The Long War: Year Ten

[unhappycamper]

The Long War: Year Ten
by Andrew J. Bacevich
Published on Thursday, October 7, 2010 by TomDispatch.com

In January 1863, President Abraham Lincoln’s charge to a newly-appointed commanding general was simplicity itself: “give us victories.” President Barack Obama’s tacit charge to his generals amounts to this: give us conditions permitting a dignified withdrawal. A pithy quote in Bob Woodward’s new book captures the essence of an emerging Obama Doctrine: “hand it off and get out.”

Getting into a war is generally a piece of cake. Getting out tends to be another matter altogether -- especially when the commander-in-chief and his commanders in the field disagree on the advisability of doing so.

Happy Anniversary, America. Nine years ago today -- on October 7, 2001 -- a series of U.S. air strikes against targets across Afghanistan launched the opening campaign of what has since become the nation’s longest war. Three thousand two hundred and eighty five days later the fight to determine Afghanistan’s future continues. At least in part, “Operation Enduring Freedom” has lived up to its name: it has certainly proven to be enduring.

As the conflict formerly known as the Global War on Terror enters its tenth year, Americans are entitled to pose this question: When, where, and how will the war end? Bluntly, are we almost there yet?

Of course, with the passage of time, where “there” is has become increasingly difficult to discern. Baghdad turned out not to be Berlin and Kandahar is surely not Tokyo. Don’t look for CNN to be televising a surrender ceremony anytime soon.

[evirus]

1. americans should at least remember the history

we had the chance to rebuild Afghanistan after the soviet union tried invading it, but we decided not to, that was after arming and training radical militias, I'm sure you know what happened after that.

basically long story short: you break it you bought it. well we broke it...

[ixion]

2. "When, where, and how will the war end?"

To answer that, you need look no further than it's older brother, the so-called 'war' on (some) drugs that has been going on for nearly a century.

This is the result of declaring 'war' on an abstract concept.

[HughBeaumont]

4. Good one.

"The War On Poverty" kind of works along those same lines. More like a war ON the impoverished

[HughBeaumont]

3. Orwell -

The war is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous. Hierarchical society is only possible on the basis of poverty and ignorance. This new version is the past and no different past can ever have existed. In principle the war effort is always planned to keep society on the brink of starvation. The war is waged by the ruling group against its own subjects and its object is not the victory over either Eurasia or East Asia, but to keep the very structure of society intact.

[w8liftinglady]

5. Hugh-thank you for reminding me of that.it is true today-maybe more so

[HughBeaumont]

8. 1984 was a blueprint.

Hilarious or tragic that we've adopted the very practices we admonished other nations for.

[Loge23]

6. Somewhere, champagne glasses are clinking

The designers of this mayhem will toasting to their success.
Believe it. There's gold in 'dem 'der battlefields.

[HughBeaumont]

7. The guy was a modern day prophet. Him and Frank Zappa.

Never thought it'd be the U.S. that would eventually use 1984 as an instruction manual.

[ixion]

9. And Einstien was surprised at what they did with his Theory of Relativity

It's a sad irony, isn't it? Gifted humans come along and share their gift with Humanity, and Humanity promptly finds a way to turn that gift into a nightmare.