Thursday, July 17, 2008

kabul b4 december

I know a many are geared regarding the upcoming general elections to be held in November and regardless if you want Obama, McCain or Nadar to win, just do me one favor, ask them some well thought out and prospective questions regarding Afghanistan. Yep, I am about to bore you with another haterated triad.

I have come to accept that most folk don’t get me jones. And when I say I don’t give a fk bout certain things, they say I’m disrespectful or berating folks. So I am about to do more of the same. I feel that the ability to ask pointed questions, especially with respect to having some knowledge of possible solutions is the key to evaluating responses from any candidate for any office and or job. And for some reason or another, what’s going on in Afghanistan scares the shit out of me.

Just last week it was reported that say about 200 Taliban fighters attacked a US military base located in the distant and mountainous northeast province of Kunar. They say it resulted in nine dead US soldiers and nearly a score of wounded. It aint been that many US military personnel killed in a single attack in more than three

For some reason, it appears that over the past seven months, the Taliban has gotten stronger, smarter and more brazen as opposed to what the current administration has been telling us. I mean it seem like it was just yesterday when folk was saying that they had accomplished victory and had won the war in this poppy growing country. Report released by the Pentagon on the situation, among other things said “the Taliban is likely to maintain or even increase the scope and pace of its terrorist attacks and bombings in 2008. The Taliban will challenge the control of the Afghan government in rural areas, especially in the south and east."

They say that this is a problem for the current administration; I feel that it is more of a problem for which ever jones steps in office after the elections in November. These attacks just aint on the outskirts, they like a hop, skip and a jump from the capitol Kabul. The Capitol. And this recent attack was just one of many against a military base which they hitting up the regular now, not to mention it lasted all day. And this based had about 200 US troops. No little bitty convoy and it lasted all day.

When I do get a chance to hear what folks are talking about politically, they just be rehashing messages from stump speeches with little content. All I have heard Sen. Barack Obama say is that he will send two more combat brigades to Afghanistan and that he may take the troops from Iraq. All I know about Nadar is something he said 6 years ago regarding sending a small multinational force into Afghanistan to arrest Osama bin Laden. McCain, well first he disagreed with Obama saying more troops were not needed; now he is copying Obama’s position on the issue (u can read his flip flop history here at Obsidian wings, which is on my blog roll).

Like I said, I think we got to frame this issue and make it apart of the discussion, Iraq seems to get all of the attention, I am glad they TRYING to talk about the economy, albeit none from a global or international perspective in terms of problem solving (correct me if I’m wrong). Just talk of green Jobs and stuff like that. But about this small country, I’m not so sure, for at this rate, the Taliban will be in Kabul by December and in control of the government, again.

54 comments:

PrettyBlack said...

I think it's hard for people to ask certain questions because they don't know which questions to ask.

You, being intellectual and well versed on the subject may have a broader scope on particular questions whereas myself and a few others wouldn't know where to start. Ask me to ask questions about the economy and I could come up with more than a few good ones.

A lot of us may just believe in the brother for no other reason than it's time. Myself, I have faith in Obama, because he is very smart, intellectual, thinks before he speaks, and has an agenda. And yes I'm biased towards him because he shares two of my core values, the democratic party and being Black. I'm just being honest.

Politics is a hard terrain to navigate, and unless an individual has years of knowledge and teaching, as you do, then it's best they not ask questions and sit back and learn by listening...at that point you have to have individuals that are willing to learn and listen. That's the hard part.

Anonymous said...

The Taliban is getting their asses handed to them, just like Al Qaeda. In Kabul before December? Don't bet your life on it, bro.

Oh yeah, and about the "Obamessiah":
So far, he's as accumulated Louis Farrakhan, William Ayers, Daniel Ortega, Jeremiah Wright, Hamas, and FARC among his admirers, friends, and supporters. He's a human bug light for despots, terrorists, and hate spewers. No wonder you moonbats love him.

This is what the Democrats have to offer for presidential candidate: a self-absorbed, vacuous, magna-cum-numbnuts, who believes his own MSM press. He lacks the cognitive skills to understand cause and effect, he thinks playing diplomatic patty-cake with the world's malefactors is a substitute for defense and necessary retaliation, and he's intellectually as deep as a mud puddle.

