Mattis calls for help in ending war in Afghanistan: ‘40 years is enough’

FredHayek, we don't need a smart drawdown, we just get the hell out. Afganistan would become a great example of Woodrow Wilson's doctrine of "Self- Determination" (sarcasm)

Last night I was reading some personal accounts from veterans of Afghanistan highlighting their frustrations with the campaign. They just knew that the nation would never become like a Western democracy. And they also knew some of their missions were hopeless from the start. and after a time, they felt like it wasn't worth risking their lives. If they destroyed the poppy crops, the farmers would get angry and be recruited by the Taliban. If the farmers were paid to rip out their poppy crops, they would grow even more the next year.

ramage wrote: FredHayek, we don't need a smart drawdown, we just get the hell out. Afganistan would become a great example of Woodrow Wilson's doctrine of "Self- Determination" (sarcasm)

This is the only answer that makes sense since we are no longer allowed to do what it takes to actually win a war. Getting out now would be unacceptable to the left because it would be another promise kept by Trump, so ideally they would like to see a new shitstorm over there they could campaign on. It’s all about holding on to and gaining power at any cost. I predict we will be out by the time Trump’s second term is over.

Rick wrote:

ramage wrote: FredHayek, we don't need a smart drawdown, we just get the hell out. Afganistan would become a great example of Woodrow Wilson's doctrine of "Self- Determination" (sarcasm)

This is the only answer that makes sense since we are no longer allowed to do what it takes to actually win a war. Getting out now would be unacceptable to the left because it would be another promise kept by Trump, so ideally they would like to see a new shitstorm over there they could campaign on. It’s all about holding on to and gaining power at any cost. I predict we will be out by the time Trump’s second term is over.

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bolded.....that pessimistic?

commondreams.org 7/3/20

In his Too Much Information newsletter Friday, journalist David Sirota—a former speechwriter for Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) 2020 presidential campaign—wrote that "the first rule for every incoming freshman Democrat in Congress should be that you never work with a Cheney on war policy."

"The second rule for every freshman Democrat," Sirota added, "should be: re-read the first rule and make damn sure to follow it."

Sirota warned that the conditions imposed by the Cheney-Crow amendment "are designed to make the Afghanistan deployment permanent."


What Sirota is referring to is a bill in the H of R sponsored by Liz Cheney (no surprise there) and our own Jason Crow (D-CO 6) to keep our troops in Afghanistan indefinitely and also Germany.

I can understand but not agree with Liz Cheney wanting to uphold her father's policies but what the hell is Jason Crow thinking?

I don't have much use for Sirota. He blocked me on Twitter rather than defend his socialism.
But I do think it is long past time to get out of there. Let China and Russia fight over the failed state.