What's the point of the war in Afghanistan?

[Anarchist420]

House Resolution to pull out of Afghanistan: 65 yea, 356 nay.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=422uTaGxY8o

It would be different if this war wasn't bankrupting us, if bombing errors weren't conducted that killed civilians, if we hadn't already been at war with them for 10 years, had not provoked al-qaida into attacking, and if we were coming close to winning this war, but none of those criteria have been met.

So, what the hell is the point of staying there until 2017? Is it to get the country into so much debt that we'll have to be taken over?

I mean, are these 356 retards that voted no really that dumb? How could anyone hate the citizenry so much that they're supposed to be representing?

It's bad enough that we're still in Iraq.

 

[conehead433]

Completion of a gas pipeline expected to be finished in 2015 or so.

 

[her209]

Base of operation into Iran.

 

[Fern]

What's the point of the war in Afghanistan?

In the broadest possible terms I believe the point is to prevent Afganistan from once again becoming a base from which terrorist attacks can be launched on the west.

Beyond that (e.g., nation-building etc) IDK; and IDK if they (Washington DC) know either.

Edit: I'm glad to see it put to a vote, if only a resolution.

Fern

 

[Fear No Evil]

The war isn't whats bankrupting us..

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

The war isn't whats bankrupting us..

You're right, it already has. Good catch on the grammatical error there.

 

[Jaskalas]

What's the point of the war in Afghanistan?

It's to "save face". To give the appearance that we're doing something useful.

 

[DietDrThunder]

Ferengi Rule of Acquisiton #36. War is good for business

 

[Fear No Evil]

You're right, it already has. Good catch on the grammatical error there.

Really? And the trillions being spent on bailouts and stimulus has nothing to do with it?

 

[Elias824]

The goal is to prevent al qaeda from taking over of Afghanistan again and using it as a base of operations to attack us, as they have done before. The problem is now that they have moved into Pakistan, and Pakistan dosent have the willpower to get rid of them. We may kill lots of civilians, but we dont kill our own countrymen for voting in an election, nor are we the ones trying to keep this war going forever. If the combat ended and the government stabilized we would be out of there very quickly.

 

[dmcowen674]

What's the point of the war in Afghanistan?

O & O

Opium & Oil

 

[Brovane]

As already stated the point of the War is to prevent Al Qaeda from taking over Afghanistan. Unfortunately we really took or eye of the ball when we went and invaded Iraq. This sucked resources away from Afghanistan. Now that Iraq is winding down attention is back on Afghanistan so we can build a stable government in Afghanistan. Overall the US has made a lot of effor to reduce civilian casaulties. However unfortunately we cannot totally prevent them. We owe it to the people of Afghanistan to help rebuild there country. We left them in a lurch when we helped them get rid of the Soviet's in the 80's. Hopefully this time the US and our allies can finish the job properly. It is a difficult process trying to help build a stable government but we are getting the job done.

 

[PJABBER]

O & O

Opium & Oil

I'll agree on the opium, but oil, and natural gas, might be a stretch.

Opium is the national crop. Until this is replaced by another viable cash crop we can expect ongoing problems.

At best, Afghanistan might eventually be a transit point for oil from the Caspian oil fields to Türkmenabat to Pakistan's Arabian Sea ports.

There is a gas pipeline project, the Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline (TAP or TAPI), from Döwletabat though Afghanistan to Pakistan which may or may not be finally built, depending on the security conditions.

These proposed pipeline projects all run through Taliban country, so maybe the cynical could say that the corporatists are having their way yet again.

:awe:

 

[Hacp]

As already stated the point of the War is to prevent Al Qaeda from taking over Afghanistan. Unfortunately we really took or eye of the ball when we went and invaded Iraq. This sucked resources away from Afghanistan. Now that Iraq is winding down attention is back on Afghanistan so we can build a stable government in Afghanistan. Overall the US has made a lot of effor to reduce civilian casaulties. However unfortunately we cannot totally prevent them. We owe it to the people of Afghanistan to help rebuild there country. We left them in a lurch when we helped them get rid of the Soviet's in the 80's. Hopefully this time the US and our allies can finish the job properly. It is a difficult process trying to help build a stable government but we are getting the job done.

Why can't we let AQ take over, THEN go in and kill their fighters? Once they take over, the target is clear. Right now, our soldiers are sitting ducks. Keep doing some housecleaning every few years or so and eventually AQ will get tired and give up.