That about sums it up, "dog".

Bananas said...

Well, like everything else the Bush Administration pokes their slimy hands into, Afghanistan has gotten screwed up too.

The reason the Taliban have gotten stronger is, they have a great hiding place to regroup and improve their resources. It's the hiding place Osama is in. It's called the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

I know enough about military tactics to know that if I can hit and run, and then camp out in a place where I know I'm completely safe…hell I could take over just about anything too…even the government of Afghanistan.

Until you secure the border, the Taliban will use the same tact the North Koreans and the North Viet Namese used.

When only one person is allowed to cross the line in the sand, that's a huge advantage.

If ya ask me, we're leaning on the wrong people. The Administration needs to be leaning on "the help" in Islamabad.

The Socialite said...

I think that you touch on a very good point, are the candidates focusing on the right issues? Or better yet is America? The politicians talk about what they think we want to hear and maybe not always whats important.

Bananas said...

sfcmac - You can't possibly be serious?

Sista GP said...

This falls back on the theory, "Think before you speak."
If you ask a question, it would be beneficial to be able to understand the answer.

DivaJood said...

Torrance, people don't ask the right questions because they have lived in a climate of fear and hatred for so long, they abdicate responsibility to "the powers that be."

When we were attacked on 9/11, friends of mine said, in all seriousness, that Bush was the "right man for the job." I was shocked. Shocked, because it was so clear that he intended to use 9/11 as the red herring with which to invade Iraq. Obfuscate, deflect, and spread fear.

The USSR was in Afghanistan for a really long time, unable to defeat the Taliban; they are fierce fighters, and we will not be able to do anything in Afghanistan no matter how many troops we send there. But nevertheless, we have got to get out of Iraq. The money we've wasted there could have gone to health care, to our crumbling infastructure in America, to education - and here I mean REAL education, not that No Child Left Behind shit.

But people are fearful of speaking out - they either think they just don't know enough, or that they aren't articulate enough - when all they need to do is speak from their hearts. Things like "I cannot afford health care, and I don't have insurance" do not require a college degree.

Speak out people. Make your elected representatives work for you.

Curious said...

I may have said this before, but if there is a failure of policy on Afghanistan then it's because the goal was changed before the mission was accomplished. Instead of going in there and getting Bin Laden and then getting the hell out, we decided to change governments and re-educate the populace using the military. And just like the Soviets in the 7o's or the British in th 19th Century, I think it has failed. Until people or Congress or even the next President decides what the true nature of the mission is over there, we will continue to battle a force or a people that has been fighting for centuries and will never give up.

Canaan said...

our conditioning is very developed. The values this country is about is not lived, instead we corrupt ourselves with the exact opposite of US values. We will begin to speak up, when people stop living in fear of life. The right questions will steer us in the right direction. Politics is starting to be about recycling quotes.I'm still on fence about my vote, but I have an Idea of who represents me best.

12kyle said...

@ Torrance
I just talked to a dude today about the same thing. He's a soldier and is home for 1 more week before he'll be deployed to Iraq. This is his 3rd a final tour of duty. I asked him what he thought was gonna happen. He said that we're gonna slowly pull outta Iraq and go to Afghanistan

You could tell that he was frustrated as hell. He's about to be away from his wife and 1 yr old son. You could tell at any moment he was gonna say "fuck Dubya" but he played the company line

I told him thanks for defending me and mine. I don't think I could do it.

NoRegrets said...

All I know is Afghanistan is screwed either way.

OG, The Original Glamazon said...

"What’s missing in our debate about Iraq -- what has been missing since before the war began – is a discussion of the strategic consequences of Iraq and its dominance of our foreign policy," Obama said. "This war distracts us from every threat that we face and so many opportunities we could seize. This war diminishes our security, our standing in the world, our military, our economy, and the resources that we need to confront the challenges of the 21st century. By any measure, our single-minded and open-ended focus on Iraq is not a sound strategy for keeping America safe."

