Collateral damage?: Afghanistan Child Victims of the War -Over a thousand civilians killed in the last 6 months alone (Warning: Disturbing Images)

The reason I say reinstate the draft is because the mainstream media and the American have no vested interest in this war.

Why should they?

It was drowned out by Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and rest of the right wing media.

It is a useless and worthless war. Nothing will ever be accomplished. Even the military brass says there is no military solution to the Afghanistan problem. So why are we there?

well, um, no return for the taxpayer. But if you're a Halliburton or a Carlysle or a "defense" contractor, or all such, the profits are huge. Make money bombing a country out, then make money "building it back up," if you can believe such drivel. Do you? I'm not doing the research for you. Figure it out.

We're pretty careful about counting our dead, although, as usual, tend to forget that many are dead from "friendly fire." How many dead in our wars--I mean people, not just USians? Who really knows, the numbers are so wildly divergent. But if we kill somebody and get caught doing so, they're always "insurgents." You know, the army that doesn't exist that we're featured as fighting.

Any of you awake enough to have watched "Collateral Murder" and to have considered the media's sick take on it? I'm not getting that vibe from this site.

This isn't a war. You need two armies. We have invaded countries and called the enemy "terrorism," the desperate reaction to being invaded. A nice loop there.

My friend we are there for one reason,and one reason only,war makes profit for the rich elite,and at the same time serves as a distraction for us,while they rape us for money and power! The rich elite,and their puppets in DC,will keep the war going as long as they can to squeeze out every last dollar in profit to be made,while we continue to lose our best and brightest,with no real gain for the American people! PULL OUT NOW! Use all the money saved for social programs that help AMERICANS!

I have ripped in Cheney's Haliburton and the money they make off the war for years.

I totally agree with you. Keep following my blog. I never let up on this ridiculous thing they call a "war."

I agree, but don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen.

Minerals... money is always the answer to why when nothing else make sense.

The Afghans want the U.S. to give them mineral mining equipment.

in exchange for...?

Yea. I bet they still have not checked the Bush Ranch in Texas. It is a very bitter joke.

The military say they have intel on where Taliban are hiding.

Of course this is true. I wouldn't post anything that isn't true. Here is another video along the same lines:
http://www.youtube.com/v/fHxSapWp7Qk&hl=en_US&fs=1

The United States has had sorted military action ever sense the very beginning. If we were not killing and displacing the indigenous peoples we were fighting each other or overthrowing democracies and setting up puppet governments that kept the rich rich and the poor as slaves. Nothing new here, just different names and faces.

It puzzles me why the American people have lost compassion. September 11th is supposed to be the reason for all this war rhetoric. Two planes took down three buildings in New York. In return we have gone to two countries and expended billions on military actions. More soldiers have died from our response than the actual event.

Who has benefitted from our actions? The 'military industrial complex' have made large sums of money. They are raking it in, while jobs in America are disappearing and ordinary Americans are loosing their livelyhood. Our country is going bankrupt and we are busy fighting wars on other shores. If anything, we have caused more discourse around the world, while destoying our own country economically.

When one speaks against the killing of ordinary Iraqi's, or Afganistans, some act as though that makes one unAmerican. I don't think supporting killing makes one American. If it does, we really have changed beyond recognition.

The media say the American public have both Iraq and Afghanistan "fatigue." They are tired of both wars that have gone on now longer than any war the U.S. has ever been involved in.

Yea, but aren't they more concerned about those scarey 3rd world nations we've beaten into tatters?

Have you seen what is happening in Iraq? Bombs going off everywhere. Scores killed.

We no longer are fighting terrorism. Now we are into nation building.

Tru that "one nation under God".

We are now into nation building. LOL. Combat troops DO NOT DO nation building.

Whatever.

No. But it sure does pave the way!

lol.. yeah, who's next? Iran? North Korea? Venezuela?

whatever to you too then old man! lol

I hope not

We are the terrorists .

Twisted, but sure makes the point.

Rachel Maddow's final commentary summed up the situation in Afghanistan perfectly. There is NO plan B if what we are doing now doesn't work.

“because the need for a war was began by the Islamic extremists,” That is true! Al-Qaeda hit us on 9-11. The Taliban offered to give us Al-Qaeda including Osama Bin Laden. But George Bush and Dick Cheney said no. Millions died, and Halliburton, Cheney’s company, made billions. Therefore, Corporate Extremists are just as much to blame as Al-Qaeda, and George Bush and Dick Cheney are just as bad as Osama Bin Laden. Caveat: In all likelihood, Bush and Cheney allowed 9-11 to happen, and Cheney stopped the military from shooting down the planes that hit the World Trade Center. So again, Islamic Extremists and Corporate Extremists, they all are the same. Don’t get me wrong, I agree, END THE WAR NOW!!!

I like your style. You've done your homework.

Right on.