 

[ranmaniac]

With all that opium, it's probably paying for itself many times over, at least unofficially.

 

[cganesh75]

Really? And the trillions being spent on bailouts and stimulus has nothing to do with it?

atleast the bailout money is being paid back, stimulus money is for the people in this country. tell me whats the return on investment on Iraq war and Afghan war?

 

[boomerang]

And here I thought it was to keep all those soldiers overseas. You know, the ones with the potential to be lone wolf extremists or to be recruited to terrorist cells?

 

[Anarchist420]

In the broadest possible terms I believe the point is to prevent Afganistan from once again becoming a base from which terrorist attacks can be launched on the west.

Beyond that (e.g., nation-building etc) IDK; and IDK if they (Washington DC) know either.

Edit: I'm glad to see it put to a vote, if only a resolution.

Fern

They only attacked us because we occupied the middle east and gave aid to Israel. Why is that worth it?

 

[heyheybooboo]

What's the point of the war in Afghanistan?

1) Kill OBL;
2) Build the old CentGas pipeline (wouldn't want that Turk gas to be piped through Iran, now, would we?);
3) Piss off Imadinnerjacket; and
4) Need a fresh supply of D'opium for the masses (to reduce that Oxy dependence).




--

 

[rchiu]

As already stated the point of the War is to prevent Al Qaeda from taking over Afghanistan. Unfortunately we really took or eye of the ball when we went and invaded Iraq. This sucked resources away from Afghanistan. Now that Iraq is winding down attention is back on Afghanistan so we can build a stable government in Afghanistan. Overall the US has made a lot of effor to reduce civilian casaulties. However unfortunately we cannot totally prevent them. We owe it to the people of Afghanistan to help rebuild there country. We left them in a lurch when we helped them get rid of the Soviet's in the 80's. Hopefully this time the US and our allies can finish the job properly. It is a difficult process trying to help build a stable government but we are getting the job done.

Sorry it ain't that easy. On the military front, Al Qaeda's just stay by the border, move in and out of Pakistan to avoid direct confrontation with the US. Their goal is simply to drag this war on, drain US resource and wait for US public opinion to turn against the war.

On the political front, you have this fvcking Karzai government who is corrupt, and utilize any way possible, cheat, bribe, brutality to stay in power. As long as that government is running the show, big percent of US money into the country only serve to lineup the pockets of government official and little goes to building the country.

This war is no win for the US. Better get out before wasting more money. Unless the US is ready to get tough, get tough with Karzai, get tough with Pakistan. But I don't see the current admin has the ball to get tough.

 

[bfdd]

The war in Afghanistan I don't really have a problem with. Maybe the way we're trying to "fix" the situation isn't working properly and that should be looked at, but the causation for the war imo was justified.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Really? And the trillions being spent on bailouts and stimulus has nothing to do with it?

Really.

 

[woolfe9999]

The point of staying in is more about not losing than it is about "winning."

There once was a laudable objective - to eradicate AQ and the Taliban. We had an opportunity to do that but failed. What is left is about saving face. I say that not to trivialize the goal, because saving face actually matters. If we pull up stakes and leave the country with the Taliban being at its current level of prominence, we have admitted defeat to terrorists. This in turn will embolden them and probably swell their ranks. Saving face is actually about real security, not just protecting political egos (though it is that, too.)

What we want to do there is carefully define "victory" in a way that is plausibly achieveable. If we can spend a few more years there and leave under a circumstance where the Taliban has significantly less territorial influence, and the government security forces are stronger than now, we can call it a "victory." If the situation deteriorates in the longer term, which it likely will, that is not our problem. We just need to avoid another Nam, where we bail and the enemy takes over immediately.

- wolf

 

[theflyingpig]

Both Afghanistan and Iraq are lost causes because the American people are simply to weak to do what is necessary to win. And besides, the people there are not worth the billions we are pouring into their countries. We should leave and let them burn. We have nothing to gain by staying there. Nothing at all. Everyone knows this.

 

[her209]

Both Afghanistan and Iraq are lost causes because the American people are simply to weak to do what is necessary to win. And besides, the people there are not worth the billions we are pouring into their countries. We should leave and let them burn. We have nothing to gain by staying there. Nothing at all. Everyone knows this.

Yeah, why did those Afghanistan-is have to get involved with our Cold War?