Posted on 05/31/2004 1:43:51 PM PDT by GreatOne
Edited on 05/31/2004 1:48:29 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
The handful of valiant American warriors fighting the ''other'' war in Afghanistan is not a happy band of brothers. They are undermanned and feel neglected, lack confidence in their generals and are disgusted by Afghan political leadership. Most important, they are appalled by the immense but fruitless effort to find Osama bin Laden for purposes of U.S. politics.
This bleak picture goes unreported because journalists are rarely seen there. It was painted to me by hard U.S. fighters who are committed to the war against terrorism but have a heavy heart. They talked to me not to undermine policy but to reveal problems that should and can be corrected.
Afghanistan constitutes George W. Bush's clearest victory since the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The Taliban regime has been overthrown, eliminating al-Qaida's most important base. But the overlooked war continues with no end in sight. Narcotics trafficking is at an all-time high. If U.S. forces were to leave, the Taliban -- or something like it -- would regain power. The United States is lost in Afghanistan, bound to this wild country and unable to leave.
The situation in Afghanistan, as laid out to me, looks nothing like a country alleged to be progressing toward representative democracy under American tutelage. Hamid Karzai, the U.S.-sponsored Afghan president, is regarded by the U.S. troops as hopelessly corrupt and kept in power by U.S. force of arms.
Those arms are not what they seem. The basic U.S. strength in Afghanistan is 17,000 troops of ''straight-legged'' infantry -- conventional forces ill-prepared to handle irregulars. The new unit assigned to Afghanistan is the 25th Infantry Division, which has been stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and has not seen combat since the Vietnam War...."
Really close to your little brother, aren't you?
I have a great friend serving as an Officer in Afghanistan this very minute. He tells a far different story. The troops understand, and BELIEVE in the MISSION!
LLS
Depends what units you work with. If it's the Ranger batt or the SF outfit then you won't see any disappointment. If it's the 444th Motor Transport or some other COSCOM unit then you will.
Not at all. He is in the Rangers, but I do not know what unit. He goes around guarding what he calls his "carpenter" and "doctor". Some of this nation building b/s. He has spent nights in tribal camps in the mountains.
I do not need to justify myself to such an inane individual as yourself with your married priests and other fuzzy "catholic" theology.
Troll?
Its FReeper name is the same as
James Carville's nickname -
"RaginCagun".
"BUSH REGIME", too?
C'mon!
We haven't seen any disappointment with the administration being implied.
The Constimatooshinalist Party has nothing in its platform about the War on Terror.
Which means that it, and everyone who supports it, are irrelevant.
I am really quite sure it is his third. I have a life. I cannot live mine through my brother's. They send him back and forth. It's not for me to keep tabs.
There's no way you can...your agenda is all to apparent.
I am firmly against the war and I have no hesitation admitting it.
I guess it just depends on who your relatives are. It just so happens that my family member is "currently" in Afghanistan and says that the people in that country thank him every day for the US help in fighting the terrorists. They are EAGER to have a country that is free of opressive regimes. The troops are not discouraged and the only politics that scare them are Liberal politicians who are trying to encourage the enemy.
You are flat out wrong.
Yes, and you have no hesitation in lying either.
Thank almighty God that we had a 'different' culture and a different demographic during WWII, or we would all be speaking German and Japanese. It is pathetic.
Man, these guys all sing the same tune. This could just as easily be JohnGalt or Chamberlainbuff. [vomit]
Of course you are against the war. You're cut from the same mold as Chamberlain and you're proud to admit it. Appease all you want, but the majority of us aren't going to allow the islamonazis kill us.
"...your agenda is all to apparent."
As is yours.
BTW, what could I say that would get me thrown off this site? I have been really wondering. Maybe sinky would know.
And after 9/11 your solution was what?
Don't worry your brother will keep your pinhead safe.
They actually expect us to believe that their brother is a Ranger, is disgusted with the administration, and it on his third or fourth tour. Sure.
I am not hearing such negative talk either
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