Afganistan, WTF?

[Guyzerr]

Just so everybody knows...

The Americans aren't the only ones in Afghanistan.

 

[Pabst]

Sorry. It bears repeating.

dont be sorry, there is nothing to be sorry about. we are not and should not be the world police.

EVER.

 

[Pabst]

Are you 100% certain poppies didn't have anything to do with it? I'm not.

Futhrermore, the Russians couldn't beat them so what makes the " coalition " think they can? It's kinda tough to identify an enemy that doesn't wear a uniform. What ya gunna do... kill everyone maybe?

well poppy fields went up after the taliban was chased off. to be fair though, while the taliban made opium production illegal, they also profitted off it, in the 10's of millions.

i think the people saw our troops, knew they wouldnt be killed for growing poppies and started growing them again.

they know full well we wont kill them or their families for producing it. thats why opium production sky rocketed after american forces went in. they know the penalties are light compared to what the taliban would do to them.

 

[Ryder]

Obama vowed to get the troops out of Iraq and he has not done that. I have lost all support for the man.

 

[Guyzerr]

well poppy fields went up after the taliban was chased off. to be fair though, while the taliban made opium production illegal, they also profitted off it, in the 10's of millions.

i think the people saw our troops, knew they wouldnt be killed for growing poppies and started growing them again.

they know full well we wont kill them or their families for producing it. thats why opium production sky rocketed after american forces went in. they know the penalties are light compared to what the taliban would do to them.

I'm aware of that but it still doesn't account for the reason the coalition is destroying the poppy fields when they come across them. If it isn't part of their mandate then leave 'em alone. If it is a part of it then make it well known to the entire world.

You Americans keep talking about the American forces as being the only ones there. In case you missed it they are not alone and that's why I choose to use the word " coalition ".

 

[Pabst]

I'm aware of that but it still doesn't account for the reason the coalition is destroying the poppy fields when they come across them. If it isn't part of their mandate then leave 'em alone. If it is a part of it then make it well known to the entire world.

You Americans keep talking about the American forces as being the only ones there. In case you missed it they are not alone and that's why I choose to use the word " coalition ".

i believe american forces were the first ones there. that why i mentioned them specifically.

and neither of us know if burning poppy fields is in their mandate or not. it may very well be.

to be perfectly honest, i hate the idea of the military being used as meals on wheels (there are charities out there that does this or has no one heard of the red cross?), country building and worse, spreading democracy.

charity work is noble work but it should be left to charities, not professional standing armies.

 

[MoonOwl]

Don't forget oil pipelines.... If I remember correctly, the Taliban refused to deal.

 

[Pabst]

Don't forget oil pipelines.... If I remember correctly, the Taliban refused to deal.

and i dont think we've gotten one drop out of them.

wow i havent heard the "its about the oil!" reason in a long time.

 

[MoonOwl]

and i dont think we've gotten one drop out of them.

wow i havent heard the "its about the oil!" reason in a long time.

Of course you haven't. You really didn't hear about it in the beginning either. It was all about the terrorists. Not oil pipelines wanting to be built and being refused. I think that was back in August of 2001?

Perhaps that was just a conspiracy theory? Our government would always tell us the complete truth after all.

 

[Pabst]

the government cant control all the information on the internet. if we were there'd be some information at the least about it. you cant keep news agencies from finding out about those things, especially since they're there reporting everything that happens anyway.

 

[MoonOwl]

the government cant control all the information on the internet. if we were there'd be some information at the least about it. you cant keep news agencies from finding out about those things, especially since they're there reporting everything that happens anyway.

That's probably why independent news blogs were covering it when the MainStreamMedia was mum.

But remember, those are just 'conspiracy sites'. You'll only find complete bunk on those....:sarcasm

 

[Guyzerr]

i believe american forces were the first ones there. that why i mentioned them specifically.

I don't see what that has to do with not mentioning other countries that are loosing men and women over something that can never be won.

and neither of us know if burning poppy fields is in their mandate or not. it may very well be.

to be perfectly honest, i hate the idea of the military being used as meals on wheels (there are charities out there that does this or has no one heard of the red cross?), country building and worse, spreading democracy.

charity work is noble work but it should be left to charities, not professional standing armies.

As far as I'm concerned we should pull our troops out yesterday and let the country fall to pieces. Those bastards aren't doing much to help with their own freedom so one more lost soldier is nothing but a total waste. Fuck 'em.

 

[Meirionnydd]

well poppy fields went up after the taliban was chased off. to be fair though, while the taliban made opium production illegal, they also profitted off it, in the 10's of millions.

i think the people saw our troops, knew they wouldnt be killed for growing poppies and started growing them again.

they know full well we wont kill them or their families for producing it. thats why opium production sky rocketed after american forces went in. they know the penalties are light compared to what the taliban would do to them.

Farmers can also make a lot more money for cultivating opium poppies than other crops, right now the 'Taliban' are mainly financed by the opium trade.

 

[nova]

Of course you haven't. You really didn't hear about it in the beginning either. It was all about the terrorists. Not oil pipelines wanting to be built and being refused. I think that was back in August of 2001?

Perhaps that was just a conspiracy theory? Our government would always tell us the complete truth after all.

I guess all that oil is the reason a pipeline hasn't even been started in 8 years....

 

[Minor Axis]

Oil and our dependency on it the reason we are in a shit load of trouble in the Middle East...

 

[Minor Axis]

Did you see Bob Woodward piece yesterday? AQ might be no longer a problem there but the Taliban is making a big resurgence. We need to get the hell out of there. The military wants more troops and this is gonna escalate like Nam if we do that. That country is a way bigger mess than Iraq ever was or could be IMO. Russia took a beating and we will also walk home with our tails tucked.

My understanding (correct me if I'm wrong) is that the Republican Party has been more supportive of Afghanistan, while Obama is in trouble with his political base by dragging his feet. I'm not happy with the direction this is currently taking.

 

[Guyzerr]

Oil and our dependency on it the reason we are in a shit load of trouble in the Middle East...

That qualifies for the post of the day award.

 

[Pabst]

I don't see what that has to do with not mentioning other countries that are loosing men and women over something that can never be won.

to placate you i shall never mention the god awful american forces again. i shall name every other army but the american forces since you seem to have taken such offence.

 

[Accountable]

Video: The Unwinnable War in Afghanistan | The Daily Show | Comedy Central

 

[Guyzerr]

to placate you i shall never mention the god awful american forces again. i shall name every other army but the american forces since you seem to have taken such offence.

Don't try and put words in my mouth especially when it comes to friendly forces. In order to set the record straight I'll do it myself. Here goes..

What I take exception to is MANY Americans conveniently forget that they are not alone in Afghanistan or for that matter many battles over the years but they act like they are.


Have I made myself clear or should I use a different tone of voice?

If there were a " bang head against the fucking wall smiley " I'd use it right about now. put some thought into your posts for shit sake.
** and MANY Americans wonder why they are so hated around the world ***

To make one more thing clear svp. I don't hate Americans but I sure as hell hate it's foreign policy.

Edit: see smiley