Saving Face in Unwinnable War: Obama owes Americans the truth about Afghanistan.

[Karmadillo]

How many must die before we can declare our defeat a victory and leave?

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/07/11-2

Published on Sunday, July 11, 2010 by Toronto Sun
Saving Face in Unwinnable War
Sinking in debt and no closer to victory, heads may roll as the U.S. and NATO wrap up their pointless Afghan adventure
by Eric Margolis

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The escalating war now costs U.S. taxpayers $17 billion monthly. President Barack Obama's Afghan "surge" of 30,000 more troops will cost another $30 billion.

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The U.S. Congress, which alone can declare and fund war, shamefully allowed U.S. presidents George W. Bush and Obama to usurp this power. A majority of Americans now oppose this imperial misadventure. Though politicians fear opposing the war lest they be accused of "betraying our soldiers," dissent is breaking into the open.

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Obama claimed he was expanding the Afghan War to fight al-Qaida. Yet the Pentagon estimates there are no more than a handful of al-Qaida small-fry left in Afghanistan.

Obama owes Americans the truth about Afghanistan.

After nine years of war, the immense military might of the U.S., its dragooned NATO allies, and armies of mercenaries have been unable to defeat resistance to western occupation or create a popular, legitimate government in Kabul. Drug production has reached new heights.

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The heretical Republican Steele was speaking truth when he said this ugly, pointless war is unwinnable. But Washington's imperial impulses continue. Too many political careers in the U.S., Canada and Europe hang on this misbegotten war. So, too, does the fate of the obsolete NATO alliance that may well meet its Waterloo in the hills of Afghanistan.

[mike_c]

1. kicking and recommending!

eom

[asjr]

2. This is th kind of piece that gets my hackles up. Sure

we want to get out. Pres. Obama wants to get out. All he has to do is snap his fingers? Most Americans NOW want to get out. Where are all the people blaming G.W. Bush? Did they not want us out until Obama became president? This whole casserole may have to be in the oven a few more hours. It simply is not microwaveable.

[zipplewrath]

14. No, he has to give the orders

If he wants out, he can't triple the number of troops that were there on Jan 20, 2009. He can't START reducing troops next year. He has to start THIS year.

He doesn't want out. He wants to stay. He will stay. He will stay for a long time.

[wtmusic]

3. Search and Replace

"al-Qaeda" -> "Communism"
"Kabul" -> "Saigon"
"Afghanistan" -> "Viet Nam"

It's deja vu all over again.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

5. Except where are North Vietnam, China and the Soviet Union in this comparison?

The Taliban/AQ really don't have any powerful patrons. Obama, deservedly wants to take a last stab at pulling out some kind of reasonable conclusion to whole mess that he, by the way, inherited. The definition of what "reasonable" is is certainly debatable as is the strategy, but to the president I'd would say that it includes preventing or mitigating AQ attacks originating from that region. If that happens it'll be on his and the Dems watch, so I don't forget that when evaluating President Obama's decisions.

[wtmusic]

12. There are exactly two conclusions to Afghanistan

which were the identical number of conclusions in Vietnam:

1) Withdraw immediately, allowing a hostile regime to assume power.

2) Stay indefinitely incurring x casualties and withdraw anyway, allowing a hostile regime to assume power.

The "preventing and mitigating AQ attacks" has already happened on W's watch, but occupation was an unnecessary and fatal mistake. Whoever believes that the Taliban/AQ will throw in the towel - or that nation-building is even possible - is delusional.

[kenny blankenship]

15. Did you ever take one minute to wonder how the Taliban can be so entrenched ?

Did it ever occur to you that some of the people we call our allies in the region, or are hoping to make our allies, must be actually backing the Taliban on the sly, just to make our lives difficult?

The reasons why they would behave this way are not too hard to figure out, if you will just try.

[pretzel4gore]

4. margolis is a rat...a rightwing ratfink

yeah the so called 'wars' against little 3rd world nations like Iraq and Afghanistan can't be won. The far rightwing will control them countries when US leaves, just like the far ratwing controls the USA today. Margolis is an 'agent' of mister pig....he was there for warpig when it mattered in '03 and '04, and he's sneakily promoting something in every article he get printed- regardless of cost to the people of USA or Canada etc. In less then twenty years, our countries have become among the most vicious bullyboys on earth, and margolis aided/abetted the process BIGTIME.
We need a free press (and margolis needs his day in court, a decent last meal and a 'may-god-have-mercy-on' yall justice in the form of an 10 foot drop & voodoo airdance, like the rest of the traitor media)

[flyarm]

8. Ahhh many many of us used his reports for posting all through the Bush years..

as he exposed much of Bush's wrong doings...nnow you have a problem with him????????

why are all of these writers we used as sources for years and years when Bush was in office..now rats finks???????????

Maybe some of you can provide us with Your approved lists of writers..but when they turn, as they will in your minds eye..and tell the truth..you better be ready to have your words thrown back atcha!

[Karmadillo]

10. +1.

nt

[pretzel4gore]

13. yeah...at least margolis tries

you may not know the 'toronto sun' and the editorial policy (gloating over the destruction of Iraq/Afghanistan in unprovoked wars etc) and how margolis was always in there pushing the rightwing bullshite...and you probably never heard him on local hate radio, mocking the anti-war movement or the supporters of Obama. Maybe being overly critical of margolis is silly- foxnews is GROWING in importance despite their falling revenues - but he's made alot of money working for the reactionary right, and he lies as easily as limbah-humbug does. For example, you NEVER hear margolis point out that Afghanistan under post WW2 era Soviet umbrella was a 'hippie' haven like Marrakech or Thailand or Amsterdam was...i knew people who lived in Afghanistan during early 70's, BEFORE THE CIA gave rightwing Muslim extremist $$ billions to create Vietnam type quagmire for USSR; which helped ruin the Soviet's already fragile economy, and they noted that the poor little country didn't even have customs officers!) Believe me, if eric margolis did his job and told truth, he never get anything published in the m/s/media

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. These two "necessary" wars were always about PR and eledctoral politics.

Dubya wanted to prove he was the big guy in charge after 9/11. Obama wants to prove he's not a wienie Democrat soft on terra'.

It worked for the frat-boy. For Obama, he's looking more and more like LBJ.

We lost. Get out. Get over it.

[flyarm]

7. we need those poppies.or our banks do!! eom

[stray cat]

9. Truth implies a verifible fact that is not the same as opinions

Truth doesn't vary - opinions do....

[indepat]

11. Well, don't hold your breath

:P