Can Iraq Surge Translate to Victory in Afghanistan?

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alcoloritte of AL 12:40AM April 18, 2009

Not this way. The Russians tried, the British tried several times in the 19th century. We need to keep our eye on the ball and stay focused. The mission is not nation building (and a defensive war), rather it is get Al Quaida and the Taliban (offensive war). Making Pakastan off limits and providing a refuge is not the way to win. Make Pakastan declare it's alliegience and produce results or as the saying goes "those that run with foxes might as well eat chicken. This well we can't do it because of this & this & this and having it both ways doesn't cut it. As for Aphganistan, how exactly do you produce a stable government in a contining unstable situation? This is what we have been doing and failing! Now is the time for new thinking and more positive attitude (we can win) and fewer exscuses and the same old; same old.

Eric Dodd of AR 11:33AM April 01, 2009

I do not think so, In my view there is nothing in that sad and unhappy country worth our time,money and military power....a feudal tribal nation where the tribal leaders make huge amounts of money growing and exporting huge amounts of narcotic drugs and the people live in misery and poverty as a result, this is a helpless and hopeless society and has been that way for many centuries.....we do not need to get entangled in yet another war for no good purpose.....

Steve S. Roisman of CA 6:23PM March 10, 2009

It is disappointing that Obama contiues the Bush policies in this tribal dominated country which never had a central government,the British,Russians failed what makes anyone thing
we will succeed ? Even with some NATO involvement this adventure of nation building going on now for years will in the end fail.A talked about surge is a waste of money and lives,there is no way a military will work neither in Iraq.the American electorate expects from Obama change so let's get out
of there,the NATO countries are also tired of this war and now the supply routes are in jeopardy to boot.Pakistan is a questionably reliant country in fighting the Taliban for tribal reasons.

S.Roehm of MI 2:04PM February 24, 2009

Scott of MN
You're correct! A good comment. But we NEED to stay in Iraq and FINISH THE JOB THERE as WELL as a surge in Afghanistan!. We NEED to STAY AND FINISH the job in Iraq AS BADLY AS WE NEED THAT SURGE IN AFGHANASTAN! bin Laden is in Pakistan, and THAT is really where we need special forces that CAN flush him out without ANY warning to him whatsoever! We HAVE the capibility to do JUST THAT!Yes, a troop surge in Afghanistan, near the northern border with Pakistan IS needed and that's the ONLY decision I go along with Mr.Obama on. I refuse, as does Mr. Alan Keyes, to call Obama "President"! He is NOT MY President, he's a FOREIGN BORN USERPER that MAY NOT even be a legal, NATURALIZED citizen of the USA. Wouldn't it be a hoot if THAT came out and not ONLY is he tossed OUT of the WHITEHOUSE, but ALSO OUT of the country?!

Alexander Patrick of TN 6:09AM February 24, 2009

All he has a list of things he thinks could go wrong, all of which pale in comparison to what could and likely will happen if we pull out. Furthermore, he offers no viable alternatives. I didn't vote for Obama but one of the things I did agree with him on is the need for more troops in Afghanistan and I am glad he is taking steps in that direction.

Scott of MN 3:29PM February 23, 2009

Prof. Bacevich, Jordan, Paddy, Jesus and Luther, I think you are all nuts! If you all had been in charge between 1939 and 1942 we would all be writing our comments in this blog in German or Japanese. All y'all should read two books, "Generations" and "The Fourth Turning". We are entering a period of economic and political crisis and no amount of head-in-the-sand denial is going affect it in the least.

