[who_would_fardels_bear]

Terrorists vs. Criminals

We never had a dog in that fight.

[ConorMacNessa]

The answer of the Democrats is to cut and run. The answer of the Traitor-in-Chief is to embrace Islam.

I'll die willingly before doing either!



America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

We fund them
we arm then ,
and then we wonder why they want to bite us !
Silly administration with no goal , or direction!
Why , you’d think Klintoon was still in charge !

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Maybe we should just “Arkcancide “ them all ?

[Iron Munro]

The whole world knows we have a naive candy-ass homo for a president.

[funfan]

I love how they always say “America or the United States”
it’s not the American people falling for traps it’s the congress and O who are doing all the trap falling we have no way in anything.

[Brad from Tennessee]

[Since the strategic convergence of interests between India and the US on Afghanistan has all but broken down, India must do everything necessary to protect its interests, just as the US is doing.]

G.W. Bush created a strong bond with India that did not exist prior to 9/11. This was necessary to assure the Indians that a new U.S. alliance with Pakistan, in order to purge Afghanistan, posed no threat to India. This was a feat of statesmanship Obama couldn't accomplish in his wildest dream.

Since Obama’s strategy is calculated by drawing a 180 degree arc away from Bush policies, India and Afghanistan are being told: “Root hog or die.”

I have no doubt the Taliban will sign anything John Kerry puts in front of them. But they will demand billions of dollars in reparations. They will honor the treaty until the check clears the bank.

[Jack Hammer]

Apparently the author hasn’t yet heard that, in the War on World Terrorism, Obama surrendered pre-emptively.

[bronxville]

1998 Subcommittee on American Interests...
...”Last October, the Central Asia Gas Pipeline Consortium, called CentGas, in which Unocal holds an interest, was formed to develop a gas pipeline which will link Turkmenistan’s vast Dauletabad gas field with markets in Pakistan and possibly India. The proposed 790-mile pipeline will open up new markets for this gas, traveling from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Multan in Pakistan. The proposed extension would move gas on to New Delhi, where it would connect with an existing pipeline. As with the proposed Central Asia oil pipeline, CentGas can not begin construction until an internationally recognized Afghanistan Government is in place.”...
http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/intlrel/hfa48119.000/hfa48119_0.htm#33

They now have an internationally recognized Afghanistan Government in place.

[Zuse]

I am willing to talk to anybody.
Anywhere.
Anywhen.
Even the Taliban.
Just not that guy from Fox News.

[Zhang Fei]

This is not to argue that the Americans should stay on in Afghanistan; they should leave (earlier than scheduled, if possible). But instead of throwing Afghans to the wolves, the Americans should put their money where their mouth is. Rather than undermining the lawful and legitimate Government of Afghanistan, the Americans should continue, and even increase, their monetary, material and military (without putting boots on the ground) support for the Afghan Government and leaders and leave it to them to meet the Taliban and Pakistani threat as they deem fit.

Afghanistan will have problems fighting a Taliban financially-backed by Pakistan in the same way that South Vietnam could not hold off a North Vietnam backed by the combined economies of the Soviet Union and China. At the end, South Vietnam literally ran out of gas, even as a generously Soviet-equipped and -supplied (albeit on credit) North Vietnam rolled south in a blitzkrieg with a combined arms force that the Wehrmacht's generals would have recognized.

On the other hand, we've spent a trillion dollars whittling down the Taliban, while giving Pakistan the ability to continue subsidizing the Taliban with generous grants. If we end aid to the Afghans, we will probably also end it to the Pakistanis. Ultimately, we gave Russia and India 12 years of breathing room. Perhaps it's time they resumed their assistance to the Afghan factions that might be friendly to their interests.

I think everyone is a little too pessimistic about the fighting ability of Afghan government troops. I believe that a lot of commentators are also a little too dismissive of the difficulties faced by the Afghan government. There is the usual Third World corruption and obscurantism typical of religiously devout Muslim countries. However, Afghans face substantial issues not simply because they're Islamists, but because they're living in a largely barren country that is equal parts mountain and desert. The place is like Saudi Arabia without the oil and access to the sea. This is why Afghanistan's dozens of foreign conquerors slaughtered all before them, and promptly left. The fact that the land is worthless means that there is very little to keep a government standing, let alone sustain a military force capable of holding off a Pakistani-sponsored Taliban.

In the 5 years that the Northern Alliance held off the Taliban prior to 9/11, from 1996 to 2001, it was reported to have been funded by India and Russia. Those subsidies may have to resume, if US financial assistance ends and those countries want the Afghan government to continue holding the Taliban at bay. Obama appears to be engaged in peace talks with the Taliban so that the US can end its financial assistance to the Afghan government. India and Russia should prepare to fill the void.