U.S. Credibility on Afghanistan Is Dubious and Suspect

AFGHANISTAN IS A SORRY MESS

The War in Afghanistan has been a disasterous mess... And it is so hard for us to get out...

WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE after 9/11 is invaded Afghanistan in a big way--sent hundreds of thousands of troops and waves of bombers (forget Iraq!)-- and Shock and Awe-ed Al Quaeda and the Taliban... and either killed or captured Osama bin Laden. And finished the job within 3 months.

Then, after declaring success and expressing our profuse regrets to everyone, we should have left--giving the Afghans a huge amount of money to make them very happy. (How much? Say $50 Billion, which is dirt cheap compared to the almost $1 Trillion we have already spent).

SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

We have spent 10 years in Afghanistan, spending a ruinous amount of American money and lives and wounded. And we have caused massive death and destruction in Afghanistan, and ruined the lives of a generation of Afghans. But we also have given hope to some...

We have spent a ruinous amount of American money and dead and wounded. And we have caused great hatred against us (who wouldn't hate a dealer of death and destruction after 10 years?).

We need to get out because we just can't afford to stay anymore ($4 - $6 billion/month? Omigosh!). And Osama bin Laden is dead. All we are now doing is just increasing hatred towards us. (Let's face it: we just DON'T understand the Muslim world.)

But we have also stirred up hopes for a better society among a substantial part of the population, largely women, who would feel abandoned by our leaving.

So what do we do? There is the practical thing for us to do (Get the Hell Out!) But there is also the moral responsibility that we have (I know some of you fell: What the Hell is that, right?)

I think it's embarrassing... for us to just leave after 10 years of massively screwing up the lives of a generation of people.

I know I feel embarrassed.

stevchipmunk of PA 8:47PM May 04, 2012