"As President, I will pursue a tough, smart and principled national security strategy -- one that recognizes that we have interests not just in Baghdad, but in Kandahar and Karachi, in Tokyo and London, in Beijing and Berlin," he continued. "I will focus this strategy on five goals essential to making America safer: ending the war in Iraq responsibly; finishing the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban; securing all nuclear weapons and materials from terrorists and rogue states; achieving true energy security; and rebuilding our alliances to meet the challenges of the 21st century."


That's what Barry says on the issue and a few more things!!

Good Post, the hype machine (the media) is too busy trying to get the world riled up over Jesse also using "THE N WORD" dun dun dun dahn SMH that Fox news whatever it takes baby whatever it takes!!

Oh yeah I have always thought of myself a little more ol' school that Ida more like Sojourner Truth, but I'll take Ida, I'd take Barbara Jordan too!!

-OG

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the enlightment! Great article! For some reason the news media seems to be keeping this on the dl. Perhaps someone is making a profit from the Poppy fields; and there is no real agenda to win this thing. Just keep enough troops in to keep the American Public comfortable. I'll have to do some more research on this. Again, thanks for the enlightment! PLL, CordieB.

rainywalker said...

Raw Dawg,
Like I said in my latest blog 1,000,000 more troops will not solve the problem in Afghanistan. Not one government in the last 1000 years has controlled the country for long. A good read on what can happen and our current status is "Charlie Wilson's War" by George Crile. What happened to the Soviet's is going to happen to us. Our soldiers are going to be skined alive unless we kill them all first.

Anonymous said...

I view Afghanistan to be like Vietnam - a terrain that we just don't have the know-how to use to our benefit. It's a tough country and those who know it better than we are certainly putting it to good use. As for December, even given their knowledge of the country, I don't think so. Ofttimes we give folks more credit than they deserve. I think the Taliban's adroitness is one such entity. Nice posting.

I see you hit up the "New Millennium". Thanks. Your support is appreciated. Peace.

msladyDeborah said...

I agree that Afghanistan is one of those issues that needs to be raised.

The thing that I find is a hinderance is the lack of information.

I watch AlJazeera English frequently. They give a view that we do not get a lot coverage on.

The Taliban has been making some daring moves lately. How much do we hear about their attacks? You mentioned about the liberation raid to free their fighters. I heard that story one time on the MSM and then Poof! It was gone.

I am of the opinion that we do not receive proper coverage of the war in Iraq. We hear that the surge is working. What exactly is working mean? Less troops are being killed? Or the number of bombings have decreased? Or is working defined as: we are barely holding it down.

In the dumbing down of America, critical thinking and questioning is almost a sacred art.

It bothers me that McCain doesn't even know the international changes that have occurred since he has been a senator.

He talked about Czechosvakia~recently. The country split back in the nineties. Shouldn't he know this type of geographically information?

I believe that it is going to be on us as individuals to get the knowledge and understanding that we need to do some critical thinking.

Anonymous said...

I don't think you're "hating" but I do think you need to see other people's perspectives on how you come off sometimes. You do have to admit sometimes you slip in a 'woman shaking her booty for those thugs and wonder why she got socked in her face' kinda sentiment...LOL I think most people can get your point but you dont want that tone to overshadow what it is that you are trying to get across is all...

Dr. Stephens...

and I agree. This is something important to address. Information was also released that one of the key leaders in the Taliban was killed along with others. I think the US troops have the ability to stop the Taliban now that they feel like they are actually a threat again. I would like to know the information and training the US soldiers are receiving. Is it just shoot and kill on command or what? I have a lot of suspicions...

eh...anyway

yup, I agree people should ask more important questions. But concerning the war in general, most people don't know the background on why we went in there in the first place. Most people would like to believe that Bush is some crazy lunatic and sent a trillion troops over there for no reason but thats not true. So while Americans have no clue and we just decide to describe it as "fighting terrorism" we don't know what to ask.

But I agree. We need to learn what's affecting us and what we need to expect from whatever person gets into office (aka John McCain) LOL

Kristin said...

