Well, what you are showing me, (and I mean no personal attack by this), is that you have a complete lack of understanding of the history and current situation. If you are going to make a decision, you should take time to research what you are discussing. You are making my point for me.
Please understand Aviator,I have no bone to pick with you.I admire your patriotic attitude,and willingness to put yourself in harms way for your believes.
I don't need to remind you that one of the privliages of living in a democracy is the need to keep our leaders honest,and accoutable.If not,we may stray, and stray we have.All of what you have explained about the UN and European troops makes sence in the greater context.We had the support of the World when we went to get the bad guys.We led the way,we had European support,we even had troops that were unionized,as you pointed out.Thats just crazy.But everyone wanted to get the bad guys(Osama and his band of Saudi marrymen).
A lot of the European troops were sent here, not because the countries they are from backed us, but because they were looking to cash in once this area was stabilized. The Brits and Candians I can honestly say are here backing us. They are good tough fighters. The overwhelming majority of the rest of the countries were looking at this as a “peace keeping†mission after the fact. A way to get their feet in the door for post conflict reconstruction and trade. I have heard this many times from the soldiers of these countries myself.
The World wanted to bring those accoutable to justice.This old Viet Nam protestor put an American flag on his refridgerator.I was on board.And then we blinked.
And then our leaders lied,and then they did not listen to the Generals,and they had no plan,and then blew it.
Not sure what you mean by blinked. I am also unsure about what you say our leaders lied about. If it was Iraq, I’d say they made the best choice they could with the information they had. If I recall correctly, a majority of the other world leaders, and a lot of people in the US (Like the Clintons) backed the choice at the time as well. The only countries that did not agree were ones that had business dealings (legitimate or not) with Iraq. The plan? Well, we had and still have one. You need to understand though that this is war, not burger King. It is a fluid situation and things do change. You also do not get what you want immediately in a war. You sometimes have to wait.
Iraq is now lost.The Anbar province is inflitrated by Taliban,who are setting up training camps.We no longer are taking the battle to them,we have given up.Just as we did in Afgahistan.
Iraq is now lost? We are having difficulties in 3 of 18 Provinces. That is a pretty defeatist attitude. We would all be speaking German if people had thought that way in WW II. I was unaware that there were Taliban in Iraq. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe we are fighting Taliban in Afghanistan. In Iraq it is insurgents (once again, mostly people NOT from Iraq). And as far as giving up in Afghanistan, perhaps I should tell some of the 1000s of troops from the US here that they should expect to be packing their bags soon. The same troops that are out there running patrols every day, taking it to the bad guys.
Most of all,we lost the support of the World.I agree,the UN are the last one's we need,but we blinked,and threw our money($300 Billion at last count)at a war that cannot be won,and have handed the Taliban just what they prayed to Allah for:An America that is in turmoil over the reckless misuse of power.
Again the defeatist attitude. Tell me exactly why it cannot be won? Or, as I suggested earlier in this topic, would you rather we did NOT win, so you can make a political point. America is in in turmoil, in my opinion, because of people who think that way. They hate the administration we have so much, they would rather see us loose this fight, so they can point fingers and say “I told you soâ€.
Just like expediting,no one forced me to get into this crazy business,I chose it.You made a choice to become a serviceman,no one forced you.The Afghan people have seen more then any of us Americans can imagine.The Taliban saved thier #####'s from the Russians.Like Hezbela in Lebanon,many Afghas,like the poppy farmers,have no problem with the Taliban,business is good,up 60%,and the Amricans are on the run.
Actually, I am a civilian contractor. I am ALSO in the Military, but took a year off to come here. Ever since Sept. 11th I tried to get into units that were deploying. I had no luck (because all the units, even lately, that were deploying had so many people that wanted to go, I was unable to get a slot). But, yes, I did put myself here. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Yes, the Afghans have seen more than their fair share of fighting. Once again, check your history. The Taliban did NOT fight the Russians. The Russians left here in 89 and Taliban did not really show up until 96 or so. The Mujihadeen fought the Soviets. Taliban fought the Mujihadeen and Northern Alliance. Also, as a matter of fact, the locals (including farmers) do NOT like the Taliban. They are just doing what a normal person would do. Sitting it out and waiting to see who is coming out on top. Meanwhile, they will do nothing to anger either side. When the Taliban come at night and tell them “grow poppy†they will. When we come during the day and say we are cutting your poppy, they let us. The farmers do not get hardly any of the money from poppy. Taliban and drug lords get most of it. Farmers would rather grow food. Again, talk to the troops here and ask THEM if they are on the run.
Please don't believe eveything you hear about "the liberals",try and stay middle of the road,and do your job,and get home safe.Let the politicians,and the people,through the upcoming elections,decide what the next course of action is.Had we stayed and finished the job,and used that $300 B to win the real war,it would be a much different picture.
I don’t believe everything I hear. Ask X06col about that. He's been telling me things for 39 years, and sometimes I still do not listen. :7 I DO however believe what I see with my own eyes. Like I said, I am OVER here in Afghanistan, have read 20 or more books on this place since I have been here to get the history. These are books from the right, left and middle. I take what I can from each one and process the information. The things I am explaining to you are not some crap I heard from a friend, over the CB, from a guy on the internet, or anything else. These are things I see. When was the last time you talked to a farmer in the Hilmand district of Afghanistan? Or a close friend that is in Baghdad? You can rest assured, I am doing my job, and hopefully I will come home safe. If not, I go knowing that what I am doing is a good thing. You keep doing what you can to influence the next election, but please stop parroting the liberal talking points without checking them out first. That was the purpose of my initial post here. If you do not like the way things are going, that’s fine, get a new guy in, but do not put our people at MORE risk trying to do it. Try using facts, not emotion. This sure seems like a real war to me.
Signing off from Kabul Afghanistan…
Aviator
PS:
Just a word of advice. If I were you, I would refrain from voicing your opinons about how "We have been defeated" in Iraq and Afghanistan while you are around any of the members of the military. They would very likely show you a level of defeat that you have priviously not known.
if the prices go up. Imagine if it were rationed what people would sound like.