Defense Sec. Robert Gates notable farewell address.

[TnHilltopper]

Originally Posted by TylerJAX

I don't support the Iraq war, but something had to be done about the Taliban/Al Qaeda. What he said about the reconfiguration/evolution/down-sizing/whatever you want to call it of the miliarty, I've been saying since 2004.

While I'm very opposed to current operations, I'm in full agreement that something had to be done. However, invading a nation, dropping in some troops, then focusing on Iraq was idiocy at a level beyond human comprehension. We at one point had the Taliban on the ropes as far back as 03 as they just weren't that organized or supported, because even many Afghani's felt the Taliban was rather oppressive.

However our window closed, the war dragged on and people began to see the US as the greater of two evils and money started to seep, then pour into Afghanistan. Heck, they even managed to develop a massive small arms industry and can manufacture ak-47 in a garage with primitive tools.

Our own military and intelligence suggest there are fewer than 100 Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and George Bush as well as Obama have entertained the idea of opening talks with the Taliban, scary as that may be.

At what point do we finally say, enough and come home?

[AADAD]

I agree something had and has to be done about the fanatical monsters who want to kill good and decent people. This past weekend I was working out and pulled a muscle in my groin. I had a ticket for SF on Monday and I canceled went to the doc here in San Diego....but after I went I had to be honest with myself one of the reasons I did not fly was because I have had problems with TSA in San Diego before....literally little evil idiots telling me a grown man what to do and how to behave. I changed my appt in SF to the 15th and I'm driving. Add me to the list of people who will never be subjected to this "banality of evil" in which everyone thinks it's just fine to follow rules which take away ones liberties in the name of being normal with normal rules and legitimate fears.

That is EXACTLY how the Holocaust took place.