Comments on: More Troops Won’t Fix Afghanistan http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/ Online Defense and Acquisition Journal Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:13:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joe Joneshttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-22505 Joe Jones Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:41:56 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-22505 Once we "defeat" the Taliban, then what? We rebuild Afghanistan from the ground up? Are we going to rely on opium sales revenue to do that? Number one: Afghanistan is not a country, it is an assemblage of tribes and cultures as diverse as you can imagine who aren't interested in becoming a country. Number two: we can spend a lifetime in Afghanistan and bomb as many mud huts as we can and they aren't going to give in nor become our friends (whatever that entails). Number three: lets save some money, lives, and our political reputation by pulling out of that land-locked mudhole and let them fight each other for the spoils. We left Vietnam and the sky didn't fall in. I suspect the same with Afghanistan. Get the CIA, FBI, and Special Operations Command to pull their collective heads out of their rears and go after Al Qaeda. The Taliban is not our enemy- our foreign expedition is our enemy. Once we “defeat” the Taliban, then what? We rebuild Afghanistan from the ground up? Are we going to rely on opium sales revenue to do that? Number one: Afghanistan is not a country, it is an assemblage of tribes and cultures as diverse as you can imagine who aren’t interested in becoming a country. Number two: we can spend a lifetime in Afghanistan and bomb as many mud huts as we can and they aren’t going to give in nor become our friends (whatever that entails). Number three: lets save some money, lives, and our political reputation by pulling out of that land-locked mudhole and let them fight each other for the spoils. We left Vietnam and the sky didn’t fall in. I suspect the same with Afghanistan. Get the CIA, FBI, and Special Operations Command to pull their collective heads out of their rears and go after Al Qaeda. The Taliban is not our enemy– our foreign expedition is our enemy.

]]> By: Joe Joneshttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-22504 Joe Jones Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:32:38 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-22504 They'll reconsider their opinion that the US played right into their hands by invading Afghanistan- which is precisely what Bin Laden wanted and said in a taped message. We are playing both the Taliban's game and Al Qaeda's by inhabiting Afghanistan with a sizable chunk of our ground combat power. You and the rest of the chest-thumper on this blog think we can play conventional war with these guys and flush trillions of dollars of American taxpayer money down the Middle East/South West Asia drain hole. You might be retired Navy, but you haven't got a clue about ground combat, strategic thinking, nor an understanding of when and how to fight. This is a street fight in which we are outnumbered, underinformed (intelligence), and over reliant on technological prowess to fight with people who will simply let us wear ourselves out chasing them around the countryside with a worn down force. Great idea- not. They’ll reconsider their opinion that the US played right into their hands by invading Afghanistan– which is precisely what Bin Laden wanted and said in a taped message. We are playing both the Taliban’s game and Al Qaeda’s by inhabiting Afghanistan with a sizable chunk of our ground combat power. You and the rest of the chest-thumper on this blog think we can play conventional war with these guys and flush trillions of dollars of American taxpayer money down the Middle East/South West Asia drain hole. You might be retired Navy, but you haven’t got a clue about ground combat, strategic thinking, nor an understanding of when and how to fight. This is a street fight in which we are outnumbered, underinformed (intelligence), and over reliant on technological prowess to fight with people who will simply let us wear ourselves out chasing them around the countryside with a worn down force. Great idea– not.

]]> By: Nitrox314http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-20104 Nitrox314 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:44:26 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-20104 Interesting thoughts in the article above. I disagree however. An escalation of troops would allow greater number of patrols and less chances of IED placers being successful. Not to mention it gives the Taliban a blow to moral to see us ramping up while they are taking losses already. Go ahead and say it won't work... Say it will increase their recruitment. All I have to say is it indeed helped in Iraq. Al Anbar, the stronghold of the insurgency, often called the Ramadi Triangle. The Marines fought for years and were gaining little ground. Once we had a large influx of troops, the attacks dwindled. I call that success, don't you agree? The Marines are done and out of Al Anbar Province. Interesting thoughts in the article above. I disagree however. An escalation of troops would allow greater number of patrols and less chances of IED placers being successful. Not to mention it gives the Taliban a blow to moral to see us ramping up while they are taking losses already. Go ahead and say it won’t work… Say it will increase their recruitment. All I have to say is it indeed helped in Iraq. Al Anbar, the stronghold of the insurgency, often called the Ramadi Triangle. The Marines fought for years and were gaining little ground. Once we had a large influx of troops, the attacks dwindled. I call that success, don’t you agree? The Marines are done and out of Al Anbar Province.

