Afghanistan: Lessons of Vietnam
What did Vietnam teach us?
What to do in Afghanistan? I am not an authority on Afghanistan. I fought in Vietnam; but that certainly does not make me an authority on Vietnam. I’m just a citizen with an opinion. I like to think that I bring a certain objectivity to the debate as to whether the US should send more troops to Afghanistan.
I am also very much a student of military history. The best book I’ve ever read on Vietnam is, Vietnam: A History by Stanley Karnow. I have it in my small personal library.
Image via Wikipedia
One of the great things about a good military history is that individuals and the small events are made real. Reading military history, it’s easy to forget that real people die during a war. Real people are dying in Afghanistan. Some of them are American men and women.
So, I’m glad that President Obama is being deliberate in making the decision on whether or not to send more American forces to this war in Asia. I hope he and his advisers have learnt the lessons of Vietnam. And what did Vietnam teach us about fighting an insurgency?
In Vietnam the enemy had safe havens right across the border where they could rest, train and send supplies to their fighting forces. In Vietnam the American government supported a corrupt South Vietnamese government that was despised by its own people. The people we said we were fighting for did not want us there. And we did not have an exit strategy. These are the same circumstances that now exist in Afghanistan.
It is sobering to remember that at one time the United States had 500,000 military personnel in Vietnam. The war was still lost. The US now has around 60,000 military personnel in Afghanistan.
In my humble opinion, President Obama has no good option. To simply leave would probably be the end of his presidency. To stay could also end his presidency.
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User Comments
Papa Sparks
On November 15, 2009 at 6:54 pm
It is a quagmire, that’s for sure and hard to extricate ourselves from this ongoing war against terrorism in Afghanistan. What I would like to know is what is the mood of the people back home in the States? Do people walk around or sit down and talk about the war? Is it on everyone’s radar screen?
ken bultman
On November 15, 2009 at 7:28 pm
At least in the war you help fight we were at war with North Vietnam–a country or sorts. The people we\’re fighting now do not represent a government so defeating them seems quite impossible. There\’s no one to hand over the sword. Your assessment of the president\’s dilemma is accurate in my opinion.
sunshine926
On November 15, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Great one! thought-provoking is your last sentence about Obama. to simply leave would probably be the end of his presidency, to stay could also end his presidency.
Frances Lawrence
On November 15, 2009 at 7:56 pm
I think you are right, whatever he does he will be wrong, but I think it is time to get out.
Teves
On November 15, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Excellent…
PR Mace
On November 15, 2009 at 8:27 pm
I think it’s time to get out we as a nation have done enough, How many more have to died? My brother was in Vietnam and did two tours of duty at his request because our military is so thin our young men and women are doing tour after tour. What will this do to their mental health in the long term if they even make it back home? I do agree with your assessment of the situation our president now finds himself in. He is in a no win situation. This was a powerful piece.
Jenny Heart
On November 15, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Well written!
chitragopi
On November 15, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Words of true wisdom and experience. Great article.
wonder
On November 15, 2009 at 11:29 pm
An open ended question that keeps rankling—after reading this.
A great sacrifice on the part of the soldiers posted there, as always.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 12:06 am
Papa, in my circle we don’t talk about it but it’s always in the news. It is certainly part of the public debate.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 12:10 am
ken, that’s very true. The war can have no official end. We’re not fighting a nation.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 12:14 am
sunshine, it makes you wonder why anyone would want to be president. Some problems don’t seem to have a solution.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 12:20 am
Frances, I would not want to be in his shoes. I suppose in a few weeks he will make a decision.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 12:23 am
Teves, a lot is at stake. There will be more death and destruction no matter what.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 12:28 am
PR, our military is at the breaking point. Military famalies are carrying the weight of fighting this war; and bringing back the draft would cause riots in the streets.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 12:31 am
Jenny, I think about Vietnam almost every day even after all these years.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 12:35 am
chitragopi, President Obama will need all of his wisdom and the wisdom of those around him to successfully get us through this mess.
