This is one of six photos and a story about what has happened since Germany pulled their troops out. Read more @ http://www.spiegel.de/international...anistan-after-german-withdrawal-a-965522.html And, what's it going to be like for them when US troops pull out at the end of the year?
longknife, et al, The primary question is: What does the Afghan Government want? (COMMENT) The question is NOT a matter of "what's it going to be like for them when US troops pull out;" we already have an idea. It wasn't that long ago that President Hamid Karzai received a standing ovation on the Senate floor (13 MAY 2010). We effectively installed him and now we have to live with the decisions he makes. He is the official voice of the people and the nation. We (America) cannot prop him up indefinitely. If the people of Afghanistan are outnumbered by the various bad guys, then so be it. It is not our country. Again, it is a matter of how much blood and treasure we are going to invest in that place. So far, the return on our investment is negligible. Too many time the US has overstayed its welcome. It is time to go. If the US has to come back and bomb the hell out of Afghanistan again, then that will be less expensive in Blood and Treasure than what we might expect if we stay as an unwelcome guest in a country that is not able to hold its own. Such circumstances have never worked out in the past for the US, and there is no reasonable expectation it will work for us now. Most Respectfully, R
I agree that we had no business going into Afghanistan in the first place. Some Special Ops guy to hunt out Bin Laden but that was it! Same as I think the first Bush should've gone all out in Iraq, including going all the way to Baghdad and putting Hussein in chains, trying him for his crimes. Then, LET THE IRAQIS RUN THEIR OWN COUNTRY! We've screwed up in Kosovo and other Balkan countries just like we did in 'Nam. I know the basis of this nation is civilian control over the military. But, why train and have military leaders gain expertise and then ignore them? Oh yeah, we also screwed up the Korean Conflict. At least we seem to have gotten WWII right.