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...."
What is a Trad?
They should get the Indians into Afghanistan. They are supported by the northern alliance and the Pathans who see them as a safeguard against Paki interference.
This sounds about right for Afganistan. The truth hurts.
Moe Ron
I'm sure it's a close sibling relationship. "Third or fourth tour...". It's such a casual thing. Just flitting in and out of the war zone don'tcha know.
I sure hope no one looks at your posting history...then they will understand where you are coming from.
"they don't seem to have the same opinion"
I guess there are two sides to every coin. You got yours and I got mine.
And I bet I do not get an answer either.
That is it in a nutshell.
LLS
What unit is your brother in?
Maybe YOU'RE lying.
Now, from looking at your posting history, you definately have a side...and it isn't the same side the troops are on. Not surprising that you keep pumping the constitution party...they're firmly against the war.
You're not much of a brother if you don't even know if he's on his "3rd or fourth tour."
OBL is not in Afghanistan. He's in Iran.
Just look at her posting history and you'll have your answer.
He is neither a liar or a Democrat sinky. Just like you are neither a liar nor a Catholic deacon.
Just a bunch of hopeless warmongers.
As for my self, I support the Constitution Party and also the Constitution, something the Bush Regime could learn how to do.
Novak is dead wrong on the Taliban. The Taliban are shattered, able to do little but ambush the occasional aid convoy. If anyone takes over in the event of a collapse of the Karzai government, it will be a Pashtun coalaition, which is NOT synomous with the religious zealotry of the Taliban (the Afghans, like the Turks, have historically eschewed extremist Islam). However, the Karzai government has been able to make a lot of progress, at least by the standards of Afghanistan (if not Bob Novak).
He is also wrong about the capabilities of US forces there. In fact, the US has recently launched a version of the Vietnam-era Combanied Action Platoon concept in eastern Afghanistan. It has been quite successful (Westy hated the USMC's CAP program in Vietnam, which is high praise for the Marines). Likewise, we are getting some real help from the Europeans there. Everyone is using it as an opportunity to give their special forces some real combat experience. While many of the European armies suck, their special ops guys typically do not.
It is true that the drug trade still flourishes, but that is a price we have to pay, at least in the short-term. Sadly, we are also getting little help from the Pakistanis on nabbing Osama & Co., but that is just a matter of time.
I used to like Novak, but he's gone to sh*t in the last five years.
Owl_Eagle
”Guns Before Butter.”
Rush re-ran the “Jeff from Moreland, OK” interview today. I was so glad to hear it again…I missed some the first time around. Part of what “Jeff” said came to my mind when I read your comment. He said being back in this country scares him a lot more than his tours in Iraq…why? Because of the way the press is painting our mission (and the part the military is playing it). He said the way the press makes it sound, EVERYTHING is going wrong…and that’s just the opposite of what’s actually happening. If Iraq (and Afghanistan) ARE a lost cause, it will be because of the liberal press, leftist politicians (Kennedy, Pelosi, Clinton et al), and bleeding heart liberals who are too stupid to understand that THEY are going to lose their freedoms (just like the rest of us) when this country falls.
Image that...on his third or fourth tour and is totally demoralized by the Bush regime.
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