CHAN LEE PENG
On November 16, 2009 at 12:37 am
There’s no winner or loser in the war. The politician should take past lessons from the previous wars. U.S has almost burnt out in the Iraq war.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 12:38 am
wonder, the military has done a fine job in an impossible situation.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 1:01 am
CHAN LEE, there is no doubt that the US military is weary from fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Something has to give.
goindia
On November 16, 2009 at 2:35 am
Nicely written dear…
svishnugopal
On November 16, 2009 at 3:02 am
hogan, your topics are always excellent…wonderfully written
Christine Ramsay
On November 16, 2009 at 4:44 am
I think your country and my country have done a brilliant job so far but whether we are really accomplishing what we set out to do is questionable. I just wish we could bring it to an end before we lose too many more of our young soldiers. A good write.
Christine
Uma Shankari
On November 16, 2009 at 6:19 am
Enjoyed reading this – I think the first at Triond you have written outside of writing, tips on fiction writing etc.
Lord Banks
On November 16, 2009 at 7:30 am
Well written i wrote a very similar article myself a few weeks ago, although i do not have your experience of combat, I agree with everything you said Britain has the same trepidation as the U.S. all I want is for politicians and generals to learn from the past, Vietnam being a great example, are we saving a nation again who is indiferent to the Taliban? who embrace the money made from drugs? If we do succeed in Afghanistan and its a big IF the Taliban will disappear to rise again in another country I guarantee it. There isnt a military solution to this conflict we need spys under cover agents if you will, to infiltrate their ranks then we can bring them down from the inside, great article.
Patrick Regoniel
On November 16, 2009 at 8:12 am
It must be a costly decision, whichever it is.
mkd1788
On November 16, 2009 at 10:37 am
looking informative….
J J Neuman
On November 16, 2009 at 11:14 am
I can accept if Obama decides to completely exit Afganistan but there is one major difference no one mentions here. The Vietamese were never capable of striking the U.S. mainland. This faceless enemy, if left unchecked, definitely is capable of strikng the mainland (anybody remember 9/11?). The stakes are much higher now than back 30-some years ago. As far as a president’s legacy being damaged, to me, that means nothing in comparison to the safety of our people. I hope this president is smart enough to know that.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 11:58 am
goindia, it’s difficult to try to make sense out of such a complicated situation; but I did the best I could.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 12:02 pm
svishnugopal, I try to write as clearly as possible. I still think about Vietnam after all these years.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Christine, I feel the same way. It’s just that fighting an insurgency by it’s very nature means fighting a war that goes on for years. On top of that we’re also fighting a war on terror. It’s seems endless.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Uma, yes I’m trying to expand my reach, my subject matter.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Lord Banks, you’ve pointed out an excellent reason why this war is so difficult for the UK and the US to win. The enemy will rise up in some other part of the world.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Patrick, it will be no matter what President Obama decides. Lives will be lost. Families will be destroyed and the fighting will go on.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 12:27 pm
mkd1788, public television covers this issue very well. I’m a big fan of public television.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 12:35 pm
JJ, an excellent point. This is why he cannot withdraw from Afghanistan. I really don’t think withdrawal is on the table.
diamondpoet
On November 16, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Guy nice write, but let me ask a question, how is it possible to win a word when your on someone eles turf, isn’t that like cooking blind.
diamondpoet
On November 16, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Sorry Guy it was suppose to say win a war.
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 1:47 pm
diamondpoet, history is full of wars being won on someone else’s turf. The opposite is true, too.
aunslaught
On November 16, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Hmm.. Obama sure is in a tough position right now… Good point..
Guy Hogan
On November 16, 2009 at 2:57 pm
aunslaught, well he has some good people around him and he personally brings a lot to the table so all we can do is hope for the best.
masz
On November 16, 2009 at 9:35 pm
hmm, new knowledge for me. Thank you for sharing
craigz
On November 17, 2009 at 6:43 am
Great post. Here in the UK the public is pretty much (dare I say) divided on the war in Afghanistan. Whilst many agree we need to track down and put an end to the people behind such acts against innocent men, women and children, the problem in the UK at the moment is why are our troops are there and more importantly why they are so ill-equipped. Many debates are raging in the UK right about now and especially as word coming from a few on the front line is how badly our government has kitted them out. Stories of troops having to purchase their own footwear and other equipment is shocking to the UK public, especially as the hierarchy in the UK have paid bonuses to MOD officials seated behind desks when our men and women out there are crying for equipment. All this whilst every day on the news we hear of a British soldie killed.
