The Afghan war: What is the point?

[IndianaGreen]

The Afghan war: What is the point?

Thursday 04 March 2010
Solomon Hughes

For what cause are British soldiers and Afghan civilians dying in "Operation Moshtarak?" There is no doubt they are dying. The third British soldier to be killed fell last week.

By the time this is published he may already have been joined by more of his comrades.

Moshtarak means "together." And Afghan civilians are joining British troops in death.

Nato admits that at least 19 civilians have been killed in operation Moshtarak - a dozen by mistargeted rocket attacks, the rest by crossfire.

The killings will not end the Afghan conflict or solve Afghanistan's problems. This point was made clear by US General William Caldwell, the man in charge of training the Afghan National Army and police. He is in charge of the "exit strategy" because according to current plans Nato troops will continue killing and dying until Afghan forces are judged ready to take over.

Speaking to Radio 4's Today Programme, Caldwell said - and it is an unusual thing for a general to admit - that war is not the answer.

"In fact there is no military solution to this challenge in Afghanistan," he said.

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/87567

[Ozymanithrax]

1. I was going to comment and came upon a surprising result...

In googling "Operaiton Moshtarak goals" I received from CNN "CONTENT NOT AVAILABLE - We are sorry, this content not availabel in your country."

I did get this from America.gov Afghan Civilian Interests Central to Operation Moshtarak.

Washington — The Afghan-led operations against insurgents in central Helmand province, with support from the International Security Force for Afghanistan (ISAF), are being conducted with the goal of not only ending Taliban control of the area, but also providing services to the civilian population and reassuring people that the Afghan government presence is there to stay.

I found this here: More details on civilian deaths

But at least you have the offical U.S. take on what we are doing there.

[WVRICK13]

3. Information Restrictions

sure glad we are fighting for freedom. Oh boy!

[John Q. Citizen]

2. Oil. From the Caspian Basin to the warm water ports of the Indian Ocean. Through

Afghanistan.

i thought everybody knew that by now.

[protocol rv]

5. That's a legend

That's an old story, and it doesn't make sense. The war in Afghanistan is about imperialism and a non-sense foreign policy which puts the USA at odds with the muslim world due to Israel. In other words, US foreign policy is bent to serve the interest of the Israelis, who are keen on seeing the US fight in the Middle East and Central asia, on its behalf. If you are interested in the subject, read "The Israel Lobby".

[WVRICK13]

4. It Makes Some Wealthy People

richer. And helps instill fear in our population. On the other side of the coin it helps give far right muslims more of a reason to hate us. So, we help our wealthy and the far right muslim terrorist recruiting efforts.