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Originally Posted by ijusluvit
I'd like to change the subject from the regular threads blaming or defending the administration, and concentrate on the subject which distresses me most; The War.
I'd like to think after living a long time, trying to listen and read a lot, I could figure out at least the major stuff. But until now, I haven't been able to finally decide whether we should continue, or just stop our active military efforts, especially in Afghanistan.
I've previously described the decision to invade Iraq as "perhaps the worst decision ever made by a US President". Such an extreme statement seems to be more a part of conventional wisdom with each passing year. The cost of war, now beginning it's tenth year, has been profound; it is the major component of our national budget deficit. But that is nothing compared to the thousands lost, thousands horribly wounded and thousands suffering from those losses.
What have we learned from recent history? Can terrorism be defeated by drones and surges, or do those whose lives are disrupted by our armed forces vow to do anything - even kill themselves - to destroy us in return? Have we actually created more terrorists than we have defeated?
Andrew Bacevich has finally convinced me. I didn't know who he was but was intrigued to learn that he was a graduate of West Point, taught there, got a doctorate from Princeton, and was a fast-track Army officer. This, by the way, is an identical biography to that of David Petraeus, five years younger. Bacevich began to lose his belief in the 'we can defeat the enemy' philosophy with the collapse of the Soviet Union and especially after personally witnessing the fall of the Berlin Wall. His book, "America's Path to Permanent War", is a powerful argument to end what we are doing and take a whole new course.
I admire what the Obama administration has done to attempt to fix the huge domestic problems we are facing, but I now believe it is a tragic mistake to continue the war in Afghanistan.
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First of all, I agree with you generally, however you had the necessity to add things that were not a "change of subject". You admire what this administration has done which means you support the backroom deals, the payoffs, the constant politics, the total lack of any leadership, the lack of understanding of the american people.
I agree, in hindsight, that Iraq was a mistake but not nearly as monumental as you do. Also, given even the possiblity that there were WMD's available to a man who was already shooting at our planes would have made it credible to topple the regime.
But, your main topic was Afghanistan, and while I share your frustration, I know that Bacevich supports replacing our war efforts with more negotiations and my frustration is that WITH WHOM do we negotiate. We did drive the Taliban out once, and in the matter of Afghanistan, I am not sure anymore what the mission is. But, if we leave that region it will for sure fall into hands who will be very close to nuclear weapons and not distracted by our presence. That combination scares me !!
Our world is so different.....if you read the NYTIMES today, the administration won a court case concerning rights and privacy. The administration has even gone further than the previous administration with secrecy...and actually this is from that article...
"Its counterterrorism programs have in some ways departed from the expectations of change fostered by President Obama’s campaign rhetoric, which was often sharply critical of former President George W. Bush’s approach.
Among other policies, the Obama national security team has also authorized the C.I.A. to try to kill a United States citizen suspected of terrorism ties, blocked efforts by detainees in Afghanistan to bring habeas corpus lawsuits challenging the basis for their imprisonment without trial, and continued the C.I.A.’s so-called extraordinary rendition program of prisoner transfers — though the administration has forbidden torture and says it seeks assurances from other countries that detainees will not be mistreated.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/09/us...1&ref=politics
Point is, again this administration does things that previously were front page news and cause for outrage !
I have got to support him in this venture in Afghanistan though simply because we must not allow nuclear weapons to become available to this monsters and should we leave that area, it will be inevitable. I would support Bacevich if I knew with whom we could have reasonable discussions that would lead to some end.
I have not read his book but your post will cause me to do just that.
PS....just want to make clear that the point about the world changing is due to I WANT to agree with you and Bacevich, but as someone who has done a little bit of negotiations, I KNOW that BOTH parties have to want a resolution ! Plus I just dont get WHO you negotiate with. I dont write as well as you do and thus I hope I am making the point I hope to make