President Obama Fumbled Afghanistan

[DarrinS]

President Obama ascended to the power through audacity, oration, and artful manipulation. In the United States and numerous Asian countries, I saw peoples’ eyes glaze with unconditional trust in a man who is unfit for office.

After the last election, I happened to be home from the wars, and in Washington DC for meetings. President-elect Obama’s inauguration was nearby, and so I attended on that freezing morning. Some of my detractors said, “Look at that, Yon’s joined forces with Obama.” It was an historical event worth seeing. The new president would, after all, be the decider in the wars to which I would soon return.

Many inauguration spectators appeared to be in a trance. Some hated President George Bush. Others talked about revenge for historical injustices. For some it was about money for nothing, while for others it was about a sincere desire for hope and change from a vaguely defined status quo. All were searching for something better or more.

Patriotism was noticeably thin at the inauguration. Yes, there were thousands of American flags, though team spirit would be more evident at a college football game. The flags were waving in a breeze laced with the stench of entitlement. It was not a God Bless America day. It was a God Bless Me day.

And there he was. Our new President. I determined to support him until he proved unworthy. Almost four years later, many people have snapped out of the trance, and that includes many non-Americans here in Asia. Obama’s magic wand has been broken over the knee of reality.

I cannot speak about the economy, education or healthcare, but I can speak about Afghanistan. Obama cannot be faulted that Afghanistan is stone-aged, or that our military strategy was wrecked when he took office. It was. The bus was in a ditch. Obama showed up with a wrecker, promising to yank it out. Today the wrecker is in the ditch atop the bus.

President Obama did fire General McChrystal and send General Petraeus to Afghanistan, which was smart. But now Director Petraeus is at the CIA, and not where we most need him, which is in the military. President Obama’s mishandling of the war has left many of us disillusioned.

Our leaders have repeatedly seen national news outlets indict the inadequacy of our MEDEVAC systems in Afghanistan. It can be said, “Yes, but it was done this way during the last administration.” True. And this administration promised hope and change.

Despite sustained national coverage of the MEDEVAC issue and direct appeals to the White House and Obama’s chosen Secretary of Defense, our helicopters still fly over Islamic Afghanistan wearing Red Crosses, which signals that the helicopters are unarmed, has caused unforgivable delays removing wounded troops from the battlefield.

Afghanistan: In October 2001, we destroyed Mullah Omar’s mosque in Sangesar Village, down in Kandahar Province. His second of three wives, Guljana, was from this village. His family lived there. This tiny mosque literally was the birthplace of the Taliban.

Under President Obama, ten years later in 2011, US troops renovated Mullah Omar’s mosque in Sangesar. First we bombed it in 2001. Then we fixed it in 2011. This remains one of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan.

Perhaps we forgot that Mullah Omar gave Osama bin Laden sanctuary, and bin Laden then attacked America.

The symbolic appeasement represented by refurbishing the mosque is enormous. The place is in the middle of fields of poppy. Renovating this mosque in Sangesar is like building a dual monument to al Qaeda, and drug cartels.

We are not in this together. Sangesar is an enemy village. Our troops still die there.

In 2012, Mullah Omar praised the murders of Coalition forces. General John Allen, the US commander at the time, called it “an unmistakable message of death.” Mullah Omar was so busy directing the faithful to murder our troops that he forgot to express gratitude for the revenue stream from opium, and for the renovated mosque demonstrating his potency.

This year, the casualties continue. In March, at Sangesar, three Afghan insiders turned their guns on Americans, killing Staff Sergeant Jordan Bear from Denver, and Specialist Payton Jones from Marble Falls, Texas. Another Soldier was wounded. That is the payment we can expect for appeasing Islamic-narco-terrorists.

I was in the general area last year, and in previous years, and it was mostly about combat. Our young troops are something to be proud of, and if you saw them in action you would be amazed at their courage and professionalism. The mess we shoved them into is a national shame. We provided about half the troops required for the stated strategy, then began pulling them out against a domestic political deadline that has nothing to do with the war. The surge has been a complete waste of effort.

America saw both President Obama and Governor Romney endorse our Afghanistan strategy during their last debate, where ISAF forces train the Afghan Army and Police as a prelude to our disengagement in 2014. This is a broken strategy, with Afghans murdering so many of their trainers.

At least 30% of Afghan trainees must be replaced annually due to desertions and endemic corruption. Training Afghans to replace Coalition forces is not working. As we draw down, the enemy will be able to focus on fewer troops. Hollow Afghan units will collapse, and corrupt Afghan politicians will finally abscond to Dubai. We should cut our losses and remove the bulk of our force.

