The Afghan Effect

[Hubb]

So this morning Obama rolled out a massive reassesment of afghanistan and pakistan. what do you think about it? Do yo think its the work we should have done after the soviet conflict there? Is it too much?

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsO...52P7CO20090327

[molecule]

dangit hubb, i thought this thread was gonna be about something else.

[progress]

I'm all about sending more troops over there to dismantle those fucks, but giving $1.5 Billion per year for the next 5 years to the Afghan Government is absolutely fucking retarded when we are in one of the worst economic downturns our country has ever seen.

[Hey Bubu]

So since the Russians failed miserably, it obviously means that we'll kick ass there.


On the plus side, it is a decent testing ground for new strategies and weapons, that should keep the economy going....

[Hubb]

Originally Posted by Porkchop Avenger

So since the Russians failed miserably, it obviously means that we'll kick ass there.


On the plus side, it is a decent testing ground for new strategies and weapons, that should keep the economy going....

The russians failed becuase we bankrolled and armed the afghan army to the teeth, do a little history homework. The situation now is entirely different then it was then.

LOL brad

and yes im upset over the 1.5 billion a year, but on the other side of the coin this work was where we dropped the ball last time and many people argue that it created the environment that the Taliban have thrived in and allowed for the 9/11 attacks. I did find it funny that during the press confrenece Obama just put Pakistan on blast. He called them out 4 or 5 times and it was most excellent.

[paigesauce]

seriously things that make you go hmmm.

[Dionysos]

*makes requisite Afghan blanket joke*

[PETA]

Originally Posted by Hubb

The russians failed becuase we bankrolled and armed the afghan army to the teeth, do a little history homework. The situation now is entirely different then it was then.

It is very different the Soviets went in with several hundred thousand troops and didn't have to supply them from half way around the world.

I think the goal is a good one. I think our policy of supporting a central government to the deterioration of our relationship with the different tribal bands has made the situation very challenging.

We've got the benefit of a lot of experience there now and great technology but it could be a friggin nightmare over there. COntainment rather than erradiction might be wiser. Who knows.

Originally Posted by Hubb

and yes im upset over the 1.5 billion a year, but on the other side of the coin this work was where we dropped the ball last time and many people argue that it created the environment that the Taliban have thrived in and allowed for the 9/11 attacks. I did find it funny that during the press confrenece Obama just put Pakistan on blast. He called them out 4 or 5 times and it was most excellent.

we did fund and supply the Mujahadeen and specifically gave them should fired anti-aircraft missles that really fucked up the Soviets. However, it was the Pakistani secret police who rewally turned them into the force that we know them as today.

[johnny861]

Originally Posted by Porkchop Avenger

On the plus side, it is a decent testing ground for new strategies and weapons, that should keep the economy going....

lol true, afghanistan has definitely become a giant test ground from everything from pilotless aircraft to robotic battle donkeys...

I'm sure every month, there's some new weird ass droid thing hopping around, invoking the occaisional, "LOLWUT?" in arabic.

[name change request]

I'll read the story in a sec... just wanted to say that the Soviets didn't fail simply because we provided arms to the mujahideen... it was more complicated than that.

I think it's worthwhile to put some money and troops in Afghanistan to take Al-Queda out... but I don't think the U.S. should be doing this alone. I think we need troops from several countries... how about the ones that AQ has attacked.. that will suffice nicely.

and if you aren't going to find many innocent people living in the caves amongst the terrorists, i'd be fine with just bombing the hell out of them.

[abstractrude]

didnt we get russians hooked on heroin at one point?

maybe it was a different fight than what you guys are talking about...but i read somewhere that in some fight with the russians our CIA had guys selling heroin to the enemy. we were making money and hurting the enemy.

maybe what i read is something completely different and completely blown out of proportion.