Community | October 05, 2008 | 44 comments

Afghan war cannot be won

source: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/World/Story/STIStory_286235.html

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Commander of the British 16th Air Assault Brigade Mark Carleton-Smith admits that the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF) is unable to “achieve a decisive victory”. In an interview with the Sunday Times, Mr. Carleton-Smith warned the British society against over expectations in terms of the successful outcome of the ISAF campaign. The British ISAF contingent is comprised of 7800 men.
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44 comments // Afghan war cannot be won

  • sleepnomore
    • 0
      sleepnomore  

    • Without war there would be no U.S. or any country in the world. As long as man inhabits the planet. We will find a way to disagree. Rather it's religion, skin color, sex or because your from a different side of town. Man will continue to find ways to kill each other. It is hard to judge winners or losers when the warriors wear no uniform and most of the religion backs what the warriors are fighting for. My biggest question has always been. If so many Muslim contries have oil wealth. Why on earth are there any poor Muslim countries? The Saudi's have enough wealth to turn any of it's sister countries around.

    • 3 years ago
  • jhydo
    • 0
      jhydo  
    • sleepnomore:

      Excuse me, please tell me you at least understand there is a profound difference between Wealth and Riches. Wealth is the ability to create goods that eventually breeds satisfaction.While riches is just an accumulation instruments to obtain goods.
      Real wealth is what the western world possess due to industrialization which I should add has not been bestowed unto the rest of humanity in order that your yearnings be fulfilled.
      Technology and the near utopic freedoms enjoyed by the west would be the only saviour of humanity. As you can see these same Muslim countries one way or the other suppress their population that the west is where the Devil resides. Both sides are in tug-of-war about who's right. The decider should be that there exists good in Humanity as a whole.

    • 3 years ago
  • sleepnomore
    • 0
      sleepnomore  
    • sleepnomore:

      This is Wealth:
      the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money;
      the quality of profuse abundance;
      an abundance of material possessions and resources
      property that has economic utility: a monetary value or an exchange value

      Every country has wealth. It how the country allows it's citizen to make it. That's the difference.

    • 3 years ago
  • Ragan
    • 0
      Ragan  

    • One need only read or watch the You Tube video of John Perkins "confessions of an economic hitman". This will explain why the US has been so busy over the years and why these terrorists are the creation of our very own extreme foreign policy's. Just type in John Perkins at You Tube.

    • 3 years ago
  • jhydo
    • 0
      jhydo  

    • Any idiot could have seen this a long time ago.How do you fight an enemy that's so dynamic.The western notion of war should be shelved. By this I mean the usual scenario like what prevailed during conventional battles where there exist a visible enemy and frontline. This isn't the case with Afghan or even Iraq.
      And when faced with an enemy whose line of arm replenishment seems untouchable. As long as there are people addicted to class 'A' drugs there will always be a supplier and inevitably a producer.So one can see that the 'insurgence' or 'Taliban' seem to have a win-win situation which through the eyes of a 'concerned' field commander (concerned being the operative here) not one that's out to plunder sees these young troops getting maimed and killed for little if any gain did the right thing.

    • 3 years ago
  • Mr_Costello
    • 0
      Mr_Costello  

    • All westerner knows that over the centuries no foreign power has ever tamed or defeated the Taliban in southern Afghanistan. Why so late to conclude?

    • 3 years ago
  • aliquid_
    • 0
      aliquid_  

    • For a Democracy to be won in Afghanistan - it is up to the locals if they want it. The Taliban maybe strong but the people of the region and other countries bordering can unite like they done before.( remeber Russia?)
      Probably some of the reasons locals aren't puling together is we are doing the job of fighting the Taliban for them so they are sitting back and watching the show....
      And don't forget how Pres. Karzmi brother is into the "illegal opium trade" which shows another corrupt govt abroad.
      The black market is generating more income for a majority of govt officials there. Also they are receiving US funds for operations, bases, airspace ,etc.. in exchange for their land and some of their resources. And of course investing - not back into their people- but most of the Black markets poppie( opium ) fields - sad but true - money makes the world go round I suppose...

