This is not your typical war... the emphasis will be protecting not destroying

[bik0]

Obama is doing the right thing... the new mission is protecting the population, training security forces, educating, creating jobs. We cannot win by missile strikes that kill more civilians than Taliban. This is our last chance and I support the plan. If it fails then there's no recourse but to GTFO. We must see progress within a year... if not then pull the plug.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AndrewP]

3. It'll be compassionate bombing

:puke:

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. Plenty I'll bet.

:puke:

[Thickasabrick]

11. Fuck - I was just going to type that. Thank you. I wish I could rec

your comment.

[bik0]

13. I don't see it as an escalation.

The mission is changed. The old methods of the Bush admin clearly didn't work. Even though we'll add more troops the number of casualties will decrease IMO. The goal is to weaken the Taliban by re-integrating those Taliban recruits who don't subscribe to the Taliban ideology by offering them jobs and security. This is no longer a war of bombs, missiles and IED's.

[sendero]

18. Do you..

.... have ANY FUCKING IDEA how many times we have heard this script?

We have heard the same crap about Iraq at least 3 times. And finally, what was the answer? Paying everyone off. As soon as the cash stops, and it will, Iraq will be right back where it was.

I'm sorry, these nation building missions never work. And neither will this one.

I can only pray that Obama sets a clear time line for the Afghans to do THEIR PART and if it is not met WE LEAVE.

[bik0]

23. The only way it will work

is if the Afghans somehow get their act together, root out corruption and become self reliant - a tall order indeed. I'm afraid they're all doped up on poppy which will make it almost impossible to make progress. I see this effort as the last chance to make a lasting change in the region - it's worth trying. The jury is still out on Iraq.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. That sounds like what needs to be done right here at home.

[tnlefty]

22. Poverty, education, jobs at home...

I've seen this shit since Viet Nam and I'm more than tired of it. Always money for death and destruction, but not for a better way of life for us taxpaying citizens.

Same old song and dance.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Thoughtful post--welcome to DU!

[kayakjohnny]

5. Good luck, and welcome.

And go put on that suit of armor you have in the closet.

[Individualist]

6. Killing is protecting, war is peace, up is down.

:crazy:

[madrchsod]

9. it`s "kill for peace".......

[cali]

8. wars don't work that way. ever. we've been there for close to a decade.

time to get out.

[madrchsod]

14. we`ll be at war in Afghanistan longer than we were in Vietnam.

Vietnam--1962 or 65 - 1973

Afghanistan--2001-2012

[gleaner]

10. I'm sorry ...

but I cannot agree. There is no such thing as "protective" war. War kills, war maims and war destroys every chance we ever have of reaching a detente or trust with the population of the occupied country. Think of what they have seen of our military occupation, and that is what they will always see.

If I walked up to you and suddenly attacked you and said it was because of someone else's actions, how receptive would you be to any offers of help I made to you later? How easy would it be for you to trust me because I hadn't harmed you again yet. Yet is always the operative word in these situations. We lost our last chance in both Afghanistan and Iraq when Bush invaded them. Now it is time to leave and let them decide their own futures and give our military their release and their futures as well. The military has performed bravely for the U.S., but the nature of the engagements and the way they were managed by the Command structures hurt them as well.

Pull the plug now. There is nothing to be gained except more death, chaos and hatred, and everything to lose.

[Thickasabrick]

12. Cowturds - go watch Dan Rather on Rachel Maddow's show. He

just got back. All this will do is buy time - to further payroll the MIC. Different strategy - same fucking end. Only diff is more dead people.

[walldude]

15. What is a "typical war"?

I'll say it again. They don't call Afghanistan the Graveyard Of Empires for nothing. Our fate will be the same as everyone elses. Sure there are lots of reasons to go in there. None of them any fucking good. None of them worth the lives of US soldiers.

[bridgit]

17. Ah come on, has it really been that long - my, how time flys ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfvCjLgbpy0

[leeroysphitz]

16. Cool. Sounds just like Somalia. What could go wrong?

[ShamelessHussy]

19. thats what they always say

but war is hell, always

though, from 8,000 miles away, you can make it appear as clean as necessary.

[Atticus]

20. "Dear Mr. and Mrs. Murikan:

We regret to inform you that your son, Lance Corporal John J. Murikan, on 12-25-09, was struck in the left eye by a single rifle bullet. It exitted above and behind his right ear and he died instantly.

We know that you will find comfort in considering that, due to this war not being your typical war, John was not destroyed: he was "protected". We know, also, that you will appreciate that John got "protected" so that we could provide jobs and education to the Afghan people.

We share your pride that John got "protected" while doing the right thing.

Sincerely,

General Stanley McChrystal."

[Bigmack]

21. I "protected" villages during ....

during the Southeast Asia War Games. Tried to keep them on our side.. really did. MedCap patrols, chocolate bars... the whole bit. Didn't work. They were too scared of the VC to cooperate. After taking casualties from sniper fire and mines and booby traps, we just burned the villages and relocated the people.

Making friends... everywhere we go.

Your GTFO idea needs to be pursued sooner rather than later. Like... oh.... NOW!