There is an old saying that”Afghanistan is the place where big nations go to die.” That is not only true but also includes pretty much all if the Middle East. These tribal nations have no understanding of truly representative government and little or no desire to live within its confines. There has been almost constant war or invasion since 5000 B.C. in most of that region. Who in hell are we to think that sort of history can be reversed? Drill our own oil and tell them to shove theirs back where the sun don’t shine.
The only true friends we have in the mideast is Israel. I also include Jordan but that’s only true for as long as Abdulla lives. I suppose we could also include Egypt for as long as we continue to pay them.
Personally I would quit screwing around with troops and money in the mideast and park a carrier group in the eastern Mediterranean and make a solid trade and defense pact with Israel.
RE: These tribal nations have no understanding of truly representative government and little or no desire to live within its confines. There has been almost constant war or invasion since 5000 B.C. in most of that region.
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Remember our original rationale for going to Afghanistan?
It was to get Osama Bin Ladin. DONE.
It was also to drive Al Qaeda and the Taliban away from Afghanistan. NOT DONE.
Maybe we might just want to forget the second goal... well what’s to stop the next Bin Ladin from taking over the place and recreating another 9/11 if we leave the place?
We might not be interested in war, but war is interested in us.
Agree. Leave the graveyard of empires and the devil's sandbox to their respective populations.