Let's not screw Pakistan.
 

We finally got Pakistan fighting the Taliban - really - and apparently winning to boot, but the polls are split on what Obama should do in Afghanistan, namely fish or cut bait.

It's something of a dilemma for our fearless leader. His power base, one he repeatedly pandered to during the election (out of Iraq in 16 months, reaching out to enemies) will be PISSED if he agrees to increase troops.

But geopolitical realities dictate the answer, and because of this I believe Obama will pull a Bush and do the right thing regardless.

Pete

I think he's already made up his mind. I think he'd like to get health care done before he pisses off the left even more.

Pakistan just pisses me off in general. We screwed that up back in the 80s when Reagan was busy undermining the entire future of our country. That thing could fall apart any day and it would be like Afghanistan, only with nukes.

Afghanistan has some 28 million people yet they can only raise a security force of some 20,000. If they are no more concerned about their country why in hell should we be? Give McChystal some tactical nukes and clean out the damned border.

Wow, is there anything Reagan can't do (or hasn't done)??

Troops are being shot at and killed, I hope Obama gives it it's proper urgency.

Rob, there have been a lot of interviews on Charlie Rose over the last few weeks with Afghan 'experts', some good news is they see Afghan troops as good quality and more coming on line every day. There's real hope :)

Pete

Is there a such thing as quality troops over there ?

Anything involving the middle east is a no win situation.

Let Israel deal with them. They wont pussy foot around like we are..

I see. I'm wrong because... because... I mean, the point you're making is... is... Oh. you don't have any point. And I'm right. Reagan tried to kill America. Just remains to be seen if he succeeded or not.

Lay offa Shrub, most the time he was happy with just pullin' the wings offa flies.

Novel idea TD, bring our troops, and their paychecks, home and post them on our borders. We've supported the rest of the world long enough, and all that they've given us in return is a hard way to go.

And while we're at it, ride the international bankers out of the country on a rail. Along with the international corporations.

The United States is a big enough of a country to make a go of it on our own...should we put our minds to it.

Chas

We have never supported anyone but ourselves.


I suppose we give foreign aid to countries to be nice.

Come on Chas, we do what we do for us and only us.

Disagree with that, who is usually first in line when eartquakes or tsunamis strike, yet who was knocking on our door after Katrina?

Does not happen too often but im gonna agree with rob on this one :D

:lmao: !!!

Enlightened self interest. We largely built and do currently support the entire world economic system largely by guaranteeing stability (we had 737 + military bases worldwide as of 05) and protecting shipping lanes. We spend a fortune on this.

If we withdrew the world economic system would collapse. This would certainly effect our economy!

Back at our beginning we referred to ourselves as an Empire of Reason. From the very 1st, consider the 'Empire State'. We are the greatest merchant nation the world has ever seen.

Pete

It benefits the world community which we are a part of and creates good will which is more powerful than propaganda.

WE are a selfish species and we do things for ourselves.

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?” Rabbi Hillel