I fear that because of this war and the lack of provisions given to British Troops (I cannot speak for the US), it may spell the end of a dwindling labour government that has failed, led by Gordan Brown who, let us be honest, appears wooden and had to pick up the pieces left by Tony Blair. In any event whatever happens in Afghanistan we are fighting a war against an almost unseen enemy. Gorilla tactics are the name of the game and dare I say many US Soldiers discovered this in Nam…Look not too far into our history and we will see the Russians, as mighty as they once were and still are, pulled out of Afghanistan.
Good luck to our troops and let us hope that the politicians of this world take notice of what really is happening and how the public feel. I guess to them it is so easy sitting behind the comfort of their warm offices…
Great post!
Southgate
On November 17, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Nice article.Let us see how the US president solve or escape from the dilemma.Thanks for sharing.
Guy Hogan
On November 18, 2009 at 12:38 pm
masz, it seems the US military is in a no win situation. If the experts don’t have a solution I certainly don’t.
Guy Hogan
On November 18, 2009 at 12:45 pm
craigz, public television in the US has covered these problems in the UK. I watch only the news on public television. I think public television covers the news better than commercial TV.
Guy Hogan
On November 18, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Southgate, Obama has to draw down in Iraq as soon as possible. If he draws down too fast civil war will break out in Iraq.
Westbrook
On November 18, 2009 at 5:42 pm
We as a nation need to get a backbone and stop whimpering. We are at war with terrorists that will strike us here on our land if we do not try to fight them in other lands. Extremist Islamic factions are vowed to destroy America. Americans are lulled into a false sense of security because everything is out of sight and only seen and heard on TV. I am an American Vietnam veteran and I fought in many battles. Regardless of whether you accepted the war or questioned the reasons, it was wrong that Americans treated us like the enemy after close to 60,000 of us died on the battle field. America’s lack of backbone made our war useless and many of us died in vain and we deserted a country that depended on us for their freedom. We were not allowed to finish what we started. We cannot allow ourselves to let our military people die in vain by running out of something we had to start. Please read the following articles that I wrote on the subject:
newsflavor.com/opinions/didnt-the-vietnam-war-teach-us-anything/
authspot.com/poetry/freedom-16/
authspot.com/journals/i-am-a-vietnam-war-veteran/
I also have a blog at wdcplace.blogspot.com if anyone is interested in checking it out.
deep blue
On November 18, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Now President Obama may indeed feel the White House to be such a tight place to make decisions. Very well said, Guy. Killing the enemy is really a futile attempt to attain peace. In that sense the enemy now dead has firsthandly attained peace than his killer, while the latter has to open his eyes for eternity out of guilt. An endless fear for payback could always be anticipated.
Henry A. Eckstein
On November 20, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Iraq and Afghanistan are two illustrations of the folly
of letting politicians fight wars within the divisive
atmosphere of partisan politics and they showcase the idiocy
of doing without the input of strategic planners beforehand.
We cannot lay this on the head of Obama, because he was
NOT responsible for starting a war without a clear mandate
from Congress and without a clear plan of action from
BOTH warfighting field commanders AND exit strategists.
On a general scale, Afghanistan and Iraq are where they
are today because of an accident in geography and demographics.
Today we a have a large population of young and ignorant
midieval-level peasants trying to eke out a living
in a hostile environment that is really nothing more than
barren rock and hot sand. These are countries with
NO OBVIOUS NATURAL RESOURCES and which
technically have NO WAY of supporting (i.e. feeding)
the populations thay have now on any sustainable basis.
The harsh climate and barren lands pretty much preclude
the formation of any type of first world society without
the addition of First-world know-how and of course that
greaser of many hands — OIL — !!!
Mixed in with basic tribalism and lack of technology,
you have a horde of Afghani Mujihadeen riding donkeys
and Iraqi warlords trying to defend a way of life that
THEY THINK is suited to the harsh climate in which they live.
Unfortunately for them, an Arabic man from an extrememly
wealthy Saudi family decided to use one country as a
home base for his operations against the Western World
and the Afghanis are now paying dearly for that
transgression.
The ONLY THING that Afghanistan has in ANY WAY,
SHAPE OR FORM, is that it is a strategically located
land mass that COULD BE used as a well-placed hub
of transport connecting Russia, Europe, Africa, East Asia
and the Middle East together.
Its lands are EXTREMELY VALUABLE as a simple facility
to lay pipes, roads and train tracks that are the hub
of transport for consumer goods, oil, gas & water to many
lands. Whoever controls that land mass can profit immensely
from taking a percentage cut from all the goods, people and
resources passing through and thus we have countries such
as Britian, Soviet Union and today, the USA all fighting dearly
for a piece of the action.
