Leaving Afghanistan

Canada Free Press ^ | 12/25/2013 | Alan Caruba

[rktman]

On December 31, the United States is slated to begin removing its troops from Afghanistan. They have been there since shortly after 9/11 in 2001. At this writing, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has refused to sign a security agreement that would permit contingents of U.S. and allied troops there to train and assist its security forces beyond the end of 2014.

[rktman]

Guess my oldest granddaughter will be one of those unasked for/unsigned agreement "contingent" troops then. N. Guard unit being deployed to 'ghansitan next year. Weird huh? I guess karzai is waiting for the "wheelbarrow full of money" addendum before he signs.

[maine yankee]

Can anybody give me a valid reason why we are STILL there ?

[BerryDingle]

Karzai needs a jack handle to the head in a dark alley somewhere before we pull out of there.

[rktman]

Uh, so we can, through our rules of engagement, show the world we are a kinder, gentler, nation. Actually I’m guessin’ we should call it rules of dis-engagement. Or, how to get our troops killed in 1 easy lesson. Uh, quagmire anyone?

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

maine yankee:" Can anybody give me a valid reason why we are STILL there ?"

Valid reason - no !
We are there because our pResdient says that Al Qada and the Taliban are "our friends"
That is why we arm them in Syria.
It seems he forgot 9/11/01 !!

[Navy Patriot]

The US military should have seen Afghanistan as it should see Mecca and Medina, through a bomb sight.

[rktman]

Video cam on a drone or daisy cutter as it approaches.

[Leaning Right]

Can anybody give me a valid reason why we are STILL there?

Lyndon Johnson defended many of his decisions about Vietnam by saying "I will not be the first president to lose a war." So Johnson's personal reputation became more important than the lives of his soldiers.

The same thing is going on today in Afghanistan. The war there is lost, due to horrible political decisions. Just like Vietnam. But no one in power wants to admit it.

By the way, it's interesting, and extremely sad, how much Afghanistan is like Vietnam. Didn't anyone learn anything?

[TADSLOS]

My son and only a portion of his brigade are deploying there soon. My obvious concern for all of our forces in Afghanistan is the criminal ROE imposed on them every day, but also the high risk of added casualties as we collapse our presence there at the end of next year.

So, we are now sending units to this black hole in piecemeal to conduct a dubious mission under severe operational restrictions against a fanatical enemy. What could possibly go wrong?

[rktman]

I was concerned when she went to Iraq. This time, I’m worried. The drawdown(?) will only embolden the taliwhackers even more. Less security, more opportunity.

[TADSLOS]

X’actly.

[Cyber Liberty]

Karzai will probably get his wheelbarrow full of money either way. Last I heard, his government wants a huge “export tax” to allow us to take our military hardware with us. I’d rather destroy it all. Or use it to shoot our way out of the country.

[TurboZamboni]

contractor lobbyists = $

[Venturer]

When we leave Karzai is a dead man.

[Wolfie]

Fighting the terrorists over there so we don’t have to fight them there. That was the Party Line even on FR years ago.

[maine yankee]

Reminds me of the domino theory.

[Liberty Valance]

Bring our Troops home. Now. Current ROE have made them sitting ducks.

[angcat]

I know a solider there he was deployed in November. He said they were attacked yesterday outside their base by small arms fire. No one was hurt. He also said the little Afghan kids give the American Soldiers the finger and throw rocks at them. No word on them pulling out anytime soon.

[rktman]

Oh crap. Don’t tell the Robertsons that. LOL!

[Liberty Valance]

Ha!