This is real talk! People should have been upset becaue of our invasion of Iraq but not because of the common reasons I hear but, because our forces are split and you can not win a war on two fronts.

The Taliban was able to remain and grow in Afghanistan because our (the American) people did not hold our government accountable. The attacks waged by the Taliban are sophisticated they are not the kids play that we are fighting in Iraq these people know what they are about.

I am generally for let people live how they choose but in this case the Taliban and their increasing popularity should give ALL Americans cause for concern.

Unknown said...

Afghanistan is a big deal and the majority of folks don't pay attention to it because the MSM doesn't.

Since Iraq is becoming more of a civil war, the Jihadists are looking towards Afghanistan to rekindle their fight against everything non-muslim.

I feel that Afghanistan IS the most important spot on the map because the foot-hold Al-Qaeda had there was almost wiped out until BushCo decided it was time to blow Iraq up.

Afghanistan's Jihadists have Pakistan to fall back on and they do it very well. We can't address Afghanistan without dealing with Pakistan..a country with nukes.

And since no one has attempted to change the status quo in Afghanistan, the poppy is still the number one money-maker. Unless and until the citizens of Afghanistan are given something to hold on to..they will continue to grow poppy's and supply the Jihadists with the money they need to keep their war against the western world going strong.

We seem to forget that Afghanistan was the 'undoing' of Russia..and it could do the same thing to America if we aren't careful.

It's not just about fighting Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, its especially about teaching and reaching out to the citizens to show them a better life, without growing poppys. Afterall, they do not have any major Oil Reserves to fall back on.

But what do I know? I am just a leftwing nutjob. ;p

Sauce said...

Weren't the Taliban trained to engage in a long and lasting war against Russia in Afghanistan? Wasn't it AMERICAN agents who trained them in the very tactics that they are using against us today?

Why we go over there in the first place? Wasn't it to find Osama? Kinfolk,no one can make me believe they couldn't find Osama when they can find anyone else they want to. Osama bin Laden been dead. The news first came from sources in Afghanistan and Pakistan back in December 2001. Bin Laden's voice was detected regularly until the 14th of December 2001 by intelligence operatives monitoring radio transmissions in Tora Bora, according to the Pentagon but since then, nothing has been heard from him and even President Bush has hinted in private that bin Laden's silence could mean he has been killed.

So I won't make this too long, I aint even gonna get started on the weapons of mass destruction! Haliburton's making a smooth killing. Work for them over there and it's tax-free money. WTF?

I for one am sick of being fed a sh!t sandwich and being told it's steak...

Anonymous said...

Obama has already said he'd want to attack Al Qaida from Pakistan as well...he's already said they he felt that Iraq is distracting us from Afghanistan...but he does not have a concrete plan as to what to do besides moving troops out of Iraq carefully, looking for the nuclear weapons, and getting rid of Al Qaida. But he said he planned to visit Iraq to get a better idea on what she be done...

Unknown said...

Al-Qaeda doesn't need Osama. Its a leaderless jihad. There is a very good series up on Sirens Chronicles by Marc Sagemen on this topic. Sagemen is a former CIA operative who's specialty was Afghanistan.

http://sirenschronicles.com/author/carolgee/

Anonymous said...

typo: should*

Keith said...

I feel you on this. We should have never gone into Iraq in the first place. If we had stayed in and concentrated on Afghanistan ...there would be no
Taliban. They know that the U.S. is spread thin..That's why they're getting so bold and attacking.
Another screw up by The Bush Administration.

Drea Inspired said...

I haven't heard anyone say anything regarding the war that I like. Barack is green on it and he seems to say what he thinks people want to hear and then somehow he has an epiphany that it just might not be achievable. Then McCain says he's perfectly happy with the U.S. occupying Iraq for another 50years.

Now, with that little bit out of the way, I'm not big on politics. I'm concerned about what's going on. I'm concerned about what our next President will do (not so much about who it will be), but I'll be honest and say that it didn't matter as much to me before. It wasn't until I stepped into the "real world" and suddenly I feel threatened and I worry about my property value and my safety and my job and my money...now I'm concerned. Like I said, I really could care less who ends up in the white house. I just think that we as a people regardless of who we support politically should be of like mind to hold our President accountable and, for lack of a more articulate phrase, get some shit done!

