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Editorial: Rethink US war in Afghanistan?

Posted: March 13, 2012 - 3:16pm

An American soldier has been charged with the type of war atrocity we haven’t seen since 1969, when U.S. servicemen were implicated in the infamous My Lai massacre in Vietnam.

This time, the stakes appear to be graver, given the potential reaction from the people who have been aggrieved. It might be time, indeed, to reconsider our involvement in Afghanistan.

At issue is the shooting, allegedly by an Army staff sergeant, that killed several civilians, including women and children. The incident is alarming at a couple of levels.

A U.S. Army psychiatrist massacred 13 individuals at Fort Hood in November 2009. He is an observant Muslim. Have there been riots and other acts of violence here in response to this act? No. And yet, Afghan President Hamid Karzai declared that the incident reflects on the United States and will “never be forgiven.”

Another key point needs to be mentioned. The soldier who’s been implicated in this shooting has served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, having been sent repeatedly onto the battlefield. Did he snap under the kind of pressure known only by those who have seen intense combat? If so, what does that say about a war that keeps sending young Americans repeatedly into harm’s way?

Here might be the most compelling reason for re-examination: Political forces on the left and right are now suggesting the time may have arrived for the United States to end this fight. The left has been against our involvement almost from the beginning. Now we’re hearing from the other side, including most of the remaining Republican presidential candidates, who are saying it’s time for us to get out of Afghanistan sooner rather than later.

The Obama administration has a public-relations emergency on its hands — and it has to act on it immediately.

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salus vero
salus vero 03/13/12 - 08:31 pm
the type of war atrocity we haven’t seen since 1969

You ought to qualify that...how soon you forget about 9-11...that was a war atrocity!

Oh you mean the US? figures...you Cronkite blinder wearing yellow journalist you

Cynic 03/13/12 - 10:21 pm
Time to leave

There can be nothing gained by staying in Afghanistan. It is time to cut our losses and get out.

5_for_fighting 03/14/12 - 07:30 am
Time to get out

YGN: The left has been against our involvement almost from the beginning.

I will agree with you there. The left in general has been against going into a country supporting and harboring the cowards responsible for 9/11.

It's interesting to note that Karzai wasn't a jackwagon when Bush was in office. Since Obamao entered the White House, Karzai has become anti-American. The left claimed Bush was unpopular and not respected while Obamao would be both. Now we see Bush may not have been popular, but he was respected. Obamao is neither.

Let's not forget Obama's mismanagement of the war also. When McCrystal requested 40,000 troops in August 2009, Obamao didn't reach a decision until December 2009 and only gave McCrystal 30,000 troops. While Obamao kept making excuses about lacking time to decide, he had time for filming NFL commercials and golf. (He always has time for golf.) Most recently, Obama apologized for an honest mistake by our military destroying Korans already desecrated by Muslims themselves. In the minds of Muslims, that apology justified their rioting and killing of Americans. Now, he only offers condolences when an apology would actually be warranted.

Obamao's military leadership in a war is reminiscent of LBJ's. And that is not a compliment.

thd2mad 03/14/12 - 07:46 am

What we really need to rethink is how we fight a war when it is decided to take on a task. Those of us that have been there know what goes on, and if you haven't been there you need to not be making rash statements. We restrict our Military with no coleratal damage. I have told all my Children and Grandson's when they were in the Military to don't sacrifice your life for some idiot that is still alive and reaching for something to kill you with. Protect yourself first and we will worry about what might happen later. I have been there but not to the extent that some of our Soldiers and Marines have been. I had a Grandson killed in Afganistan and folks it is not fun, but that is a decision he made. We discussed it everytime he went over that it very well could happen, His words were, I KNOW. The United States does not know how to fight a war anymore. If we aren't in it to WIN, don't get involved.

WA98109 03/14/12 - 01:55 pm
A Black Hole

Afghanistan always has been and always will be a "Black Hole". The Soviet Union was sucked into it for 10 years and now the US has been sucked into this pit from hell for as long. Why are we there?? Why not just let the locals there fight and kill each other off and stay out of there. Why are we wasting our human and capital resources in that toilet?

bfielder 03/15/12 - 04:04 pm
Afghan President says US needs to accelerate exit

Here is what the Afghan President said today:

"President Hamid Karzai said Thursday NATO forces should exit villages and expedite transfer of all security responsibilities to Afghan forces, while local emotions were mixed on the U.S. decision to remove from the country the soldier accused of a killing rampage that left 16 civilians dead."

I suggest we follow his suggestion as rapidly as possible.

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