Although Obama needs to go home, this is no guarantee that Romney will do better. If Romney is elected, he will need a bigger wrecker. He is guaranteed the same honest chance that Obama received. Nothing less, nothing more.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

The state of Afghanistan is undoubtedly gonna cost Obama votes. God bless.

[ChumpDumper]

Conservative criticizes Democrat!

[ChumpDumper]

So Darrin, what is your plan for Afghanistan?

[DMX7]

So Darrin, what is your plan for Afghanistan?

He's sure as hell not going to tell our enemies that we're getting out in 2014!

Now our brilliant "retreat by surprise" tactic has gone completely out the fucking window. Thanks again Obama!

[Jacob1983]

http://i.qkme.me/35shq8.jpg

[ChumpDumper]

He's sure as hell not going to tell our enemies that we're getting out in 2014!

Now our brilliant "retreat by surprise" tactic has gone completely out the fucking window. Thanks again Obama!Isn't that what Romney said too?

[RandomGuy]

So Darrin, what is your plan for Afghanistan?

He is still waiting on the chain email to tell him what that is. That and how to get the illegal contraband lightbulbs.

[DarrinS]

He is still waiting on the chain email to tell him what that is. That and how to get the illegal contraband lightbulbs.

Ooh, clever girl.

[ChumpDumper]

Ooh, clever girl.I don't see your plan.

Or Yon's for that matter.

Let me know when someone tells you what to believe.

[LnGrrrR]

This Yon guy doesn't sound 1) unbiased or 2) knowledgeable. He does know that medical helicopters/ workers are required by LOAC to display a Red Cross and not carry firearms, or they would become legal targets? Or is he just playing the old "They don't play by the rules, why should we?" card?

[boutons_deux]

Writes the the typical military grunt who struggled to get out of HS.

[TeyshaBlue]

Writes the the typical military grunt who struggled to get out of HS.



writes the typical simpleton without a whit of original thought.

Dude was special forces. He could likely think you to death, coward.

[DarrinS]

This Yon guy doesn't sound 1) unbiased or 2) knowledgeable. He does know that medical helicopters/ workers are required by LOAC to display a Red Cross and not carry firearms, or they would become legal targets? Or is he just playing the old "They don't play by the rules, why should we?" card?


You've never heard of Michael Yon?

[ElNono]

You've never heard of Michael Yon?

Not me. Should we have heard of him?

[TeyshaBlue]

Not me. Should we have heard of him?

Fairly prolific writer....has knowledge but often writes with a chip on his shoulder. His knowledge:doucher ratio is a little outta whack, but often has some interesting insight.

[ElNono]

Fairly prolific writer....has knowledge but often writes with a chip on his shoulder. His knowledge:doucher ratio is a little outta whack, but often has some interesting insight.

I looked him up. Not surprised I haven't heard of him. Don't really read military stuff, except some fiction (Ludlum, Clancy).

[boutons_deux]

writes the typical simpleton without a whit of original thought.

Dude was special forces. He could likely think you to death, coward.

I suggest he stop thinking and writing, and stick to killing, asshole

[TeyshaBlue]

I suggest he stop thinking and writing, and stick to killing, asshole

I suggest you start thinking, simpleton.

[boutons_deux]

TB :lol My favorite stalker! :lol

[TeyshaBlue]

Stop stalking me!:cry

[z0sa]

Is there anything more sad than calling people stalkers when you have 20,000 posts in the same subsection of the same forum spewing the same non sense over and over and over and .... do you expect to not get called on it by the same people over and over and ... ?

[TeyshaBlue]

like I spend .005 seconds thinking about the bot.

Fuck, I can bitch slap that coward without a thought.:lol

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Ooh, clever girl.

So did you get this second Yon piece in as many days from an email or not?

[FuzzyLumpkins]

like I spend .005 seconds thinking about the bot.

Fuck, I can bitch slap that coward without a thought.:lol

:lol

[Clipper Nation]

He is still waiting on the chain email to tell him what that is. That and how to get the illegal contraband lightbulbs.

Chain email? Hell, the GOP's fucking slogan might as well be "Starting Wars With Foreign Brown People," tbh....

[TeyshaBlue]

So did you get this second Yon piece in as many days from an email or not?

If you look close you can still see the fwd:fwd:fwd:fwd;

[boutons_deux]

like I spend .005 seconds thinking about the bot.

