Our troops in Afghanistan

[JNelson6563]

I feel sorry for those who were sent to Afghanistan. So soon after they were sent to do a job the focus was moved to Iraq. They were left without enough of anything to do what they were sent to do and were largely forgotten since the spotlight was always on Iraq. Now they are getting support from home, after all this time of neglect, and they must feel good about that. Finally! Getting the tools to do what they need to.

With all the talk over the years of how much we all love and support our troops here at DU, I can't help but wonder what happened to that. Sure, we sent plenty of fire power in the early stages, fighter jets and loud bombs going BOOM! All lots of fun for that idiot Bush but the thrill wore off when the big shiny oil-rich nation/opportunity of Iraq came onto the radar. Afghanistan was left in ruins with not enough soldiers to carry out anything constructive. Now that it is time for the more tedious work of training an army/security forces, rebuilding and leaving them in functioning condition, even those who so love, love, love our soldiers are screaming bloody murder now that we're going over to finish the job.

I don't get it. How progressive is it to bomb the shit out a place and then leave? And those poor people! My god shall we just leave them with their country in ruins so the warlords with the most guns get to run the show? Hooray for the women in burkas and the kids with no future! Ok, no. Leaving that country in a desperate situation is the wrong thing to do. Way wrong.

Aside from all of that, the discussion here is not particularly productive. Anyone who isn't hysterically against sending help to our troops and the people of Afghanistan is a "warmonger" or worse. *sigh*

Julie

[NYC Liberal]

1. Thanks for this post. You nailed it.

Quote

Now they are getting support from home, after all this time of neglect, and they must feel good about that. Finally! Getting the tools to do what they need to.

Bush spent 8 years fucking up Iraq and at the same time leaving Afghanistan to rot. Now Obama is ending both wars but making sure it's done correctly, and people can't stop bitching.

Oh well, at least we've got *some* levelheaded people around here :hi:

[JNelson6563]

2. Thank you.

So funny, I saw a DUer yesterday declare Obama is "starting a war" and when I called them on their lie they claimed it was a matter of semantics. Yeah, ending a war...startigna wall....just semantics. Oy.

Thanks again! :toast:

Julie

[G_j]

3. Don't escalate a failing war

http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/12/02/wright.martin.afghanistan.against.more.troops/



Editor's note: Col. Ann Wright, who served for 29 years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves, was one of the first State Department officers to open the U.S. Embassy in Kabul in 2001. She resigned from the State Department in protest the day the Iraq War began. She had served as a diplomat for 16 years and received the State Department's Award for Heroism. Paul Kawika Martin is Peace Action's political director and the founder of the Afghanistan Policy Working Group.
..


Don't escalate a failing war
By Ann Wright and Paul Kawika Martin, Special to CNN

December 2, 2009 6:39 a.m. ES

President Obama just announced he plans to send 30,000 more troops into Afghanistan, where hatred of the U.S. grows every day. Next door, nuclear-armed Pakistan tilts toward disaster. It's time for Americans to insist on a nonmilitary way out of this mess.

We recently returned from a CodePink study trip to Afghanistan, and our expertise and experience points to a strategy of transitioning from military to political and economic solutions that will help Afghans while making Americans safer.

The first step in providing Afghans security and weakening the Taliban and violent extremists is to remove recruiting incentives. It's time to stop air and Predator drone strikes that tend to kill, injure and terrorize civilians. It's time to stop arbitrary detentions and harsh treatment of prisoners that would be unacceptable here.

While those in major cities live in relative security, rural Afghans fear violence from insurgents or U.S. and NATO forces. Many fear civil war or the return of the Taliban. Afghanistan requires more trusted Afghan police and security forces. These forces are paid only $110 dollars a month -- not a living wage -- and payments are regularly late. Little wonder these forces are corrupt, poorly motivated and have a high rate of desertion. The Taliban pays its foot soldiers far better.
..more..

[JNelson6563]

4. I think the plan is to improve the situation

for Afghan security forces. I heard a report on NPR just a while ago that stated they are tripling the number of civilians in Afghanistan to help with the reconstruction efforts.

Julie

[noamnety]

5. You feel sorry for the troops because they left Afghanistan

and to make it up to them - out of concern to them - you want to send them back for yet more tours?

Yikes.

- former SGT.

[JNelson6563]

6. No, we're sending help to those who are already there.

Not sure if you suffer from poor reading comprehension or are a contortionist with words....

[noamnety]

7. I recognize that more troops means more tours for existing troops.

it's not like they are magic troops formed out of dust. It means less time at home between tours, for some back to back tours straight from Iraq to Afghanistan. Some of these are people who have already done 5 combat tours. You really think they appreciate people sending them back yet again to a combat zone "because we care about you"?