]]> By: ronhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-16910 ron Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:14:57 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-16910 I am concerned for existing and new troop entering the theater in current time and in the months, yet, years to come. hamid Karzai as inplaced "Rules of Engagement" the troops are to follow. The media has not said anything about these, but I understand these are true. Once again, our troops are heding right into a turkey shoot.....here is some of the rules • No night or surprise searches. • Villagers have to be warned prior to searches. • ANA or ANP must accompany U.S. units on searches. • U.S. soldiers may not fire at the enemy unless the enemy is preparing to fire first. • U.S. forces cannot engage the enemy if civilians are present. Only women can search women. • Troops can fire at an insurgent if they catch him placing an IED but not if insurgents are walking away from an area where explosives have been laid. I'm just venting...no disrespect or anything negative to you.....i just needed to get this out...thanks for listening I am concerned for existing and new troop entering the theater in current time and in the months, yet, years to come. hamid Karzai as inplaced “Rules of Engagement” the troops are to follow. The media has not said anything about these, but I understand these are true. Once again, our troops are heding right into a turkey shoot.….here is some of the rules
• No night or surprise searches.

• Villagers have to be warned prior to searches.

• ANA or ANP must accompany U.S. units on searches.

• U.S. soldiers may not fire at the enemy unless the enemy is preparing to fire first.

• U.S. forces cannot engage the enemy if civilians are present.
Only women can search women.

• Troops can fire at an insurgent if they catch him placing an IED but not if insurgents are walking away from an area where explosives have been laid.

I’m just venting…no disrespect or anything negative to you.….i just needed to get this out…thanks for listening

]]> By: ronhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-16909 ron Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:13:46 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-16909 I am concerned for existing and new troop entering the theater in current time and in the months, yet, years to come. hamid Karzai as inplaced "Rules of Engagement" the troops are to follow. The media has not said anything about these, but I understand these are true. Once again, our troops are heding right into a turkey shoot.....here is some of the rules • No night or surprise searches. • Villagers have to be warned prior to searches. • ANA or ANP must accompany U.S. units on searches. • U.S. soldiers may not fire at the enemy unless the enemy is preparing to fire first. • U.S. forces cannot engage the enemy if civilians are present. Only women can search women. I am concerned for existing and new troop entering the theater in current time and in the months, yet, years to come. hamid Karzai as inplaced “Rules of Engagement” the troops are to follow. The media has not said anything about these, but I understand these are true. Once again, our troops are heding right into a turkey shoot.….here is some of the rules
• No night or surprise searches.

• Villagers have to be warned prior to searches.

• ANA or ANP must accompany U.S. units on searches.

• U.S. soldiers may not fire at the enemy unless the enemy is preparing to fire first.

• U.S. forces cannot engage the enemy if civilians are present.
Only women can search women.

]]> By: SkysoldierReconhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-16899 SkysoldierRecon Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:20:49 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-16899 If they float across the border into PAK, well, thats thier problem. Better than having them shooting at our people..maybe the PAKI's will request help? Like the airpower that obliterated the talibs in 2001..iam sure we have enough J-tacs and Spec. Ops who can laze a target.. If they float across the border into PAK, well, thats thier problem. Better than having them shooting at our people..maybe the PAKI’s will request help? Like the airpower that obliterated the talibs in 2001..iam sure we have enough J-tacs and Spec. Ops who can laze a target..