Local warlords and religious leaders of course took offence to
the incoming hordes of outsiders muscling in on their ancestral
lands thus we eventually get the situation we have today.
Iraq is similar except that its greatest resource is
EASILY RECOVERABLE OIL and thus is MORE
VALUABLE to the western world who basically muscled
in on the action when the local leader (i.e. Saddam Hussein)
began acting a little too belligerent and crazy for the tastes
of President Bush Junior…ergo, we get a big WAR!
And to explain some background as to the dynamics of
world power today, we must visit why our position is as
it is. The Western World as we are today is because of
educational sacrifices made many years and generations
ago that has brought us to to a level that on the whole is far
better than living in caves, mud huts and riding donkeys like
the current bunch of warring Afghani Mujihadeen and
Sunni/Shiite Iraqis constrained by their local cultural ties
and base tribalism.
This will sound arrogant and condescending but
The Truth is The Truth !!!
We are the First World BECAUSE we have mostly transcended
tribalism and religious tomfoolery into group cooperation
and the embrace of social, financial and technological
sophistication.
They are living in caves & mud huts (and trust they ARE living
in CAVES & MUD HUTS!) within Iraq & Afghanistan because
of a general lack of public knowledge, motivation and
imagination to go beyond what is today. The public of those
failed states MUST BEAR SOME RESPONSIBILITY for their
own current state of being.
It is Simple Myopia (Short-Sightedness) with regards to
accepting and embracing CHANGE in social mores,
group cooperation and advancement in technology.
And to put it bluntly, they are BACKWARDS and will
STAY THAT WAY until they LEARN to accept change!
My biggest beef is WHY ARE WE (the First World) even
BOTHERING to deal with them in the manner we are today.
As a Left-Wing Canadian and a paradoxically pro-military
Libertarian, I ABSOLUTELY CRINGE at the hubris of us
21st century Westerners thinking that we could use sporadic
application of general military forces to effect massive cultural
change on a society that requires smaller, more focused steps
to bring it into said 21st century!
How the heck are we to expect them to accept general
elections, massive industrialism & industrialization when the
basics have not even been introduced yet….like a network of
passable roads, clean drinking water, portable electricity and
even the concept of a basic flushable toilet and toilet paper
which 90% of the Afghani & Rural Iraqi public has never seen
much yet ever USED!
By trying to use MASSIVE OVERT FORCE to ensure security
you are only making the country more insecure when a tight,
highly focused covert military force could be used COVERTLY
to REMOVE the individuals and groups that stand in the way
of general Afghani and Iraqi societal progress. You do not have
to kill the troublemakers, just REMOVE them physically from
the local power structure and circle of influence.
I know that MANY people REFUSE to change unless forced to
by either internal stressors or external stressors!
And I definitely think using massive overt force as we are
now is a MISTAKE as an external change stressor. I also
think the internal divisive forces that CURRENTLY prevent
a larger societal change in Afghanistan and Iraq can be
mitigated by doing low-level covert internal technical and
social missions to PERMANENTLY REMOVE the cultural
roadblocks and local troublemakers that contribute to the
blockage of social change required to jumpstart the
Afghan and Iraqi march into the 21st century.
So what Obama needs to do NOW is pull out the current
large-scale visible forces from Afghanistan and Iraq and begin
spending more TIME and MONEY on highly mobile, highly
covert direct action groups to coerce, infiltrate, distribute and
negotiate a change in the mindset of the Iraqi/Afghani village
warlord, militiaman and religious leader which will trickle down
to the average villager/city dweller. And after a period of time
the higher ups are found NOT TO BE CHANGING THEIR
HABITS, you do what is done in the western world of work —>
YOU FIRE THEM !!!
<— by either removing them from religious, political & monetary
power or if necessary, creating such localized or personally
debilitating conditions such that they are not in any shape to
interfere or influence!!!
This will take PROBABLY DECADES (50 to 60 years is my
guess) but it is still better than spending 12 billion A MONTH
on current large scale operations. For that kind of money,
I could outfit an entire 1000 man SEAL/DELTA team with
Pashtun/Arabic language and cultural training and have them
influence and/or engage local village leaders or do covert in-field
direct action to remove the local war & drug lords from power
for at least 20 years which would do a hell of a lot more good
than sending a battallion of tanks into Khandahar or Baghdad.
