Random Thoughts In Search of - A Theme, Take 2

[chris_gerrib]

Like the title says:

Afghanistan

You've probably heard that, over the weekend, a US soldier left his base and shot a bunch of civilians. The soldier's actions were indefensible, so I won't defend them. I also don't know what this means for our mission in Afghanistan.

Personally, and irregardless of this incident, I think it's time we declare victory and go home. Our stated mission now is to "stabilize" Afghanistan. It doesn't appear that the locals want to be stabilized. We're also keeping Al Qaeda "on the run," which appears to have been accomplished sufficiently that they're not in the area any more. In short, we tried to help - time to stop helping and let the locals fend for themselves.

Book Signing

I went down to the Home Soil for a book signing. It was fun, books were signed and sold, and (more importantly) relatives visited with. Now I need to get with my accountant about paying sales tax.

Fitness

When I got back into town yesterday, I went to the gym. Now, after previous trips, I could have come up with (at least) 20 excuses not to go. But the fact that I am meeting my trainer Thursday, and thus can't cheat, inspired me to drag my ass to the gym. That "time to make the donuts" mentality is one reason people hire personal trainers.

Comments

[jordan179.livejournal.com]

I also don't know what this means for our mission in Afghanistan.

Logically, it shouldn't mean anything. But we aren't always very logical.

Personally, and irregardless of this incident, I think it's time we declare victory and go home. Our stated mission now is to "stabilize" Afghanistan. It doesn't appear that the locals want to be stabilized. We're also keeping Al Qaeda "on the run," which appears to have been accomplished sufficiently that they're not in the area any more. In short, we tried to help - time to stop helping and let the locals fend for themselves.

We aren't in Afghanistan because we wanted to "stablize" it or help the locals. We're in Afghanistan because the Taliban regime decided to ally with Al Qaeda and shelter Al Qaeda after 9-11. Our goal in Afghanistan is to prevent the Taliban from gaining influence there again. As long as the Taliban is in danger of gaining influence there, we should keep on killing the Taliban and anyone who sympathizes with them. If we leave and the Taliban takes over, then the Taliban will again shelter anti-American terrorists, attack us on our home soil, and we'll have to do it all again.

How long should we be willing to kill to accomplish this goal? For as long as the Afghans decide that they want to be killed. That's war, unless one wishes to lose it.

[chris-gerrib.livejournal.com]

Our goal was to overthrow the Taliban and get those who perpetrated 9/11. We did that.

Now, our goal has morphed into enabling the current Afghan government to hold onto power. We actually shouldn't care who runs the country. What we should care about is that whoever runs the country doesn't attack us.

It's important to note that the Taliban, per se, had no real problem with the US nor the ability to do much about it if they did. That came from Al Qaeda, which is no longer in Afghanistan.

[jordan179.livejournal.com]

You have a valid point: but I think it's very likely that if the Taliban comes back to power in Afghanistan they will host Al Qaeda again, and we will then have little choice but to fight yet another Afghan war or to concede that a regime may participate in an attack on our homeland and survive the ensuing war -- a dangerous precedent to set, and one likely to result in much future suffering both to Americans and to the peoples of future aggressor states.

[chris-gerrib.livejournal.com]

Taliban comes back to power in Afghanistan they will host Al Qaeda again - why, considering that it went so well for them last time?

regime may participate in an attack on our homeland Hirohito died an old man on his throne.