Archived material Access restricted Article
Rantburg

Today's Front Page   View All of Sat 12/21/2019 View Fri 12/20/2019 View Thu 12/19/2019 View Wed 12/18/2019 View Tue 12/17/2019 View Mon 12/16/2019 View Sun 12/15/2019
1
2019-12-21 Afghanistan
US General Defends Afghan War, Says Objectives Achieved
Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.
Posted by trailing wife 2019-12-21 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [12 views ]  Top

#1 The first big fail was having any objectives for Afghanistan whatsoever. The stalwarts of the deepState took it from there. Gawd knows where and how exactly the puzzle-box distributed the billions of US taxpayer money.

If the objective had been plain revenge, a punitive conquest and pounding of a tribal hellholel; it was still the wrong target. Like hellfiring a 'probable location' without proper intel, while the assault was clearly coming from elsewhere. Maybe the military hubris and 'never back down' came into play, but it was ridiculous to hammer your head for 18 years on unyielding rock.

I don't see how it is so difficult for the ⭔ and US Congress to accept that the real enemy is Pakistain. The complete blindness and denial seems contrived, because no one can be this stupid. Maybe the Congress I can understand, but not those who report to the President.

Of course, India is to blame too. Because if it wasn't such an inward complexed, non-committed, corrupt State keeping a neurotic leash on its military, the US and India could have together long neutralized the 'Stain. Immediately, the world would have noticed the momentum gone out of muslim extremism in their respective domains.

If India can get its act together in the next 5 years, there is still a window to achieve this, and the taliban in Afghanistan would be finished before it can grow stronger. But the more we wait, the greater a war it shall be. I believe one major reason the US does not wish to see Pakistain as a target is the laxity of India to rise up as a viable subcontinental ally.
Posted by Dron66046 2019-12-21 01:31||   2019-12-21 01:31|| Front Page Top

#2 Bingo. Pakistan delenda est.
Get the hell out if Soddy while we're at it.

100% agree with the tactical approach of devastating punitive expeditions: devastating and delivered from offshore, without any large forward deployment of troops.
Posted by Lex 2019-12-21 01:37||   2019-12-21 01:37|| Front Page Top

#3 US General Defends Afghan War, Says Objectives Achieved

"I got my stars" sorta thing?
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-12-21 04:06||   2019-12-21 04:06|| Front Page Top

#4 His opinion, but certainly not universally shared. A dreadful place and equally dreadful people engaged in a tribal existence some 1000 or so years behind the modern world. Please find the door.
Posted by Besoeker 2019-12-21 04:13||   2019-12-21 04:13|| Front Page Top

#5 Cause "I was just obeying orders" really isn't seen as much of a proper response?

How many GOs resigned over the conduct of the war? See - sanctuaries in Pakistan. When you get to that level, you are all bureaucratic politicians.

War is the ultimate purpose of your existence. Did they change their personnel system accordingly or did they just keep the old peacetime system in place? /rhet question

You rapidly promote success on the battlefield. There is no 'fair' time in commander. There is no fair in war. That means boards and assignment process are canned and allow the very reason for your existence determine who your commanders and GOs are going to be.
Posted by Procopius2k 2019-12-21 07:47||   2019-12-21 07:47|| Front Page Top

23:59 Dopey Panda2315
23:21 trailing wife
23:10 trailing wife
23:05 Alaska Paul
22:14 Alaska Paul
21:57 Fred
20:21 Zhang Fei
20:03 Lex
20:01 Lex
19:56 Lex
19:52 Lex
19:20 Lex
19:18 Lex
19:14 Lex
19:13 Lex
19:04 Lex
18:24 Frank G
18:04 trailing wife
17:46 trailing wife
17:33 Bright Pebbles
17:33 M. Murcek
17:28 Dron66046
17:17 M. Murcek
17:11 Frank G
Merry-Go-Blog










Paypal:
Google
Search WWW Search rantburg.com