I was wondering what people think about having troops over in Afghanistan.

I only know that over 70 percent of Germans are opposed to having German troops in Afghanistan

We’re there because the Taliban government harbored the terrorists that killed 3000ish people on September 11th, in addition to being responsible for other terrorist attacks. We probably could have eliminated Al Qaeda strongholds in Afghanistan and taken out Osama Bin Laden with something other than the full scale invasion and regime change model, but the desire for revenge in the wake of the terrorist attacks combined with an idealogical belief in regime change and the spread of democracy, combined with a revulsion for the repressive Taliban government, led to the approach used. We are there now because the new government cannot provide security and is terrified of a revolution the moment we leave and our government thinks they’re right to be afraid.

There is also a strong argument to be made that the invasions of both Iraq and Afghanistan were at least partly motivated by a desire to have friendly governments on either side of Iran that would allow us to base our troops in their countries.

I would love to see all foreign troups out of Afganistan. I would love to see a strong, popularly supported central government in Afganistan capable of maintaining it’s own security. I am afraid the US has supported too many dictators in the Middle East to be able to nurture any government that has legitimacy in the eyes of the people. I don’t know how we (I live in the US) can provide security and stability in the region without compromising our core beliefs of self-determination and justice.

Oil (more specifically a pipeline) for oil companies, heroin for the CIA, and obviously war for the military industrial complex with a side of “let’s surround Iran.”

Stupid, nothing but stupid.

If you can get past the eyebrow action you might find this helpful: brief history of the US involvement in the afghanistan war

A necessary evil. To do otherwise would allow the country to become one huge Al Quida refuge for terrorist assaults on other nations, including the US.

@CaptainHarley Sadly true. Bush was so hell-bent to invade Iraq he starved the effort to get Bin Laden. We had him pinned down at Tora Bora and the Bush Administration refused to send in troops requested by the commanders on the ground there. Instead, they left it to the Afghan Warlords who took some bribes and lo-and-behold, Bin Laden, Mullah Omar and the senior leadership of the Taliban and Al Qaeda all slipped safely into Pakistan where they are today.

Those who are against this war like to point to the fact that Al Qaeda isn’t in Afghanistan anymore as if that means the job is done. Unfortunately, the job is not done. And the terrorist who walked into Pakistan can also walk back out into Afghanistan if it falls back into Taliban hands. That would be a huge betrayal of Pakistan, who we have pressured to go after the Taliban and Al Qaeda in the tribal lands. Pakistan would either have to invade Afghanistan themselves and try to pacify it, ot face repeated incursions from a reinvigorated enemy sitting right back in the safe haven they used to attack us on 9/11.

It’s a lousy hand, but that’s the cards we were dealt.

@ETpro

Agreed. Good analysis. I’m going to recommend to the CIA that they hire you. : )

@CaptainHarley Not likely. I’m 65. But that would be a dream job. My son might have some shot it it. He’s incredibly bright, and he’s now a 2nd Lt. in the Infantry. He wants in the worst way to lead a combat platoon leader, but he’s about to deploy to Afghanistan and his unit already has all the slots filled, so he’s getting assigned to S6 Staff. I know he wants action, but I’m pretty pleased it is what it is.

Got ya beat. I’ll be 67 in May. I lead a counterinsurgency team in Vietnam for about 15 months when I was 2LT, 1LT and Captain, then was assigned as a company commander with the 173rd Airborne Brigade for another 9 months. Tell your son it’s not all it’s cracked up to be! LOL! Nahh. I enjoyed it, but I should have stayed in counterinsurgency ops. I’m paying a price now for those 2 years in ‘Nam: got incurable cancer ( which is in remission just now, thank God ), diabetes, and high blood presssure from that double-damned Agent Orange.

@ragingloli – Yes, I know, but I’m not one of them. I support having German troops in Afghanistan. No more 911s. No more training camps.

@CaptainHarley As hollow as it must sound given all you have paid, thanks so much for your service.

@ETpro

You’re very welcome, and thank you for saying so. It was my honor and priviledge.