Comments on: Dems Warn Against Afghan Combat Surge

By: Colonial-Marine

Colonial-Marine — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:22:48 +0000

Lets take a look at another aspect of the Soviet experience. The Mi-24 Hind was a key asset throughout the conflict. It was fast, well armed, and very well armored. According to some, the Mujaheddin was close to defeat before Stingers and modern anti-aircraft weapons were supplied. Yet nobody is shipping the Taliban modern SAM systems these days. The best they have are some old SA-7s and copies of that system which can be easily fooled by IR jammers on our attack helos.

So why not make more use of our helicopters? Lets design something new, not designed for hunting tanks like the Apache, but with pure close air support in mind. It would be well armored, fast, and capable of laying down a ton of autocannon, MG, and rocket fire.

By: Dpower

Dpower — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:56:28 +0000

you appear to be clueless

By: DPower

DPower — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:51:56 +0000

Well said.

By: Rick W

Rick W — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:20:08 +0000

‘He quoted from McChrystal’s own strategic assessment that said: “Focusing on force or resource requirements misses the point entirely.” The key point, according to Levin, is shifting the strategy in Afghanistan to focus on providing security to the population.’

Seems he missed the part where the additional troops are needed to provide the security.

By: Tony Diggs

Tony Diggs — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:17:59 +0000

Either give the General the help he has requested or get our people the hell out of there. With the number of soldiers we have there now, we can’t both train Afgans and fight the Taliban efficiently. Get them out of Iraq and send them to Afgan or bring everyone home.

By: Bill R.

Bill R. — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:38:14 +0000

Levin’s proposal makes no sense. With the desertion rates going on in the ANA, he cannot expect them to step up and make their forces well if we don’t show that we are committed. I’m all for high tech and I’m all for our allies pulling their weight, but it is not a panacea. We need to fight this thing the smart way, but in the end, we are a nation of 280,000,000 and Afghanistan is a nation of 28,000,000. Size matters. Make it count. Fight to the end and make the enemy give up in despair. This is what William Tecumseh Sherman did and would do.

By: Bill R.

Bill R. — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:29:38 +0000

Jack Murtha is the one who is exhausted, not our troops. Please get these Vietnam vets out of Congress, so we can stop refighting that war over and over and over and over again. There is every reason to expect that we can prevail in Afghanistan if we just keep to it.

By: kvl

kvl — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:06:37 +0000

I’ve rarely heard it put so succinctly — agreed! Unfortunately.

By: Robertro2

Robertro2 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:28:02 +0000

this govt put our military there and it is the same old crap.….new people get in charge,and they do not want to listen to the Generals in charge…so there is only one thing to do.…bring them home and send the congress there to fight this war.….

By: Ed

Ed — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:09:30 +0000

Seems to me that congress should stay out of the business of telling the Army how to run the "War" the last time they tried that we LOST after nearly destroying the Vietcon during Tet. When was the last time anyone looked at the stratagy we were using in Vietnam before 1969,WE WERE WINNING. We need to show them we care what happens to them and their country. If it takes more troops, of all types not just combat, to accomplish this then so be it and the Army should know the number. They've been doing this for more than 200 years. Murtha was in Vietnam he should know better. Don't get me wrong I want us out of Afgahanistan and Iraq ASAP but not if it causes genoside there or risking more attackes like 9/11 here. We as a nation must understand that this is not a fight that the Taliban or al-qa'ida will give up as long as there is a chance they have support to continue. If Congress and the President are "committed to success" then they need to put-up or shut-up and get this over with NOW.

By: GREEN EYES

GREEN EYES — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:36:59 +0000

You were right on in your reply.My husband was a 26 year retired navy veteran and was at sea more than he was at shore,and he felt the same as you.First of all this is a all volunteer military,so our guys that are out there trying to keep the US safe knew exactly what to expect when they joined the military.All we can do is pray that they are safe wherever they may be,here in the states or abroad,but our people in Washington,need to provide them with the nessecary extra troops they need to help them do the job that was intended. I am not a republican,but I am a conservative,and Pres.Bush new more about what it took to run this country than what’s in DC now. GOD BLESS AMERICA AND GOD BLESS ALL OUR TROOPS!!!