The Old Dawg of AL 1:31AM February 20, 2009

The Fall Of The American Empire or United States Of America.
By: Jordan C. Fan, Prophet Of Environment
4 th, January, 2009.
All of your must read this thread with your greatest respect, support and admiration without challenge. Otherwise great disaster of unprecedented portion will occur. In fact we are current facing the great disasters in human history, not just economic chaos. As my words is the messages from Environment/Devil/God/Heaven which cannot be challenged.
Although I am mandated by Environment/Devil/God/Heaven to prophesy the Fall of the British and American Empires, during my very long, thirty (30) years, career as Prophet of Environment, I have tried very hard to provide warnings to the U. S. so that such fall would become unnecessary and averted. My mandates have been, as explained in a separate thread titled “The True Purpose Of Religion” under the “Free Talk” section, to work with the U. S. on Environmental projects in order to establish my supernatural experience and capabilities to convince the U. S. to redemption of its crimes against humanity and Environment. Please read that thread on “Religion” for better understanding of religion, and also in reference and support of this thread. Unfortunately, the Americans due mainly to arrogance, greed, and religious ignorance has failed to listen to my helpful advice and prophecies, the final demise of the American Empire, will have no choice, but to become a reality.
The decision by Environment/Devil/God/Heaven on the Fall of the U. S. was made at approximately one year before my birth. Quite obvious I was sent or descended to earth from Heaven to take up my duty as Prophet of Environment to prophesy such a falls. The following and subsequent posts/replies are reasons for the Fall Of The American Empire:
(1) Many people will certainly blame the fall of the American Empire on specific presidents, their administration and policies or the lack of them for such falls. Although almost all of America’s recent presidents starting with Frank Delano Roosevelt to its president-elect Barack Obama are responsible for their fall. The final decision was made by the Environment during the Harry Truman administration. The next item (2) is my explanation or revelation.
(2) Since the beginning of the United States, they have established the so called, “Manifested Destiny.” That is, the original thirteen states at the eastern coast of the U. S. have the “God” given rights to expand westward and the land west of a states will be belonged to that state and so on. This “Manifest” was the key, incentive and motivation for American westward expansion by migrant explorations such as the Lewis and Clark, Great Westward Migration, Homestead Migration, Oregon Trail, the building of the Pacific Railway, etc... It has also led to subsequence purchases and conquests of land such as the Louisiana Purchase, purchase of Alaska from Russia and conquest of California and other western states from Mexico.
(3) The American westward expansion went even beyond the original “manifestation.” Initially White Americans had massacre millions of native Indians and destroyed all the wildlife on their path. After they reach the Pacific Ocean to Alaska and California, the Americans continued on criminal invasion of Hawaii by unspeakable persecution and enforced suffering of the Hawaiian Royal family and illegal annexation of their nation. The American also invaded the Philippines and other Pacific island to impose strict colonial rules to persecute Asians. Finally, the American intention of controlling Japan had start World War II which resulted in lost of tens of million of human lives especially during the atomic bombing of Japan.
(4) The final expansion and criminal acts occurred with the illegal invasion of Korea and Vietnam which were totally uncalled for by Environment. They are quite simply the Americans finally preparation of invasion China and massacre of the Chinese people to satisfy their greed. During the Truman Administration and Korea War with China in the 1950’s, the final decision of the Fall of the American Empire had been made by the Environment. That is, the Environment has begun to retaliate against the American world aggression, and I was sent to earth to prophesy the Fall of the American Empire. Such American expansion has created irreversible Environmental damages which are unforgivable. Even today, the Americans still have the intention to invade China economically which must be stopped.