By the way, I love the spoken word. "the problem is, you know a nigga will hit a woman let alone a terrorist..." CHOKE THAT FOOL WITH A VOMIT BAG...I love it.

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

PrettyBlack
Im just gone clap if it is ok with u

sfcmac
io hope yawl do folk
point is none of them know whats going on and most of the public don’t either

Terry
Two clapps in a row lol

The Socialite
Its all our fault, we know more about flavor of love and little wayne than that

Terry
I talked with folk, he know whats up

sista gp
We tooo emotional to be logical, say something folks get feelings hurt first and defensive. No more scientist sister

DivaJood
3 applause in a row
That’s messed up
But if u don’t know cant ask and that takes effort and like sly stone said we can make it if we try but we don’t and het our feelings hurt when folk like me point it out

Curious
True, but it still involves problem solving, is that posed to be an excuse?

Canaan
I aint mad at u sound wise to me

12kyle
Im made for him, representing me when if I was a man id be ther with him ax in hand

NoRegrets
ditto

OG, The Original Glamazon
Sounds good, but no action nor substance let alone iteration of history to solve a conundrum – my 2 cents

cordieb
Stop flattering me for using my brain hon lol

rainywalker
read it, commented, great post free thinker, and we don’t even hear bout N Korea still

freedom
anytime folk

msladydeborah
hard to dumb down stupid lol

BeKinky_Paula
Im a warrior, a scientist, could give a hopper gras fuck how I come off. If one is objective it don’t matter
Some body gotta say we lunching, why not me, y not deal with the truth and grow. Bitch niggaza do understand collective responsibility. I would quote malcom and king but u being well read already know what I would say

Jazzy
Like I say play pussy get fucked not jones here folk

Dusty
Not as big as little wayne or the nY cover no doubt or we would make it ink

Sauce
Yea home folk
Like the bong movie from Russia with love we taught them well
BeKinky_Paula

Ty[ps cool with me
And y attack Pakastain, that’s stupid when he can get rid of the general and stop paying him, again I guess he don’t understand the scope or we misinformed, and I aint no politician

Wrote abouyt this 2 yrs ago on this blog

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2006/01/neocons-and-carlyle-group.html

and

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2007/08/musharraf-amour.html

got no comments lol

Dusty
It is and I read that and I wrote about such 3 yrs ago on this here blog. Great point sister

Keith's Space
Don’t forget Clinton B4 Bush, I aint blaming but just recognizing fault

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

brownsoul
lol i make it up as i go instruments to just like i write lol

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

Brownsoul
son was really upset, crying
im like folk, u betting on poppa or a terrosist, and he straightend up. poppa dont get down with talk, fck boy bitch nigga shit, dont melt in water or word or fear, that why women say i intimidate them lol

ecthompson said...

More people need to wake up and pay attention to Afghanistan and Osama Bin Laden or we will be seeing more terrorist attacks here and aboard.

I argue for more troops.

tight post.

SjP said...

"Well this is a fine mess you've gotten us in, Ollie!" The problem is you got to be able to differienciate between the distractions, deflections, deceptions, and dillusions. Like a game of chess. Only this ain't no board game and the pawns are really getting killed while the kings are hiding behind their -o.k., I'm gonna leave that alone before somebody think I'm talkin bout current or would be first ladys - which I ain't...I'm just talkin bout chess to make a point.

Anonymous said...

sometimes i feel politicians lose focus on what is really important. you figure since the corporations practically run the government, a politician could at least tackle these issues of terrorists and the like. maybe that is just me.

every cat that gets into that office loses grasp of all of their lies once they sit behind that big oak desk.

:::Marcus LANGFORD:::

T. S. Snowden said...

everything seems to have been said and in far more cogent speech than I might be able to muster. Great post and thanks for getting us all talking about Afghanistan because its does seem that in all of the oil-economy-Iraq stuff we are ignoring a very big threat.

