# America ! WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU STILL IN AFGHANISTAN ? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 8, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108 "2012-03-08T03:34:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/61 "2012-03-12T01:51:34Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Are you referring to William Calley? He calls himself Rusty nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/62 "2012-03-12T14:21:30Z")
I posed this over in GD, but it might be more read here; I just got this from a friend of mine, a former Marine who served in Afghanistan and is now home: > [@](#): > > I am reluctant advertise my own deployments . . . I did not know him, and did not serve with him in the I or in Afghanistan, but the man, from what one of my pals at NCIS (Intel) said, was a “Lifer.” This means the guy was a G. I. through and through…all about service to “god and country” and all that shit. > > Moreover, the Sgt., who will spend the rest of his life in prison, was known as a loving husband and father of two young kids. How does a man like this aim his rifle at point blank range into the pleading helpless faces of innocent babies? Mothers? > > First I want to say that if I had the chance I would personally put a bullet in his head . . . If you can please try to understand what a mind might suffer after four combat tours and after spending more than half of the last nine years away from your loves could do to you, you will maybe think about it more. That is what this guy’s life has been the last 9 years. 3 tours in Iraq one in Afghanistan…again, I would kill him myself if I get the chance, but you should all think about what was really going on in his sick fucking head… ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/63 "2012-03-12T14:22:26Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > US contracts, jobs with the Americans, huge sums paid to opium farmers to drive up the international price, building programs, graft, bribery all the things that happened in 1960 Korea. Remind us - was there a major guerilla upring going on in South Korea while the West was cosying up to yet another brutal dictatorship. Was the USA engaged in constant military operations within South Korean borders and constantly killing civilians in a civil war? No. There is nothing about the two situations that is consonant enough for you to predict a happy outcome if we stick around in Afghanistan. It’s not like we haven’t given it a good try yet after a decade the best we can say is that we’ve managed to just about prop up one voraciously kleptocratic faction in a civil war. A faction already willing to throw away what minor gains that have been made in women’s issues even before the door hits our asses. As sensible people knew from the off - once the Al-Q issue was resolved we had no business sticking around. If the USSR, with its willingness to be way more brutal than we are, could not win, we were never going to. Afghanistan does not want to be ‘rescued’ by Christian or ‘godless’ foreigners. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/64 "2012-03-12T17:17:57Z")
For starters, I very much doubt that there is such a thing as “Afghanistan”. There is a geographic entity, with borders, a UN seat, and a presumed national government that controls Kabul. We would first have to build a country, and then we could consider what directions such a country might take. Pretending such a country already exists, and we only need to train and support its self-defense capacity is an exercise in delusion. We never should have done it in the first place, as I said in these pages at the time, and received an epic beat-down. But the madness was upon us, and the voice of reason was the voice of treason. It was wisely said, that if you are embarking on a mission of vengeance, first dig two graves. Have we already forgotten how we bought our allies on the open market, with cash? What did we imagine we were buying, loyalty? We have charged into a swamp of misery and ignorance, and brought only pain and death. Staying will not make it better. We must go. And when we go, what little we have accomplished will vanish with us. This is a cold and ruthless truth, but it is the truth. Out now. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/65 "2012-03-12T19:24:45Z")
America has fallen victim to the most famous of classic blunders - “never get involved in a land war in Asia.” I could forgive almost the entire Bush presidency if that fucktard hadn’t gotten us waist deep in those wars… ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/66 "2012-03-12T20:09:11Z")
> [@neuroman](#): > > America has fallen victim to the most famous of classic blunders - “never get involved in a land war in Asia.”… Oh, how I wish I were a Sicilian running for President-- I would use that line on my campaign signs. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/67 "2012-03-12T22:04:27Z")
> [@neuroman](#): > > America has fallen victim to the most famous of classic blunders - “never get involved in a land war in Asia.” My gawd, For some reason I always, always took that statement as an illumination on the follies of Hitler and, to a lesser extent, Napoleon; as well as any potential campaign against China. It never occurred to me Vietnam, Korea and the entire Middle East is also Asia. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/68 "2012-03-12T22:13:13Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > My gawd, For some reason I always, always took that statement as an illumination on the follies of Hitler and, to a lesser extent, Napoleon; as well as any potential campaign against China. It never occurred to me Vietnam, Korea and the entire Middle East is also Asia. :smack: That’s why we need to nuke them all from orbit. No need to set a foot on the ground. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/69 "2012-03-12T22:25:14Z")
