Comments on: Pace of Afghan Debate Appropriate http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/10/25/pace-of-afghan-debate-appropriate/ Online Defense and Acquisition Journal Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:24:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Drake1http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/10/25/pace-of-afghan-debate-appropriate/#comment-15609 Drake1 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:11:25 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=10827#comment-15609 Anyone who thinks Nato is going to be convinced to commit more soldiers (based on the strength of the President's personal appeal) is kidding themselves. Italy took out troops to supposedly put in police, and(don't quote me on ti) Germany has still to send trainers and or police) it committed. This is all the Administration is going to get apart from Britain Anyone who thinks Nato is going to be convinced to commit more soldiers (based on the strength of the President’s personal appeal) is kidding themselves. Italy took out troops to supposedly put in police, and(don’t quote me on ti) Germany has still to send trainers and or police) it committed. This is all the Administration is going to get apart from Britain

]]> By: pennst98http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/10/25/pace-of-afghan-debate-appropriate/#comment-15605 pennst98 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:22:57 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=10827#comment-15605 Russ - couldn't agree with you more on the Catch-22; making things worse I think the President and his advisors are smart enough to know that from here on out if they continue the conflict it’s their war now. They could walk away and begin de-escalation; but if things co horribly wrong they were soft on “terror”, however if they stay and things continue to deteriorate then I also have to say I think your suggestion is inspired. A speech/call/diplomatic effort for international support would put some of the onus on the international community. Right now most of them are sending token units and support, while playing armchair quarterback. I would also reinforce that the international community is much more likely to be effected by a collapse in Afghanistan in the near term than the US is….. Russ — couldn’t agree with you more on the Catch-22; making things worse I think the President and his advisors are smart enough to know that from here on out if they continue the conflict it’s their war now. They could walk away and begin de-escalation; but if things co horribly wrong they were soft on “terror”, however if they stay and things continue to deteriorate then

I also have to say I think your suggestion is inspired. A speech/call/diplomatic effort for international support would put some of the onus on the international community. Right now most of them are sending token units and support, while playing armchair quarterback. I would also reinforce that the international community is much more likely to be effected by a collapse in Afghanistan in the near term than the US is…..

]]> By: Rickhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/10/25/pace-of-afghan-debate-appropriate/#comment-15601 Rick Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:59:37 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=10827#comment-15601 Give credit where it is due. Immediately after the fall of the Taliban, NATO wanted to jump in with both feet and clean the place up. Instead NATO's mission was limited to the area of Kabul at the insistance of our government. The administration wanted to keep Afghanistan as America's private terrorist hunting preserve. Asking NATO to take up more of the mission that we shut them out of in the first place is not going to fly very well. Especially since the mess we want them to clean up is largly due to our neglicting and short changing the Afghan theater for so long. Give credit where it is due.

Immediately after the fall of the Taliban, NATO wanted to jump in with both feet and clean the place up. Instead NATO’s mission was limited to the area of Kabul at the insistance of our government. The administration wanted to keep Afghanistan as America’s private terrorist hunting preserve.

Asking NATO to take up more of the mission that we shut them out of in the first place is not going to fly very well. Especially since the mess we want them to clean up is largly due to our neglicting and short changing the Afghan theater for so long.

]]> By: Daniel Russhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/10/25/pace-of-afghan-debate-appropriate/#comment-15573 Daniel Russ Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:44:56 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=10827#comment-15573 It's a Catch-22. We are told that our mission of suppressing an insurgency is necessary first, if we are to then stop the build up of terrorist organizations. That means a stable central government. I am very skeptical, given the lessons of history, whether creating a stable central government is even possible for people who basically have lived under clans and blood-lines for centuries. If I were Obama, I would tell NATO that if they agree with McChrystal's plan (sp?) then they should man up with at least 50% of the occupational and combat forces instead of insisting that we do most of the heavy work. Respectfully, Daniel Russ Civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com It’s a Catch-22. We are told that our mission of suppressing an insurgency is necessary first, if we are to then stop the build up of terrorist organizations.

That means a stable central government. I am very skeptical, given the lessons of history, whether creating a stable central government is even possible for people who basically have lived under clans and blood-lines for centuries.

If I were Obama, I would tell NATO that if they agree with McChrystal’s plan (sp?) then they should man up with at least 50% of the occupational and combat forces instead of insisting that we do most of the heavy work.

Respectfully,

Daniel Russ
Civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com

]]> By: pennst98http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/10/25/pace-of-afghan-debate-appropriate/#comment-15569 pennst98 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:21:19 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=10827#comment-15569 While I wish they would move a bit faster, I think given the magnitude of the decision the pace is appropriate. We have a contested election, rife corruption, and a runoff which looks like it will do little to deal with either. Should we decide to dig in and fight in Afghanistan it will be a long drawn out affair with little gain for the US. There are plenty of reasons to stay, I think anyone with a heart sees the suffering and carnage; however at some point we have to deal with the negative cost/benefit ratio. Now consider the economy is off the rails, the dollar is on fire, and our increasing spending is simultaneoulsy suffocating and resusitating the economy. I know what I'd do, but no one elected me. The President may be taking his time but I'm supportive. This is hardly a decision (combined with several decisions it affects) to be made by flipping a coin..... While I wish they would move a bit faster, I think given the magnitude of the decision the pace is appropriate. We have a contested election, rife corruption, and a runoff which looks like it will do little to deal with either.

Should we decide to dig in and fight in Afghanistan it will be a long drawn out affair with little gain for the US. There are plenty of reasons to stay, I think anyone with a heart sees the suffering and carnage; however at some point we have to deal with the negative cost/benefit ratio.

Now consider the economy is off the rails, the dollar is on fire, and our increasing spending is simultaneoulsy suffocating and resusitating the economy. I know what I’d do, but no one elected me. The President may be taking his time but I’m supportive. This is hardly a decision (combined with several decisions it affects) to be made by flipping a coin.….

]]> By: Drake1http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/10/25/pace-of-afghan-debate-appropriate/#comment-15563 Drake1 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:28:12 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=10827#comment-15563 True conservatives don't believe in nation building, so Will is actually being consistant. True conservatives don’t believe in nation building, so Will is actually being consistant.

]]> By: Daniel Russhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/10/25/pace-of-afghan-debate-appropriate/#comment-15562 Daniel Russ Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:21:12 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=10827#comment-15562 Yesterday on Meet The Press, conservative intellectual George Will said: "Cheney should have dithered on Iraq." He also thinks the Afghanistan mission is a muddled boondoggle. When I heard that from a stalwart conservative I looked out the window to see if pigs were flying. Respectfully, Daniel Russ Civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com Yesterday on Meet The Press, conservative intellectual George Will said: “Cheney should have dithered on Iraq.” He also thinks the Afghanistan mission is a muddled boondoggle. When I heard that from a stalwart conservative I looked out the window to see if pigs were flying.

Respectfully,

Daniel Russ
Civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com

]]>