All Too Familiar on Afghanistan - The Nation

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion/502872/all_too_familiar_on_afghanistan

Sadly, our new president seemed to share George W. Bush's appreciation for the value of a simple villain and not asking questions. So much for those who seek a new narrative, one that might include the debate that exists around the world about the merits and real demerits of war as a response to a criminal terrorist act.

Having declared legitimacy, the president then claimed responsibility, a special American responsibility and authority to invade, police, and act in ways that other countries may not.

As tradition requires, Obama claimed progress is being made. Maybe so, but it'd be more convincing in Afghanistan were it not for all those US-backed Afghan warlords gearing up to fight each other with US weapons, fueled by a heroin trade that the CIA stands accused of letting rip. Obama's words were too familiar -- so too his silences.

Finally and worst, for those who'd thought they'd voted for the death of the Bush Doctrine. Sorry. Bush/Cheney live on in the new president's embrace of the idea that the US has a right, not only to respond to attacks, but also to deploy men and women in anticipation of them.

"New attacks are being plotted as I speak," said Obama. Do I hear an echo? So much for those who had the audacity to hope.

[joecool65]

1. This is ridiculous

Sending more troops to a war we are already fighting is the Bush Doctrine? Please.

[Sebastian Doyle]

2. Justifying doing so in the name of "911" certainly is.

:evilfrown:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Sending more troops to a lost war is ridiculous.

See Vietnam for the precedent.

[joecool65]

4. How about Bosnia as a precedent?

Use overwhelming military force and the conflict quickly comes to an end.
Oh, but some people on here said that I should not use Bosnia as an analogy because THEY view Afghanistan just like Vietnam.


Gee, some people with more than 1000 posts just know so, so much more than anyone else simply because they post alot on a website.
:sarcasm:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Or, Belgium?

The Germans used overwhelming force and the conflict quickly came to an end.

Holland? How about Singapore? How about the Little Big Horn?

[FiveGoodMen]

6. Is Bosnia called the Graveyard of Empires?

[Political Heretic]

7. Bosnia is a terrible example, since the massive indiscriminate air bombing was criminal

and killed thousands upon thousands upon thousands of civilians so we wouldn't put "boots on the ground."

It was "over quickly" because it was a war crime. Not something we want to model in the future.

[frylock]

8. so afghanistan has an established military..

along with airbases, forward stations, etc? or were we fighting a ragtag insurgency in bosnia? please explain.