An Afghanistan War Never Again

Any future military action must be taken by an international community of overwhelming force, and if we do anything other than that we should have our heads examined. Its been a long ten years, but we have a way to go. Americas longest war is not scheduled to end until 2014. President Obama said its a war in which we have lost more than 1,500 [more than 1,600 would be more accurate] American soldiers: . . . men and women who will not live to enjoy the freedom that they defended. Obama says that Thousands more have been wounded. Some have lost limbs on the field of battle, and others still battle the demons that have followed them home. There was no mention of the loss of life of Afghans, or the wounded and lost limbs and demons they too will suffer throughout life. He does not mention NATOs casualties. Nor does he mention other casualties caused by Americas War on Terror. What we lost on 9/11does not compare to the greater human cost, or the dollars spent, of our retribution in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and other places as a result of our actions on the ground, in the air, and with drones. Does anyone really believe America would be less free if we had not brought war to Afghanistan? Obama says, Over the last decade, we have spent a trillion dollars [including the Iraq war the number is $1. 2 trillion] on war, at a time of rising debt and hard economic times. That cost is Americas cost of military retribution in Afghanistan and Iraq. It does not include all of the other direct and indirect costs to America and NATO. He does not explain that our continued commitment in Afghanistan through 2014 will cost another half-billion, nor the cost of our continued presence in Iraq. He says, Above all, we are a nation whose strength abroad has been anchored in opportunity for our citizens at home. Mr. President, please explain the opportunity that has been anchored for our citizens at home?

And, from the get-go, what should have been the priority of any American investment -- the American people -- our president now says, . . . we must invest in Americas greatest resource our people [Mr. President youre a day late and a dollar short.] Obama says, For our nation draws strength from our differences [he must be living on another planet. We are accomplishing very little because of our differences] and when our union is strong no hill is too steep and no horizon is beyond our reach [what kind of rhetoric is that: We put Americans through the longest war in U.S. History with a force far superior than our enemy, and it has taken all of those ten years to accomplished so very little in comparison]. What we can do, and will do, is build a partnership with the Afghan people that endures one that ensures that we will be able to continue targeting terrorists and supporting a sovereign Afghan government. By this Obama means we will still have a commitment in Afghanistan. Our presence will continue there for a long time after 2014. In addition, according to the Congressional Research Office, as of March 2011, 18,971 private security contractors are working for the Defense Department in Afghanistan (9,207 in Iraq), performing duties that are not noticeably different from military personnel. To what extent, if any, are their services going to be eliminated. When innocents are being slaughtered and global security endangered, we dont have to choose between standing idly by or acting on our own. Instead, we must rally international action . . . Outgoing Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said, any future defense secretary who advises the president to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should have his head examined. potential conflicts in places like Asia or the Persian Gulf were more likely to be fought with air and sea power, rather than with conventional ground forces. Here, Obama, and to a degree Gates, are correct. Because before any like future action is taken we absolutely need to garner international support. Any future military action must be taken by an international community of overwhelming force, and if we do anything other than that we should have our heads examined. All that being said, however, President Obama actions are within the parameters that he had outlined. And as Republican Representative Tom Cole said, on CSpans Washington Journal, President Obama has to be given a lot of credit. In that June 24 interview Cole additionally commented: Obama increased troop strength and changed the strategy, fired General Stanley McChrystal, al-Qaeda has been destroyed, Osama bin Laden has been killed, the Taliban no longer control Afghanistan, and seven times the number of children are now attending school.