Some are calling Afghanistan "Obama's war," as if being handed the broom to clean up after the elephant makes it his mess. It's not his, it's the elephants, it will always be the elephants. Obama is just the guy stuck with the broom.
If anyone thinks we can win the war in Afghanistan, they should go back to playing with their GI Joe dolls, because it isn't going to happen. We had our chance and we blew it. We blew it twice. After helping the mujaheddin guerrillas defeat the Soviets by supplying weapons, we could've stayed and helped the country. Already a poor country, Afghanistan was really hurting after the Soviets were driven out. We could've helped. They thought we would. But after we got what we wanted, we walked away. The Taliban emerged from the chaos that followed.
After 9/11 the United States demanded that the Taliban hand over bin Laden. The Taliban leader, Mullah Omar, said he couldn't. So, on October 7th, 2001, the US launched missile attacks against Taliban and al-Qaeda targets.By early 2002 the Taliban were driven out of power. A definite victory. And what did our government do with it? It decided to attack Iraq. Yes, stupidity prevailed, and Rumsfeld removed troops and and weaponry from Afghanistan to feed the new war in Iraq. The result? The Taliban returned, determined to stay this time, and it looks like they're succeeding.
We've turned victory into defeat, twice. And what are we left with?
We have succeeded in creating two thoroughly corrupt governments that have helped themselves to the coffers of their respective countries, (much of it our money), while its citizens still struggle to stay alive. We made a big deal about people risking their lives to vote in Afghanistan and Iraq. That was supposed to banner-wave our victory. We love the symbols of democracy. There is no democracy in Afghanistan or Iraq. There never has been, never will be. Afghanistan and Iraq are both tribal cultures. Democracy doesn't fit. Read their histories and be saddened by the ignorance of our government in plunging us into wars that have left us weakened, vulnerable, and disheartened.
