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...."
My son (active duty US Army) and my sales manager (US Army reserve now on active duty) are both in Afghanistan. They tell a lot different story then your SFC brother.
And how in the hell can he have served 3-4 tours in two year of war?
I think that you are a DU plant.
They're all leg units once they've jumped out of a plane.
<Nazi “werewolves” were being summarily shot when caught as late as 1947. I wonder how much longer they would have held out if a wobbly US press had worked overtime to give them a political victory and fascist Spain had sent arms and money to them. If McArthur hadn’t been able to “flip” the Japanese Emperor we would probally still be fighting in the mountains of Japan. This has been one of the most successful lowest cost invasions and occupations of a country.
You lie. I see motivated servicemen and servicewomen.
He ain't dead, that's for sure. I don't think he's in Afghanistan or Pakistan, though. He doesn't stay where it's hot. That leaves Iran.
If things get any worse in Saudi Arabia, though, he may show up there to direct his troops.
If the troops are "discouraged"(which I don't believe) it's by negative propaganda you and the liberal media are spreading making it appear all their work and sacrifice is in vain.
And going after the terrorists who gave us 9-11 is now simply "politics"?
Huh?
Washington went along with the European method of paying off muslim pirates because the foundling nation lacked the wherewithal to otherwise handle the problem. "Would to Heaven we had a navy to reform those enemies to mankind, or crush them into non-existence" (letter from Washington to Laffayette in 1786 where he addresses the European method dealing with Med. pirates and implores them to join with us in enforcing justice)
"Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. Religion and morality enjoin this conduct. And can it be that good policy does not equally enjoin it? It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and at no distant period a great nation to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a people always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence. Who can doubt that in the course of time and things the fruits of such a plan would richly repay any temporary advantages which might be lost by a steady adherence to it? Can it be that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a nation with its virtue? The experiment, at least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human nature. Alas! is it rendered impossible by its vices?
In the execution of such a plan nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations and passionate attachments for others should be excluded, and that in place of them just and amicable feelings toward all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges toward another an habitual hatred or an habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest. Antipathy in one nation against another disposes each more readily to offer insult and injury, to lay hold of slight causes of umbrage, and to be haughty and intractable when accidental or trifling occasions of dispute occur.
So, likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter without adequate inducement or justification. It leads also to concessions to the favorite nation of privileges denied to others, which is apt doubly to injure the nation making the concessions by unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been retained, and by exciting jealousy, ill will, and a disposition to retaliate in the parties from whom equal privileges are withheld; and it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens (who devote themselves to the favorite nation) facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country without odium, sometimes even with popularity, gilding with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good the base or foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or infatuation....
Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government. But that jealousy, to be useful, must be impartial, else it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead of a defense against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people to surrender their interests."
The policy changed under Jefferson ("millions for defense, not one cent for tribute!"). The war lasted through several adminstrations, but ended with agreements with the various pirate kings to respect American shipping. How is this analogous to the annual payments the U.S. makes to Middle Eastern governments today?
He is? Holy cow, no wonder I never liked him. How could I not know that? Crossfire has him on their show as a Republican balance to the panel, don't they?
"Your brother, if he told you that, is either lying or a Democrat"
There's a difference???
It's in nobody's interest to say he's dead, so nobody will say he's dead. But until he turns up in a picture holding a recent Racing Form, he must be toast.
Is this your military name? Do you suppose the Tard he is proud of is retard?
I thought it was your brother's opinion, troll.
Get your story straight, run through a few rehearsals, then try again.
Her hubbie "outed" Ms. Plame, who was not exactly a "covert" a CIA agent. Get your facts straight or go hang out at D.U.
They're all our "brothers." Didn't you get the Kerry campaign memo? Third, fourth, fifth tour. What's the difference? It's not like it's a purple heart . . . .
He works for CNN, the 5th Column of Osama.
Just looking at Novak makes me pessimistic. I swear I've never read a positive article by Novak about anything. I don't know if life is actually that grim for him, but I get the feeling he was the older kid who got a thrill out of telling the younger kids there's no Santa.
It's in no one's interest to say he's dead---except his. He wants you to think he's dead. I'm betting he left Afghanistan early in the war, maybe before it even started.
He looks like a guy I know. Say--you don't suppose..... Nah.
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