President Obama Fumbled Afghanistan

[TeyshaBlue]

you walked right into that , tb.

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

You're next.

[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 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/...cs-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 ins utional change has been made. Continuing the legacy model has resulted and continues to result in do ented 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/ima...tor_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.



(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 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.

in' chickenhawk mother ers don't know 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 bull 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 off, and take your stay forever opinions and shove them up your chicken 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]

@ RG

Settle down, Francis.


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

[RandomGuy]

@ RG

Settle down, Francis.


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

Meh. If he s up, then he s 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 s up, then he s 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 s up, then he s 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?