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Posted on 8/22/17 at 12:43 pm to jcolding41
Read Caravans: A Novel of Afghanistan by James A. Michener. Published in 1963, it could have been written yesterday. Read it years after I came back from Afghanistan and was shocked by how authentic it was in regards to my personal experiences in 2003.
Rest in Peace.
Rest in Peace.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 1:34 pm to upgrayedd
They have some mineral interests in Afghanistan, but security would be the big one. A stable Afghanistan is a stable Pakistan, and they're building a major supply line through Pakistan.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 1:39 pm to Lima Whiskey
I know the navy has done large natural resource surveys and there are tons of exploitable mineral and metals resources, but their infrastructure is dogshit. There's no way they could ever secure those routes, especially without a central government. Hell the Russians have had geologists stationed there since 1979.
This post was edited on 8/22/17 at 1:53 pm
Posted on 8/22/17 at 1:50 pm to northshorebamaman
Dozens of tribes.
Regional fragmentation.
No central authority.
Pashtuns are spread over northeast paki and southern afgan.
border is
invention of outsiders.
Drug trade dependency.
Muslim.
Literacy not.
Gnp not.
I will eat my yarmulke if we "win".
Do you fans of trump really see taliban just giving up? What would be reason?
Regional fragmentation.
No central authority.
Pashtuns are spread over northeast paki and southern afgan.
border is
invention of outsiders.
Drug trade dependency.
Muslim.
Literacy not.
Gnp not.
I will eat my yarmulke if we "win".
Do you fans of trump really see taliban just giving up? What would be reason?
Posted on 8/22/17 at 1:51 pm to CelticDog
quote:
reputable people
quote:
CelticDog
Nah.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 1:54 pm to Lima Whiskey
quote:
The problem with our military leadership is that they can't, won't, consider withdrawal. They're also political creatures. They'll keep hammering away with a token military effort until the very end.
Weeeelllll then if what you say is true, then, our premise is wrong. I set up a premise that our highest-ranking military people were the most learned that we have ever had. The basis for that premise is that they've been educated and experienced so much more than in previous eras such as Vietnam.
IF you are correct and indeed all of this experience and training cannot purge their political instincts and motivations from them, then we do face a worst case scenario in which our Officer Corps is STILL not worth a shite because they are all political careerists like Hackworth says.
WE already know for sure that it traditionally took a real political "manimal" to make General Officer. But since 2001 we have a new generation of warfighting Officers who presumably made rank on their practical rather than political talents.
I'm going with my theory that the new guys way at the top are not so political and can clearly analyze and advise without political influence and motive. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. I guess I'm just a Dreamer.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 1:56 pm to Jim Rockford
quote:
My best friend is an SF medic who has done three tours over there. He told me several years ago that no matter how many of them we kill, after we leave nothing will have changed.
Precisely why we need to stay over there and do our best to contain them. They're not like the Vietcong. They will spread and create terrorist networks all around Europe and Asia. They have the potential to be much bigger if we leave.
This post was edited on 8/22/17 at 9:57 pm
Posted on 8/22/17 at 2:02 pm to ScottFowler
quote:
I just find it interesting that NSA McMaster wrote "Dereliction of Duty", placing blame for Vietnam on the decisions of Johnson & McNamara.
I really need to read that book. I agree with the above quote.
To what extent McMaster places blame on the Officer Corps of the US military for failures in Vietnam, I can't say. I haven't read the book. But I can say that our military education system for Officers back in the years leading up to Vietnam were off the mark for training Officers to analyze and fight that kind of war. The Officer Corps made lots of mistakes because they were not trained for that kind of war.
Whose job is it to train up the high-ranking warfighters? Our military leaders have to figure out how to prepare the military leadership for the Next War. The civilian leadership of the USA doesn't have the expertise for that task.
So, we have done a better job over the decades since Vietnam than we did during the decades preceding Vietnam. I think that we have done MUCH better, but, maybe I'm just dreaming.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 2:10 pm to Amazing Moves
quote:
Precisely why we need to stay over there and do our best to contain them. They're not like the Vietcong. They will spread and create terrorist networks all around Europe and Asia. They have the potential to be much bigger is we leave.
Holy shite. You just explained the reasoning behind "The Domino Theory" that got us involved in two wars in Asia and you don't even realize it
Posted on 8/22/17 at 2:16 pm to Champagne
I am going to take a wait and see approach. Try not to jump to conclusions.
I was convinced Afghan was a lost cause with no practical solution. But if Mattis and McMaster have a plan that has convinced POTUS, then I am willing to see if it works.
It will not be the usual "hearts & minds"/ "perpetual occupation with no objective" war of the Neocon politicians. Even though they may be on board. (McCain/Graham)
Does explain Bannon being forced out. That's for sure.
That makes me sad, but maybe he was too much of an idealist.
I was convinced Afghan was a lost cause with no practical solution. But if Mattis and McMaster have a plan that has convinced POTUS, then I am willing to see if it works.
It will not be the usual "hearts & minds"/ "perpetual occupation with no objective" war of the Neocon politicians. Even though they may be on board. (McCain/Graham)
Does explain Bannon being forced out. That's for sure.
That makes me sad, but maybe he was too much of an idealist.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 2:17 pm to WhiskeyPapa
The PT belt is a nice touch
Posted on 8/22/17 at 2:18 pm to jcolding41
The Brits in Afghanistan.
It didn't end well.
This post was edited on 8/22/17 at 2:38 pm
Posted on 8/22/17 at 3:30 pm to upgrayedd
quote:
I know the navy has done large natural resource surveys and there are tons of exploitable mineral and metals resources, but their infrastructure is dogshit. There's no way they could ever secure those routes, especially without a central government. Hell the Russians have had geologists stationed there since 1979.
There is a pretty good show on Netflix
about Norwegian SF being deployed there that actually touches on this. Only down part is its all subtitled.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 3:32 pm to jcolding41
Build robots.
Let them tour Afghanistan instead.
Watch robots actually develop PTSD from that shithole part of the country.
Not learn lesson, repeat.
Let them tour Afghanistan instead.
Watch robots actually develop PTSD from that shithole part of the country.
Not learn lesson, repeat.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 3:42 pm to WhiskeyPapa
quote:
For nothing at all.
We disagree.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 3:46 pm to StraightCashHomey21
quote:Netflix review - Nobel
There is a pretty good show on Netflix
Never seen it. Going to have to take a look at it.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 3:57 pm to DisplacedBuckeye
quote:
For nothing at all.
We disagree.
But are not able to articulate even a single sentence in explanation.
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