Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Only Real Strategy for Afghanistan
The New Media Journal ^ | Oct 2, 2009 | Frank Salvato

Posted on 10/02/2009 7:33:26 AM PDT by NewMediaJournal

There has been quite a bit of criticism directed at President Obama for his handling – or mishandling – of the Afghan theater in the global conflict with radical Islamists. To be certain, it should be the number one or, at the very least, number two item on his list of priorities. That it is not is deserving of criticism. But the catalyst for this dysfunctional thinking emanates from the reality that we, as a nation, don’t have a proper understanding of the conflict at hand and, therefore, have very different opinions – some based in fact but most influenced by ideology – as to the consequences of implementing the wrong strategy.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, then candidate Barack Obama identified the Afghan theater as the only “legitimate” military theater in which the US military was engaged. He did so in a politicized attempt to paint the Iraqi theater as illegitimate; an optional battle theater championed by his opponent. Whether or not you agree with that belief is irrelevant to the fact that Mr. Obama identified the Afghan theater as being “the good war.” This declaration, along with his promise to support the generals on the ground, intimated that he was going to respect the judgments and opinions of the field commanders with regard to strategy and assessment. That understood, it really shouldn’t be too much for the American people to expect their president to follow through on his campaign promises.

(Excerpt) Read more at newmediajournal.us ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; islam; obama; politicallycorrect

1 posted on 10/02/2009 7:33:27 AM PDT by NewMediaJournal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: NewMediaJournal

Bammy ain’t in charge...he’s FIGMO and that’s it. Just a matter of time before we pull out.


2 posted on 10/02/2009 7:39:22 AM PDT by jessduntno (Tell Obama to STFU - Stop The Federal Usurpation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NewMediaJournal

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT!!!!

This is WAR!

This is NOT a law enforcement exercise in your home town!

Civilians are at risk when they provide aid and comfort to those making war against us!

LET OUR MEN FIGHT OR BRING THEM HOME!


3 posted on 10/02/2009 7:40:22 AM PDT by G Larry ( Obamacare=Dying in Line!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NewMediaJournal
This is one thing that will help destroy his presidency...if you can call it that.

I hear that the front lines over there - when fired upon by the Taliban - cannot call in air support if there are civilians anywhere around, and they cannot fire back if there are civilians anywhere around...and the Talliban always attack Americans from in the middle of a bunch of civilians.

We cannot fire back? So what the hell are we even doing there? Sounds like Vietnam all over again.

Of course, bill clintons contempt for the military is topped only by the arrogance and contempt of obama for our brave men and women to bought obama the right to be elected president in the first place.

I watch zero return a "salute" when he gets off Air Force One or Marine One, and it is a half hearted gesture that looks like he's wiping sweat off his brow...why doesn't he just flip them off and get it over with; it the same contemp he showed by refusing to salute or cross his heart at the playing of the Star Spangled Banner. Someone should post that picture on FR everyday...I would but I don't know how to post a picture.
4 posted on 10/02/2009 7:45:14 AM PDT by FrankR (To Stimulus recipients: You are only enslaved to the extent of charity that you receive.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FrankR

the fraud-in-chief

5 posted on 10/02/2009 7:48:28 AM PDT by kingattax (99 % of liberals give the rest a bad name)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: FrankR

“Sounds like Vietnam all over again.”

I think it’s worse.


6 posted on 10/02/2009 8:15:08 AM PDT by jessduntno (Tell Obama to STFU - Stop The Federal Usurpation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: G Larry
WARNING!: When you are shouting BRING OUR TROOPS HOME/protesting against war, you are supporting terrorism. If you are a patriot, support our troops, support our war, not the terrorists. Don't be like a hippy, be like a proud American.
7 posted on 10/02/2009 8:22:42 AM PDT by Wiz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: jessduntno
“Sounds like Vietnam all over again.”

