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twitterLetter to the editor:
Time to be honest about war efforts, nation building
Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 | 2:01 a.m.
Many things changed as we made the transition from the 20th to the 21st century. One thing that needs to change is our definition of a declaration of war. We need to expand that definition to include conflicts with not only nations, but also groups.
We need to decide whether we want to be “at war” and, if we do, have the president issue and Congress approve a formal declaration of war against the Taliban and al-Qaida and then add any group that attacks American military personnel or civilians. This should have been done after the attacks of 2001.
A declaration of war would clarify that we are at war and these are our adversaries. We should then put the costs of the war effort on the government books and raise taxes to pay for whatever actions we take against our enemies.
We should also call the efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq what they are — nation-building efforts — and ask the American people if they support and are willing to pay for these efforts. It is way past time to call this effort what it is, and decide if we as a nation are committed enough to see it through and pay for it.
There are real and honest disagreements over this effort and we need to be honest about all of it and make a decision as a nation and as a people.
Discussion: 16 comments so far…
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After setting the Afghan strategy in March of 2009, Obama has had eight (8) majors meetings to decide how to change that strategy. But Obama appears to be unable to communicate what he wants to do because at the 8th meeting he again rejected his war council's advise. What seem to be missing is a bigger community service organizer role in 10 major Afghan cities. Of course the military does not do that so it will fall to the Hillary Clinton State Department.
It appear that it will take two and a half years to get 35,000 troops to Afghanistan they will not start to arrive until March, after the Spring offensive starts. This is no surge and clearly will not make a difference
It is hard to understand why Obama cannot get across to his staff what he wants.
Obama's handpick U.S. ambassador in Kabul Karl W. Eikenberry, is feeding the anti afghan policy.
"The Obama strategy depends on the ability to work with, and hand off to, a competent Afghan government and army -- yet the U.S. is stuck with an ineffectual leader, a corrupt government and a weak Afghan security force."
Biden is saying conditions have changed since March when Obama put his strategy in place.
In March Obama sent thinly spread out unsupported troops expanding out into the Afghanistan wilderness settlements exposing them to local attacks. Unfortunately Obama also placed new restrictive rules of engagement on our troops and gave the enemy many civilian civil liberties. Now with the 2009 summer offense nearly over the military is saying they need more troops to fight under Obama's rules.
What is not clear is why Obama is laying the blame on "failure" in Afghanistan on President Hamid Karzai and the Afghanistan central government.
Afghanistan never signed up for duty. U.S. officials were particularly irritated by a interview in which a defiant Karzai said that the West has little interest in Afghanistan and that its troops are there only for self-serving reasons. "The West is not here primarily for the sake of Afghanistan," Karzai told PBS's "The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer" program.
Who the ##$% are we to be telling other countries how to run? Like this country isn't a mess? How arrogant - and that's why so many others hate us.
The U.S. attacked Afghanistan, a nation, to get back at a pseudo terrorist group that has never been tried and convicted,much less proven to exist, of the crime that took place on 9/11. The Afghan people have been trying to stand their ground to protect their country and in the process have been labeled insurgents.
The Taliban have been accused of colluding with al Qaeda, which has never been proven, and have been put on the same terrorist list as al Qaeda. It is true that the Taliban was in control of Afghanistan in 2001 when our forces attacked that country and at that time were taken out of power. Hamid Karzai, the Americans puppet ruler who at once worked with the co. Enron, at that point was put in power of Afghanistan. It is true that the U.S. had been dealing with the Taliban since the mid 90's on constructing 2 pipelines through Afghanistan from Turkministan's Caspian Sea region which is full of crude oil and natural gas. Condoleeza Rice, at that time on the board of directors for Chevron, went to Afghanistan to work a deal with the Taliban. The deal fell through when the Taliban told the U.S. Oil Cos. that it would take alot of money for them to protect the pipeline project. So without the Taliban to protect the construction of the pipelines we needed troops over there. Now we need even more. This is the same scenario that took place in Iran in the 70's when the Shah of Iran was in power. History repeats itself.
Imagine all the money being wasted on this occupation(war was never declared) that could have been used to help take care of the problems in our country. Just think of the money China has been lending us for this occupation which is being paid to the military industrial complex to fund this war. There are a number of politicians, retired and active that are on the board of directors with these contractors. This trillion dollar bill will take generations to pay off.
Why are we in Afghanistan fighting and killing innocent civilians that had nothing to do with 9/11? Can anyone spell GREED?
the five Mitt trust fund kids didn't serve either...looks like Obama is a one termer Afghanistan is his Vietnam
Afghanistan and Iraq for the USA appear to be the equivalent of a gambling and drug addiction for an individual. Those useless wars are driving the USA effectively into bankrupcy. That war money should be spent on domestic matters to make the USA a better country, and not poured down the toilet of unwinnable wars. I am so disappointed in Obama for his apparent imminent increase in the troop levels, when I was hopeful he would end the wars quickly.
Hey Canada... Canada spends all of it's heavy tax money on domestic matters and take a good look at your country before your criticize the U.S.
LarryVegas...Why not hear comments from foreigners like myself? We want the USA to prosper (most of our trade is with the USA). Canada was dragged into the Afghanistan war by our great desire to be your trusted friend. Most Canadians now oppose that useless costly war. Can't one friend tell another when it seems a huge mistake is being escalated?
Wailer Mike acts like a non partisan but some of his other posts don't concur...
23 Oct 2009, "I'm sick of white folks holding us Black folks to a higher moral standard. McCain (voter-fraud and perjury)took a $112K bribe from Keating..."
Wailer Mike appears to be just another anti-war Left Winger. Wonder if he is getting a new "pink" shirt from Cindy Sheehan for Christmas...
Canada... You appear to be just another anti-war Canadian by the tone of your posts...
A friend does not publicly address another friends problems. You do not appear to be a friend, so don't use that word so easily.
Please keep your partisan politics in Canada.
A little advice... Be careful what you post here because, some here are not as nice as me and will really tell you off...
Larry don't tell me you're trying to act like a tough guy again. It's about time you had started realizing that our government is pandering to big business which they are a part of. If you can't understand that then you are part of the problem.
This country has been pandering to big business for a lot longer then you and I have been alive. So what's new?
Now this country is pandering to the big unions and special interest groups. Again... So what's new?
This country has a lot of problems. Always have and always will. That's the nature of our type of government. It's not perfect, but it is the best that's out there.
Just like you wouldn't like me intruding into your personal affairs, I don't like someone intruding into our country's affairs...
If we are going to provide military aid to foreign countries, why are we not charging the countries that are receiving the aid?
Oh Canada!.. Post all you want. I am interested in what you think. I will not excoriate you. I served in Nam with a Canadian , name of Jack Perkins. He bought a small piece of property over there, about 4 ft by 6 ft by 3 ft deep. He was a good guy.
To one and all: Have a great Thanksgiving!
ecm, even if we bill them they won't pay. It's easier for our government to bill the American citizens and get the money from us. We can yell and scream all we want but it will still come from the taxes we pay. Our elected officials don't listen to what we want or don't want.
Larry, a comment is just that, a comment. Just as you comment so do others.