WAR Why are we in Afghanistan?

dstraito

dstraito

TB Fanatic
Why are we in Afghanistan?

One of the most frequent and vocal criticisms of the war in Iraq was the fact that one of the justifications for that war was Sadaam Hussein possessing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs). No WMDs were found so the prevailing logic was we started an illegal war that we never should have started. Never mind the human rights atrocities or jingoistic threats from the Iraqi leader.

My question is WHY are we in Afghanistan? Based on the sole criteria, that a country has to have WMDs and they don’t have any, why are we there? Why are we increasing our presence there? With all of our technology and superior fire-power, why are we losing the war?

Maybe because every country in recent history that has campaigned in Afghanistan has lost (see attached cartoon by R.J. Matson, NY, The New York Observer and Roll Call) Maybe because no one has fundamentally understood the Afghan people and repeatedly underestimated them.


Is it time to call for withdrawing our troops from this country where the USSR failed so miserably? Note: There is no USSR anymore.


Afghanistan2.jpg
 
Fish Speaker

Fish Speaker

ODERINT DUM METUANT
If I'm not mistaken, we went into Afghanistan because the Taliban (and Osama bin Laden) were there and were protecting Osama who took responsibility for the 9/11 attack.

Since the Taliban are still there (and supposedly Osama is still there or just across the border in Pakistan) we are still there.

Unless your question was rhetorical...
 
J

johnnymac

Inactive
The original idea was that Afghanistan was one of the countries which was a safe harbor for terrorists such as Al Queida from which the 9/11 terrorists operated.

After 9/11, the decision was made to remove the Taliban tribal government and force terrorists training bases out of business or put them on the run.

After the invasion of Iraq, critics argued that Al Queida and namely, Osama Bin Laden, were still at large in Afghanistan and because of the emphasis on Iraq, the true perpetrators of 9/11 would never be brought to justice.

With the political changes in Washington, the critics, now in charge, put the emphasis back on Afghanistan and so, here we are.

Unfortunately. Afghanistan is a grinder for any invading army and has been since Alexander the Great. The results are always grim and frustrating.

This thumbnail does not include any other theories about 9/11, conspiracies or other esoterica. Insert that as you see fit.
 
Sligo

Sligo

Membership Revoked
dstraito said:
Why are we in Afghanistan?

One of the most frequent and vocal criticisms of the war in Iraq was the fact that one of the justifications for that war was Sadaam Hussein possessing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs). No WMDs were found so the prevailing logic was we started an illegal war that we never should have started. Never mind the human rights atrocities or jingoistic threats from the Iraqi leader.

My question is WHY are we in Afghanistan? Based on the sole criteria, that a country has to have WMDs and they don’t have any, why are we there? Why are we increasing our presence there? With all of our technology and superior fire-power, why are we losing the war?

Maybe because every country in recent history that has campaigned in Afghanistan has lost (see attached cartoon by R.J. Matson, NY, The New York Observer and Roll Call) Maybe because no one has fundamentally understood the Afghan people and repeatedly underestimated them.


Is it time to call for withdrawing our troops from this country where the USSR failed so miserably? Note: There is no USSR anymore.


View attachment 71772
Click to expand...

Not only is Afghanistan a money pit, it is a death pit, with August 2009 being the deadliest month, just after July. I believe there is a time to pick up the toys and go home, and it is long past that time. Why have we not learned anything from Afghan history?
 
mt4design

mt4design

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Why are we in A'stan? For a few reasons... some of which are mentioned above.

Also, those pesky Taliban and AQ are danger close to nukes and chaos in Pakistan.

Mike
 
Rex Jackson

Rex Jackson

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Highest yielding opium poppy crops in the world.
Highest heroine yields in the world.
Highest yielding marijuana crops in the world.

...may have something to do with it.
 
S

Sub-Zero

Veteran Member
TAPI

For the same reason the Russians were in there in the 70's (we paid to have them booted out, by the way, purely for the good of the people of Afghanistan).

Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline (TAP or TAPI) is a proposed natural gas pipeline being developed by the Asian Development Bank. The pipeline will transport Caspian Sea natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan into Pakistan and then to India. Proponents of the project see it as a modern continuation of the Silk Road. The Afghan government is expected to receive 8% of the project's revenue.

History
The original project started in March 1995 when an inaugural memorandum of understanding between the governments of Turkmenistan and Pakistan for a pipeline project was signed. In August 1996, the Central Asia Gas Pipeline, Ltd. (CentGas) consortium for construction of a pipeline, led by Unocal was formed. On 27 October 1997, CentGas was incorporated in formal signing ceremonies in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan by several international oil companies along with the Government of Turkmenistan. In January 1998, the Taliban, selecting CentGas over Argentinian competitor Bridas Corporation, signed an agreement that allowed the proposed project to proceed. In June 1998, Russian Gazprom relinquishes its 10% stake in the project. Unocal withdrew from the consortium on 8 December 1998.


Not from WIKI, but additionally,
1995 Unocal, seeking to build a pipeline across Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (for delivery to energy hungry Asia via the Pakistani Arabian Sea coast), signed an agreement with Turkmenistan for natural gas purchasing rights for transport through a proposed pipeline (7). (See also 2) Unocal also signed an agreement with Turkmenistan for an oil pipeline (8) along the same route.

1997 Unocal and other oil companies formed Central Asia Gas Pipeline, Ltd. (CentGas) (10) in preparation for building the trans-Afghanistan pipeline.

2001 Upon taking office, the Bush administration immediately engaged in active negotiations with Taliban representatives (27) with meetings in Washington, DC, Berlin, and Islamabad. During this time the Taliban government hired Laila Helms, niece of former CIA director Richard Helms (28), as their go-between in negotiations with the US government.

Bush (oil) administration (29) includes:

Dick Cheney, VP: Until 2000 - President of Halliburton (in position to build the Afghan pipeline).
Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor: 1991-2000 - Manager of Chevron Oil, and Kazakhstan go-between.
Donald Evans, Sec. Commerce: former CEO, Tom Brown, Inc. (a $1.2 billion oil company).
Gale Norton, Sec. Interior: former national chairwoman of the Coalition of Republican Environmental Advocates - funded by, among others, BP Amoco.
Spencer Abraham, Sec. Energy: Up through his failed bid for senatorial reelection in the 2000, he received more oil and gas industry money than all but three other senators (January 1997 through July 2000) (30).
Thomas White, Secretary of the Army: former Vice Chairman of Enron and a large shareholder of that company's stock.


Best Regards,
 
denfoote

denfoote

Inactive
There's another reason.
The Obamatron wants our troops there so that said troops are unable to do anything about his communist take over at home!!

That IMHO is the PRIME reason we are in country nowadays!!

Oh LORD, open the eyes of our military and deliver Obama into their hand for Your judgment.

AMEN
 
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