Should we pull out of Afghanistan now and pull the carpet out from under Karzai?

2013-12-31T11:34:30-05:00

“The U.S. won't go and I have realized that," he said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/30/us-afghanistan-usa-idUSBRE9BT0DJ20131230?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNew

Afghanistan rejects grim U.S. intelligence forecast as baseless

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan on Monday rejected as baseless a U.S. intelligence forecast that the gains the United States and allies have made in the past three years will be significantly rolled bac...

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 31 at 2013 11:55 AM

2013-12-31T11:55:24-05:00

Point blank, Yes. There is nothing to be gained or accomplished in my opinion in staying or providing a presence, the country was a hotbed long before we arrived and will continue for generations to come.

Let them kill each other off and continue with their beliefs and culture it has been theirs for centuries, we are not going to change it in one decade.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Dec 31 at 2013 12:56 PM

2013-12-31T12:56:14-05:00

There are so many issues at hand which will impact this decision. Clearly given the NSA scandal, we have a creditability gap even with our allies. Our civilian command authority's stated goal from day one as been getting out of the middle east. The region historically is unstable and there is not any indication that our presence will alter the future of a part of the world known as "the graveyard of empires". Leaving lock, stock, and barrel may well be in our best interest right now.

However, there are those in the region who have repeatedly said they will bring war to us at every opportunity until the end of days. The most significant lesson we should have learned from 9/11 is that ignoring these people, or relying purely on standoff intelligence is not going to adequately meet our needs. Leaving without some forward capability of monitoring the area's terrorists will certainly pave the way for another 9/11.

We might scale down our overt footprint and increase our covert footprint in the region. When the time comes, I'd much rather know what was coming and be ready to fight there as opposed to having them come here.

Response by SN Craig Ralston made Jan 1 at 2014 3:47 PM

2014-01-01T15:47:28-05:00

I would have to say yes to this question, as much as it would set back any gains we have made there, I believe that we should not be there, The majority of the Afghans from what I've seen do not want us there and we would do better to have our troops on American soil doing something like guarding our borders or doing something to help the American interests.

Response by PO2 Pete Haga made Jan 1 at 2014 4:51 PM

2014-01-01T16:51:11-05:00

As soon as we pull out of Afghanistan the Taliban will crawl out of their caves and hideouts and take over again. For all of our Brothers and Sisters that have given the ultimate sacrifice it will all be in vain. No country in history has been able to make any changes in this area. Our political leaders lead us down the path to lead to another nam or Iraq. Hell we didn't even find binladen in that country he was in a country that is supposed to be one of our allies. So I fell it is way past time to withdraw all of our troops from Afghanistan!

Response by SFC Gary Fox made Jan 1 at 2014 5:10 PM

2014-01-01T17:10:55-05:00

It won't be long and Karzai will be leaving office. He also be leaving Afghanistan. His life there won't be worth a nickel once he's out of office. Perhaps that's why he's kissing the Taliban leadership's butts so much lately.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jan 1 at 2014 5:32 PM

2014-01-01T17:32:26-05:00

I am not going to be without any sleep if you leave Afghanistan tomorrow and tell that terrorist, President Kazai, "Your time is up, take over and good luck".

Response by SSgt Jonathan Ayers made Jan 1 at 2014 10:20 PM

2014-01-01T22:20:48-05:00

We are doomed to suffer the same fate as the Soviets and Al Qaeda knows it. As soon as we leave (and we will leave sooner or later), the puppet government we created under Karzai will collapse under the weight of corruption and tribal conflict.

Response by PO2 Victor Taylor made Jan 3 at 2014 8:23 AM

2014-01-03T08:23:37-05:00

I know we would lose face pulling out now. But is that enough to keep us there. what benefit would it be for us to stay there? I believe we need to get out and look at other fish to fry.