Gen. McChrystal knows how to proceed give him his Phase I requirements and he will adapt a final strategy in less than 18 months. A hybrid strategy is already being utilized in this endeavor. All IN is a gamble the Russsians took for eight years and it still took them 2 more years to get out. Hmmmm looks like we will be there for at least 12 years if not more.

Vets; One year, Two years in country or 3 to 7 month rotations, tell all the truth. Afghanistan is screwed up and anyone who does not think so — look at the well documented tribal history of the country over the past 300 years. Our job is to kill them “AQ and ALL terrorists” not pacify them! AQ is not the Taliban. The Taliban is not AQ. The mess has been made by us “Our Mess” in Afghanistan must be cleaned up prior to Exfil. Muslim extremeist groups and field cells exist everywhere including our country, yes, in the good old USA!
FIGHT TO WIN OR RETREAT and FIGHT ANOTHER DAY!

Here is what I think should be done: Send the 40,000 additional U.S. personnel, but they should come from forces in and going to Iraq. Today would begin the complete immediate redeployment of all U.S. personnel in Iraq to Afghanistan. Get Pakistan more involved in the action on their side of the border — force the enemy back across into Afghanistan. Get Karzi to authorize the Pakistani military to cross the border, using their maneuver forces as a blocking element; pushing the enemy towards allied forces, and finally linking up with U.S. and NATO forces. Once the Taliban and Al Qaeda is dimished to the point where there is little resistance — we begin the real counterinsurgency — winning the hearts and minds of the Afghani people and the reorganization of their government into one that is mirrored after Morocco, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt or Turkey — where they still retain their muslim way of life but adopt to a lesser extent, some form of democratic process.

That’s the first problem there, Admirals know nothing about ground warfare — except that which they were taught at the Naval Academy or in NROTC. I don’t care how many joint operations they have participated in with Marine and Army units. Bottomline is — practice makes perfect doing the real thing — not large scale simulations or learning through “coordinated” unit training maneuvers.

General officers usually won’t speak their minds because that’s how the chain of command works. They also will not relinquish command if they think contrary to political leaders because they think they are the right people to “solve the problem.” However, that thinking is entirely incorrect. Their failure to bring their civilian handlers over to their way of thinking is the point of failure–making them a roadblock to progress. Relinquish the command and get someone who may be more effective in place. Ego.…..pride.…both barriers to progress.

Viet Nam fell and the Domino Theory was proven just that–a theory. Let’s let the Afghans decide their destiny for themselves. Negotiate the withdrawal of American Troops with the Tribes as well as the Afghan government.

Retired Jar Head.….

What Colonel Marine fails to mention is that AEI was one of the the strongest neocom advisers of the Cheney/Rusmfels/Powell/Rice administration on policy in Afghanistan.

As for the AEI on the economy, their best men, Jack Abramoff is unavailable for a while to advise. AEI is throughly a discredited organization.

ALLONS,
Byron Skinner

What’s wrong with torture? I’ll spell it out for you.

Torture makes us the very people we are fighting against. Also, it doesn’t work, and not one example of it working has ever been brought into the light of day. Period. Torture also opens the Pandora’s box of US soldiers being tortured. We fought every war before Iraq and Afghanistan to stop torturers. Torturing helps no one, adds fuel to the insurgencies we are fighting, and debases everything America stands for.

There is nothing patriotic about excessive defense spending. Often, it’s just an example of waste and corruption and greed. Our troops should be used when they are truly needed. Not looking for non existent WMDs or trying to make Afghanistan adopt governance that they don’t want and will never accept.

AEI supported huge tax cuts for the rich and more taxes on the middle class. These policies have done nothing to help the working class ( you know…average Americans) and everything to help the corporatists who have robbed us blind and continue to do so. So yes, they have been on the wrong side of history and policy most consistently. Facts mean little to them, only ideology.

Are you suggesting we keep fighting and dying in Afghanistan just to save face? That’s a poor reason to exploit American resources, not the least of which are our troops. Afghanistan is called the Graveyard of Empires for a reason. It would behoove you read some history in this regard. I wouldn’t want my child to die fighting for a corrupt puppet government in what the locals feel in a civil war.

It wouldn’t make any difference who is President right now. No one is going to inculcate in Afghanis a sense of nation hood. They will never accept it, and escalating here is a mistake. History will prove me right.

Despite your invective, most respectfully,

Daniel Russ
Civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com

Mostly I love your comments Drake1. But holy s***, the AEI is not an independent group. They are paid for their specific one sided opinions. You could not find a less credible source for an opinion if you looked in the cartoon page.

Respectfully,

Daniel Russ
Civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com

I would also add read the report before you knock it.

Those not willing to fight Islam will serve as good slaves under dhimmitude.

Wait, let me look out the window.…Yep…pigs are a flying.

Daniel Russ
Civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com

A spy telescope? Why don’t we just send in Austin Powers?