tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post1985356016269533644..comments2024-01-01T19:49:13.788-08:00Comments on The Vigil: Re-Thinking AfghanistanVigilantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640246609540057997noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post-23471869798874857312008-08-09T14:27:00.000-07:002008-08-09T14:27:00.000-07:00Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, President Jimmy Carter...Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, President Jimmy Carter's national security adviser, is not on board. Zbig says:<br><br><i>I think we're literally running the risk of unintentionally doing what the Russians did. And that, if it happens, would be a tragedy....When we first went into Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban, we were actually welcomed by an overwhelming majority of Afghans. They did not see us as invaders, as they saw the Soviets.</i><br><br>However, Brzezinski noted that just as the Soviets were able to delude themselves that they had a loyal army of communist-sympathizers who would transform the country, the U.S.-led forces may now be making similar mistakes. He said that the conduct of military operations "with little regard for civilian casualties" may accelerate the negative trend in local public opinion regarding the West's role. "It's just beginning, but it's significant," Brzezinski said.<br><br>His own program for improving the state of affairs in Afghanistan -- where U.S. casualties have surpassed those in Iraq for two months now -- revolves around pragmatism. European allies are the biggest stakeholders. He believes Europe should bribe Afghan farmers not to produce poppies used for heroin since "it all ends up in Europe." Moreover, he thinks the tribal warlords can be bought off with bribes, with the endgame being the isolation of Al-Qaeda from a Taliban that is <br><br><i>"not a united force, not a world-oriented terrorist movement, but a real Afghan phenomenon.</i><br><br>Brzezinski, who has endorsed Obama, says, <br><br><i>if McCain is president and if his Secretary of State is Joe Lieberman and his Secretary of Defense is [Rudolph] Giuliani, we will be moving towards the World War IV that they have been both favoring and predicting...</i><br><br>In a potential Obama cabinet, Brzezinski would prefer <br><br><i>Sen. Chuck Hagel... I would like to see a bipartisan cabinet. I think we need one very badly -- and we did well in the Cold War when we had one...</i><br><br><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/25/brzezinski-warns-against_n_114999.html" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">Huffington</a>Indicted Plagiaristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03350595989619745600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post-73501671343728519852008-08-09T09:04:00.000-07:002008-08-09T09:04:00.000-07:00vigilante asks "The question for Wizard is, d...<b>vigilante</b> asks <i>"The question for Wizard is, do we have to further punish the Taliban, "no matter what the cost"?"</i><br><br>My answer, probably like yours, is <b>NO</b> <br><br>I believe that Obama could and would probably negotiate a reasonable settlement in Afghanistan. And frankly, I'm not sure it's even possible to win.<br><br>Remember that I was the lone ranger (in this crowd) that strongly supported the "surge" in Iraq (and I still do). But I just don't think a similar surge is Afghanistan would work, with either Obama or McCain in the Commander's chair.<br><br>So I think we might need a real statesman to resolve this situation and Obama is likely to fill that role better than McCain.the WIZARD, fkaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18171655256407149176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post-39440728192207408192008-08-09T07:47:00.000-07:002008-08-09T07:47:00.000-07:00Wizard brings up an important thought:If we really...<b>Wizard</b> brings up an important thought:<br><br><i>If we really, really want to "win" in Afghanistan, No matter the cost, we need to elect McCain.</i><br><br>Most strategic thinkers, be they civilian statesmen or military professionals, would agree that there are very few national goals which merit pursuit of victory <b>'no matter the cost'</b>. Wars for national independence and defense and civil wars are three such situations. Let's keep in mind that the Taliban did not attack us on 9-11. Al Qaeda attacked us. For their hosting of al Qaeda, Mullah Omar and his Taliban fully deserved being severely punished. That has been done. They were knocked out of power. The question for Wizard is, do we have to further punish the Taliban, "<i>no matter what the cost</i>"?Vigilantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640246609540057997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post-1535830033001741182008-08-08T13:46:00.000-07:002008-08-08T13:46:00.000-07:00Vig, this is a fine piece. I say that not just b...Vig, this is a fine piece. I say that not just because I agree with you, but because you aren't the only smart informed person saying it. We need to fix our own house.Utah Savagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16385093247915560752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post-45554526602060000482008-08-08T11:27:00.001-07:002008-08-08T11:27:00.001-07:0040 years ago that is:-)40 years ago that is:-)MadMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753739401363847764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post-87928423903105225042008-08-08T11:27:00.002-07:002008-08-08T11:27:00.002-07:00To paraphrase Wesley Clark McCain is not necessari...To paraphrase Wesley Clark McCain is not necessarily qualified to be CIC because he was a jet jockey and then a POW 40 years. I find Obama to be far more stable than McBush, and therefore more qualified to, with the help of his advisors, run the war in Afghanistan or anywhere else for that matter.MadMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753739401363847764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post-55384155600970214422008-08-07T19:24:00.000-07:002008-08-07T19:24:00.000-07:00Fascinating. I feel like I'm in the Twilight ...Fascinating. I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone....<br><br>If vigilante is right (and I think he may well be right) I suggest we elect Obama (but Clark will never be part of that picture).<br><br>If we really, really want to "win" in Afghanistan, No matter the cost, we need to elect McCain.the WIZARD, fkaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18171655256407149176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post-79874226192381072012008-08-07T17:37:00.000-07:002008-08-07T17:37:00.000-07:00I actually have no idea if the situation in Afghan...I actually have no idea if the situation in Afghanistan has moved beyond any fix. More troops and development aid is needed but our biggest enemy in that country has been ourselves and our actions in Iraq. Until we see a Obama/Clark or Obama/Kaine team in office I'm not going to give up yet. In all honesty Afghanistan is the one place we can't afford to lose.Beach Bumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11000824454124236774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post-10659129770354796382008-08-07T11:09:00.000-07:002008-08-07T11:09:00.000-07:00Vigil I don't know that the trail has gone col...Vigil I don't know that the trail has gone cold with regard to bin Laden. It is a safe bet that he is more likely to be in the mountains of Pakistan than in a subdivision in New Jersey. <br><br>Secondly, just finding bin Laden won't stop al Qaeda. He may be the head of the snake but cutting it off won't kill the snake. The symbolic value of his capture however cannot be underestimated, so let's hope he really isn't being held prisoner in the basement of the WH to be trotted out at the Republican convention.<br><br>Third there is little evidence other than that penned by some anti-war lefties that the Afghanistan Alliance is falling apart. The world has a stake in the outcome of this war and everything I have read leads me to believe the commitment is strong indeed. <br><br>Finally I see you make yet another comparison to the Vietnam war. I don't agree. There is no comparison, either ideologically or geographically to the Vietnam conflict. We actually have an uneasy alliance with Pakistan and can bring some heavy pressure to bear once our country is seen as strong and purpose driven. When Dubya walks out and Obama'/Clinton walk in I think you will be surprised at what you see happening not only in the Middle East but in the world. <br><br>Obama\Clinton '08MadMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753739401363847764noreply@blogger.com