I mean, the disaster that is Afghanistan has been evident for years-provided you are not blind. We have had plenty of historical experience too-Vietnam, Somalia, Bosnia, etc. The only conclusin I can make is that Obama thinks that leaving would sabotage his re-election. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/70 "2012-03-12T22:27:41Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I mean, the disaster that is Afghanistan has been evident for years-provided you are not blind. We have had plenty of historical experience too-Vietnam, Somalia, Bosnia, etc. > The only conclusin I can make is that Obama thinks that leaving would sabotage his re-election. I think that’s possible. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/71 "2012-03-12T22:31:01Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I mean, the disaster that is Afghanistan has been evident for years-provided you are not blind. We have had plenty of historical experience too-Vietnam, Somalia, Bosnia, etc. > The only conclusin I can make is that Obama thinks that leaving would sabotage his re-election. There’s always the more entertaining idea that this has nothing to do with Afghanistan and everything to do with having a military presence near Pakistan because they are close to opening the 30,000 year-old vault of alien manufacture. Or maybe it’s a pretense for being next to Iran for less far-fetched reasons. I mean, now more than ever, wouldn’t you feel kinda silly if you moved your armies out of Afghanistan only to have Iran pop a nuke in Baghdad? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/72 "2012-03-13T14:18:54Z")
We should have gotten the fuck out after we found Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/73 "2012-03-13T16:11:19Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > …Wouldn’t you feel kinda silly if you moved your armies out of Afghanistan..? Ah, I was right… global politics really is just a big game of _ **Risk** _. I say we collect our little card with the cannon on it and make a troop transport at the end of our turn. And stop rolling the dice. ---
**Author:** ![Condescending\_Robot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a183cd/32.png) [@Condescending\_Robot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Condescending_Robot)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/74 "2012-03-13T16:20:28Z")
> [@](#): > > I am reluctant advertise my own deployments . . . I did not know him, and did not serve with him in the I or in Afghanistan, but the man, from what one of my pals at NCIS (Intel) said, was a “Lifer.” This means the guy was a G. I. through and through…all about service to “god and country” and all that shit. > > Moreover, the Sgt., who will spend the rest of his life in prison, was known as a loving husband and father of two young kids. How does a man like this aim his rifle at point blank range into the pleading helpless faces of innocent babies? Mothers? > > First I want to say that if I had the chance I would personally put a bullet in his head . . . If you can please try to understand what a mind might suffer after four combat tours and after spending more than half of the last nine years away from your loves could do to you, you will maybe think about it more. That is what this guy’s life has been the last 9 years. 3 tours in Iraq one in Afghanistan…again, I would kill him myself if I get the chance, but you should all think about what was really going on in his sick fucking head… Gee, how does someone who is part of the U.S. military get the idea that he can just kill Muslims willy-nilly and it’s okay? There’s a real head scratcher. ---
**Author:** ![Latro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Latro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latro)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/75 "2012-03-13T16:24:27Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Ah, I was right… global politics really is just a big game of _ **Risk** _. > > I say we collect our little card with the cannon on it and make a troop transport at the end of our turn. And stop rolling the dice. But how would you then complete that mission card stating “Hold the continent of North America, destroy 10 countries of your choice and bring about Armageddon within 12 turns.” ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/76 "2012-03-13T16:30:54Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Ah, I was right… global politics really is just a big game of _ **Risk** _. > > I say we collect our little card with the cannon on it and make a troop transport at the end of our turn. And stop rolling the dice. Well-played! ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/77 "2012-03-13T16:31:20Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > … On a more practical level there are areas of the country that are somewhat stable and huge progress has been made in education and health especially as it applies to women and girls. I think the policy is to hang in long enough, provide enough education and increase social awareness so that the country can begin to fix itself. That’s a high hope but there is always hope. … A few more years and we might just get Afghanistan back to where it was before we decided that using Afghanistan as a pawn in the Cold War was more important than all that good stuff you’ve mentioned. :smack: CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/78 "2012-03-13T16:42:34Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > A few more years and we might just get Afghanistan back to where it was before we decided that using Afghanistan as a pawn in the Cold War was more important than all that good stuff you’ve mentioned. :smack: > > CMC fnord! 1976? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/79 "2012-03-13T16:55:21Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > \*\*America ! WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU STILL IN AFGHANISTAN ? \*\* You tell **me** where you can get heroin cheaper! ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-why-the-fuck-are-you-still-in-afghanistan/615108/80 "2012-03-13T17:35:21Z")
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