By: Leatherneck

Leatherneck — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:03:36 +0000

Have we not learned anything from Iraq? Send them in!!

Semper Fidelis

By: Joseph Melbourn

Joseph Melbourn — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:53:02 +0000

77705256
“Bull Piss” We do fight to win — yet all too often diplomats and politicians set the ROE and then tell everyone they know what is going on. The UN and NATO know the CBP/ROE sets befor our troops in the fight do! I surrender NOT!

By: rasheri

rasheri — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:21:38 +0000

How short are our memories. For those that offer up Alexander, the Brits and the Russians as warnings and precursors to defeat. Realize with the will to win the USMC and Army dug a seasoned fanatical army out of caves all across the Pacific Ocean 65 years ago. Again realize the “will to win” brings Victory. The only will in DC now is to emulate the last centuries of the Roman Empire..

By: Bier

Bier — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:14:29 +0000

Shame on our Democrats. Shame on our President. Obama has no Military-anything. We are not going to debate our way to victory. Obama and his hippie lot are so clueless and pathetic, they are going to make us fail. Obama needs to “grow a pair” trust the Generals on the ground, and tell the Taliban that we are going to wash over them like a burning sea of fire until we secure victory and pay-back for 9/11 and every person who joins the Taliban, knows that joining is a death sentence.

By: roland

roland — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:25:35 +0000

In addition to the generals’ plan , Train 500,000 Afhan(tajik) to stabilize Afghanistan.

By: Gordon of Khartoum

Gordon of Khartoum — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:54:48 +0000

From the article, I can see that we aren’t going to win because the Taliban outsmarted us. All this think-tank, mil-speak sounds like “maybe if we build a camp fire, sing songs, we’ll find a way out”.
And that’s the problem-we’re looking for a wayout, not a way to win. It can be won. But our leaders have lost their craft and the standard answer to any problem over there always seems to require another acquisition program and more money. Ossama is beating us with pick up trucks, rifles and grenade launchers. Not an aircraft or AFV to his name. Ambush is a snaky game. But our generals have lost their craft adn we’d rather pay contractors hideous money than call a draft.

By: R. Latimer USMC Ret

R. Latimer USMC Ret — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:15:57 +0000

Burnok,
From your comments and your mastery of the English language I assume you are not a citizen of the United States. Therefore it is probably safe to assume you are either a member of the Taliban, sympathetic to their cause or a follower of radical Islam.
If this is the case I can see why you would object to increasing the number of troops in Afghanistan. You want the Afghan people to loose and therefore provide a safe haven for the Taliban which would almost guarantee oppression and wholesale murder of any dissenters. Strange, this appears to be just what was taking place before the United States and other NATO countries became involved.
We have a chance to help the Afghan people secure their country from radical Islam and provide their people with a much better quality of life than they could ever imagine under Taliban rule.
You, my friend, have no right to bash Pres. Bush or one of our fine warriors like LtCol Phillips. And from your comments I must conclude you have no knowledge of history or current affairs. Therefore I cannot give credence to any statement you could possibly make.
God Bless America

By: angery taxpayer

angery taxpayer — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:05:33 +0000

Why are we telling anyone, let alone the enemy what we are going to do? Just shut up the press and let the troops fight the war on their own terms to win. Why spend all the money on the best equipment in the world to fight a war with guns and men on the ground. One road side bomb = one square mile of total distruction. Let the natives start cleanning up their own towns of the al-Qaida mob. Fight the war to win or get out.

By: cwk

cwk — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:49:12 +0000

Great. We support the troops. We just don't support giving them the resources to actually fight the war we've sent them to fight. There is no such thing as "war lite." We either fight the war properly or get out and let the Taliban come back into power, give al-Qa'ida sanctuary, and watch Pakistan implode and hand a nuke to al-Qa'ida. I'm sure some of our political "leaders" will think that's the right approach since their event horizon is the next election cycle. And we get upset with Karzai's corrupt administration?