Curious said...

T you ask me if there is an excuse for what happens, probably not. But in the big picture, according to the Presidential race I'm not sure that it matters. No one really cares about what is going on in Afghanistan. I'm not talking about me or you or the people that live at the end of the street, but of a group of electorates so large that they can decide the fate of the election one way or the other. You can ask Obama or McCain, the 2 that I have listened to so far and treat it as a side issue. They will say whatever they need to just so that they can move on to a subject that they care about or what they feel the voters care about.

Afghanistan, sure it's important but until the mission goal is made clear, or Americans start dying by the hundreds, or people start to care more about the situation than who the next American Idol will be then the answers will be the same to whatever question that is posed and generally that will be "next."

KELSO'S NUTS said...

Torrance: You will not get straight answers on this out of either Obama or McCain. Nader is yesterday's news and an utter irrelevancy with both Barr and McKinney in the race, both of whom were front benchers for their respective parties when in the House.

I'll check out Barr and McKinney's website and report back. If I had to guess, both would be similar on the issue with a slow withdrawal of US troops unless reliable intelligence on the whereabouts of bin Laden or the major Al-Qaida encampments exist.

It has to be US forces because Russia will not tolerate NATO, which rules out all of the "West," ex-Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. No "internation" peace-keeping force composed of interested parties in the Afghanistan-India-Pakistan dance can work because of questions of trust and reliability.

I could see US forces increased only if US intelligence reveals problems in PAKISTAN requiring the border region to be a base for this very different mission. So long as Medvedev could be convinced that this had nothing to do with Russia, NATO could join such a thing as well. On the other hand, should maintaining stability in Pakistan become an issue and the US or US + NATO appear to be favoring India, US or US+NATO would also need a signoff from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lybia and Jordan at the very least.

I would trust Obama, Barr or McKinney to get all of that right.

McCain lacks the finesse and Nader the concentration. In fact, having McCain take any interest as President in Afghanistan might be worse than escalation in Iraq or sabre-rattling with Iran and Venezuela, because McCain would make a point out of pissing off Russia, Pakistan, the rest of the Muslim world, PLUS India behind this.

I also could see McCain reverting to a Cold-War/"War On Narco Terrorism" approach to Afghanistan whereby he switches sides and supports the TALIBAN, freeing up US forces to add on to the Iraq effort or to re-train for a real Iran or South American effort. I see nothing but trouble from this man any way I look at him.

Nader could "do-gooder" his way into allowing the Taliban to seize control of Afghanistan and subsequently just abandon it altogether.

I can't see Obama, Barr or McKinney wanting any part all things being equal of a Taliban reconquest.

If I had to guess as to foreign policy goals with regard to both wars, I think Barr or McKinney would be more likely to get American forces out and get them out more quickly.

No matter where Obama's heart is and I think it's in the right place, passing his first budget will be so difficult that there's very little room for him to deviate from the Bush status quo. That would make him the DOVE between him and McCain.

It's just hard to imagine a McCain presidency with the same number of active duty personnel in the field. My guess is he'll open up at least one new front and double the size of the troop commitment from today's levels.

With Obama it will come down to politics. If he gets a super-great Congress which gives him an easy time with his budget then I could see him beginning to take troops out of Iraq first and adopting a wait-and-see attitude on Afghanistan. With any freedom at all from immediate political considerations, I couldn't see him either escalating in Afghanistan or switching back to the comfortable pre 9-/11 alliance with the Taliban. So, he'll just wait it out.

While McCain's ideology, temper, lack of reasoning ability, poor cognitive function, and rocking-chair relationship with the press make him absolutely untenable as a President for me, I like more specificity from Obama already on the economy and on foreign policy.

I'll grant the guy the right to play to the red states on some social issues and some economic and foreign policy issues that have social components such as Bush's version of FISA which was a lock to pass anyway.

He is going to have to start hitting the books though with Brzezinski and Lake on foreign policy and with Blinder, Buffett, Soros and Voelcker on the economy. He's not yet politically strong enough to steer the USA towards a tight fiscal and monetary policy (which he'll have to do eventually) because for some reason, conventional economics has been thrown away and Gramm might have been right: the USA is a bunch of whiners.