Jordan C. Fan, Prophet of Envirmen. 9:17AM February 17, 2009

Recent War In the Middle East & Fall of The American Empire. Part 3.
By: Jordan C. Fan, Prophet Of Environment.
In fact vineyard and winery are one of the most important industry of the Roman Empire. The Roman, especially the wealthy, royal families and political leaders, one consumed large amount of alcohol. Unfortunate, most of the cooking utensils and containers of those rich people were made of metal when compare to to the poor made of wood or ceramic. Metal utensil require alloy which inclue the toxic metal lead and lead welding of metal including even silver or gold cooking utensil, table wares and food/drink containers. The toxic lead metal have a great affinity in dissolution in alchol. Not to mention the harmful effect of alcohol alone in the destruction of brains. As the wealthy and powerful Roman consume more alcohol they brain would deteriorate much faster than other people. Quite obviously when the minds of most Roman leaders had deteriated drastically the empire will certainly fall quickly. This quite evident that Roman emperor such as Nero, Hadrian and Curricula were diagnosed as insane. It is impossible for the Roman Empire with so many crazy leaders not to fall. The erruption of the Mount Vesuvius whose toxic volcanic fumes had killed off many Roman elites was also the supernatural retaliation from the Environment to punished the Roman of their atrocities against other people.
The Invention And Possession Of Nuclear Weapons which is also an Environmental problem again contribute to the fall. The United States has never won another total victory in a war after the World War II. The reason is the fear of nuclear weapons possessed by other nations. If the United States has gone too far as to attacking and invading an enemy nation supported by another nuclear power, there is a tendency their allies such as Russia, China, India, France, UK, or Pakistan will retaliated. it is because of the desireof achieving balance of power or simply out of mistrust, some of those countries will have no choice to use nuclear. Since many of those nations have nothing to lose or too big to lose by using nuclear weapons as a threat will give them an edge or advantage over the United States which have great investment in infrastructure and valuable real estates and properties to be damage in case of nuclear attack. In fact, if you have seen the movie: "Dr. Strangelove" you know any nuclear explosion anywhere in the world, the radiation will end up harming the U. S. more than any other countries. I have no doubt that it is a poetic justice or revenge of the Environment for the United States to invent nuclear weapons.
Foreigners and slaves were the key to the fall of both empires. See movies Spartacus, Gladiator & Ben Hur. According to many historians, the Fall Of The Roman Empire was the result of accepting to many foreign nationals as Roman citizens and employing too large a number of foreign slaves.

Jordan C. Fan, Prophet Of Environment 8:34AM February 17, 2009

Recent War In the Middle Easr & Fall of The American Empire.
By: Jordan C. Fan, Prophet Of Environment.
Comparison Between Fall Of Roman To American Empires. An Environmental Prospective. Since the war in the Middle East is related to petroleum, natural resource and Environment.
No analysis of the fall of any empire will be complete without the comparison of the fall a specific empire to the Fall of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire & the British Empire are two of the greatest empires in the history of human civilization. The Roman Empire is especially important because its influence was so far reaching in trm of language, culture, technology, philosophy and politic. The inception of the highly advance Roman Empire was almost miracles that formation of such an advance nation can be achieve so long before its time. Even today more than half of the world nations in one form or another have very close ties to ancient Roman politic & government. There is a country call Romania. The former Czar of Russian is call Romanov. The technology, literature, measurement and mathematics system we using is basically on Roman & some are called Roman numerals. One third of world population are speaking Romantic languages such as Latin, Spanish, French & other South European nations plus dialects.
Through history, there were countless top scholars trying to analysis the Roman Empire and determined the reasons for its fall. Although there were no consensus for one main reason but more than dozens of reasons were presented as the causes of the final demise of the Roman Empire. I will try to present some of them here in my thread but I should really stick to the topic of the Fall of the American Empire.
My own most important reason for the fall of both American & Roman Empire, I will present later. Now, I must present my Environmental reason for the fall of both empires since I am the Prophet of Environment & the world’s top environmental scientist.
The Environmental cause of the fall of the American Empire is because during the 20th century survival U. S. depend entirely in wasteful consumption of the world natural resource. Most of those resources are manufactured product which require industrial process that would create pollution. On the other hand, Americans are extremely fond of cleanness especially compare to Asians. They cannot tolerated any dirt or imperfection on anything. Slightly damaged, outdated or contaminated places & items especially food will be quickly closed, deposed of or remediate. This have contradicted completely of the fast paced industrial, manufacture and fast developing nature of the American society. Therefore the Environmental cause of the American Empire is unavoidable.
For the Roman, Environment problems is still the major cause of the Roman Empire. This empire was located in the Mediterranean Sea which has the ideal Environment for the production wine & other alcohol products.

Jordan C. Fan, Prophet Of Environment. 8:01AM February 17, 2009