Fuck, I can bitch slap that coward without a thought.:lol

I was smart to get a real job and stay out of the military.

[LnGrrrR]

I was smart to get a real job and stay out of the military.

The military has done me pretty well to be honest... free school, retirement for life (in theory) in 7 years or so, decent medical coverage, getting to learn networking on a huge network, getting to live in a few different areas, learning leadership... I can think of worse jobs.

I'd also say that the military is a "real" job, or at least as real as ones on the outside.

[DarrinS]

I was smart to get a real job and stay out of the military.

Gfy

[DarrinS]

So did you get this second Yon piece in as many days from an email or not?

There are these things called blogs...

[LnGrrrR]

He does know that medical helicopters/ workers are required by LOAC to display a Red Cross and not carry firearms, or they would become legal targets? Or is he just playing the old "They don't play by the rules, why should we?" card?

still wondering about this...

[Wild Cobra]

I was smart to get a real job and stay out of the military.
Smart? or chickenshit?

[boutons_deux]

Smart? or chickenshit?

smart. I wouldn't risk, even in National Guard, getting maimed, killed, or mentally destroyed for oil co profits or supporting the predatory, greedy, MIC-enriching American empire, or trusting politicians. America hasn't been in a Good War since 1945.

[boutons_deux]

Google the book "The Generals". I'd like to see how bloated, greedy, ass-kissing, boot-licking military and its apologists respond.

[TeyshaBlue]

lol RG, SNC, LnGrrrr not having real jobs.

lol simpleton

[boutons_deux]

If anybody wants to make a career of military ass-kissing, fine.

Vet unemployment is 50% higher than national average (12% vs 8%), so military "real" jobs are so very valued in the Real Economy.

[LnGrrrR]

smart. I wouldn't risk, even in National Guard, getting maimed, killed, or mentally destroyed for oil co profits or supporting the predatory, greedy, MIC-enriching American empire, or trusting politicians. America hasn't been in a Good War since 1945.

Do you work for a company that supports the 1%?

[LnGrrrR]

If anybody wants to make a career of military ass-kissing, fine.

Vet unemployment is 50% higher than national average (12% vs 8%), so military "real" jobs are so very valued in the Real Economy.

Sure, if you are infantry or the like, you probably can't use much of that on your résumé besides nebulous "leadership" claims. But I'm pretty sure networking is a useful skill to have on the outside, wouldn't you agree?

And military ass-kissing isn't really needed on the enlisted side... I can't speak for the officer side.

[TeyshaBlue]

If anybody wants to make a career of military ass-kissing, fine.

Vet unemployment is 50% higher than national average (12% vs 8%), so military "real" jobs are so very valued in the Real Economy.

lol. I recommended dozens of students to join the military for training. Every last one of them now have civilian jobs because of that training.
Idiot stat bot. Did you even bother to vet those stats and see what the components were?

Of course not.

[boutons_deux]

lol. I recommended dozens of students to join the military for training. Every last one of them now have civilian jobs because of that training.
Idiot stat bot. Did you even bother to vet those stats and see what the components were?

Of course not.

anecdotes don't trump national averages, gfy. vets have much larger unemployement rate than national average. And Repugs block Dems's vets jobs bill.

[TeyshaBlue]

anecdotes don't trump national averages, gfy. vets have much larger unemployement rate than national average. And Repugs block Dems's vets jobs bill.

Again, did you bother to vet the stats? No. Anectdotes in stark contrast to your murky, undefined and unlinked stats, trump. gfy

[TeyshaBlue]

Maybe you can find the makeup of your stats somewhere in your demented RSS feed.

Probably not.

[TeyshaBlue]

Your stupidity is matched only by your astounding arrogance.

Fucking coward.

[boutons_deux]

Your stupidity is matched only by your astounding arrogance.

Fucking coward.

Anything insults from you and other right wingers I treat as a confirming compliment. Keep it up, I love it. :lol

[TeyshaBlue]

Anything insults from you and other right wingers I treat as a confirming compliment. Keep it up, I love it. :lol

Confirmation bias does that to you, coward.

[TeyshaBlue]

Brave enough to vet the stats?

Nope.

Brave enough to examine your worldview critically?

Nope.

[boutons_deux]

American businesses are carving out more room for veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan − finally driving the overall unemployment rate for that group into single digits in September. But joblessness for the U.S. women home from war continued to climb, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.
The portion of post-9/11 veterans seeking work fell to 9.7 percent last month, compared to 10.1 percent in August and 11.7 percent in September 2011, according to BLS figures (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t05.htm).

