I will disagree with AV8 (again) about both wars (Iraq/Afghanistan)
Afghanistan was NOT a successful endeavor for 8 years. While in the begining, our military was able to push the Taliban to the outskirts of the country, but they DIDNT KILL THEM. Indeed, the military forced them out of some cities and villages, but within 2 years, President Bush reduced troop levels to less than 31K, or in other words, less soldiers than there are policemen in New York City.
As with every other miscalculation of war (from Bush's perspective) he no longer needed to continue in Afghanistan because his advisors including Dick Cheney told him it was unnecessary and his efforts needed to be turned towards Iraq.
Once this decision was made, and leaving less soldiers in Afghanistan than policemen in New York City, the Taliban re-organized, re-funded and re-distributed their efforts across Afghanistan.
Bush could not send more troops to Afghanistan when he needed them cause his brilliant calculation of the Iraq war was going haywire. In the time where Cheney was telling the world that the "enemy was in their final throws" , the US military was sending thousands more troops to Iraq and attention was diverted away from Afghanistan.
Where Bush failed in Afghanistan is eliminating the flow of funds and the ability to finance war. Revenue from Poppy fields have quintupled since we invaded. Heroin output has dramatically increased and that money funds war.
Indeed, our military is going after "rogue" fields not associated with the current goverment and on the appearance, it looks as if they are trying to stop the production of poppy's, but the real problem is that those fields considered to be "goverment friendly" are left alone.
Opium, poppys and heroin make up a majorty of Afghanistand GDP, and if our country was to actually wipe out the drug trade in Afghanistan, then President Karzai would be assassinated.
Until we stop the endless flow of money that fuels the war chest of the taliban, this war will be a waste of time.
Russia spent 7 years, 2 trillion in todays dollars, and lost over 15 thousand soldiers in a losing effort. Money from the sale of opium, poppys and heroin helped pay for the weapons used against the Russians.
Now, its being used against us.
Afghanistan will continue to be a bottomless pit until the funds are completely cut off.
Bush failed in 8 years to produce anything in afghanistan, all the gains made initially were lost long before Obama took office. In fact, in January 2009, the Taliban controlled close to 80% percent of the country.
They currently control a large part of the country, down somewhat since Obama took office.
When Bush decided to leave Afghanistan in order to save his "rear" in Iraq, he sold afghanistan out and left our country in a position to "start over" in Afghanistan.
Now that more troops are dying, and millions of Taxpayer dollars are being spent daily, some decision has to be made on what to do.
The real answer is simple. Wipe out all the crops in afghanistan whether goverment controlled or Rogue and eliminate the ability to finance war.
The problem is, we dont have the resolve to do such a thing. The political fallout in Afghanistan will lead to coup's and violence.
There is no solution to the Afghanistan war. We will never Kill "every" person considered to be a taliban.
They are widespread and live in many countries. The Taliban, formerly the Mujahadin, founded by Osama Bin Laden, President Reagan and Dick Cheney in the 80's, have connections all over the muslim world.
To believe that bombs and bullets will solve the war is nonsense.
Bush should have never taken his eye of the ball and we wouldnt be in this mess and many US Soldiers lives would have been saved.
You can all thank him.
