9 years and fifty days

[spanone]

the United States has been in Afghanistan

[Kennah]

1. Happy November 30th coming up!

On November 30, we'll have been there for 3,341 days. Same as the Soviets.

[spanone]

2. Grim Milestone: American Presence in Afghanistan Equals Length of Soviets' War

The Afghan war hit another grim milestone today: it has now lasted the same amount of time as the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

9 years and 50 days ago, the U.S. and its Afghan allies began a quick rout of the Taliban government. The war was supposed to last only a few months, or perhaps a few years; it wasn't supposed to be all that difficult.

It took the Soviets 9 years and 50 days to abandon Afghanistan after their invasion. On Dec. 27, 1979, 80,000 soldiers arrived; on Feb. 15, 1989, the last one walked home over a bridge. The Soviets believed they were leaving behind a functional, loyal government and sufficiently strong army to hold the country together. But the 250,000 mujahedeen that the Americans, Pakistanis, and Saudis helped fund and train proved too hard to handle, and the rest of the story we all know.

Tomorrow, the U.S. war in Afghanistan will officially be longer than the Soviet's, but the day will pass just like any other day. The U.S. and its allies have committed to 4 more years of robust military presence. There is little talk of withdrawing in any meaningful way next summer.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theworldnewser/2010/11/grim-milestone-american-presence-in-afghanistan-equals-length-of-soviets-war.html

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Somehow I don't feel like celebrating

You?

[Kennah]

4. Not even at all feeling celebratory

However, if drawing attention to this causes someone, somewhere to rethink the issues. Imagine.

[Terra Alta]

5. 9 years and fifty days too long. nt.

[gratuitous]

6. But peaceful engagement takes too long

It costs a lot of money, too. Not like war, which is faster, cheaper, and is oh-so-satisfying with those keen visuals of stuff blowin' up reel gud. Now, we need another round of bonuses at Halliburton. Who's up for a quick supplemental?

[Orsino]

7. This is an important corner we're turning. A critical juncture.

The next six months will tell us everything about how our strategy is working.

[sarcasmo]

8. How long has Gitmo been open?

[Dystopian]

9. ......

peace~