Vacate Afghanistan now (letter to the editor)

[Awesome]

Spokesman.com | Vacate Afghanistan now | December 3, 2009

Obama is in trouble, say pundits, and his approval rating is down. He is dealing with our sick economy, two wars, seemingly impossible health care reform and nearly unanimous Republican opposition. His dominant foreign problem is Afghanistan-Pakistan where he has conducted an unprecedented, two-month review in meetings with his military advisers.

Obama’s impressive dinner for India’s leader surely sent a message to Pakistani leaders, who do not share U.S. or India’s goals for that area. Pakistan often does not pursue the insurgents who freely cross over the Afghan-Pakistan border.

There is no obvious solution to Afghanistan and Pakistan. (The Nation magazine’s long article of Nov. 30 is my primary source.) Is a mid-course correction by Obama needed? Or is there no credible solution to this multi-faceted problem?

My suggestions are to declare victory in Afghanistan and then leave. A failed Afghanistan is acceptable. And, offer Pakistan technical and logistics support but also withdraw U.S. troops. If required, the Pakistanis can cope with the insurgents. Tough love? Yep.

Julian Powers
Spokane

I enjoyed reading this. If I was an American Asim Aquil, I'd have this same attitude. However I'm Pakistani and a failure in Afghanistan by the mighty USA worries me on how it would be interpreted by extremists and terrorists on our side. "We defeated the great shaytaan" and all that crap would creep in.

It's very easy for America to leave, it has prevented a terrorist attack since 9/11 by beefing up security and giving up some liberties on their ports, but all in all, its that is nothing compared to the string of bombings we have faced from the terrorists.

I also don't predict a takeover from the Taliban or something of Pakistan but the same suicide bombings could continue indefinitely.

 

[third eye]

With things having gone as far as they now have in Af & the Af - Pak border regions. I suspect the absence / departure ( not that it will happen in the foreseeable future) of ISAF will be worse than its presence.