Me thinks the problem with the public perception of Afghanistan is the inclination to impose the Iraq template. Is is simply a different problem, which Blast rightly points out.

In Iraq, we needed to get the place secure enough for the fledglingly government to get a grip on self rule, and the method of distribution of natural resources that provided cash for the central government. This isn’t going to happen in Afghanistan since there is no infrastructure, cash etc. Afghanistan hasn’t the plethora of resources that Iraq has… meaning nothing that is developed (like Iraq’s oil fields). But it does have some future developable potential in small arenas. The place could also be an area farming belt (at least for themselves)… tho the Afghans have long since lost generations of farming knowledge (save for poppies used for heroin production).

There are capitalist ventures willing to go into Afghanistan… but not sans security. So I would think that in Afghanistan, it has to be a security issue first and foremost… combined with an international development potential issue. Having business come in to offer locals income and simple benefits like schools, hospitals, roads, electricity, etc is a “hearts/minds” winner. Without such “federal” benefits, what use have the tribes for a central government? They offer them nothing.

NATO? Worthless…

Will Obama listen? I’m betting not. He’s sitting around, counting his diminishing capital…. wondering what does he want more. Health care and cap/trade? Or Afghanistan? When he gets his butt off the fence, he will choose the former, and abandon the latter. He knows he can not afford both. It will set us back diplomatically in the region again, as it did when they were abandoned during the Soviet war. Obama’s America will prove they are not an ally on which anyone can count on with the going gets tough.

Ya know, I hated the GOP Congressional spending during the Bush years, and his lack of a veto pen. But I sure miss the genuine swagger and dogged determination to see a plan thru… despite polls.

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Another area where the manchild makes me “afraid for my country!” No confidence in whatever is behind the curtain, none at all. We have too many lives hanging in the balance while he attempts to make up his mind whether to yield to politics or generals.

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Of COURSE they’re only words with no substance…that’s all Obama knows.

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I see a Viet Nam ll. The Kerrys, the Pelosies, the Rieds, the Murthas, Obama, the liberal, progressive or what ever the hell they call themselves democrats will do exactly what they have done in the past. Hell we find out that their beloved Ted Kennedy was making deals with the Kremlin to undermine Reagan, and the libs loved him for it. The damndest thing is that our brave troops will be the ones once again to suffer the fools in our congress. These pompous asses that call themselves US congressman and US senators will make speeches and charm the nitwits that vote for them.

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@Tom TRH

The one thing I wish the left would figure out about us conservatives, is that most of the time, we wish we were wrong. Some days we pray for it…

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Excellent post and comments all.

Patvann, I’m sure he will say those things. In addition, though, he’ll say it’s “for the children,” that the money needs to go to a badly needed school lunch program.

From 2003 on the entire left told us that Iraq was a mistake but boy oh boy, they really wanted to fight in Afghanistan! Yes siree, they assured us, Afghanistan was where the real fight was.

I didn’t believe them at the time and said so. Much as I’d like to be proven wrong I think it’ll be otherwise.

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[...] Flopping Aces – To Win Or Lose In Afghanistan…Obama’s Moment Of Truth [...]

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Poor American soldiers who have to endure such a horrible leadership from their President. I wish we could drop Obama in Afghanistan and bring all our troops back…that would be a perfect exchange.

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@Skye

Telling (but not to you nor I) that he now says he; “should wait until the right plan comes along”, yet refuses to TELL the generals and the other Progs to do what he said during the election. A position the Progs (at the time) claimed to be “better” than Bush’s, and a position he has the power to now enforce….Last I heard, he was ready to invade Pakistan. (“Pokistaahn”)

Effing pathetic.

He WILL cut and run, while laying blame on any the following or a combination thereof:

1. “I must do what the Senate and the People want”. (Pelosi has telegraphed this already)
2. “Had the previous admin done a better job…” (The old standby)
3. I have a better plan” (Which will be counter to all military/historical advise)

Meanwhile, my 19 year-old son, and thousands like him, have volunteered to die for the freedom of any and all peace-loving Afghani’s. THEIR view of what is right and wrong will be completly discounted by this admin.

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Obama made a point to not make any decision until the ‘right plan’ comes along. It is his way of avoiding the issue and pacifying the left base of the Dem Party.

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