69 million page views

RESPONSE TO THE AFGHAN WAR'S DISMAL END...

Reader comment on item: The Afghan War's Dismal End; Blame Bush Too

Submitted by Ameer Labeeb Hassan (United States), May 29, 2014 at 10:34

You can blame no one but GWB as he and he alone declared the GWOT and sent troops to Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003). President Obama inherited this mess and is trying to clean it up. But it runs alot deeper than what meets the eye, especially if you aren't old enough to remember another U.S. failure known as Vietnam. Same scenario, Troops conduct a "police action" against insurgents; USAID pumps money and material into a country with corrupt leadership and; "boots-on-the-ground" become ineffective in the long run.

Three factors at work here: (1) It is not suitable to fight an UNCONVENTIONAL conflict with CONVENTIONAL forces; (2) Anti- Gov't Insurgents will always use the civilian population for cover & concealment and; (3) Erroneous intel gets the wrong people killed and primes recruits for the insurgency. In order to win this kind of war you practically have to kill the entire civil population off, which isn't feasible. So its a no win situation from a CONVENTIONAL standpoint.

Much in the way of material resources and national treasure was irresponsibly squandered away in Vietnam with that history is repeating itself in Iraq and Afghanistan. And just think, the Army has a "Center For Lessons Learned." But they haven't really learned yet.

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Submit a comment on this item

Reader comments (40) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Bush's limited responsibility [268 words]Rob A.Jun 18, 2014 12:22215476
Mistakes [47 words]Kepha HorJun 11, 2014 21:03215336
1The strange case of Bowe Burgdahl and his father the erstwhile hippie [137 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
dhimmi no moreJun 2, 2014 08:27215198
1The great Michael Hastings and Bowe Burgdahl and his strange family [107 words]dhimmi no moreJun 4, 2014 07:01215198
divine copyright notice [97 words]mythJun 6, 2014 06:36215198
1The basmala revisited [586 words]dhimmi no moreJun 10, 2014 07:25215198
for the sake of communication [138 words]mythJun 16, 2014 08:54215198
1The Qur'an is text with no context [321 words]dhimmi no moreJun 19, 2014 09:11215198
Bergdahl is not a deserter, he was naive. [42 words]JaneJan 24, 2016 13:27215198
2Bowe Bergdhal is not naive [28 words]dhimmi no moreJan 25, 2016 08:03215198
Iraq nuclear drive? [143 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
PezDispenserJun 1, 2014 12:48215164
Republican credibility on foreign policy [65 words]FrankzMay 31, 2014 17:01215142
4We're fighting the wrong wars [343 words]Halal McKosherSteinMay 30, 2014 20:49215128
1Prescience [131 words]y Brandstetter MDJun 1, 2014 08:50215128
1Prescience - As it is Written, So it is Happening [285 words]M. ToveyJun 4, 2014 14:12215128
1right on -add 1 more [17 words]Michael Hanni MorcosJun 9, 2014 02:11215128
1One mistake, however, was all Obama's [324 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Malcolm LoweMay 30, 2014 17:39215123
terrorists started the Iraq and Afganistan wars. [40 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
rodney allsworthMay 30, 2014 17:22215122
1Agree and Disagree [100 words]Luke LloydMay 30, 2014 10:43215121
1the grand fallacy in the Afghanistan region [62 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
mythMay 30, 2014 06:10215117
Access to Afghanistan [102 words]Gene TagliaJun 1, 2014 00:37215117
supply through Russia [34 words]mythJun 3, 2014 06:37215117
Pakistan has always been a part of the supply line. [130 words]Gene TagliaJun 6, 2014 04:50215117
no total failure [387 words]mythMay 30, 2014 05:31215116
1Reply to Daniel Pipes on President Bush [567 words]Joe WillinghamMay 29, 2014 19:20215108
Blame Bush [299 words]ChloeMay 29, 2014 16:44215106
1GWB vs BHO [189 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
YaleMay 29, 2014 12:43215103
What next? [154 words]dhimmi no moreMay 29, 2014 11:46215100
1Sanctity of precious Lives - is Key [149 words]Michael Hanni MorcosJun 9, 2014 02:51215100
RESPONSE TO THE AFGHAN WAR'S DISMAL END... [209 words]Ameer Labeeb HassanMay 29, 2014 10:34215099
1Re: Afghanistan [75 words]OLD DESERT RATMay 29, 2014 09:49215098
Cause rather than blame [35 words]John BMay 29, 2014 03:16215091
1Plenty of blame to go around [309 words]Gene TagliaMay 28, 2014 23:53215082
1Wanted: Islam Savvy Leader [95 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
DaveMay 28, 2014 21:09215079
1Truth, Knowledge and Wisdom [120 words]Mark WerfelMay 28, 2014 21:05215078
I was disappointed [52 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Philip WitriolMay 28, 2014 19:59215074
Bush 43 was not the Creator of the Problem [309 words]M. ToveyMay 28, 2014 19:08215071
The problem seems to be ours and we are stuck with it [148 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Jacques HadidaMay 28, 2014 18:56215069
1honesty [12 words]LewisMay 28, 2014 17:42215066
1Americans don't understand... [14 words]Robin RosenblattMay 28, 2014 17:11215064

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)