Getting out of Afghanistan

[sailaway21]

Max Boot, writing in today's LA Times, makes a compelling argument that we can win in Afghanistan. Much to the consternation of the the nay-sayers on Iraq, some even in these forums, we did win in Iraq and last weeks election show no tendency to either sectarian or strong-arm leadership tendencies. Can we not do the same in Afghanistan?

President Obama would be well advised to consider this matter very carefully. He should be painfully aware of how much of a close-run thing Iraq was in the latter stages. With a less resolute President to the cause, it might well have been abandoned. Is Mr. Obama prepared to put his name on the Afghani war?

Mr. Boot sees great possibilities and he is persuasive but strategic reality intrudes I'm afraid. In the end, Afghanistan is not a strategic US interest and we should therefore leave as soon as possible. It might be time for one of those impressive UN peace-keeping forces or perhaps the Dutch Marines. It is simply not worth the risk to the US for only a marginal, if any, gain. Furthermore, it would leave open the door to the misguided Bush policy and Democrat dream job of nation-building. We cannot nation build sixty miles off the southern coast of Florida. Let's be clear on that folly; not all results are likely to resemble Iraq. And, if involved in such within Afghanistan, what excuse remains for the Somalia's of the world? None. And we all know how the Democrats like to go forth and do good, if not just spill their seed on the ground. (g)

It's vitally important for the US to remember it's strategic interests. It may have seemed for a decade, the Clinton time-out from history, that those interests had changed or evolved. In retrospect not so much. The Russian bear seems to have regained it's appetite in the face of the usual treats of French truffles and German sausage. It seems like, "been there, done that" should certainly apply to NATO by now but, the fact remains, Europe is still a vital strategic interest of the US. It's been a cold winter in Brussels.

Afghanistan is not a strategic interest and we should leave before the Democrats embarrass themselves. Max Boot thinks otherwise. Here's his take:

Deja vu in Kabul - Los Angeles Times

[travler37]

sailway,
The UN did not just give the ok to take out big H drug producers in A without bad guy linked to terroism or even being agressive..opsy,they did..........

It is now ok fo the UN to take out drug processing or producing{read napalm poppy fields} in the big A without any threat.......

Bottom line is the big A produces 80+% of the worlds herion.And the UN gave the ok to go burn it.Am Packing a oh **** box with my carharts{cold weather gear}

They are so screwed...
Mark

[RXBOT]

Rumour has it there is going to be major upgrade of Kandahar airport in anticipation of another 30-35,000 U.S. troops arriving. My opinion, if Afgahn asks UN for help then UN members should assist, otherwise everybody should pull out ( over 100 Canadians have died there ). As for heroin if like Britain addicts were registered and provided for by government then there would be no profit for illegal sellers and less incentive for them to aquire new victims.

[sailaway21]

Rxbot,
The UN isn't going to do anything. The real problem is that neither is Europe. We should make our intentions to leave known. We can aid the Afghans, and let's not forget that it was the Afghan's who did the majority of fighting via the Northern Alliance to kick out the Taliban in the first place, with military and economic aid reserving the right to return as necessary.