Yes bill I'd agree that there is no cohesive exit strategy or any logical plan should the current flawed policy fail to work,or should we for some reason be forced to withdraw in a potentially crisis situation! The Taliban were,and are evil,and for that matter Islam is evil,and it is the greatest danger we face! Rather then waste military resources there,which is a drain on our manpower and a drain economically,the enemy has been allowed to enter this country in droves,have maintained high birth rates while birth rates in the west have dropped so low as to effect our ability to maintain our way of life and culture. If we are serious,if we have any affection for the principles upon which the country was founded,then not only must we stop this takeover by Islam but every Islamic must be deported, all all immigration from Islamic countries stopped,then we withdraw from these countries totally,we end all trade,we end all travel,and we seize all assets,both personal and corporate within our boarders! Europe's birth rate has dropped to 1.3 ,well below the rate needed to sustain their cultures,and will be majority Muslim by 2030! We must save ourselves and we will need our troops to handle this problem! In the final step we cut off all Muslim nations from all contact, and should they again become a problem to our safety and security,they will then be dealt with using the full might of our military! Oil? screw them! If they can't do any business too bad! After all the crimes Islam has committed over the centuries,and their intent to take the "great satan",they have earned their fate! While the EU should follow the same plan,they won't,too liberal,and therefore are doomed but it is not too late for us! I too have played the game and lived to tell about it,thanks for your service! Watched films of the war in Korea on the military channel the other day and can't imagine being in "Frozen Chosan" and coming out alive! Better extreme heat then cold in my view!

Brainwashing goes both ways it seems

Shukran!

I knew some of the guys who were at the Chosin Reservoir. They told me it was a living hell.

Even the FBI admits that there is no evidence that Osama bin Laden was in any way connected to 9/11. There is no evidence either that Al Qaeda (if it actually exists) had anything to do with it, only the official allegations that were fed to us and which have been repeated so many times that more and more people keep falling for them.

U R right. Bush and Cheney LIED us into a war with Iraq. There was not an ounce of proof Saddam Hussein had the capability to make a nuclear bomb.

It sure looked it from the film I saw! Sort of like the Germans facing Stalingrad in the winter combined with a determined enemy,the same weather conditions,or our boys facing the German offensive at the Bulge! The extreme cold was something the enemy used to full advantage, both strategically and tactically,and our boys weren't clothed to the extent the extreme cold required,weapons froze,men froze! The Chinese attack in force was unexpected and we got screwed,as was the German attack at the Bulge,with the same result,Supplies couldn't move either and food,ammo,and medicine ran out. It became a nightmare both tactically and strategically to function on any defensive or offensive capability and the attacking parties,more used to the extreme conditions,were the victors for a time,although in the final analysis we adapted with time and won,but lost equipment,supplies,and took high casualties until we did adapt and overcame,and struck back! Now of course cold weather gear,and weapons better able to deal with extreme conditions,have made the cold much less of a factor,and supplies are air dropped,as are the troops, as long as the weather allows the planes to fly,bad weather can still cause problems in that regard and they had a lot of that in both instances stated here! Believe it or not for a time the Germans had more success air dropping supplies,and men into the Stalingrad area,in bad weather,then we did in the other examples,until the weather and the Russians shut the air routes down,then the Germans were doomed! Oh am sorry got off on a tangent lol military history is really an obsession with me,and can often get carried away,often I take the losing side in a given battle and show how they could have,and in many cases should have won,but because of critical mistakes made,were defeated!

Excellent analogy

Thank you! Just love military history,and the different variables one must plan for in advance to be victorious on the battlefield lol would you like me to lay out an OP plan for victory against the Taliban? It would be a bloody but sound strategy using the German concept of Blitzkrieg accompanied by strategic air strikes using sub based missles as well as drones and available air assets,then after the strike bring in hunter killer teams backed up by gunships,drop them in and take out any survivors! The Taliban only have one thousand dedicated fighters according to the latest intell multiple attacks against multiple targets, and take them all out at the same time using well co-ordinated surgical strikes in Afganistan and Pakistan,all timed to go off together at 4am,it should be done before winter,but of course the current occupant of the oval office,a Muslim apologist wouldn't have the guts,or the will, to go against his friends in Islam lol but thats the quick version! The whole paper I did for an exercise is 56 pages long and would take too much space here lol

Like your thought process, however I'm sure you know all the military commanders are saying there is no such thing as a military victory in Afghanistan. That is why the mission has shifted to nation building and tryping to prop up the ANA (Afghan National Army) to takeover security when we pullout. There were 43 people killed in IRAQ this morning which is a clear indication "the surge" wasn't all that it was cracked up to be by the media.

