Friday's NYT publishes a major editorial questioning U.S. role in Afghanistan

[Newsjock]

Source: New York Times

We believe that the United States has a powerful national interest in Afghanistan, in depriving Al Qaeda of a safe haven on either side of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. This country would also do enormous damage to its moral and strategic standing if it now simply abandoned the Afghan people to the Taliban’s brutalities.

But, like many Americans, we are increasingly confused and anxious about the strategy in Afghanistan and wonder whether, at this late date, there is a chance of even minimal success.

... Mr. Obama has promised to review his policy this December. We agree that the “surge” and his new commander, Gen. David Petraeus, need time. But reports from the ground have been so relentlessly grim — July’s death toll of 66 American troops was the highest since the war began — that Mr. Obama needs to do a better job right now of explaining the strategy and how he is measuring progress. Here are some of the things Americans and American allies, who are even more anxious about the war, need to hear:

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/13/opinion/13fri1.html?pagewanted=1&ref=opinion

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. We don't need large amounts of troops out there

it isn't really a traditional war. Catching pockets of terrorists needs intelligence personnel not troops.

[JohnyCanuck]

2. Yes, it is rather important

if you really want to eliminate terrorists that you don't use tactics that would tend to create more terrorists than you eliminate. Unless, of course, eliminating terrorists and terrorism in only the official cover story for why one sends troops to occupy a country half way around the world.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

6. The intelligence has to be right and small teams can be used

much of the problem is getting the right intelligence. With all the different factions in Afghanistan it has proven very difficult. Bribery and corruption. I think people have short memories or I guess they weren't born when all this was going on before. Not to mention the pipeline.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mujahideen

[leftstreet]

3. LOL NYT editorialist is pissy that Karzai and his brother are making $$

Grabbing lucrative contracts, making deals here and there

LOL lie down with theives........

[defendandprotect]

4. Even the now rw NY Times is questioning it ... END THESE DAMNED WARS!!

[Wilms]

5. Wilms questioning NYT role in pushing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan n/t