]]> By: rolandhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-16814 roland Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:27:14 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-16814 Deifne the goals we have in Afghanistan, set up options, establish a timetable and declare victory after the goal was achieve and bring home our troops afterwards. Secure the borders. Hunt for Bun Ladin and AL-Sawari and make it as first priority. And train 500,000 Afghans w/o affiliation with the Taliban and Al-quida. Make the timetable in a year or less. Deifne the goals we have in Afghanistan, set up options, establish a timetable and declare victory after the goal was achieve and bring home our troops afterwards. Secure the borders. Hunt for Bun Ladin and AL-Sawari and make it as first priority. And train 500,000 Afghans w/o affiliation with the Taliban and Al-quida. Make the timetable in a year or less.

]]> By: William C.http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-16797 William C. Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:38:37 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-16797 Here's an idea, why don't we put all of that money you liberal moonbats have no trouble wasting on a broken "stimulus" package to getting our troops superior equipment in all areas? And if we do pull out your crowd will be the first calling the war a "defeat." Here’s an idea, why don’t we put all of that money you liberal moonbats have no trouble wasting on a broken “stimulus” package to getting our troops superior equipment in all areas? And if we do pull out your crowd will be the first calling the war a “defeat.”

]]> By: William C.http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-16796 William C. Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:36:01 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-16796 "What if I told you that NO U.S. American infantryman stands ANY chance against any other, identically equipped and identically trained foreign infantryman, least of all in terms of military I.Q. (and I'm not flaming now) ?" I would tell you that you are an insane America-bashing moron who does nothing but troll here, but I guess we all knew that. I would place my money on that American infantryman easily. Tell me what war was ever fought with foes equally trained and armed on 1:1 terms? War is not like a game of chess, the forces don't start equal and matched. “What if I told you that NO U.S. American infantryman stands ANY chance against any other, identically equipped and identically trained foreign infantryman, least of all in terms of military I.Q. (and I’m not flaming now) ?”

I would tell you that you are an insane America-bashing moron who does nothing but troll here, but I guess we all knew that. I would place my money on that American infantryman easily.

Tell me what war was ever fought with foes equally trained and armed on 1:1 terms? War is not like a game of chess, the forces don’t start equal and matched.

]]> By: paulhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-16794 paul Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:29:43 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-16794 Are you saying:They is worse than us? If so,you have no clue man....only two likes help each other,and call it "WAR."mobsters,terrorists. Are you saying:They is worse than us? If so,you have no clue man.…only two likes
help each other,and call it “WAR.“mobsters,terrorists.

]]> By: paulhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-16793 paul Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:27:52 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-16793 Funny!DC,is the circumfrence of a sector in all this"HELL." Notice Frence/French. Funny!DC,is the circumfrence of a sector in all this“HELL.” Notice Frence/French.

]]> By: paulhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-16792 paul Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:26:12 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-16792 Asia already is chaos and all other countries....Its a path that will end in "HELL!" And Obama is covered quite well.... Asia already is chaos and all other countries.…Its a path that will end in “HELL!” And Obama is covered quite well.…

]]> By: TexLandRoverhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-16776 TexLandRover Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:14:12 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-16776 Which one of you Right Wing 'nuts' is going to work a second job to pay the bill for this war? Any volunteers? How about you kick in an extra $500 bucks a month on your taxes? Put your money where your mouths at!Wack up, the USA is now bankrupt! You think this national debt is just going to disappear one day. By perpetuating this Idiocy and Stupidity, you just make your kids & grandkids quality of life sink lower.Also, how about you tough guys talking smack, suit up and get on point? Really easy to talk tough when its someone else doing the bleeding or dieing! Which one of you Right Wing ‘nuts’ is going to work a second job to pay the bill for this war? Any volunteers? How about you kick in an extra $500 bucks a month on your taxes? Put your money where your mouths at!

Wack up, the USA is now bankrupt! You think this national debt is just going to disappear one day. By perpetuating this Idiocy and Stupidity, you just make your kids & grandkids quality of life sink lower.

Also, how about you tough guys talking smack, suit up and get on point? Really easy to talk tough when its someone else doing the bleeding or dieing!