Here comes another victim of axis of terrorist propaganda. jessduntno is now supporting terrorism by shouting Vietnamization. Osama bin Landen loves defeatists like jessduntno. Support our troops, our war, not the terrorists. Don't forget Alamo, Remember Maine, Remember Pearl Harbor, and never forget 911.
8 posted on 10/02/2009 8:28:14 AM PDT by Wiz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Wiz

“Here comes another victim of axis of terrorist propaganda. jessduntno is now supporting terrorism by shouting Vietnamization.”

I did not say that you idiot. I said it was worse.


9 posted on 10/02/2009 8:34:18 AM PDT by jessduntno (Tell Obama to STFU - Stop The Federal Usurpation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Wiz

“Here comes another victim of axis of terrorist propaganda. jessduntno is now supporting terrorism by shouting Vietnamization.”

Tell me something, do morons like you read the posts you respond to? You think I SUPPORT terrorism? You mouth breathing idiot. I said the rules of engagement we have to put up with are worse. HOW IS THAT SUPPORTING TERRORISTS?

This kind of libel doesn’t sit well with me, you dimwit. No need to apologize, not that you are man enough, just STFU.


10 posted on 10/02/2009 8:39:57 AM PDT by jessduntno (Tell Obama to STFU - Stop The Federal Usurpation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Wiz

I enlisted during Vietnam, in 1971.
I don’t need to be careful of any bogus charges.
The simple message is LET OUR TROOPS FIGHT TO WIN AND QUIT WITH THE POLITICALLY CORRECT CRAP!


11 posted on 10/02/2009 9:26:32 AM PDT by G Larry ( Obamacare=Dying in Line!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: NewMediaJournal

___________________________________________________________________

Here’s what I wrote on the subject of Iran, Iraq & Afghanistan a while back.

To: NormsRevenge
We SHOULD withdraw from Iraq — via Tehran.

Here’s how I think we should “pull out of Iraq.” Add one more front to the scenario below, which would be a classic amphibious beach landing from the south in Iran, and it becomes a “strategic withdrawal” from Iraq. And I think the guy who would pull it off is Duncan Hunter.

How to Stand Up to Iran

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1...osts?page=36#36
Posted by Kevmo to TomasUSMC
On News/Activism 03/28/2007 7:11:08 PM PDT • 36 of 36

Split Iraq up and get out
***The bold military move would be to mobilize FROM Iraq into Iran through Kurdistan and then sweep downward, meeting up with the forces that we pull FROM Afghanistan in a 2-pronged offensive. We would be destroying nuke facilities and building concrete fences along geo-political lines, separating warring tribes physically. At the end, we take our boys into Kurdistan, set up a couple of big military bases and stay awhile. We could invite the French, Swiss, Italians, Mozambiqans, Argentinians, Koreans, whoever is willing to be the police forces for the regions that we move through, and if the area gets too hot for these peacekeeper weenies we send in military units. Basically, it would be learning the lesson of Iraq and applying it.

15 rules for understanding the Middle East
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1774248/posts

Rule 8: Civil wars in the Arab world are rarely about ideas — like liberalism vs. communism. They are about which tribe gets to rule. So, yes, Iraq is having a civil war as we once did. But there is no Abe Lincoln in this war. It’s the South vs. the South.

Rule 10: Mideast civil wars end in one of three ways: a) like the U.S. civil war, with one side vanquishing the other; like the Cyprus civil war, with a hard partition and a wall dividing the parties; or c) like the Lebanon civil war, with a soft partition under an iron fist (Syria) that keeps everyone in line. Saddam used to be the iron fist in Iraq. Now it is us. If we don’t want to play that role, Iraq’s civil war will end with A or B.

Let’s say my scenario above is what happens. Would that military mobilization qualify as a “withdrawal” from Iraq as well as Afghanistan? Then, when we’re all done and we set up bases in Kurdistan, it wouldn’t really be Iraq, would it? It would be Kurdistan.

.
.

I have posted in the past that I think the key to the strategy in the middle east is to start with an independent Kurdistan. If we engaged Iran in such a manner we might earn back the support of these windvane politicians and wussie voters who don’t mind seeing a quick & victorious fight but hate seeing endless police action battles that don’t secure a country.

