Ten Years Is Nine Years Too Long In Afghanistan; Past Time For Obama

Ten years ago Friday, the United States invaded Afghanistan launching America on what has become likely the nation’s most prolonged ludicrous use of military force in a century or more. Following 911 armed with substantial evidence that the Taliban in Afghanistan was responsible for much of the 911 tragedy, the United States correctly begun the Afghan conflict to force the Taliban out of power and kill the terrorists responsible for 911. Few Americans disagree with that. Most of that military exercise was and should have been concluded in a matter of weeks. But now for ten years, the United States has and continues to muddle through an insane project that becomes even more absurd when you listen to military spokesmen who support this horrible waste of America’s best. Consider General McChristell interviewed on October 3, 2011 by CBS News wherein he says that the afghan war is a job half done: "We didn't know enough and we still don't know enough," he said. "Most of us — me included — had a very superficial understanding of the situation and history, and we had a frighteningly simplistic view of recent history, the last 50 years." What is even more troublesome are the statements of current U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Marine Gen. John Allen, who told CBS this week about the “plan.” "Well, the plan is to win. The plan is to be successful. And so, while some folks might hear that we're departing in 2014 as a result of the Lisbon Conference and the process of transition, we're actually going to be here for a long time," Allen said. This blog vigorously resists a return to isolationism and fully supports the use of military force when (a) immediate security interests of the United States dictate, and (b) when military force is necessary and can achieve identifiable results. With the fall of the Taliban and the disruption of terrorists in Afghanistan it is debatable whether immediate security interests of the United States are present in that far away land. But one thing is NOT debatable. Military force at least to the point of ground troops is NOT necessary in Afghanistan and there is zero possibility of favorable results by 2014 or a lifetime thereafter. There is an important analogy to make with the war in Iraq. In Afghanistan we clearly went to war for the right reasons, while as Democrats point out in Iraq, we were mostly sold a bill of goods. Even if actions against Iraq were desirable, the Bush Administration had at its disposal many other means which were less intrusive, less expensive and less deadly for American troops. Continued use of UN and international sanctions against Hussein, imposition of no fly zones and even use of air and strategic military force against Hussein’s government would have crippled that government and allowed the not insignificant Iraqi resistance with the assistance of U.S. and allies to overthrow Saddam Hussein’s government over a period of time. The expense in dollars and lives would have been a fraction of what the Iraq war has cost. BUT, the fact is that this debate is now one for academics because the fact is we are in Iraq. And the further fact is that there is an end game in Iraq. Despite the questionable basis for going into Iraq in the first place, the fact is that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it appears likely that if the United States is willing to see the matter through, a sustainable, somewhat democratic government may come to exist in Iraq. And such a result is important to American security interests due to the importance of Iraq, geographically, strategically and economically. The verdict is still out on Iraq and we should see it through to the end. But in Afghanistan there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Not one single diplomat, politician or American military leader can tell you what it means to “win” in Afghanistan. Aside from isolationists and opportunistic politicians no one ‘necessarily’ suggests that the United States ‘abandon’ Afghanistan to use General Allen’s term. But a couple of air force bases, advisors, some intelligence and special forces operatives is a completely different matter than ground troops that had no business being there in Afghanistan in the first place. The Obama Administration should have enough sense, if the Pentagon does not, to understand that terrorists exist all over the globe in many different countries. This ridiculous exercise in Afghanistan is probably the most ludicrous action of the United States military in the nation’s history. All ground troops should be immediately moved to safe locations in Afghanistan to begin their withdrawal not in defeat but in recognition that “we came, we saw, we conquered,” but in the end we’re not interested.

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