Think of it! We spend 12 BILLION DOLLARS A MONTH
within Iraq and Afghanistant!!! $12,000,000,000/Month!
12 billion a month could buy a lot of portable toilets and
toilet paper AND some cheap water well drilling gear in addition
to local training to use and build such materiel by the locals.
12 billion a month could also buy a lot of portable brick kilns
and enough fuel to start building thousands of miles/km of
passable roads across the entire nation to bring in food from
the local farms to the city markets causing an accompanying
large-scale economic boost that such roads would bring
if the locals are employed in such large labor-intensive
public works.
12 billion a month would buy a lot of cell phones and wireless
infrastructure which would give the average Afghani & Iraqi
folk the freedom to communicate and freedom of choice to
MOVE or STAY as they see fit!
The above 36 billion dollars could turn an enemy into a friend
if applied judiciously and with political skill. But right now,
all I see is a bunch of fear mongering politicos and war-hungry
generals wanting to give it a go without too much thought at
long-term strategic consequences of using large scale military
action within a geographical sphere of influence that does
not REQUIRE large scale military force at all!
I am available for hire if you want a better return
for your taxes than what you have been getting so far!
Any Comments?
Henry A. Eckstein
On November 20, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Iraq and Afghanistan are two illustrations of the folly
of letting politicians fight wars within the divisive
atmosphere of partisan politics and they showcase the idiocy
of doing without the input of strategic planners beforehand.
We cannot lay this on the head of Obama, because he was
NOT responsible for starting a war without a clear mandate
from Congress and without a clear plan of action from
BOTH warfighting field commanders AND exit strategists.
On a general scale, Afghanistan and Iraq are where they
are today because of an accident in geography and demographics.
Today we a have a large population of young and ignorant
midieval-level peasants trying to eke out a living
in a hostile environment that is really nothing more than
barren rock and hot sand. These are countries with
NO OBVIOUS NATURAL RESOURCES and which
technically have NO WAY of supporting (i.e. feeding)
the populations thay have now on any sustainable basis.
The harsh climate and barren lands pretty much preclude
the formation of any type of first world society without
the addition of First-world know-how and of course that
greaser of many hands — OIL — !!!
Mixed in with basic tribalism and lack of technology,
you have a horde of Afghani Mujihadeen riding donkeys
and Iraqi warlords trying to defend a way of life that
THEY THINK is suited to the harsh climate in which they live.
Unfortunately for them, an Arabic man from an extrememly
wealthy Saudi family decided to use one country as a
home base for his operations against the Western World
and the Afghanis are now paying dearly for that
transgression.
The ONLY THING that Afghanistan has in ANY WAY,
SHAPE OR FORM, is that it is a strategically located
land mass that COULD BE used as a well-placed hub
of transport connecting Russia, Europe, Africa, East Asia
and the Middle East together.
Its lands are EXTREMELY VALUABLE as a simple facility
to lay pipes, roads and train tracks that are the hub
of transport for consumer goods, oil, gas and water to many
lands. Whoever controls that land mass can profit immensely
from taking a percentage cut from all the goods, people and
resources passing through and thus we have countries such
as Britian, Soviet Union and today, the USA all fighting dearly
for a piece of the action.
Local warlords and religious leaders of course took offence to
the incoming hordes of outsiders muscling in on their ancestral
lands thus we eventually get the situation we have today.
Iraq is similar except that its greatest resource is
EASILY RECOVERABLE OIL and thus is MORE
VALUABLE to the western world who basically muscled
in on the action when the local leader (i.e. Saddam Hussein)
began acting a little too belligerent and crazy for the tastes
of President Bush Junior…ergo, we get a big WAR!
And to explain some background as to the dynamics of
world power today, we must visit why our position is as
it is. The Western World as we are today is because of
educational sacrifices made many years and generations
ago that has brought us to to a level that on the whole is far
better than living in caves, mud huts and riding donkeys like
the current bunch of warring Afghani Mujihadeen and
Sunni or Shiite Iraqis constrained by their local cultural ties
and base tribalism.
This will sound arrogant and condescending but
The Truth is The Truth !!!
We are the First World BECAUSE we have mostly transcended
tribalism and religious tomfoolery into group cooperation
and the embrace of social, financial and technological
sophistication.