They seem to whine rather than organize on the economy and seem to really enjoy wars in all shapes and forms.

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

ecthompson
more troops makes sense on the real

SjP
Thanks for the post idea laurel LOL

Marcus LANGFORD
If it is just u, then u represent about 20 million

Femigog
Yes maam, so true, very big threat

Curious
I see what u saying and it makes sense, but by trade I am a scientist. Infectious disease, HIV for example changes every day, but my goal mission aside is to prevent its spread. I know little of retro viruses but I will not use such as an excuse to come to a solution to the problem of the disease or of its spreading

KELSO'S NUTS said...

Oh...I notice one major difference between my analysis and a lot of the others I've read here.

I've taken no account of the politics of US casualties. I've merely sketched it out from a global standpoint, including such issues as India, the other Middle East states and South America.

It's curious but my only explanation is that being only a couple of bureaucratic documents away from not being an American anymore and not having lived in the USA for a while, I have a different orientation towards the US miliary than Americans do.

I take a lot of my cues from my environment and for this reason I see the US military as say 70/30 a force for world trouble rather than a force for good, which makes me perhaps indifferent to the politics of the casualties. My neck of the woods is agnostic on the "war on terror" so I don't have the same connection to the US armed forces that Americans do. A fighter in a war is a fighter in a war no matter which flag he or she carries.

I'm sorry to report that my view is THE AVERAGE ONE in the rest of the world.

Sylvia Hubbard said...

I just think it's hard for people just to say I DON'T KNOW. I think any of the politicians really don't know what to do about the situation.

With the T getting smarter, braver and so forth, it's a scary situation because they view us as a bully and sooner or later that fights going to spill on our soil again.

I sure would hate to be the president wthat happens because of course it would be all his fault.

most times I pray, RDB. That's pretty much most of us can do because sometimes it feels that with all our powerful words I wonder if we are really being heard.

Hugs from Motown

Sylvia Hubbard
Author and Blogger of How to Love a Black Woman.

Christopher said...

My man Barack has me worried.

Barack says Bush sent U.S. troops into Iraq and ignored Afghanistan and Pakistan -- places and nations where he argues the epicenter of terrorism exists.

While I don't dispute Barack's analysis (Iraq has been a disaster for the U.S.), I do think it is foolhardy to think America can muscle our way into all the world's hotspots and with brute force, curtail terrorist threats.

If Barack moves the American military forces from Iraq to Afghanistan, he risks creating his own quagmire -- just in a different region.

Here's a radical notion. Instead of another dose of American military adventurism -- only this time in Afghanistan, let's instead focus on the myriad of problems the U.S. is faced with at home?

You really think the parents in Killadelphia or Cleveland, who can't let their kids walk to school for fear they may be victims of a shooting care about Afghanistan? Or, elderly Americans trapped in Bush's ridiculous Medicare Part D RX plan who fall into the "donut hole" and have to chose between maintenance medicine or food, care about Afghanistan?

In other words, how did it become a radical notion to take care of the American people first -- then, once that's accomplished, play your war games in Middle East?

Anonymous said...

This is completely off subject, but as a "daddy's girl" myself I just want you to know the joy in your daughter's eyes in that picture on your sidebar speaks volumes.

Everybody is just happy and carefree in the pic and I love the fact that you guys haven't tried to tame her hair. Its beautiful!

Thanks for sharing the pic!

KELSO'S NUTS said...

CHRISTOPHER: What about Obama is worrying you? I think the choice is clear as glass. The USA has at least a chance with Obama as president. It all ends in great sobbing, keening, wailing tears with McCain.

I guess it takes a non-American how to sit back, relax and root for Obama without any hassles or misgivings at all.

Just turn your political dial 90 degrees to the right. America has two parties: a REAGANITE CONSERVATIVE PARTY which Sen Obama represents and a CHRISTIAN NATIVIST AUTHORITARIAN PARTY which Sen McCain represents.