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/05/14244058-veteran-unemployment-rate-dips-but-crisis-deepens-for-ex-military-women?lite

So if military women don't get sexually harassed or raped in the military, they get screwed as vets.

[clambake]

you walked right into that shit, tb.

you....you.....sending off young people to die recommenden mofo!!!!!

[TeyshaBlue]

American businesses are carving out more room for veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan − finally driving the overall unemployment rate for that group into single digits in September. But joblessness for the U.S. women home from war continued to climb, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.
The portion of post-9/11 veterans seeking work fell to 9.7 percent last month, compared to 10.1 percent in August and 11.7 percent in September 2011, according to BLS figures (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t05.htm).

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/05/14244058-veteran-unemployment-rate-dips-but-crisis-deepens-for-ex-military-women?lite

So if military women don't get sexually harassed or raped in the military, they get screwed as vets.




lol...so the link doesn't support your made-up stats. Not surprising.

Now it's time for a goal post move, because you're too cowardly to admit your mistake.

Again, not surprising.

[TeyshaBlue]

you walked right into that shit, tb.

you....you.....sending off young people to die recommenden mofo!!!!!

You're next.:ihit

[TeyshaBlue]

Accordion Brigade for you.

[clambake]

Accordion Brigade for you.

that was my training in the army. came back to the states and got a job with lawrence welk!

[FuzzyLumpkins]

There are these things called blogs...

There is this idea known as answering the question....

[RandomGuy]

Our leaders have repeatedly seen national news outlets indict the inadequacy of our MEDEVAC systems in Afghanistan. It can be said, “Yes, but it was done this way during the last administration.” True. And this administration promised hope and change.

Despite sustained national coverage of the MEDEVAC issue and direct appeals to the White House and Obama’s chosen Secretary of Defense, our helicopters still fly over Islamic Afghanistan wearing Red Crosses, which signals that the helicopters are unarmed, has caused unforgivable delays removing wounded troops from the battlefield.

"Obama didn't fix Bush's fuck ups fast enough". Okaaaay.

That said, let put aside politics, let's do some digging, as our troops deserve better than sophmoric sniping.

http://www.lineofdeparture.com/2012/02/23/army-dustoff-medics-unprepared/


**Conclusions: After more than 9 years of conflict and more than 40 AAR’s recommending the evolution of MEDEVAC to current civilian standards, no institutional change has been made. Continuing the legacy model has resulted and continues to result in documented sub-optimal outcomes and increased deaths among patients transported by helicopter in the current conflict.

Seems like someone needs a foot up their ass, not unlike the foot that needs to be inserted for the TBI and PTSD (lack of) care.

The DOD's own 2011 memo is here:

http://www.michaelyon-online.com/images/pdf/bm_oef_jtts_medevac_medical_director_aar__3.pdf

Lots of actionable material there, indicating systemic, deep shortcomings. The kinds of shortcomings that will take years to fix, e.g. developing training and certification programs, and getting troops through them. Jon Stewart did a show on this particular topic as well, oddly enough.

DgAgWZdFync

(stewart misses a few point here, but the entire 10-24-12 episode should be watched, even though his second guest also doesn't seem to comprehend why counterinsurgency doctrine is the way it is)

[RandomGuy]

Under President Obama, ten years later in 2011, US troops renovated Mullah Omar’s mosque in Sangesar. First we bombed it in 2001. Then we fixed it in 2011. This remains one of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan.

Perhaps we forgot that Mullah Omar gave Osama bin Laden sanctuary, and bin Laden then attacked America.

The symbolic appeasement represented by refurbishing the mosque is enormous. The place is in the middle of fields of poppy. Renovating this mosque in Sangesar is like building a dual monument to al Qaeda, and drug cartels.

Counter insurgency doctrine is not appeasement and Mullah Omar is long gone. It isn't his mosque, but the mosque of the people that are left. The people who we are trying to get to hate us less.

That isn't appeasement, that is an action based on the doctrine developed by the same General that the dumbass praises a paragraph or two up.

If this fucktard had read that FM, he would know that. Par for the 'Bama hatin' crowd though. Spin, baby, spin, and manufacture a bit more ignorant outrage. pfft.

[RandomGuy]

This year, the casualties continue. In March, at Sangesar, three Afghan insiders turned their guns on Americans, killing Staff Sergeant Jordan Bear from Denver, and Specialist Payton Jones from Marble Falls, Texas. Another Soldier was wounded. That is the payment we can expect for appeasing Islamic-narco-terrorists.