I thought it would be cool for us to set up security for the Kurds on their southern border with Iraq, rewarding them for their bravery in defying Saddam Hussein. We put in some military bases there for, say, 20 years as part of the occupation of Iraq in their transition to democracy. We guarantee the autonomy of Iraqi Kurdistan as long as they don’t engage with Turkey. But that doesn’t say anything about engaging with Iranian Kurdistan. Within those 20 years the Kurds could have a secure and independent nation with expanding borders into Iran. After we close down the US bases, Kurdistan is on her own. But at least Kurdistan would be an independent nation with about half its territory carved out of Persia. If Turkey doesn’t relinquish her claim on Turkish Kurdistan after that, it isn’t our problem, it’s 2 of our allies fighting each other, one for independence and the other for regional primacy. I support democratic independence over a bullying arrogant minority.

The kurds are the closest thing we have to friends in that area. They fought against Saddam (got nerve-gassed), they’re fighting against Iran, they squabble with our so-called ally Turkey (who didn’t allow Americans to operate in the north of Iraq this time around).

It’s time for them to have their own country. They deserve it. They carve Kurdistan out of northern Iraq, northern Iran, and try to achieve some kind of autonomy in eastern Turkey. If Turkey gets angry, we let them know that there are consequences to turning your back on your “friend” when they need you. If the Turks want trouble, they can invade the Iraqi or Persian state of Kurdistan and kill americans to make their point. It wouldn’t be a wise move for them, they’d get their backsides handed to them and have eastern Turkey carved out of their country as a result.

If such an act of betrayal to an ally means they get a thorn in their side, I would be happy with it. It’s time for people who call themselves our allies to put up or shut up. The Kurds have been putting up and deserve to be rewarded with an autonomous and sovereign Kurdistan, borne out of the blood of their own patriots.

Should Turkey decide to make trouble with their Kurdish population, we would stay out of it, other than to guarantee sovereignty in the formerly Iranian and Iraqi portions of Kurdistan. When one of our allies wants to fight another of our allies, it’s a messy situation. If Turkey goes “into the war on Iran’s side” then they ain’t really our allies and that’s the end of that.

I agree that it’s hard on troops and their families. We won the war 4 years ago. This aftermath is the nation builders and peacekeeper weenies realizing that they need to understand things like the “15 rules for understanding the Middle East”

This was the strategic error that GWB committed. It was another brilliant military campaign but the followup should have been 4X as big. All those countries that don’t agree with sending troups to fight a war should have been willing to send in policemen and nurses to set up infrastructure and repair the country.

What do you think we should do with Iraq?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1752311/posts

Posted by Kevmo to Blue Scourge
On News/Activism 12/12/2006 9:17:33 AM PST • 23 of 105

My original contention was that we should have approached the reluctant “allies” like the French to send in Police forces for the occupation after battle, since they were so unwilling to engage in the fighting. It was easy to see that we’d need as many folks in police and nurse’s uniforms as we would in US Army unitorms in order to establish a democracy in the middle east. But, since we didn’t follow that line of approach, we now have a civil war on our hands. If we were to set our sights again on the police/nurse approach, we might still be able to pull this one off. I think we won the war in Iraq; we just haven’t won the peace.

I also think we should simply divide the country. The Kurds deserve their own country, they’ve proven to be good allies. We could work with them to carve out a section of Iraq, set their sights on carving some territory out of Iran, and then when they’re done with that, we can help “negotiate” with our other “allies”, the Turks, to secure Kurdish autonomy in what presently eastern Turkey.

That leaves the Sunnis and Shiites to divide up what’s left. We would occupy the areas between the two warring factions. Also, the UN/US should occupy the oil-producing regions and parcel out the revenue according to whatever plan they come up with. That gives all the sides something to argue about rather than shooting at us.

38 posted on Thursday, July 12, 2007 3:55:19 PM by Kevmo (We need to get away from the Kennedy Wing of the Republican Party ~Duncan Hunter)

___________________________________________________________________


12 posted on 10/03/2009 12:54:47 AM PDT by Kevmo (So America gets what America deserves - the destruction of its Constitution. ~Leo Donofrio, 6/1/09)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson