Obama made a terrible decision re Afghanistan

That sounds nice, but I doubt we agree about what that is or even if it exists.

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-29224520070829

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/22/poppy-farming-helmand-province-afghanistan

Obama is clueless about how to use our military and his actions only highlight his lack of experience.
He is not listening to his generals, he is listening to others that also lack experience in this area.

It's increasingly hard for me to be proud of America with Obama in charge.

I'm talking about further pointless & needless death, injury & harm of civilians & troops, for obscure ideological reasons at best. I don't know how the US & its allies can extract themselves from Afghanistan & save face, but sooner or later they're going to have to find a way.

What will happen to the Afghan people then ?

The Taliban and Al-Qaeda will terrorize and murder them.

You believe that they're benefiting from this current war/invasion? I don't. I don't believe that ordinary Iraqis exactly gained much as a result of foreign invasion, for that matter. I can't justify the death of some many of the invading troops, either. What for? What exactly was achieved?

The more I read about Afghanistan, the more complex the situation there becomes to me. I simply don't have the answers about what can/should be done about improving the lives of the ordinary people of that country. I honestly believe we don't understand the complexities of their situation. So I can't see that we can impose our "solutions", either. I don't have the answer to your question. But I have no doubt that people of Afghanistan are thoroughly sick and tired of foreign invasions.

Yes, by all means, let's send in engineers and artisans. Let's send in doctors and teachers. Let's send in agricultural experts and maybe even a poet or two.

Good God, do we always have to respond to every problem with soldiers and weapons and death?

Surely once the Taliban realize that the non-military folks we've sent there have only peaceful and constructive intentions they will not only leave them alone, they will welcome them.

And if even if this isn't the case and the Taliban are unable to disassociate our constructive help from historical imperialist designs (Really, who would blame them if they could not?), then surely the Afghan people will do what is necessary to protect our engineers, artisans, doctors, teachers, poets and farmers form the Taliban.

And after all, there are only 100 al-Qaeda in all of Afghanistan. How tough can it be for the video game nerds in our military to take them out with drones?

Come on, 9/11 was an aberration. They were incredibly lucky. It can't happen again, and why would it? Bush is no longer running things. No more war on Islam, no more axis of evil nonsense. Obama is president now and hasn't he assured all of the Muslim world that we mean them no harm?

But wait --- now that he's sending more troops to Afghanistan maybe he wasn't all that sincere when he promised Islam we held no ill will for its followers.

I'm so disappointed in him.

The solutions are very simple; the US gets the hell out of Afghanistan, the Taliban and al Qaeda spread their terrorist activities in and around the country including Europe, and then they must respond to the increasing threat "in their neighborhood."

If and when they ask for support from the US, give them our middle finger.

comprehensibility not your strong suit Finn?

Of course, the Kashmir problem between India and Pakistan makes things very complicated as Pakistan uses the Islamists to fight their cause in Kashmir. I empathize with them as the majority of Kashmiris are Muslim and want ot be part of Pakistan.

The second problem is Afghanistan's poor economy. Employable men and women need training to improve their economy. If only a pipeline could be constructed from Kazakhstan thru Afghanistan which could help. If a portion of oil revenue could be used to boost the economy it will certainly put a small dent on their complete reliance on the poppy crops.

C'mon Finn...quit your sarcastic cynical whining.

I count on you for the balanced , thoughtful opposition platform...the conservative poop..Gimme something I can sink my teeth into.

Sarcasm and irony are not your strong suits, Finn. Why not stick to what you're good at -- spouting the GOP party line.

What is Finn's strong suit?

Do you believe the USA gained anything from the War of Independance ? They had lost the support of a major power. The tax issue was all but settled prior to the revolt, tea was a token tax only. When the British surrendered, the Americans began to murder their own citizens because they were British or British sympathisers. Should the colonies have remained a part of Britain ?

In Iraq and Afghanistan, it is still very early days. Benefits will take decades to wind up. To ask are they benefiting now is like asking if the USA was benefiting half way through its War of Independance. We are trying to win independance from religious dictatorships for these people. No taxation without representation.

You cant suggest a course of action without regard to the consequences of it and other possible courses further into the future.

I liked your sarcasm Finny.

Europe will kow-tow to terrorists like Spain did when they had their train bombing. Itlay thinks the solution is to trial the CIA. Americans will be murdered overseas and political pressure will be to do something about it. What would you have done to your politicians if, after 911, they just shrugged and said, "ah well, thats life ! "

Your point of view, if I am not mistaken, is called American Isolationism. It has been a contributing factor to world wars, not peace.

Ionus, You do know about "taxation without representation" don't you?

It's not a real choice that they now have, because they are now ruled by the European Union.

Can you tell me your understanding of it ? I am here to improve my knowledge.
I would appreciate it (not financially, more a meta-physical quasi-religious semi-social warm feeling).