The War Won’t End in Afghanistan

Commentary Magazine ^ | 9/29/08 | Michael Totten

[Dawnsblood]

Senator Barack Obama said something at the presidential debate last week that almost perfectly encapsulates the difference between his foreign policy and his opponent’s: “Secretary of Defense Robert Gates himself acknowledges the war on terrorism started in Afghanistan and it needs to end there.” I don’t know if Obama paraphrased Gates correctly, but if so, they’re both wrong.

If Afghanistan were miraculously transformed into the Switzerland of Central Asia, every last one of the Middle East’s rogues gallery of terrorist groups would still exist. The ideology that spawned them would endure. Their grievances, such as they are, would not be salved. The political culture that produced them, and continues to produce more just like them, would hardly be scathed. Al Qaedism is the most radical wing of an extreme movement which was born in the Middle East and exists now in many parts of the world. Afghanistan is not the root or the source.

Naturally the war against them began in Afghanistan. Plans for the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States were hatched in Afghanistan. But the temporary location of the plotters of that strike means little in the wide view of a long struggle. Osama bin Laden and his leadership just as easily could have planned the attacks from Saudi Arabia before they were exiled, or from their refuge in Sudan in the mid 1990s. Theoretically they could have even planned the attacks from an off-the-radar “safe house” in a place like France or even Nebraska had they managed to sneak themselves in. The physical location of the planning headquarters wasn’t irrelevant, but in the long run the ideology that motivates them is what must be defeated.

[The Iceman Cometh]

I DEMAND that Obama state the date of withdrawal from Afghanistan. How could we keep funding an illegal war when there are so many children that need Head Start.

Okay, I can't stop laughing long enough to carry on that rant.

[RepublitarianRoger2]

Yep, it’s not about Afghanistan or Iraq, it’s about an ideology. The only problem is that it is really tough to wage a war against an ideology. But that is the task before us.

[353FMG]

“If Afghanistan were miraculously transformed into the Switzerland of Central Asia...”

That could only happen if the people would turn away from Islam.

[familyop]

From the way it’s being wheeled and dealed with so diplomatically, it will probably end here.

[Colonial Warrior]

ZEROBama can't read that far ahead....cliff notes not published and teleprompter isn't set up.

[ASOC]

LOL

Nobody will ever ‘contol’ the ‘Stan, they only rent it.....

[arthurus]

Their "grievances" are irrelevant. They are the vanguard of the Saracen resumption of the Conquest that was temporarily halted the last time at Vienna. It can only be stopped by immense destruction visited upon the major military capabilities of the belligerent center. Right now that is Iran. Iran must be laid so low that Moslems around the world come to understand that Allah does not will that Islam shall prevail in this generation. That will end the threat for now, but only for now. Bush I could have done it far more cheaply by flattening Baghdad and destroying totally Iraq's military capability and infrastructure. Now it requires the same thing with Iran, a far more expensive proposition. In a few years, if Iran is allowed to continue, add Pakistan and then Egypt and finally, the true center of this whole chapter of the 1300 year old Islamic War, Saudi Arabia. Unless, of course, Allah does will that Islam prevail in this generation. Then our descendants will have to learn to write their Spanish in Arabic script.

[John Locke]

If Afghanistan were miraculously transformed into the Switzerland of Central Asia...

It needed no miracle -just a sound religion and a wise king. Here he is: Menander II, under whom the Hellenistic Kingdom of Bactria was very close to being the Switzerland of Central Asia.

[Karliner]

I DEMAND that Obama state the date of withdrawal from Afghanistan. How could we keep funding an illegal war when there are so many children that need Head Start. Okay, I can't stop laughing long enough to carry on that rant. ,/p>

Okay you got me going...wonder if this new country of Afghanistan would have a stock market would they call all the ACORN add-ons. "kosher" pork barrels. The war began in Iran, we had a whole barracks blown up in Beirut, embassies blown in Africans nations, a bundle of murders and bombs in Germany, train in Spain, airport in the British Isles, surfers and tourists blown up at a disco "too close to a 'house of pagan prayer'" coups in Thailand, allies with Russia/ Iran, Philipines inundated by Abu Sayyaf, financed genocides in Sudan, and other nations, plus outright anarchy in may more....it's all going to someday end in Megiddo; Pakistan and Afghanistan is a mere albiet large and nasty ruse for the final plan.

[neverdem]

BTTT!

[SunkenCiv]

thanks neverdem.

America’s Nervous Breakdown
- Should it continue, a world breakdown may follow
National Review Online | October 02, 2008 | Victor Davis Hanson
Posted on 10/02/2008 11:22:55 AM PDT by neverdem
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2095958/posts

Dozens of Senators Now Supporting Effort To Repeal The DC Gun Ban
Gun Owners of America | September 22, 2008 | NA
Posted on 10/02/2008 12:45:27 PM PDT by neverdem
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2096024/posts

[Berosus]

Didn’t Menander convert to Buddhism? What the Taliban tried to make us forget was that Afghanistan was a Buddhist country for 900 years (200 B.C. - 700 A.D.), before Islam barged its way in.