Get the hell out of Afghanistan-as fast as we can.
I would love to see that happen. If we can't afford to pay our employees their full salary, can't afford to buy the things the nation needs, can't afford to do the things the nation should be doing-then we don't have the money to pursue stupid wars for people won't change no matter what we do.
Not-going-to-happen. But still a man can dream, can't he?
Increasingly frustrated by his dealings with President Hamid Karzai, President Obama is giving serious consideration to speeding up the withdrawal of United States forces from Afghanistan and to a “zero option” that would leave no American troops there after next year, according to American and European officials.
Mr. Obama is committed to ending America’s military involvement in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, and Obama administration officials have been negotiating with Afghan officials about leaving a small “residual force” behind. But his relationship with Mr. Karzai has been slowly unraveling, and reached a new low after an effort last month by the United States to begin peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar
I think this is a trial balloon-probably designed to send a message to Karzai to get with the program. But it sure would be nice if it were true.
The wars are a costly drain on American resources-and as I have repeatedly maintained and I still believe-just about all of our current problems can be directly or in directly traced to the wars, Especially our massive mis-adventure in Iraq. Furthermore our objectives in accomplishing retribution for 9-11 were accomplished a long time ago. Every day we stay, accomplishes nothing in the national interest of the United States-and accelerates the decline of the United States as a global super power.
Contrary to the opinions of some, the wars-especially the war in Iraq-were not noble causes. And in both Afghanistan "victory" has very different meanings depending on who you talk to. The real issue though, is that "victory" no matter how you define it, is unattainable. Primarily because the Iraqi and the Afghan people themselves remain mired in a pit of ancient rivalaries and misgudied beliefs that had no place in the 17th century-much less the 21st. Since they refuse to change-then leave them to their beliefs. Cut them lose and lets get back to taking care of ourselves.
Problem is Obama won't take that kind of bold step. Because he doesn't have the political capital to do it for one thing-there are too many surgeaholics like Linsey Graham and William "The Bloody" Kristol around. He could stand up to them -but he won't.
And secondly-bold change is not Obama's style. The last three years have been proof of that, which is one reason we are stuck in the tea party hell of our current politics.
Ah but if only! Lets get hell out of Afghanistan and go home.