Greenwald to those who support the Afghanistan war...have you enlisted or sent your kids to fight?

[rmp yellow]

GREENWALD (10-7-09): I have one other question: remember all those "chickenhawk" arguments made about supporters of the Iraq War -- how come they're not fighting themselves?; are they sending their kids to fight?; why aren't the pro-war, fighting-age pundits enlisting?, etc. Now that the General in command of Afghanistan insists that roughly 40,000 more troops are needed for the mission, and the number of fatalities is increasing substantially, do those same "chickenhawk" arguments apply to supporters of the war in Afghanistan? If not, how come?

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/10/07/afghanistan/index.html

[ShortnFiery]

1. Amen! eom

[theoldman]

2. It's too early in Obama's presidency to advocate the draft.

Unfortunate the war in Afghanistan is no longer a war of choice. I still think Obama will have to send more troops and that congress will support him.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

3. Does this mean Malia and Sasha have to enlist?

I don't think Obama ever called Bush a chickenhawk (our president is too classy) so maybe he's exempt from this.

But does that mean those who did make the chickenhawk argument were wrong?

[avaistheone1]

4. Perhaps Obama should put his kids where his mouth is.

Enroll them in military school now, then they can go fight "the good fight". This war is going to go on forever. There should be plenty of opportunity for them.

Or they could go now. Since plenty of those who our troops will be fighting and killing will be mere children.

[theoldman]

5. I think you should wait until Obama makes a decision before making a post.

[avaistheone1]

6. Fair enough.

If that is the path Obama pursues, then that is the route I thing Obama should take with his own children.

[Windy]

7. I was in the military and strongly opposed the Iraq war...

But going into afghanistan after 911 was the right course. Unfortunately, Bush pulled out of there before taking care of Al Queda and the Taliban supporters who gave them safe haven. As a result, they fled to Pakistan. If Afghanistan falls and the Taliban returns to power, AlQ will return to Afghanistan as Pakistan is at least making some minor attempt to remove them from their country.

As awful as the situation is and as awful as war is, sometimes it is necessary to protect the country. In this instance,the efforts to get rid of terrorism effect the world. As a result, I am of the firm belief that the US should not have the majority of forces in Afghanistan nor should be bear the majority of the brunt for routing out terrorism around the globe. We need a greater effort by our allies. We should not be putting a significant number of US troops into theater. We need a greater contribution from France, England, et al.

I'm sure I'll get flamed, but this is my opinion.

[rmp yellow]

8. But doesn't the Taliban control 80% of Afghanistan already?

Yet Al Qaeda's presence in the country is very weak. What difference would 100% make?

[ipaint]

9. 3000 american deaths from al queda 8 years ago vs. a quarter million

americans dead at the hands of private ins. companies in that same time period. Our priorities are severely whacked.

Mandate and subsidies to pay for ins. corps vs mandate to pay for phony "war on terror".
Not much difference.

[Windy]

10. While I agree with your comment on the insurance companies

the styled "war on terror" is not phony. There is a real danger that Pakistan/Afghanistan can deteriorate even further. Pakistan has nuclear weapons. Those who want to cause destruction would relish the opportunity to get their hands on nuclear materials.

You can be against war while at the same time, not be naive about the real problems the world faces.

[ipaint]

11. The taliban already controls 80% of the country going on 2 years

and no al qaeda. We just pissed 5.5 billion in taxpayer money down the black hole called the afghanistan government. Where do you think that went?
Most of the threats we "face" were created by us doing exactly what we are doing today, further violently destabilizing countries we have no business invading. Not to mention creating and financing a private for profit army we will eventually have no control over, just the like our home grown insurance companies who kill us with impunity.
We are empire building. No one can claim to protect the people when our war mentality/machine/mega-business is slowly starving those same people to death in order to finance the massive costs.

We will eventually destroy ourselves from within. All al qeada has to do is show a little patience.