    • 3 years ago
  • LMFAO
    • 0
      LMFAO  

    • Edwin Starr - WAR

      War...huh...yeah
      What is it good for?
      Absolutely nothing
      Uh ha haa ha
      War...huh...yeah
      What is it good for?
      Absolutley nothing...say it again y'all
      War..huh...look out...
      What is it good for?
      Absolutely nothing...listen to me ohhhhh

      WAR! I despise,
      'cos it means destruction of innocent lives,
      War means tears to thousands of mother's eyes,
      When their sons gone to fight and lose their lives.

      I said WAR!...huh...good God y'all,
      What is it good for?
      Absolutely nothing...say it again
      War! Huh...What is it good for (Edwin sings 'Wohh oh Lord' over the top)
      Absolutely nothing...listen to me

      WAR! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker,
      War. Friend only to the undertaker.
      Ohhh! War is an enemy to all mankind,
      The thought of war blows my mind.
      War has caused unrest within the younger generation
      Induction then destruction...who wants to die? Ohhh

      WAR! good God y'all huh
      What is it good for?
      Absolutely nothing...say it say it SAY IT!
      WAR!...uh huh yeah hu!
      What is it good for?
      Absolutely nothing...listen to me

      WAR! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker,
      War! It's got one friend that's the undertaker.
      Ohhhh! War has shattered many a young man's dream,
      Made him disabled, bitter and mean,
      Life is much too short and precious to spend fighting wars these days.
      War can't give life, it can only take it away!

      Ohhh WAR! huh...good God y'all
      What is it good for?
      Absolutely nothing...say it again
      War!...huh...woh oh oh Lord
      What is it good for?
      Absolutely nothing...listen to me

      War! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker,
      War. Friend only to the undertaker...woo
      Peace lovin' understand then tell me,
      Is there no place for them today?
      They say we must fight to keep our freedom,
      But Lord knows there's got to be a better way.

      Ohhhhhhh WAR! huh...good God y'all...
      What is it good for?...you tell me!
      Say it say it say it saaaay it!
      War! good God now...huh
      What is it good for?
      Stand up and shout it...NOTHING [END]

    • 3 years ago
  • Ragan
    • 0
      Ragan  

    • People if you have never been in an Arab countrry with Arabs and Islam then you should be quiet. Arabs and all middle easterners have a patience that is unbelievable to the westerner. They are waiting for the time to move against the world. When they have enough population they will be hears. No western government will ever install democracy in an Arab country. Christian church's are also unwelcome. If the west were smart they would....................But then who ever gave the west credit for being smart, just greedy.

    • 3 years ago
  • dreaddaze
  • GavinTheMother
    • 0
      GavinTheMother  

    • The Brits should know by now. We've tried to control Afghanistan for 5 years, and we probably should have learned what most people have known for 5000. Afghanistan will not be ruled by outsiders. Never has, never will. Brits, Russians, Pakistan....they are only the most resent to try, and they've paid the price. So will the US.

    • 3 years ago
  • hans57
  • lifestudentno83
  • lifestudentno83
  • huntre
  • starr111
    • 0
      starr111  

    • This war may not be unwinnable, but it won't be easy. Give them a common enemy go ahead. The real war is in Pakistan anyway at this point. This general shouldn't be egging on the leftists. He should be creating the situation for his troops to win in a country that history's had it's back.

    • 3 years ago
  • JaetheFirst
    • 0
      JaetheFirst  

    • Our men and women soldiers are giving their lives for a rhetorical war that has no answer. Here's hoping they survive this "flash bomb" of a war that was orchestrated and used for other means; a war on terror is a stupid war to be fought. Terror is everlasting. Let us bring about resplendence instead. If we're capable of such wars, we are more than capable to bring about peace.

    • 3 years ago
  • vernajr
  • mjb97
    • 0
      mjb97  

    • this british commander is a traitor and if britain had any honor it would ship him home immediately with a dishonarable discharge.

      his bulshit nonesense puts his own troops lives in danger.

      fuck him he deserves to be courtmartialed bloody traitorous wanker.

    • 3 years ago
  • rainbowryan420
  • allIknowis
  • danyfell
    • 0
      danyfell  
    • mjb97:

      Do any of you know the definition of "decisive?" or better yet the definition of "traitor?" Your blinded by patriotism, and I would just like to end by pointing out that you are terrible human beings.

