The Afghan war: What is the point?

[IndianaGreen]

The Afghan war: What is the point?

Thursday 04 March 2010
Solomon Hughes

For what cause are British soldiers and Afghan civilians dying in "Operation Moshtarak?" There is no doubt they are dying. The third British soldier to be killed fell last week.

By the time this is published he may already have been joined by more of his comrades.

Moshtarak means "together." And Afghan civilians are joining British troops in death.

Nato admits that at least 19 civilians have been killed in operation Moshtarak - a dozen by mistargeted rocket attacks, the rest by crossfire.

The killings will not end the Afghan conflict or solve Afghanistan's problems. This point was made clear by US General William Caldwell, the man in charge of training the Afghan National Army and police. He is in charge of the "exit strategy" because according to current plans Nato troops will continue killing and dying until Afghan forces are judged ready to take over.

Speaking to Radio 4's Today Programme, Caldwell said - and it is an unusual thing for a general to admit - that war is not the answer.

"In fact there is no military solution to this challenge in Afghanistan," he said.

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/87567

[denimgirly]

1. Sometimes it would be nice to be a Republican -- Ignorance is Bliss and chant USA...USA

[PurityOfEssence]

2. Why, there are LOTS of points:

1) Obama needs to prove that he's not a candy-ass weakling Democrat. Caught with the tag of being a peacenik because of his exaggerated characterization of his opposition to the Iraq War Resolution, he was quick and repeated in his reminding that Afghanistan was the war that should be being fought. To his credit, he had said in that ONE speech against the IWR before its passing that he was not against all wars, just that one.

2) He needs to seek approval from the reactionaries, even when it's brutally apparent that they'll fight him tooth and nail regardless of what he does. Even if he IS thinking about getting out, he's scared of the political fallout.

3) There's oil in them thar 'stans, lest we forget, and that pipeline for the gas is still in the background of all this.

4) Somehow, he still feels that he has to disprove the allegations of being soft on Islam.

5) Much as he caves right and left when conservatives disapprove of his actions, there's still this bizarre need to not admit a mistake.

6) Tactical and Strategic disengagement are simply very hard things to do.

[WinkyDink]

4. Don't forget the poppy field$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

[cutlassmama]

3. oil