The Obama Surge in Afghanistan—Smart Move?

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The majority of Afghan people embrace the Taliban form of religion and government and it should be of NO interest to the United States. Al Qaeda must be stopped but US cannot ever win by failing to recognize the will of the Afghan people just as we have no right to beat the Pakistanis into democratic life. America is officially a republic but majority rule forces different forms of government on the American people. Let us win our own country rather than continue to try to win other countries by forcing our values on their people.

Joe Edwards of CA 2:27PM February 20, 2009

You can critique Bush for Iran, but at least in Iraq there were political groups that could be developed to the point where the could likely restore a functional and "friendly" government.
None of this exists in Afghanistan. We are going to lose a lot of "our boys and girls" in Afghanistan for nothing.
I support out anti-terrorist efforts world wide, but don't support the idea of losing even one American life in Afghanstan. The "nukes" idea is not really all that bad. Let's draw a line in the sand and let Afghanistan (and others know) that as long as you mind your own business, you can lead the life you wish. Step out-ot-line and pose a threat to the US, and your gone. (Second guy in line will get the message pretty quickly).

njguardian of NJ 1:16PM February 20, 2009

It hasn't been shown to my satisfaction that there is any justification for fighting the Taliban. For all I know, the relationship between al Qaida and the Taliban may be no closer than that between the US and the Kurdish PKK terrorists, i.e., an accommodation of parties sharing the same territory because of lack of resources and lack of conflict of interests sufficient to fight over. Should the US make war on the PKK at the behest of the Turks? Seems like the Turks could accuse the US of harboring PKK terrorists during its occupation of Iraq. This seems to be all the logic there is to our fighting the Taliban. I've never heard that the Taliban were interested in sending terrorists to the US. There interests are probably limited to regaining control of their own country, or part of it, which might make for negotiations. Bribe them as we are bribing the Sunnis and call it a stroke of genius like the Iraq surge.
If we can't get bin Laden, what is the point of staying in Afghanistan? Stimulus?

Luther of IL 11:42PM February 19, 2009

How about we sell both sides some short range nukes, that could be trigger remotely in the event they try to move them out of their county, pull all of our troops home, and sit back and watch. When the mushroom cloud clears we can deal with whoever the winner.
Problem solved
This might encourage Europe's and Asia's to become a little more involved.

Larry of CA 4:22PM February 19, 2009

led by America has no choice but to continue confronting both Al Qaeda and The Taliban, wherever either are found. Al Qaeda still deserves our wrath from 9/11, and needs to be eliminated. The Taliban represents the worst of fundamentalist Muslim oppression of anything in the world.
Iraq? Different thing. We need to push the Iraqis to embrace the freedom they have, while they still have it. The ordinary Afghans run over in parts of their country have no freedom. Same in Pakistan.
Better to stabilize Pakistan by whatever we have to do (including drone strikes and a lot of them) than wait for Islamabad to fall to thugs operating only 100 miles away from that capital.

Muser of NM 4:13PM February 19, 2009

since Pakistan has given the Taliban a free hand in the mountainous border provinces. We now have a "no win" situation. Pakistan, with their nukes, is slipping away to the wacko Muslim side.
Coupled with the crazies in Iran and their nukes... Well, things could get real ugly - real fast.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 3:30PM February 19, 2009