What is Afghanistan’s ‘brand’?

Philip C. Monroe, Pacific Grove, CA — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:36:48 GMT

Afghanistan is the home to the perpetrators of 9/11. It is a moral imperative to destroy them. The U.S. was diverted to Iraq, when we had all the major players on the ropes. Now we will have a President who understands just how critical Afghanistan is. It is going to be very hard, as we have made so many more enemies from the Bush years. Perhaps the military--including "the Brass" itself--could go into U.S. Muslim neighborhoods, and appeal for help. American Muslims would need a healthy stipend, but it would be worth it, if they could help to root out the guilty, who have almost overthrown everything we did when we went into that poor country in 2001. No mission is more important than Afghanistan.

What is Afghanistan’s ‘brand’?

William D. Strinden MD — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:47:47 GMT

The world runs on a demand-driven economy. The war on drugs is stupid and not worth fighting. There will never be peace in Afghanistan as long as opium and derivatives are illegal throughout the world. It has been the largest cash crop in that area since the time of the Romans and as long as someone wants to buy it badly enough there are those who will supply. You cannot make the risk great enough. There are people who jump from mountain tops in a "flying squirrel" suit just for the thrill of it. Try to convince me that you can impose a penalty great enough to dissuade someone from selling opium if there is ten million dollars at the end of the trail. The last time you saw two beer distributers gun each other down for distribution territory was 1933, when it was illegal. As long as thugs who use murder as a business tool have greater resources than the government, Afghanistan will be a hell-hole. Even if we surge like an ocean, when we leave it will revert back, as long as opium is demanded around the world. Legalize it, treat it like alcohol, public service announcements to demonize its use, like tobacco. Only that will lead to long-term stability and prosperity in Afghanistan.

What is Afghanistan’s ‘brand’?

Jodi, Spokane, WA — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:23:16 GMT

Bush pulled the majority of our troops out of Afghanistan-the forgotten REAL war- just like that to start his corrupt war in Iraq which he LIED about, hence, CORRUPT war. At what point does a CORRUPT war like Iraq become honorable? - Never, corrupt is corrupt, there will NEVER be an honorable win in Iraq. I'd rather see our troops alive and out of Iraq than any stupid 'win' title. In a civilized world, it should not be acceptable to start a war off lies! Again, corrupt is corrupt, there will NEVER be an honorable win in Iraq.

What is Afghanistan’s ‘brand’?

Y. Sidorov Moscow, RF — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:39:18 GMT

To be very simple and to the point, this plan will fail. Even if the US could sustain a larger and more capable force there it would fail. Fact is that with the coming economic catastrophe the US won't be able to sustain military adventures of this kind anymore. It will have enough on it's plate just to keep from going under itself, let alone trying to do the impossible elsewhere.

What is Afghanistan’s ‘brand’?

Charlie, CA — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:48:06 GMT

Jodi, back to Afghanistan.

One way or another Afghanistan is a failed state that the world has turned an eye to for too long. It doesn't help that they're an inland nation with no access to the ocean for commerce. Supporting Afghanistan in a way that keeps them out of trouble and trouble out of them is a good way to go...better to fix things right now and avoid paying interest with soldier's lives in the future.

What is Afghanistan’s ‘brand’?

P St. Louis, MO — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:55:56 GMT

William Strinden I agree totally with you. Iraq they say is done. We are ready to leave there. Let's stop at that. We can't control our own drug lords in our country. There will always be mountains and terrains to hide in. There will always be corruption and poverty. We have it. Everyone has it. Going to from Iraq to Afghanistan is crazy. It's over. We need to come home.

What is Afghanistan’s ‘brand’?

Scott K, Moody, AL — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:01:40 GMT

William D. Strinden MD

"USA is the home to the perpetrators of Iraq war. It is a moral imperative to destroy them." Your statements sounds as absurd as the one wrote.

What is Afghanistan’s ‘brand’?

Duston Rose, LTC USA (RET), Boise, ID — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:39:54 GMT

A simple "surge" of troops into Afghanistan like we did in Iraq will not accomplish much unless we revamp the mission. The rules of engagement have to be reduced to a war zone setting, i.e., martial law under the auspices of the US Commander. The borders and of course the mountain passes have to be sealed and aggressively patrolled so that the peacekeeping efforts in the cities and villages can be pursued with a reasonable chance of success. Remove the CIA and all "special operations" from a front line position in the effort and get them out of the public eye and back in the shadows where they can operate successfully. You do this by placing all of their in-country assets under the US Commander in charge of the operation with no exceptions. All state department efforts likewise must report through the in-country commander, thus giving one person the freedom to run the operation and a direct line of responibility to the Joint Commander, General Patraeus. All NATO allies must be placed under the US Commander and required to pull their weight or go home. We must send enough soldier to do the job or the effort will bog down like it did in Iraq. Within a year, the average US citizen will become disenchanted and start blaming Mr. Obama like they now do President Bush.

What is Afghanistan’s ‘brand’?

Abdul Nisar, Newark, DE — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:06:30 GMT

There will be no peace or victory until we stop Saudi Arabia and Pakistan for funding/supporting fundamentalism and Taliban. We have covered our eyyes to these countries. Saudi Arabia is our number one enemy and the number one enemy of Muslim nations. They sre still providing money for Madrasses in Pakistan to train Taliban. Pakistan is the most dangerous nation on the face of this earth. A very fanatic nation with neuclear bomb. It is time that the Obama government realize this. Bush failed us in the war againts terror. We need to have a 360 change in the policy. Stop Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Stop giving free money (a Billion dollar/year) to Pakistan..

What is Afghanistan’s ‘brand’?

Dick Scott, Drake, CO — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:19:16 GMT

During the crop year 02/03 we had a project in central Helmand (Nad-i-Ali) presently a no-go zone,that had 3000+ men per day working on the largest irrigation system in the country (built with US/Afghan funding between 1946-79)and with the complete cooperation of local government reduced opium cultivation by 85% in this one crop year with a lot of talk, work, support for local traditional cash crops (cotton). Then mis-management, mis-direction,funding delays lost local support, brought back opium cultivation, corruption of local government and easy recruitment of the young unemployed by the returned "Taliban". We produced out present situation through mis-management.The Helmand farmers have been asking for help with: reconstruction using lots of hand labor, improved irrigation, support for traditional cash crop markets of vegetables, wheat, cotton melons etc.to stop cultivating poppy. Advice: Do the obvious starting with what the farmers have been requesting for 10 years.

What is Afghanistan’s ‘brand’?

Shafee H. Watandost, San Diego, California — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 03:51:31 GMT

President Obama needs to review US policies in Afghanistan and do not follow mistaken past policies. He needs to know reasons as to why US and Allies have not been successful in Afghanistan; sending of more troops is not going to improve the situation as more blood shed and killings of civilians will only increase hardship to US and Allies and suffering of Afghans. President Obama needs to take side of Afghan population and should remove Karzai and his corrupt system of government, remove war lords, criminals and ex-communists, the enemies of Afghanistan and send them to war crime courts. This is exactly why US has failed in Afghanistan. By taking side with masses of Afghans, we need to proof to the world that America is on the right side of history and is ready to make the CHANGES promised during US elections.

What is Afghanistan’s ‘brand’?

khan afghan — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:06:03 GMT

sending of US trops to afghanistan is a very bad idea and it will not work at all .
we do not want more trops from any where ,but to negotiat with the Taliban will be a good resuld for all around the world. if there is no justice with the people of palastain there will never peace any where in the world.