Twitter
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Delicious
Digg
Newsvine
Google
Yahoo
TechnoratiPondering the Graveyard
It's been a while since Obama's actions have inspired hope or gratitude in us, but it seems right to welcome the apparent seriousness with which the Administration is now weighing its options in Afghanistan - what the ever-sneering Cheney called "dithering." Obama is reportedly resisting calls for more troops, and asking for other options. Unlike Bush et al, he seems to understand the gravity of the decisions facing him. Surely that's a start. Let him take his time. Let him see more coffins. Let him hear the rising chorus of those who see the quagmire ahead. And let him read the cogent, informed, historic analysis by William Volk on America's uncomprehending, inevitably disastrous intrusion into yet another civil war where, just as in Vietnam, we have no place.
"According to press accounts, you are being told that America can win the war against the Taliban by employing overwhelming military power. Just like President Johnson's generals, yours keep asking for more troops. When I was in government, we were told we could achieve victory in Vietnam by the same combination of force and counterinsurgency recommended by your advisers in Afghanistan. But as the editors of the Pentagon Papers concluded, the 'attempts to translate the newly articulated theory of counter-insurgency into operational reality....(were) marked by consistency in results as well as in techniques: all failed dismally.' What actually brought all the insurgencies, including the one in Vietnam, to a halt was the withdrawal of the foreigners."
7 Comments so far
Show AllSupport the troops, as the good Nazis did theirs.
There was no "civil war" until the US got there.
Lack of unity in the resistance does not make this anything but a war of occupation.
0's dithering might be an improvement were he not to dither while sending more troops. That is not the case, however.
It would take a lot to make us nostalgic for Cheney, but summoning his ghost here does nothing to change 0's actions: he has escalated these wars, and he continues to escalate them.
The evidence that 0 worries over coffins is thin, could be easily fabricated, and would take little imagination for his crack propaganda team to invent.
What he needs to see is support for the Democratic regime and its finance, insurance, and paramilitary honchos with a few choice holes in it.
If The Ghost of Elections Future will not come by to show him his 2012 election hopes in a casket, the rest of us have to.
The operative word is "apparent". Blankfein, Geithner and Bernake have already decided this country needs more war. The "economy" needs the boost, you see. The rest is propaganda.
Pretty soon Newsweek, the Washington Post and the Jew York Times will be celebrating the "advantages" of having artificial limbs (i.e. they are high tech, resist infection, never get fat and provide jobs through manufacturing). Be a loyal troop! Lose a limb for Wall Street! Just imagine never having to worry about that nasty foot fungus...
I'm just curious, but why are Israeli dual citizens so over represented in government, the media and Wall Street and UNDER represented in the armed forces?
How about Rahm? How come you served in the Israeli military but you didn't serve in the US military? That sounds a wee bit suspicious. Do Israeli dual citizens think we are suckers? Nahhh.
Every U.S. fatality from Iraq and Afghanistan should have on his/her headstone: "Here lies one who died for lies--for nothing."
I was surprised by this and wondered about it last night too. Time will tell if any new hopes are valid.
When you have to pay off the Taliban with bribes, you are in deep doodoo. They are no doubt using this extortion $ to buy more weapons so they can kill our military people later. My wifes Nephew is in Afghanistan and this is treason to him and his fellow soldiers. Whoever this Benedict Arnold is that condoned this most evil treason to our military needs to be exposed and incarcerated at the very least. Get the troops out of Afghanistan NOW! This country is a quagmire of death, drugs and corruption from President, Karzi on down.
With all due respect...
"Let him take his time. Let him see more coffins..."
Those who may find themselves in those coffins or targets of drones while Obama dithers may take exception to his testing the waters or stalling.