]]> By: Louis T. Puighttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-16749 Louis T. Puig Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:22:25 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-16749 Wrong! Just like the geniuses who wanted to “cut and run” out of Iraq a few years ago and LOOSE that war too...Simple questions: Do we HAVE to win in Afghanistan or not? And why? Well just like in a street fight against a hood thugs “if” we cut and run out of Afghanistan how do you think Alqaeda and the thug Taliban will perceive the “will” of the USA to stay in a fight until victory, eh geniuses? How…?Well, just like that street fight the thug will rightly so realize we are “gutless” and will continue to fight us all the way here…! So all that blood and treasure we HAVE spent will have been done in VANE! Our dead solidiers would have died for nothing!…. and understand, when you are dealing with the thugs/fanatics we are dealing with in Afghanistan and other places there is only ONE thing you can do, and that is do WHATEVER it takes to win including flooding that Afghanistan with as many troops we can muster and kicking their behinds! Period!Grow some cojones and win that war, as for the public opinion, I wipe my behind with it, since less that 1% of us Americans serve in the military….! There rest, a herd, who has no guts, no memmory (many have forgotten the horror of 9/11 already) and no spine for doing things hard do not deserve being listen to in this matter...!Otherwise, bend over and let them do whatever they want to us…..MM1/SS USN Retired here. Wrong! Just like the geniuses who wanted to “cut and run” out of Iraq a few years ago and LOOSE that war too…

Simple questions: Do we HAVE to win in Afghanistan or not? And why?
Well just like in a street fight against a hood thugs “if” we cut and run out of Afghanistan how do you think Alqaeda and the thug Taliban will perceive the “will” of the USA to stay in a fight until victory, eh geniuses? How…?

Well, just like that street fight the thug will rightly so realize we are “gutless” and will continue to fight us all the way here…! So all that blood and treasure we HAVE spent will have been done in VANE! Our dead solidiers would have died for nothing!

…. and understand, when you are dealing with the thugs/fanatics we are dealing with in Afghanistan and other places there is only ONE thing you can do, and that is do WHATEVER it takes to win including flooding that Afghanistan with as many troops we can muster and kicking their behinds! Period!

Grow some cojones and win that war, as for the public opinion, I wipe my behind with it, since less that 1% of us Americans serve in the military….! There rest, a herd, who has no guts, no memmory (many have forgotten the horror of 9/11 already) and no spine for doing things hard do not deserve being listen to in this matter…!

Otherwise, bend over and let them do whatever they want to us…..

MM1/SS USN Retired here.

]]> By: freefallingbombhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-16743 freefallingbomb Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:47:57 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-16743 To the poster Jack Mehoff: ................................................................................................................................................................ You wrote: "And for those who think we cannnot 'win' in Afghanistan, every war has a winner." I thought the Führer already howled "Mission Accomplished!" 8 years ago? ................................................................................................................................................................ You wrote: "It's usually the one that doesn't 'run away', 'redeploy' or find an excuse like 'corrupt government', to disengage.." Did the U.S.A. (alone!) EVER defeat an enemy who could only be defeated by their might? Have you even ever confronted such a foe, on 1 : 1 terms? What if I told you that NO U.S. American infantryman stands ANY chance against any other, identically equipped and identically trained foreign infantryman, least of all in terms of military I.Q. (and I'm not flaming now) ? To the poster Jack Mehoff:

.….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….…

You wrote: “And for those who think we cannnot ‘win’ in Afghanistan, every war has a winner.”

I thought the Führer already howled “Mission Accomplished!” 8 years ago?

.….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….….…

You wrote: “It’s usually the one that doesn’t ‘run away’, ‘redeploy’ or find an excuse like ‘corrupt government’, to disengage..”

Did the U.S.A. (alone!) EVER defeat an enemy who could only be defeated by their might?

Have you even ever confronted such a foe, on 1 : 1 terms?

What if I told you that NO U.S. American infantryman stands ANY chance against any other, identically equipped and identically trained foreign infantryman, least of all in terms of military I.Q. (and I’m not flaming now) ?

