Should I stay or should I go? POLITICAL op/ed

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Twenty years, ten Congresses, five presidential administrations, 2400+ military deaths (just on the US side), more than 20 000 injured, over a trillion dollars spent, and literally nothing changed about Afghanistan.

What makes anyone think that the US staying longer would change anything?

Boru

[DocIllinois]

The U.S. was right to enter Afghanistan for the purpose of dealing with the terrorist organization based there. Doing what could be done to address conditions favorable to terrorist groups setting up shop was not a bad idea also, I think.

From there, it was a litany of mendacity, missteps, a notable lack of awareness that it takes a very long time to build a government that isn't corrupt, and an incomplete understanding about Afghanistan's culture and what would actually work there in regard to reconstruction and "nation building."

Life under Taliban rule will be undesirable for Afghanistan's people in many ways but, for the U.S., withdrawal and a strong look at lessons learned is the best way forward, I believe.

My .$02.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

The U.S. was right to enter Afghanistan for the purpose of dealing with the terrorist organization based there.  Doing what could be done to address conditions favorable to terrorist groups setting up shop was not a bad idea also, I think.  

From there, it was a litany of mendacity, missteps, a notable lack of awareness that it takes a very long time to build a government that isn't corrupt, and an incomplete understanding about Afghanistan's culture and what would actually work there in regard to reconstruction and "nation building."

Life under Taliban rule will be undesirable for Afghanistan's people in many ways but, for the U.S., withdrawal and a strong look at lessons learned is the best way forward, I believe.

My .$02.

A classic case of winning the war but losing the peace.

Boru

[DocIllinois]

The U.S. was right to enter Afghanistan for the purpose of dealing with the terrorist organization based there.  Doing what could be done to address conditions favorable to terrorist groups setting up shop was not a bad idea also, I think.  

From there, it was a litany of mendacity, missteps, a notable lack of awareness that it takes a very long time to build a government that isn't corrupt, and an incomplete understanding about Afghanistan's culture and what would actually work there in regard to reconstruction and "nation building."

Life under Taliban rule will be undesirable for Afghanistan's people in many ways but, for the U.S., withdrawal and a strong look at lessons learned is the best way forward, I believe.

My .$02.

A classic case of winning the war but losing the peace.

Boru

Should there have ever been peace, this would undoubtedly be true.

[Brian37]

Afghanistan is nice this time of year Brian....

You should go.....


(nod to Howard Wolowitz)

Yea, he had a fun time at the international space station didn't he? He ate a butterfly in his training.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

A classic case of winning the war but losing the peace.

Boru

Should there have ever been peace, this would undoubtedly be true.

‘Losing the peace’ in this case means the US and it’s allies had the chance to create a stable and sustainable government in Afghanistan and muffed it.

Boru

[Fake Messiah]

With the Taliban taking over, it seems that Afghanistan will become what most of the Muslim countries are today.

Islam is an ideology that doesn't much prefer democracy, so they would need to get rid of that first.

[DocIllinois]

‘Losing the peace’ in this case means the US and it’s allies had the chance to create a stable and sustainable government in Afghanistan and muffed it.

Boru

Sort of.  When the conventional military is used in large numbers in such a mission and our timelines for meeting political objectives are so short, the U.S. has a more distinguished record of breaking things with a lot of trouble subsequently fixing them.

Ironically, now is the best chance since the pre-Soviet invasion for there to be peace or something like it, I think.

[Ranjr]

Well I grew up a Budweiser fan. Never liked Miller Lite.

Both undesirable choices.  Worse than PBR or High Life.  All the more reason to bring home those abroad.

[Brian37]

Well I grew up a Budweiser fan. Never liked Miller Lite.

Both undesirable choices.  Worse than PBR or High Life.  All the more reason to bring home those abroad.

I have grown to hate pale beer no matter the label. I did a back and tan in my 20s, and that was it. DARK, and I mean black hole dark beer is the only way to go.

If the beer you drink doesn't look like the oil you drain out of your vehicle when you change your oil, it is not beer, but piss water.