Afghan Pres. Karzai has requested US forces to leave outpost camps and be only in the command centers. This was in reaction to an Army sergeant going beserk and killing 16 civilians in cold blood.

Karzai said the Afghan citizens have lost confidence in the US forces and do not want them any longer. In my opinion, we (USA) are not ever going to have a democracy established there; the people (citizens) do not want us there; and American lives are being wasted - as well as BILLIONS of US dollars.

Why not leave immediately? The Taliban will go right back into power? Hey, they are basically in power right now. US, let's get out of Afghanistan NOW.

Originally Posted by buggyone

...Why not leave immediately? The Taliban will go right back into power? Hey, they are basically in power right now. US, let's get out of Afghanistan NOW.

I can't come up with a good argument to stay, even if I wanted to take that side of the debate. We're just reaching the same conclusion the Russians did twenty years ago.

My initial feeling when we entered Afghanistan was that Russia went bankrupt fighting that war. However we made a commitment and needed to fulfill it Moving forward to the present and we find it is all unreaveling. Why?

In December 2009 Obama announced a surge to the tune of 30,000 troops. The strategy was succeeding in strategically important Helmand and Kandahar provinces located in the south. However this past June(2011) Obama decided that we would pull out all troops by August (2012), just before his renomination because the Afghanistan commitment had been polling poorly.

How do you suppose our military personnel received this news? How do you suppose the Afghans received this news? How do you suppose the Taliban received this news? Obama is great at leading fom behind.

So, Rubicon, are you in favor or not of pulling all US forces out of Afghanistan? As I said, there is nothing to be gained from staying.

Originally Posted by rubicon

My initial feeling when we entered Afghanistan was that Russia went bankrupt fighting that war. However we made a commitment and needed to fulfill it Moving forward to the present and we find it is all unreaveling. Why?

In December 2009 Obama announced a surge to the tune of 30,000 troops. The strategy was succeeding in strategically important Helmand and Kandahar provinces located in the south. However this past June(2011) Obama decided that we would pull out all troops by August (2012), just before his renomination because the Afghanistan commitment had been polling poorly.

How do you suppose our military personnel received this news? How do you suppose the Afghans received this news? How do you suppose the Taliban received this news? Obama is great at leading fom behind.

Yeah, but the polling reflects--accurately I think--the strong feelings of the American public.

Then there's the issue of what are the reasons why we should continue to spend $2 billion a week and how many young American lives fighting for what? Have you heard any cogent argument, other than those like yourself who simply argue that any decision Obama makes is wrong?

I'll say again. If I had to take the side of arguing for staying or even expanding our presence in Afghanistan in a debate, I couldn't come up with the arguments. On this one, I think the POTUS is making the right decision.

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

Yeah, but the polling reflects--accurately I think--the strong feelings of the American public.

Then there's the issue of what are the reasons why we should continue to spend $2 billion a week and how many young American lives fighting for what? Have you heard any cogent argument, other than those like yourself who simply argue that any decision Obama makes is wrong?

I'll say again. If I had to take the side of arguing for staying or even expanding our presence in Afghanistan in a debate, I couldn't come up with the arguments. On this one, I think the POTUS is making the right decision.

Has not the pull out date been moved now to 2014 ? Not sure but maybe that is just other NATO

Buggyone: Whether one is in favor or not in favor of pulling the troops out, at this junction is a moot point.

VK: I am not saying Obama made the wrong decision I am saying he made the political decision. I am also saying he doesn't know what the word commitment means . Keep me mind the French initially didn't want to go up against Hitler and but for the USA they would be goose stepping today.

What I do believe is that the decisions Obama has made regarding foreign policy will come back to haunt us for decades to come. If you are Tehran, Beijing, Moscow,Pyong-yang and Wariristan you have to love Obama's political moves.

Est-il faible (Is he weak)? I opine you decide