What was your opinion about Afghanistan conflict?

[DanS]

I supported the war in Afghanistan, but really had no idea of how easy or hard it would be. I guess I feared the worst. 10,000 troops plus $75 million is an extraordinary first phase winter victory.

A huge, but perhaps unexpected, side benefit was that the pan-muslim jihadists were put in a world of hurt. We put the kaibash on most of the pan-muslim insurgencies into Central Asia and quelled any future plans that were likely to end on our doorsteps.

I think that the current situation is much more of a success than some give it credit. Several million refugees have left Pakistan and Iran, where they had been for a decade, and have returned to Afghanistan. Most of the camps have closed.

The US is contributing some $650 million a year to rebuilding the country. True, other countries said that they would contribute, but haven't come through with actual money.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

wow a hot $650 million. Meanwhile, back in the whitehouse, he's giving away $550 billion in tax cuts, he's already given away $1.35 trillion (thats a thousand thousand million) as tax cuts, and $75 billion to the war in Iraq. I'd say his priorities are mixed up.

[TCO]

Originally posted by Sava
Point taken. But we had to get rid of the current generation that did fly planes into buildings. The possibility exists to help future generations so it doesn't happen again.

Remember the "Arab street" which was supposed to go crazy when we invaded Iraq? Well, they are mostly learning now how full of **** the Iraqi's were and that we are not the weak nation and them the valiant fighters.

[DanS]

$650 million is quite a lot for a country like Afghanistan.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by GP
The goal of the war was not to change the country but to:

A. Punish the Taliban for
1. Vengeance
2. Prevention of future support for terrorists
3. A message to other states that they would be eliminated if they supported our enemies.

The Taliban is coming back, no doubt under Omar, who the US failed to capture. If you don't change the country, nothing would be changed. The conditions gave rise to Taliban are still there. The people still loathe the warlords more.

Originally posted by GP
B. Punish the Al Queda for
1. Vengeance.
2. Making it hard to continue attacks, make new ones.

al-Queda makes well planned attackes, unlike other terrorist groups. It's impossible to tell until the next one hits. Countering al-Queda should be a police action, not military action.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

The crappier the country, the more money is needed. Just look at East Germany. Every year, for the last decade, Germany has been pouring billions into its reconstruction, and i'll tell ya, its gonna need billions more.

[DanS]

The crappier the country, the more money is needed.

That's not true.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

And why not?

[Az]

well, actually, throwing money at a problem is a known misconception. Money is needed, but it is needed to achieve goals, and everything has do be done in an orderly fashion.

[Ramo]

I supported the war in Afghanistan by the time it got going. In hindsight, it was a failure. Not a military failure, but a political failure and more importantly a humanitarian failure.

The Afghani people are still subjagated by brutal warlords, often Islamist. Karzai's authority and US troops are limited to Kabul, and US aid is dropping off. The jihadis have been diffused among many countries instead of being concentrated in Afghanistan. Given our our total and complete failure to bring about liberty to Afghanistan and our willingness to buddy up with bastards like Musharraf, we've lost the bid to win the hearts and minds of the Islamic world and have handed Islamists virtually everywhere more popular support.

In hindsight, I wouldn't have supported the war in Afghanistan. In fact, my disillusionment with our behavior in Afghanistan pretty much shaped my view of the Iraq war. And it doesn't look that I'll be wrong, unfortunately, what with Rummy about to trigger a civil war if he gets his way, and the CIA wanting to bring in the Ba'athists Redux.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

well, actually, throwing money at a problem is a known misconception. Money is needed, but it is needed to achieve goals, and everything has do be done in an orderly fashion.

It doesnt matter how well you budget $650 million. It will not go far at all.

[Az]

I agree with Ramo over the first two paragraph, but am optimistic about the third paragraph.

[Tingkai]

I supported the idea of going after Al-Q, but I disagreed with the strategy used, although I understand the need for revenge.

The US should have a) negotiated with the Taleban or b) send in special forces to take out the Al-Q leadership. Negotiations would have a) worked and given the US the Al-Q leadership or b) created time for the special forces to get in place to take the leadership out.

The strategy of using conventional warfare took out the Taleban, and no one here is going to shed any tears for them. But, the Al-Q leadership was, for the most part, able to get away.

The idea that Al-Q cannot operate freely in Afghanistan is only partially true. They are still based there, and besides, they are also in many other countries, including the American allies Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

What Afghanistan did accomplish was a big PR victory. The US government needed to do something after 9-11. The US needed to attack and defeat someone. Afghanistan was as good as any other potential target.

In war, winning the PR battle is vital. Just look at the Tet offensive. So in that sense, Afghanistan was a victory.

Edit: But strategically, it was a major failure because the US failed to take out the Al-Q leadership. People like to think it is a victory, but that will change the next time there is a terrorist attack where Al-Q claims victory.

[Drake Tungsten]

Afghanistan wasn't a failure; the US achieved its goals. The only way the operation can be viewed as a failure is if you attribute goals to the operation that never really existed (see Ramo's POV).

[Az]

So, you admit that the US doesn't want to nation-build Afghanistan?

Lawrence: very true. but in a case such as afghanistan, I wouldn't start with much more money, to be honest. 2 bil, or something. The country is a clean slate, except being full of Barbarians.