? I take it you've done partnered patrols with ANSF with support of numerous NGO's with extremely positive results over a 9 month deployment?

billclausen,
"we" continue being sucked into what? You haven't been sucked into anything. "We" to me is the dudes to my left and right doing the nation's business in AFG and are doing it quite well.

doug4now,
NEVER win? Thanks for the vote of confidence homie. If you don't mind I'll stick to the idea that We (see above) are going to leave AFG much better than we found it.

war cannot bring about anything good, unless you are on defense.

I have immense respect for anyone who joined the Marines in wartime. [Picture me saluting them.] Obviously, we needed to hose down al Qaida & Taliban, after 9/11. And more in general, we need fighters with courage and belief in their mission. But whose mission is it? Unfortunately, for the huge majority of our professional politicians, the mission is re-election. Whether it's in behalf of lobbies of multinational corporations, or foreign lobbies, Capitol Hill turns its back on US interests with extreme prejudice sometimes. 9/11 was plotted mostly in Germany and USA. Afghanistan was essential only as a far-flung place for squandering US treasure. We've now got Iran surrounded, and corporations hope they're (not we're) in line for Caspian crude. So it goes, so it will continue to go. We're so easily lead!

spacey,
America (good) as you know it is, in large part, due to war.

War employs more people than you know... It's pretty good business.

As a force we generally suck at a pure defense on a tactical level.

I' ve been to Nawa (Fiaz). Talk about primitive living. A hellhole. A black hole.