The media only presents to us the doublespeak the power elite,and their puppets in DC,allow them too! I'm sure given the inept military and political strategy in use by the Liar In Chief, and his merry band of progressive brainless talking heads! Swift surgical strikes,by air land and sea,against enemy targets confirmed by intell is a better strategy then this "nation building"madness! Victory to me is to take out confirmed enemy targets,and enemy operatives,then extract,a sustained ground war against these Islamic fanatics is just not practical or sound military thinking! I can't understand why this same tactical and strategic plan wasn't used in Iraq! We have the Hunter-killer teams and the technology to employ them! Ground war against determined and committed insurgents is costly not only in resources,but in manpower,and you can't defeat these groups with standard military tactics! The ANA IS USELESS! Look at the failure to make the South Vietnamese an effective fighting force! Training the Iraqis will have the same result,abject failure,troops who are totally unable to deploy on their own and who'll eventually drop their weapons and join the enemy against us! Didn't the same problems occur in Korea as well during the "police action"? When the good guys and the bad guys all look the same security wise you also have a major problem in maintaining any kind of the operational security required to conduct a productive sustainable ground war! If we have any chance against Islam we must adapt our tactics and use our special operations people to surgically take out these fanatics and their leaders! Cut off the heads of the snake and the body will die you'll never win heats and minds,so you take out the leaders,those that exist,and those who take the place of those already eliminated,and co-opt the rest through terror,that fear that we can strike anywhere and at anytime,with overwhelming force will insure continued docile behavior by the populace! You put into power in these former bandit nations someone we control! Next you deport ALL Muslims in our country back to their home nations,and under no circumstances allow ANY Immigration from ANY Muslim country! A brutal but simple solution to the danger Islam represents to the west! Problem solved!

That is one way of of looking at it.

It was easier to fall for lies, than to believe they would lie. The things they did and the way they went about it were so extreme, many couldn't believe they were doing it based on lies. Many thought they would be held accountable if they lied. But alas, even when Jon Stewart showed them telling the lies, then denying the lies, people still just moved along. Americans moved along to everything

It sucks. Bush and Cheney should be tried as war criminals and then done away with.

Not sure comparing unemployed to GIs in combat is correct, but respect your opinion.

Thanks for posting this. Rachel Maddow's reports from Afghanistan are the best this blogger has seen in over two years of covering the war.

This story is not about the GI's in combat it is about the civilians an children that are getting blown to hell just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time but I guess there is never a right place for war unless only the leaders of the countries that want to fight are fighting. we all know thats not going to happen

Thats just insane what OUR tax dollars are paying for.

I was in the Army during the Korean War and to think American troops don't kill civilians is totally naieve.

They did use children to blow you guys up thats for sure. My father was in Korea He would not talk about it much unless he got real drunk and wanted to prove a point about how easy My Brothers and I had it. Nothing nice about having to shoot a child that maybe wired to blow you and your friends up. I have read where they had the same problem in vietnam. Nothing pretty about war Not a thing at all.

Your dad did the right thing. When you see a woman carrying a baby and just as she nears your position she opens her garb and tosses a grenade into your position. Next time you don't wait to see what the woman will do.

Luckily, our two biggest allies aren't leaving us anytime soon--the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Yep that beats the hell out of a bourder fence for sure.

Good to know. Al Jazeera has got to be a close second.

Al Jazeera does a better job of reporting on the war than any news org other than MSNBC

True. And when war does break out in our back yards, how many women and children will join in (just as the Afghan, Iraqi, etc. women and children do) to rid our back yards of the invaders? Will we all be so accepting of civilian casualties then, when they are our women and children?

This is very informative . Thanks ! ; )

we will see what roles our women and children play when it is i our yard. I'm sure there will be a few that will die. and I'm sure that some will give their life willingly.

What would change everything is if we reinstated the military draft. Nobody cares because most people don't even know anyone in the military let alone have a family member in the military.

Isn't that the beautry of our current economic decline? Young people enlist for lack of alternatives. With the way things are going, who needs those pesky problems related to a draft?

That's why lies should not be used to gain the support of trusting Americans. Too many Americans trust what they are told. Many Americans do not realize the depths some will go to, to get what they want. When there is no accountability, we are all fair game. Many of the same companies which made money from the war, also own our media. Do you think they will tell the truth and lose their cash cow? No.

And Comcast just purchased NBC, so MSNBC and honesty will soon become a thing of the past. Sad, sad, sad.

We lost any Honesty we were getting a Long Loong time ago.

And they re-up too when they check the job market.

There goes the ONLY news outlet I trusted to tell the truth.

Damn straight! I believe it is to little to late. The time for Nation building was when we were invading Iraq. The best thing the military could do for Afghanistan is build lots of schools and medical clinics and then protect them and the population as they get educated. Other then that we should bring the troops home because nothing will change without the Afghan general public getting educated.

I was a Combat Engineer in the U.S. Army and we DID NOT build schools, houses, etc. etc. We were trained to KILL the enemy not coddle them.

Don't we have like one-hundred thousand contractors there for that type of stuff?

Yep: And all being paid by taxpayers.

Or debited to our grand-baby's.