Americans Suddenly Care About Afghanistan Again

Put me in the cynical column (4.00 / 2)

Most Americans don't follow baseball until the world series.  Most Americans don't get excited about their home team until they are either winning (Chicago Bears, 1985) or losing (Chicago Cubs every year since 1908).  As casualties rise and politicians look for news - any news - Afghanistan will be covered more.  The right-wing news agencies will cover it to make Obama look bad.  The left-wing news agencies will cover it to push for a faster withdrawal.  Either way, Afghanistan will be in the news.

"No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain because they're carrying out the missions of their commander in chief. And we honor all the service that they've provided." - Barack Obama

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by: Chris LeJeune @ Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 13:02:07 PM CDT

Obama to meet with Congressional Leadership, Armed Services and (0.00 / 0)

and Foreign Relations Committees.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITI...

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by: deMeme @ Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 13:54:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Many of us are just waiting, patiently or no, for the announcement (0.00 / 0)

of what the new strategy will be in Afghanistan.

Personally, I'm thinking that what we need in this desperately traumatized country is a counter-terrorism strategy in combination with a muscular political and diplomatic effort under the auspices of the UN - not to engage in nation-building, per se, but to initiate and promote an Afghan-led process of political reconciliation that respects the traditional Afghan power structures and involves the participation of all Afghans, including the Pashtun majority and moderate elements of the Taliban.

But, I guess time will eventually tell...

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by: Elizabeth Miller @ Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 14:21:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I would completely support a CT strategy (0.00 / 0)

By that I mean send in plenty of trigger-pullers intent on killing anyone who may be a threat to US security.  But I do not believe we should spend the next 10 years in Afghanistan making sure they have roads, bridges, electrical substations, schools, cement factories, a decent health-care system, and a nice tax policy.  Those are not the jobs of the US military.

First, however, we need to review our strategy of exactly what needs to be done where before we just throw 20,000 more troops at the problem.  

"No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain because they're carrying out the missions of their commander in chief. And we honor all the service that they've provided." - Barack Obama

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by: Chris LeJeune @ Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 15:16:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'm pretty sure you and I are on the precisely the same page. (0.00 / 0)

I think the UN needs to be there for a very long time.

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by: Elizabeth Miller @ Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 15:24:27 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Definitely (0.00 / 0)

The UN, our State Department, the Red Cross, the World Health Organization, Doctors Without Borders, and any other humanitarian groups that would like to help out.  But not the US military.  Our job is to put bullets into bodies and bodies into bags.  Once that part is done, or if we can at least show that the threat to US security has been removed from the AO, it is time to leave.  I understand the concept of population-centric COIN, winning the hearts and minds, etc.  But I do not believe this to be the best strategy in Af-Pak.

"No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain because they're carrying out the missions of their commander in chief. And we honor all the service that they've provided." - Barack Obama

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by: Chris LeJeune @ Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 16:46:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Reports seem to indicate that AQ is no longer a functioning threat in A/P. (0.00 / 0)

Biden's strategy is so much BS if there is no AQ to 'fight' other than 10 old insignificants hiding out in caves with some recording equipment.

We are fighting the Taliban who have managed to disrupt our supply lines. Pulling the troops out of COPs to populated areas seems like a response to that.

Neither the Ghan or Pak have reliable central governments that have enough strength for any 'muscular diplomacy' to have any significance other than sending them Billions from Uncle Sugar. As we prop-up Karzai in Kabul, his brother takes Kadahar down the tubes with Hwy 1 that we built almost destroyed, while his other bro is reputed to be one of the Primary Poppy Peddling Pukes.

In Pak we are dealing with 10% Zardari where the UN food program got suicide bombed in Islamabad today.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WO...

The new Taliban leader has vowed revenge for the drone attacks. Were the attacks in Nuristan part of that plan?

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WO...

I'm convinced that Bush let the Ghan simmer on the back burner until he could get out the heck out of Dodge letting someone else take the fall. The Chickenhawks-in-Charge saw the writing on another Wall.

Looking at the 'new challenges', it is time to pack up the tents and head for home to rebuild our forces. We may really need a strong military with some numbers while we pray or use 'muscular diplomacy' to keep Israel from bombing Iran.

