Being a mother of a Marine in Afghanistan, I know these soldiers are facing danger each and every day.  The media has forgotten and the government as well,makes me ashamed of them.  I am so proud of our soldiers and Marines! God speed to each one.  I have not forgotten you serving in Afghan!! I love you all!!  I am also so proud of all the ones in Iraq  and love you all. My heart swells with pride when I think of you all who are and have served there.  To the families like me, we know their sacrifice, as well as our own, and our troops deserve respect and honor from our goverment and media.  Ditto on Darlene's blog: May you have the eyes of the eagles and be protected by the wings of the angels. God loves you and so do I!!

We must never forget these brave young men who have sacrificed so much!  Shame on any American who thinks we can be free without victory, and the price some have paid for our liberty in Afghanistan and Iraq, not to mention all the wars fought to bring us to this time in our civilization.  We owe our lives to the bravery and honor of these men and women now and throughout history!

Afghanistan is a SOCOM (Special Operations Command) war not a "big Army" war. Due to the nature of enemy combatants and their use of Pakistan border jumping/I.E.D. deployments/drug smuggling/black market weapon enterprises, Afghanistan is deemed a "quiet war". A good number of special operatives are utilized more than conventional service members are because of the enemies ability to fight in a guerilla war. The majority of conventional units feel forgotten, but they are not, most conventional units are utilitzed for vital support and well as having a conventional combat unit (Infantry)on stand by and for presence while special operations units operate in the very nature of their conception, silently. Afghanistan is not safe, it is not quiet, and the Fallen Brave are not forgotten.

I am in Afghanistan working as a civilian contractor. Even in my shoes I feel as it's a forgotten war.

We don't hear about Afghanistan because even though there is still a WAR going on there, a large part of the WORLD is on our side "in spirit"over there. However, they have not given the 10 billion dollars in support that was promised.Don't kid yourself and think the worlds largest Opium producer isn't important to some countries. Also, yes, Russia had problems there, but thats because we backed Afghanistan with millions of anti-armor weapons."Cold War remember"??? Iraq is the main event because it is complicated with Syria sneeking weapons of mass destruction into thier country, as well as Billions of Dollars to be used against Isreal at a later time.Also,and even worse is that I.E.D.s and insurgents from IRAN flow in because My President Mr. Bush did not hold true to the statement "if you are not with us ,you are against us".If "Americans" didn't back down in the War on Terror and dessert Bush,(I know,you forgot you supported him at first!)there would be less influence from outlaw regiems.If Iraq is about us taking Oil,why are we paying $4.00 per gal after all these years? Other places pay more, but thats only because we protect the Saudis and sell them JETS!!! Support ALL the Troops!!!

After having served in both Iraq and and Afghanistan one thing becomes more and more apparent to me as time goes on:

America is not at war.  The US Military is at war.

America is at the mall.

I am a veteran from Operation Enduring Freedom VII and VIII and served as a rifle platoon leader at the time.  In my platoon of 38 Soldiers, 32 were wounded, 3 seriously, and 1 killed.  Our FOB took 638 rocket attacks and our patrols were ambushed on a regular basis by foreign fighters that were tactically sound. The border region of Afghanistan is the most dangerous place on Earth.  I totally understand these Soldier's frustration with the war there. It is a very hard fight, a conventional combined arms war in an insurgent environment.  I too am a victim of the "atleast your not in Iraq statements".  I just wanted to let these fine men know that I understand their pain and that others out there feel their pain too.

GOD bless our military but its time to bring them all home and stop fighting BUSH'S WARS

I have friends in the national Guard that will b sent to Afganistan. I dont believe its wright to b using out national guard overseas, they should stay here in the US to help deal with all the catastophic storms that global warming is producing etc.

really, what this does is to bring into focus the complete incompetence of the Bush administration.
Commander Cukoo Bananas hasn't the foggiest idea of what he is doing, and if he does, then he should be impeached, arrested, and sent to the Hague to answer for his crimes against humanity.

The problem with Afganistan is that it is a NATO war.  Our NATO allies are the same ones who have a large contingency of Muslim immigrants which will be taking over their countries within 40 years.  The countries of NATO do not have a war mentality because NATO was formed because of the fear of the USSR as it's enemy.  Now that the Soviet Union is no longer a major threat, NATO is no longer a viable force.

Impeach and Imprison BUSH and Cheney and then go and Win the war on Terror which is worse than it was on Sept 11th, 2001.
After Sept 11th, Bin Laden and Al Quaeda were holed up in Afghanistan. We had them on the run and nearly demoralized and beaten before the criminally negligent Oil-Inspired Invasion of Iraq took the focus away from the War on Terror to the 'War for Oil'.
Now we have $4.00 gas, a destroyed economy, loss of personal freedoms, Unanimous Disdain or outright hatred towards the US from the whole world and the War on Terror will only need to be enlarged with the mess in Iraq. We have lost over 4,000 American Soldiers for no reason in Iraq. We may yet lose a lot more Americans here at home with the re-grouping and restrengthening of Bin Laden's maniacal madmen. We have only helped recruit thousands more disallusioned ,demented and angry Muslim men to end their lives and attack America anywhere and everywhere.
How can America be so stupid to even possibly elect another Republican ??

