If anybody should notice here, that I'm biased against Mr. Lind, yep, that's right in the meantime.
In his opinion the likely working strategy is giving Afghanistan to the Taliban. I may be wrong, but did not start this whole Afghanistan war because and against the Taliban ?
Mr. Lind, would you personally explain your precious plan to the Afghan ladies then ? Will you provide them Burkas for free ?
What a defeatist! This kind of attitude amazes me. What happened to American resolve, fighting until it's won and not saying it's over till it's over? Doesn't surprise me from this gentleman, but goodness, wake up. We're Americans!
I'm surprised more posts on this subject have not been submitted.
Anyway, we may not like it but Mr. Lind has hit the nail on the head. Rather than depending upon irrational ideas such as victory in Afghanistan, truly an emotional response, he disects in a short article the socio-economic and political realities of the country. At issue in the article is the simple fact, Afghanistan is a tribal country. Tribal leaders will never surrender their sense of independence to a central government. They never have and never will.
Our efforts in Afghanistan are directed toward establishing a strong central government, an idea that is anathema to the many tribes of the country. With that being the case, why continue trying to establish a strong central government. Relevant evidence and history clearly demonstrate such a State is unobtainable within Afghanistan. So Mr. Lind's ideas and opinions do have relevancy considering the circumstances we face in Afghanistan. And perhaps, the Marine Corps can duplicate events in Anbar and transfer them to Afghanistan.
Presenting or providing alternative solutions to a problem does not equate with defeatism, so called cutting and running, they are just different opinions and ideas that may have merit when all of the facts are considered. Mr. Lind has an educated grasp of the situation in Afghanistan based upon intellect, not emotionalism. Wishing things were so will not make the wishing relevant. Cold hard facts have to be evaluated to arrive at a rational decision. A strong central government in Afghanistan is wishful thinking.
uh34d: Mr. Lind seems best dicussed by those of you who have some real expertise in military history. Folks like me just try to tag along and offer observations here and there. Mr. Lind gets derided because he is not a Vet, but I would wager his counterpart in WW2 was a staff officer consulting for the generals trying to figure out what to do next, generals who wanted creative ideas rather than textbook strategy. NikeAjax: Realpolitik!
you may be right there uh34d, but i hope not, espedially since our beloved corp wants to take over there. do you think the corp can win hearts and minds in afganistan? i am not sure, but i am sure they will try. i worry that as the amphibious experts we will be locked into a landlocked war that we may get a blackeye from.
Originally posted by joshua_sergeant: What a defeatist! This kind of attitude amazes me. What happened to American resolve, fighting until it's won and not saying it's over till it's over? Doesn't surprise me from this gentleman, but goodness, wake up. We're Americans!
Foolish man, patriotic chest thumping is no excuse for sound tactics. If a war is lost, it is lost, sticking with it in the vain hope of bringing about a reversal with no firm idea of how to do so is the height of absurdity.
I supported the war in Afghanistan (the Just and Righteous War in Afghanistan) but the simple fact is it is lost, the Taliban now control atleast a third of the country, the majority of the population has been alienated by clumsy, heavy handed and stupid action over opium and for some reason it is the Australians and British who do most of the damn work on the frontline while US forces cower in fortified encampments.
You were doing fine until the last comment. Our nephew is serving in Afghanistan and can assure you he is not hunkered down on some base.
S/F Gordon _______________________________________________ Posted Mon 31 December 2007 03:35 AM quote: Originally posted by joshua_sergeant: What a defeatist! This kind of attitude amazes me. What happened to American resolve, fighting until it's won and not saying it's over till it's over? Doesn't surprise me from this gentleman, but goodness, wake up. We're Americans!
Foolish man, patriotic chest thumping is no excuse for sound tactics. If a war is lost, it is lost, sticking with it in the vain hope of bringing about a reversal with no firm idea of how to do so is the height of absurdity.
I supported the war in Afghanistan (the Just and Righteous War in Afghanistan) but the simple fact is it is lost, the Taliban now control atleast a third of the country, the majority of the population has been alienated by clumsy, heavy handed and stupid action over opium and for some reason it is the Australians and British who do most of the damn work on the frontline while US forces cower in fortified encampments.