 

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by: deMeme @ Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 17:30:36 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Better be more careful, there...deMeme... (0.00 / 0)

Vice President Biden has not yet spoken or written about what he is now advocating for US policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

All we have to go on at this point are news reports...or, I should say, 'news' reports.

I am quite sure that Biden's thinking on Afghanistan is not what you, and countless others, suggest.

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by: Elizabeth Miller @ Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 17:47:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Here ya' go... and this is just restating what has been reported and (0.00 / 0)

reported:

"And Biden who favors...

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/PO...

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by: deMeme @ Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 18:09:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I officially give up deMeme...until you stop relying on 'news' reports for the bulk of your information. (0.00 / 0)

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by: Elizabeth Miller @ Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 18:35:50 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

lol, here's a few notes from 1963 (0.00 / 0)

A little surfin' serenade:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

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by: deMeme @ Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 20:05:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I couldn't agree more that a COIN strategy here is NOT the best way forward. (0.00 / 0)

In fact, I think it may very well be the surest way backward!

My thinking on all of this has evolved dramatically over the course of the last several months and I'd really like to get your opinion on where my thinking is now. I'm just going to cut and paste a few thoughts here that I've had about this and, hopefully, you'll give me your unvarnished critique - thanks in advance!

It seems that the ANP - and the ANA, for that matter - are just not destined to be a functional national police force. It also seems clear that the government in Kabul, regardless of which personality ends up heading it up, is similarly dysfunctional. As I understand this developing situation, the central government in Kabul will probably never have the capacity to exert full authority over the rest of the country in any meaningful and judicious way. This is not exactly a sound basis on which to mount a successful COIN strategy.

In fact, it is looking like the only way out of this mess is to look back to the traditional power structures of Afghanistan for guidance and understand that it may be time for NATO forces to begin a responsible withdrawal. At the same time, a traditional Afghan reconciliation process might be promoted, encouraged and supported by US/NATO/UN but, ultimately, led by Afghan leaders, including the Pashtun majority and reconcilable segments of the Taliban.

In any event, I seriously doubt that General McChrystal will get the troops he's asking for. The recent elections and ongoing aftermath pretty much sealed that fate. Well, that and the fact that the number of troops needed for what General McChrystal apparently wants to do would undoubtedly be counted in the hundreds of thousands, not tens of thousands. And, unless I am completely mistaken, that is well beyond the number that the US and NATO are able - or willing, for that matter - to provide.

A shift from COIN to counter-terrorism is probably the ONLY workable solution to secure and stabilize Afghanistan. But, while a counter-terrorism approach, through a decidedly smaller and more focused military footprint, may be necessary to eliminate the threat of al-Qaeda in AF-Pak, it will probably be far from sufficient when it comes to preventing the re-emergence of a similar threat in Afghanistan at some point down the road.

Which is why a counterterrorism strategy in conjuntion with a muscular political and diplomatic effort  - under the auspices of the UN - that would seek to promote an Afghan-led national political reconciliation process and rely on Afghanistan's traditional power structures appears to be a logical way out that meets the essential objectives of the US and NATO.

But, if the final strategy, whatever it may be, remains dependent upon a strong centralized government in Kabul that is modeled on western democracies, US/NATO forces might as well pack up and go home now.

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by: Elizabeth Miller @ Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 18:34:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Gates/Cllinton interview Tues at 3PM edt on CNN with Amanpour (0.00 / 0)

Gates: We're not leaving Afghanistan

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITI...

Amanpour:

http://www.cnn.com/CNNI/Progra...

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by: deMeme @ Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 20:59:27 PM CDT

It doesn't fit into a sound bite. (4.00 / 1)

Afghanistan is difficult, and it doesn't fit nicely into a soundbite or even a 2 minute news segment.  It also isn't salacious or filled with Jerry Springer like drama.  I am very cynical on this matter, which is probably why I got so upset about the AP publishing the photo of Joshua Bernard right after he had been fatally wounded.  Soundbite controversy and drama seem to sell.

I wish that more Americans remembered our men and women in battle everyday...but for 99% + of Americans, it is out of sight, out of mind....

We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America. -Barack Obama

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by: NavyBlueWife @ Mon Oct 05, 2009 at 22:57:56 PM CDT