      = )

    • 3 years ago
  • GavinTheMother
  • rainbowryan420
    • 0
      rainbowryan420  
    • mjb97:

      #
      danyfell, i don't agree with this guy/gal i was saying it is nice to see someone who doesn't agree with everybody else

      and who are you to judge if i am a terrible person
      you don't know me
      i do community service all the time
      you didn't know that did you

      i'm not saying i'm a saint i know i am not a good person but i know i'm not bad either

    • 3 years ago
  • outtheinside
    • 0
      outtheinside  

    • as much as i hate war. sometimes it is a necessary evil.. refer to the creation of the United States of America. Refer to the liberation of many countries from nasty rulers. I was and always be against this war on terror, but in the end, there are things for which an intelligent, hard fight is necessary.

    • 3 years ago
  • advertisehere
    • 0
      advertisehere  
    • outtheinside:

      yup, its necessary when people cant come to an agreement on something.
      like iraq, when saddam wouldnt agree to give up his country's resources to the us, and venezuela, when hugo chavez wouldnt give up his country's natural resources to the us, so he died in a plane crash.

    • 3 years ago
  • covelogibbs
    • 0
      covelogibbs  
    • outtheinside:

      The United States of America and it's genocide of Native American people was a necessary evil? That is so wrong to say, or are you referring to the Revolutionary War for our independence from Britain? Either way I think you're being insensitive to Native Americans. The United States of America was not necessary and the loss of the Native American culture was a tragedy.

    • 3 years ago
  • PajamaDan
    • 0
      PajamaDan  

    • True that, huntre,... How can war actually be won?
      Death & destruction does not sound like winning. That sounds like everyone loses. And it's specious to claim victory in wars like this,... where an ideal is the enemy,... among tangible enemies.
      A war won,... is a war avoided. PEACE!

    • 3 years ago
  • vladbox
  • Ricky84
    • 0
      Ricky84  

    • I’m glad someone up there has it in them to tell the truth. Now can someone give Obama a call so we can have at least one presidential candidate that’s against the war on terror?

    • 3 years ago
  • regularrf
    • 0
      regularrf  

    • We already fought on both sides,These people live like animals treat them the same.What do we do to unwanted animals?Sounds crual but we would be doing them a favor.

    • 3 years ago
  • GavinTheMother
  • huntre
  • Ricky84
  • allIknowis
    • 0
      allIknowis  
    • huntre:

      War's not a game, just because you lose people doesn't mean you haven't won, but you can damn sure lose.
      Ask the Nazis, the old hardline Stalinist commies, ask the kimer rouge, ask Sadam, oh you can't, he LOST. Ask the people of Afghanistan who still have their hands and heads that weren't cut off in the soccer stadium, who's a winner. Ask the little Afghan children, mainly girls, who can now go to school and learn to read and write, who's a winner.

      Sure it's not black and white in the win and lose war game, but sometimes you have to live with shades of gray, and look at the BIG picture.

    • 3 years ago
  • Ricky84
    • 0
      Ricky84  
    • huntre:

      I don’t think anyone is trying to say war is a game Allknowis. I know I wasn’t at least.

      And I damn sure wasn’t trying to justify the actions of the Nazi’s, Stalin and everyone else you mentioned.

      You talk about black and white interpretations of life yet you place my opinion in league with the Nazi’s because I won’t embrace an opinion that inherently black and white? Can I get a wtf please?

      “Sure it's not black and white in the win and lose war game, but sometimes you have to live with shades of gray, and look at the BIG picture.”

      Yeah like I said before. Go ask the Jews if war with the Nazi’s was worth it.

    • 3 years ago
  • AntiFacistCanuck
    • 0
      AntiFacistCanuck  

    • he is right of course, the merican leadership is wrong, they were wrong when they started their war for profit.

      Victory comes in many guises. The victory of the merican oligarchs over the constitution of the USA for instance is one that goes almost unremarked.

      The zionazi victory over the merican electorate is another such.

    • 3 years ago
  • Abamanation
    • 0
      Abamanation  

    • Just wait till Obama is president ... He'll save the day. He'll make sure that we fail in Iraq so that we can "win" in Afghanistan.

      Dont worry in a few months it will all be good.....

    • 3 years ago
  • natenate
  • GavinTheMother
    • 0
      GavinTheMother  
    • Abamanation:

      and McCain will be a voice for peace. So McCain is going to decide for the first time ever at 71 to not go to war. At leasts Obama didn't say it would be a good idea to bomb Iran. "Bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb Iran", McCain.

    • 3 years ago
  • Abamanation
  • futuregen
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