They are living in caves and mud huts (and trust they
ARE living in CAVES and MUD HUTS!) within Iraq and
Afghanistan because of a general lack of public knowledge,
motivation and imagination to go beyond what is today.
The public of those failed states MUST BEAR SOME
RESPONSIBILITY for their own current state of being.
It is Simple Myopia (Short-Sightedness) with regards to
accepting and embracing CHANGE in social mores,
group cooperation and advancement in technology.
And to put it bluntly, they are BACKWARDS and will
STAY THAT WAY until they LEARN to accept change!
My biggest beef is WHY ARE WE (the First World!) even
BOTHERING to deal with them in the manner we are today.
As a Left-Wing Canadian and a paradoxically pro-military
Libertarian, I ABSOLUTELY CRINGE at the hubris of us
21st century Westerners thinking that we could use sporadic
application of general military forces to effect massive cultural
change on a society that requires smaller, more focused steps
to bring it into said 21st century!
How the heck are we to expect them to accept general
elections, massive industrialism and industrialization when the
basics have not even been introduced yet….like a network of
passable roads, clean drinking water, portable electricity and
even the concept of a basic flushable toilet and toilet paper
which 90 percent of the Afghani and Rural Iraqi public has
never seen much yet ever USED!
By trying to use MASSIVE OVERT FORCE to ensure security
you are only making the country more insecure when a tight,
highly focused covert military force could be used COVERTLY
to REMOVE the individuals and groups that stand in the way
of general Afghani and Iraqi societal progress. You do not have
to kill the troublemakers, just REMOVE them physically from
the local power structure and circle of influence.
I know that MANY people REFUSE to change unless forced to
by either internal stressors or external stressors!
And I definitely think using massive overt force as we are
now is a MISTAKE as an external change stressor. I also
think the internal divisive forces that CURRENTLY prevent
a larger societal change in Afghanistan and Iraq can be
mitigated by doing low-level covert internal technical and
social missions to PERMANENTLY REMOVE the cultural
roadblocks and local troublemakers that contribute to the
blockage of social change required to jumpstart the
Afghan and Iraqi march into the 21st century.
So what Obama needs to do NOW is pull out the current
large-scale visible forces from Afghanistan and Iraq and begin
spending more TIME and MONEY on highly mobile, highly
covert direct action groups to coerce, infiltrate, distribute and
negotiate a change in the mindset of the Iraqi or Afghani village
warlord, militiaman and religious leader which will trickle down
to the average villager/city dweller. And after a period of time
the higher ups are found NOT TO BE CHANGING THEIR
HABITS, you do what is done in the western world of work:
YOU FIRE THEM !!!
by either removing them from religious, political & monetary
power or if necessary, creating such localized or personally
debilitating conditions such that they are not in any shape to
interfere or influence!!!
This will take PROBABLY DECADES (50 to 60 years is my
guess) but it is still better than spending 12 billion A MONTH
on current large scale operations. For that kind of money,
I could outfit an entire 1000 man SEAL or DELTA team with
Pashtun and Arabic language and cultural training and have
them influence and engage local village leaders or do covert
in-field direct action to remove the local warlords and drug lords
from power for at least 20 years which would do a heck of a lot
more good than sending a battallion of tanks into Khandahar
or Baghdad.
Think of it! We spend 12 BILLION DOLLARS A MONTH
within Iraq and Afghanistant!!! $12,000,000,000 per Month!
12 billion a month could buy a lot of portable toilets and
toilet paper AND some cheap water well drilling gear in addition
to local training to use and build such materiel by the locals.
12 billion a month could also buy a lot of portable brick kilns
and enough fuel to start building thousands of miles of
passable roads across the entire nation to bring in food from
the local farms to the city markets causing an accompanying
large-scale economic boost that such roads would bring
if the locals are employed in such large labor-intensive
public works.
12 billion a month would buy a lot of cell phones and wireless
infrastructure which would give the average Afghani and Iraqi
folk the freedom to communicate and freedom of choice to
MOVE or STAY as they see fit!
The above 36 billion dollars could turn an enemy into a friend
if applied judiciously and with political skill. But right now,
all I see is a bunch of fear mongering politicos and war-hungry
generals wanting to give it a go without too much thought at
long-term strategic consequences of using large scale military
action within a geographical sphere of influence that does
not REQUIRE large scale military force at all!
I am available for hire if you want a better return
for your taxes than what you have been getting so far!
Any Comments?
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