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Originally Posted by AndrewC  So neither Iraq or Afghanistan operations are near completion. When are people going to wake up? Six years and what do we have to show for it? Good people lost and billions spent.
Anyway, so he blames Pakistan. Should we expand the conflict into Pakistan? If we attack, but do not occupy. Might we have some success. I thought this was what we should have done in Afghanistan. Just attack those hostile to us, then leave. No need to nation build. No need to occupy. What do you think? |
Afghanistan was a country of lawlessness with no working government.
It was the perfect cover for Al Qaeda.
And we had solid proof that those in control of the country were in direct support of AQ.
Iraq on the other hand, was a fully functional country with very tight security.
They hated AQ and AQ hated them.
Iraq was more of an Ally in the war on terror than an enemy because Iraq did a really good job of keeping AQ out and keeping its influence out.
We should have hit Afghanistan with the full might of the conventional aspect of our military and completely controlled it.
Placing at least 500,000 troops there.
As soon as we had it under complete control, we should have handed it off the the UN. And fully withdrawn to show the Muslim world that we do not intend to control them. While also sending the message that if you attack America you will pay very dearly for it.
Here is the Irony of it all:
All we did with Iraq is turn it into what Afghanistan was BEFORE we attacked Afghanistan.
Now Iraq is a land of lawlessness and ripe for terrorists to infiltrate into the country and even recruit Iraqi citizens.
Only an idiot can deny this.
What gets me is that both conservatives and liberals tend to agree now that this is what we should have done. (Focusing on the terrorists and not Iraq)
But the conservative excuse is, "We didn't know" "Thats history now".
What gets me is that i knew this... just from paying attention to the media from across the world.
So that excuse is pretty lame to me when a painter from Florida knew but we are claiming our government did not.
What should we do now?
Now Bush has got us into such a mess that there is no clear answer.
We turned Iraq into an Afghanistan.
We let the real terrorists get embedded into Pakistan.
The "surge" in Iraq is working. But i think it is working also because of the threat that we could be pulling out soon. This makes the Iraqi people work faster and harder to rebuild.
Iraq kept AQ out prior to our invasion. There is no reason to think that they will fail to do so again.
But we can not just up and leave. We have to leave a secure Iraq.
By following Obama's plan of a slow withdrawal this sends a message that they have to get it together quickly.
And its a hell of a lot better plan than the Bush / McCain plan of global domination.
With a slow Iraq withdrawal, it will show the world that America is willing to work with the world again. And we can get more support for Afghanistan.
We must finish the job in Afghanistan.
Unfortunately Bush has allowed Pakistan to become involved as a shelter.
Obama, Bush, and McCain all see Pakistan the same way. (regardless of McCain's propaganda).
If we have confirmed hard targets we have to go for them.
But it is also essential that we remain on good terms with the Pakistan government.
If we make the wrong moves in Pakistan we could destabilize their government and give power to AQ in the same way that attacking Iraq gave more power to AQ.
We can not allow Pakistan to fall into chaos and essentially hand over nuclear weapons to AQ. Or worse, find ourselves in a position where we have to attack their nuclear sites with our own.
It is essential for world peace and ending terrorism that we regain control of our own country and get these people with Nazi-like ambitions out of our government.
No one trusts America. And with good reason.
Obama will provide a fresh look for America and pursue the proper method to work on the root cause of terrorism.
And as soon as we deal with those that attacked us, he will get us out of there. Not add another country to the list of 153 countries that America has a military presence in.
Re: Afghanistan mission close to failing - US 
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