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its called resolve. Americans have not had much of that since WW2..............
It’s easy to have resolve in wars that you can win.
We can’t win in Afghanistan. Why? Because NO ONE can, and Americans aren’t Supermen last I checked.
All the resolve in the world won’t win a war in Afghanistan. You can however resolve to get your ass kicked. The Afghans have no problems historically issuing that out. That’s why they’re undefeated so far.
It’s easy to have resolve in wars that you can win.
We can’t win in Afghanistan. Why? Because NO ONE can, and Americans aren’t Supermen last I checked.
All the resolve in the world won’t win a war in Afghanistan. You can however resolve to get your ass kicked. The Afghans have no problems historically issuing that out. That’s why they’re undefeated so far.
Well, win in that Afghanistan all of sudden becomes the Canada of the Hindu Kush and stands as an example of tolerance, modernism, and love of diversity? Hell no. Not gonna happen.
But if the strategy is merely to fight a low-level war that keeps the Taliban from full control and thus denies them (and their Al Qaeda or ISIS allies) a base of operations, then we are winning big.
As you know, the U.S. has been fighting a war in Afghanistan against the Taliban for the last 16.5 years. We officially got into Afghanistan in order to eliminate the safe haven that the Taliban provided to al-Qaeda, but another large part of our mission in Afghanistan was to modernize the country--specifically by bringing modern technology, schools, and women's rights there. Obviously our success in regards to this has been only partial, though--with the results primarily visible in Afghan cities.
Anyway, my question is this--if the U.S. will be on the verge of losing the war in Afghanistan (something which I don't think is true yet considering that the war there currently appears to be a stalemate), should the U.S. aim to work with pro-U.S. Afghan politicians and military officials to partition the country?
The Taliban appears to have the strongest support among Afghan Pashtuns (who primarily--albeit not exclusively--live in southern Afghanistan).
Thus, do you think that a losing U.S. should try to create a separate state (or more than one separate state) in northern Afghanistan in order to prevent the Taliban from seizing all of Afghanistan and in order to allow the U.S. and U.S. influence to continue to have a presence in a large part of Afghanistan?
Any thoughts on this?
I am thinking its to counter China&Russia and support Israel in case of any major issues in ME.
And I hate that shameless mentality of partitioning the countries for their own benefit. I m sure US wont stoop to that level like British.
Amazing, what a bunch of stupid people can do with AK-47's, against the 2 most powerful armies in the world.
Makes the case, for never ever surrendering your right, or forcing others to surrender their right, to keep the arms they choose to defend themselves with.
Freedom and Liberty of an armed populace, is not for Beta's.
Well, win in that Afghanistan all of sudden becomes the Canada of the Hindu Kush and stands as an example of tolerance, modernism, and love of diversity? Hell no. Not gonna happen.
But if the strategy is merely to fight a low-level war that keeps the Taliban from full control and thus denies them (and their Al Qaeda or ISIS allies) a base of operations, then we are winning big.
Depends on what the goal is.
I agree with the first paragraph, but I disagree strongly with the second.
The Taliban isn’t our enemy. They never were. As it appertains to Al Qaeda, they BEGGED the United States to offer them evidence of his guilt before turning him over. We ignored their request because we saw it as beneath our standing to deal with a ragtag group like the Taliban. Making enemies where we have none over issues of wounded pride is becoming an American habit. For example, the Iranians offered their help to us in Afghanistan, and we spit in their faces. You can only keep doing crap like that for so long before you end up chasing your own tail...that’s what we’re doing in Afghanistan at this point.
Keeping the Taliban from holding the country is a wasted mission. That means staying in Afghanistan in perpetuity. No other first world nation is that hardheaded BUT us. Even the British and French, who had more invested in empire building than we ever have, saw these matters for what they are...a waste of lives and money with no end in sight. There comes a time to declare that there are limits to power, and pack your bags.
Frankly, I think the problem is what you say in your last paragraph. What’s the goal? That is something that can’t possibly be articulated at this point because the goalposts keep moving. It went from getting Bin Laden to god only knows what! I’m a stickler for foreign policy, and even I can’t get a bead on where this is going.
All I know is that we’re ultimately going to lose. But then, that doesn’t take a genius to figure out.
If the U.S. is on the verge of losing in Afghanistan, should it try partitioning it?
After 16.5 years, it should be obvious to everyone that there's nothing to be "won" in Afghanistan.
What we need to do is get out, leaving a small security force to protect our embassy. We have failed to learn what the Mongols, Brits and Russians learned the hard way: the Afghans will always be the way they are and will unite only to oppose anyone who attempts to occupy their country.
I agree with the first paragraph, but I disagree strongly with the second.
The Taliban isn’t our enemy. They never were. As it appertains to Al Qaeda, they BEGGED the United States to offer them evidence of his guilt before turning him over. We ignored their request because we saw it as beneath our standing to deal with a ragtag group like the Taliban. Making enemies where we have none over issues of wounded pride is becoming an American habit. For example, the Iranians offered their help to us in Afghanistan, and we spit in their faces. You can only keep doing crap like that for so long before you end up chasing your own tail...that’s what we’re doing in Afghanistan at this point.
Keeping the Taliban from holding the country is a wasted mission. That means staying in Afghanistan in perpetuity. No other first world nation is that hardheaded BUT us. Even the British and French, who had more invested in empire building than we ever have, saw these matters for what they are...a waste of lives and money with no end in sight. There comes a time to declare that there are limits to power, and pack your bags.
Frankly, I think the problem is what you say in your last paragraph. What’s the goal? That is something that can’t possibly be articulated at this point because the goalposts keep moving. It went from getting Bin Laden to god only knows what! I’m a stickler for foreign policy, and even I can’t get a bead on where this is going.
All I know is that we’re ultimately going to lose. But then, that doesn’t take a genius to figure out.
Oh they did not beg for anything. AQ admitted what they did. It's what they do. They are not a rotary club. The Taliban gave them carte blanche and whored the entire country for them. And they paid a very, very horrid price for it- hope they're happy.
These are NOT nice people. They don't like you.
The goal is the status quo. Three different American presidents have all been in agreement on that. Can't say I am crazy about it, but if you can't turn them into Canada, then maybe keeping them from becoming a huge terrorist base makes some sense.
Afghanistan really does not function as a country.
And if your Geo-Political Strategy plays out to fruition, Bush will be the next President on Mount Rushmore.
Shocked Obamabutt did not have the other faces blown away and had his ugly mug to replace them all put up there.
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If the U.S. is on the verge of losing in Afghanistan, should it try partitioning it?