]]> By: Jack Mehoffhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-16695 Jack Mehoff Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:42:04 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-16695 "...it’s been more than 8 years now!"Yeah, the enemy is counting on that. They are comitted to a multi generation war. They are aware the Americans of today have no stomach for war, if it lasts longer than the sitcom they are watching.And for those who think we cannnot 'win' in Afghanistan, every war has a winner. It's usually the one that doesn't "run away", "redeploy" or find an excuse like "corrupt government", to disengage.. “…it’s been more than 8 years now!”

Yeah, the enemy is counting on that. They are comitted to a multi generation war. They are aware the Americans of today have no stomach for war, if it lasts longer than the sitcom they are watching.

And for those who think we cannnot ‘win’ in Afghanistan, every war has a winner. It’s usually the one that doesn’t “run away”, “redeploy” or find an excuse like “corrupt government”, to disengage..

]]> By: William C.http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-16678 William C. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:04:22 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-16678 At this rate we should just devise a method of killing the bastards at a low cost until they run out of people to send. No wonder the Soviets resorted to tossing landmines everywhere. At this rate we should just devise a method of killing the bastards at a low cost until they run out of people to send. No wonder the Soviets resorted to tossing landmines everywhere.

]]> By: Drake1http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-16645 Drake1 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:33:19 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-16645 I agree with you there. The Administration is focused on piling on more debt in the way of domestic programs and reelection, so it's time to get out. A republican congress is all we need to mellow this Administration out. I agree with you there. The Administration is focused on piling on more debt in the way of domestic programs and reelection, so it’s time to get out. A republican congress is all we need to mellow this Administration out.

]]> By: Waynehttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-16644 Wayne Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:18:39 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-16644 I've been in the military for 26 years ive seen and done a lot while in here. and i will tell you it's GREAT being the big boy on the block and kicking everyone's butt but ya know sometimes you need to stand back and let the want ta be's kick each other's head's in. In other words it's time to get out stand back and let Afghanistan take care of itself! they eather sink or swim. We don't really have a PLAN or have the heart any longer to WIN so now would be a good time to pul out and take care of things back home like getting a new congress in office come mid-term and get Obama out of office in 2012. I’ve been in the military for 26 years ive seen and done a lot while in here. and i will tell you it’s GREAT being the big boy on the block and kicking everyone’s butt but ya know sometimes you need to stand back and let the want ta be’s kick each other’s head’s in. In other words it’s time to get out stand back and let Afghanistan take care of itself! they eather sink or swim. We don’t really have a PLAN or have the heart any longer to WIN so now would be a good time to pul out and take care of things back home like getting a new congress in office come mid-term and get Obama out of office in 2012.

]]> By: Jasonhttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/24/dont-boost-us-presence-in-afghanistan/#comment-16629 Jason Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:56:01 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=11575#comment-16629 "all you care about is getting out because it isn't worth the blood and treasure..." So getting more Americans killed and maimed in Afghanistan will somehow make it worth while? Our war isn't against the Taliban or Afghan people, it was supposed to be against AQ. And AQ doesn't need Afghanistan to train and plot against the United States. Have you not figured that out yet? The Afghan people may need us, but they need a legitimate government whose leaders aren't busy making deals with drug dealers and the Pakistani ISI. Here's your strategy - stop digging when you are so deep in a hole. Time to let the Afghan govt take care of its own people. “all you care about is getting out because it isn’t worth the blood and treasure…”

So getting more Americans killed and maimed in Afghanistan will somehow make it worth while? Our war isn’t against the Taliban or Afghan people, it was supposed to be against AQ. And AQ doesn’t need Afghanistan to train and plot against the United States. Have you not figured that out yet? The Afghan people may need us, but they need a legitimate government whose leaders aren’t busy making deals with drug dealers and the Pakistani ISI. Here’s your strategy — stop digging when you are so deep in a hole. Time to let the Afghan govt take care of its own people.

]]>