Obama on the ideology scale is about the same as Ronald Reagan, plus or minus. McCain, like George W. Bush, but unlike any other President in American history, is kind of a more Right-Wing Jefferson Davis.

To find a politician in America merely with the Center-Left politics of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina you'd need to look in the area you'll find Dennis Kucinich, Barbara Lee and Lynn Woolsey.

Long way of saying I agree with you 100% and disagree with you 0%.

Unknown said...

There are so many pressing issues for the incoming administration to deal with...the economy, war, recession, health care...etc...
The increasing strength of the taliban has always been a huge concern for me...the problem is that they have been put on the backburner for so long by the current administration...they have had time to regroup, re-organize, recruit...and the problem is....it is easier for them to recruit new members. Especially considering what people really think of america around the world. I think a combination of diplomacy and military muscle are the key...I hope the new administration realizes that...otherwise like you...it scares me.

Kit (Keep It Trill) said...

Glad you wrote this, Torrance.

Afghanistan the oil from the Caspian Sea has the misfortune of being of 'strategic interest' for both the US and Russia since the 1990s. It's sort of a covert war by proxy with Russia - in Afghanistan.

This article Unocal and the Afghanistan Pipeline written in 2002 sheds a light on current and future events.

Also Google 'Afghanistan, strategic, pipeline'. Read the older news stories and weep.

T.Allen said...

Berating? Hardly. I've encountered some blatantly abrasive curmudgeons in my day-they were the best teachers.
Re: Afghanistan...*sigh* I'm a pacifist...I shudder at the thought alone, I also believe in unicorns...perhaps they'll help the US pull off a win.

Angie Marie said...

I feel you. It seems that a lot of people have 4gotten that were still in Afghanistan 2. Have a good weekend 2!

shine said...

I completely agree with you. I heard the story through BBC--of course. Mass distraction--I believe that it may be too late.

uNWrItten* said...

mmmm u forgot about bob barr who is running for the independents or something..
anyways you are right..Iraq gets way too much attention while Taliban gets stronger..the US continues to underestimate their strength..

on a happier note..your daughter is beautiful!!! :)

mp1 said...

either way you look at it, we're buried in some sh*t. We want to leave Iraq asap, but that's just not going to happen. It wouldn't be responsible, and it would open the door for terrorist cells to grow there. They weren't there before we went in....but they're there now. I wonder if our presence in Iraq had anything to do with their development??You think they might have formed to spite our presence there? (Sarcasm)

Afghanistan....we're not focused on that state because the media and the government doesn't want us to. That state is approaching the volatility of Iraq.

We're kicking terrorist ass in both countries?? I just don't see it. Maybe a stalemate, if that. You can go to war with people, but you can't go to war with an ideology. Diplomacy is the only way to attempt to convert ideology, and that might not even work.

I live how some folks totally ignore the politics at hand, and turn their comments into an attack on the other candidate. It's hilarious!

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

KELSO'S NUTS
Me say war on EMOTION

Sylvia Hubbard
Prayer is powerful, but without wisdom and action, empty

Christopher
We could sure use all of that money here I tell u, make me want to run for the presidency Chris, but I cant spell potato LOL

ingridspeak
Anytime and no one is ever off subject here sister – thank u

KELSO'S NUTS
Am I the only one who think that Jeff davis looks exactly like Abe Lincoln?

Danie
I just wish we would use our brain muscles more

Kit (Keep It Trill)
U know on the real I am waware, but it is the natural gas pipeline they really want Afgan for. I wrote about it 3 yrs ago on this blog, I will find it and send u the link

T.Allen-Mercado
Me a teacher a “best one” too, im flattered

BlaHHH
Thanks hon u too, study hard and get that beach apt asap

shine
Mass distraction is damaging us all

uNWrItten*
Thank you, and barr is like me a libertarian, I know all about his stance, he has the only one that has articulated a pla\n

mp1 v.8.0
Stated like a real renaissance man

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
KELSO'S NUTS said...

Torrance: Were my comments EMOTIONAL? I thought they were pretty clinical.

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

Kelso
I know mane, i dont mind, but clinical is what I expect from u - u mental surgeon

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