I was in the general area last year, and in previous years, and it was mostly about combat. Our young troops are something to be proud of, and if you saw them in action you would be amazed at their courage and professionalism. The mess we shoved them into is a national shame. We provided about half the troops required for the stated strategy, then began pulling them out against a domestic political deadline that has nothing to do with the war. The surge has been a complete waste of effort.

Or it might possibly be the result of a dedicated enemy adapting to what we are doing, and devising a strategy to take advantage of it. This is how low level conflict, and war itself, works.

Fuckin' chickenhawk mother fuckers don't know shit about fighting wars, and this op-ed is a great example of that.

Ultimately:

Has Obama "fumbled" Afghanistan?

Don't think we know enough to say with any real certainty one way or another, if you want to be objectively critical.

I think anybody who says so one way or another conclusively, probably doesn't have enough information yet, and is taking that position less because of a desire for truth, and more because of a desire to score bullshit partisan points.

FWIW, our current situation is driven by the fact that Afghanistan's problems stem directly from the diversion of resources into Iraq by Bush. Obama is faced with doing now, what should have been done from the start.

I think we should get out as soon as possible. We may have to accept that the Afghan government will not be one we will like.

If this asshat, or you for that matter Darrin, me foin boyo, think otherwise, be sure to volunteer to stay and rebuild, or sign your kids up to the military service required. If you don't, then fuck off, and take your stay forever opinions and shove them up your chickenshit asses.

Harsh language and sentiment to be sure, but our troops deserve a passionate voice, and for us not to play politics with their lives.

[boutons_deux]

Somehow, Barry has fumbled, but the sacred, perfect military has been faultless in executing Barry's minute, micro-managing details.

It's Their Country, they will outwait the invaders, go back to Muslim-dominated, sectarian-torn tribalism. The US intervention, as in Iraq, will have been for absolutely zilch.

[DarrinS]

:lmao @ RG

Settle down, Francis.


You seem to take ANY criticism of BHO waaaay to personally.

[RandomGuy]

:lmao @ RG

Settle down, Francis.


You seem to take ANY criticism of BHO waaaay to personally.

Meh. If he fucks up, then he fucks up.

This is not something I would play politics for or with.

Part of the guys criticism, that you passed on without comment, implying agreement, or at the least lazyness, is that we shouldn't be announcing when we will be leaving, or even leave at all, until we are completely assured of victory, whatever that means.

So, if you want some serious dialogue, beyond one word quips or yootoobs:

How long should we stay? How many dead G.I.s is it worth to you?

When/how/why should we get out?

[ChumpDumper]

Meh. If he fucks up, then he fucks up.

This is not something I would play politics for or with.

Part of the guys criticism, that you passed on without comment, implying agreement, or at the least lazyness, is that we shouldn't be announcing when we will be leaving, or even leave at all, until we are completely assured of victory, whatever that means.

So, if you want some serious dialogue, beyond one word quips or yootoobs:

How long should we stay? How many dead G.I.s is it worth to you?

When/how/why should we get out?All good questions Darrin will never answer.

[RandomGuy]

All good questions Darrin will never answer.

(snorts)

God forbid conservatives come up with actual policy solutions when you ask them about their criticisms of Obama.

"You don't like Obamacare, alright, what is your solution to the health care cost increases?"

"You don't like Obama's plan for X, Y, Z, what is your plan or alternative?"

The intellectual vacuousness of the right will be its undoing. Well that and demographics.

I keep asking for "free market" solutions. The great Free Market God hasn't produced them. Maybe if we pray harder, right?

[RandomGuy]

...

[DarrinS]

Meh. If he fucks up, then he fucks up.

This is not something I would play politics for or with.

Part of the guys criticism, that you passed on without comment, implying agreement, or at the least lazyness, is that we shouldn't be announcing when we will be leaving, or even leave at all, until we are completely assured of victory, whatever that means.

So, if you want some serious dialogue, beyond one word quips or yootoobs:

How long should we stay? How many dead G.I.s is it worth to you?

When/how/why should we get out?





I think we should get out as soon as possible. We may have to accept that the Afghan government will not be one we will like.


I agree.

[RandomGuy]

I agree.

Fair enough. Thank you.

This by the way is not what the OP seems to think is the right course of action. You may wish to note important things like this when you start threads.

[TeyshaBlue]

Fair enough. Thank you.

This by the way is not what the OP seems to think is the right course of action. You may wish to note important things like this when you start threads.

Why start now?:lol