Iraq is producing oil right now We need the oil.  Once the pipeline is complete that will run thru afghanistan we can put more recources there to protect the oil.

God bless all men and women serving in Afghanistan.  It is true that this seems like a forgotten war.  The world should pay more attention to Afghanistan than anywhere else.  This is where Al-Qaida is born.  They come back again and again.  It is not only the Al-Qaida.  It is the drug dealers that is as dangerous as the Al-qaida.  I think the whole world should pay attention to Afghanistan.  The 30 year war has nothing left to that poor country.  People are without houses, food, medicine, and a decent living.  The roads are bad.  There is no drinking water.
Please pay more attention to AFGHANISTAN.

Crosby in Vail, CO...were you in S. Vietnam?  If not, then how do you know.

Personally, as a retired professional soldier of 20+ years, my take is that you don't know jack.

Your a grass eater, pure and simple, who doesn't know anything about what our Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Coasties want...you could care less.

Personally, it's a same that any American warrior would shed a single drop of their precious blood over a POS like you...

Have a great life, coward.

Pres. Bush knew there were no WMD before we went into Iraq. In fact the investigation after 9-11 took longer than it should have, because they were told to try to find a connection to Iraq. They couldn't. This is  Cheney, Rumsfeld,Wolfowitz, and Bush nightmare that has cost the lives of so many for greed and false pride.

"Two soldiers receiving Purple Hearts at Walter Reed Army Medical Center called Afghanistan a "forgotten war" being fought with not enough troops, supplies or support from the American people."

Mr. Rutherford,
This Administration has not given troops, supplies OR support our troops need, and the MEDIA is not reporting on this war. It seems this Administration AND the media want us to forget about this war. Why are YOU not reporting on what this Administration is NOT doing for our troops?? Don't try to make it look like the American People are not supporting this war when it is this Administration that has not supported this war by taking away valuable resources and troops to effectively fight this campaign because there was more PROFITS to be made in Iraq. Now THERE'S a story a worthy journalist or producer should be doing for our troops!! What has happened to our investigative journalism???

The mission would have more of a chance succeeding if countries like Germany, France, Spain and Italy would send combat troops to hot areas. The pol's in Germany are a gutless lot, and thier "soldiers" are like overfed sows. These countries all have Alpine/Mountain units created for this kind of fighting, yet, they refuse to fight. The border near Khost is a battle zone, we were fighting hadji's crossing into a-stan almost every nite. If the French send the 1,000 Paratroops as Sarkozy said, it will free up at least a US battalion, and with 3,200 Marines on the way, we could kick the t-ban outta Helmand, drive them right across the border. NATO is dying coz of lack of will. This is 1 place we cannot lose. We lose, might as well disband NATO. Credibility down the toilet...

This war is definatly about oil. Not Iraq's oil but oil companies. Bush and Cheneys corporate buddies are the big winners by design. Our troops and thier families are the pawns. Wake up American citizens. The price that is going to have to be paid down the line is going to be huge for the profit that a relative few are gaining today. Bush and Cheney are surely going to go down in history as the biggest carpetbaggers the White House has ever seen. A big change of attitude needs to happen in both the White House and Congress. Vote for that change and demand that they follow through. Term limits in congress !!

When we went into Afghanistan, I believe most Americans thought it was the right thing to do.  But when Bush veered off from that to go into Iraq, I thought at the time how stupid can he be.  We had a great opportunity to really make an example out of Afghanistan.  It could be a flourishing new democracy by now, had we continued to mold it but instead we have abandoned them.   Please America - do not continue electing these war monger presidents.

To Did Andrew Crosby Vail, CO - I just want to thank you for your comments.  That is exactly why our boys and girls are over in Afghanistan. To protect your freedom of speech while you get to sit at your computer in the comfort of your home.  God Bless our American troops!!!

I just got back from a recent deployment with my Alaskan unit and it is no picnic over there...Being in that region has definitely opened my eyes and while I've yet to serve any time in Iraq, my deepest respect and gratitude to serve this nation as well as those who served and those who are serving still.  

The truth is to take a look at the privately owned Federal Reserve Bank and see how much money they make loaning all the money needed to the U.S. to fight these wars! Now, the same privately owned Federal Reserve Bank is being rewarded by Bush allowing them to rewrite the banking rules just as the Oil Companies were allowed to write US energy policies! Follow the money folks, it is not patriotic to be afraid to question the motives of ANY of our leaders.

Lets be realistic the war in Iraq is Bush's and his oil friends war for profit. Therefore, the tax payer's money is directed towards Iraq to enhance Bush's and his rich friends pocket book.the good men dying for Bush and not America.

Hey Andrew of Vail Colorado. You must be a young person to understand anything much. You might be a college student that was told by some politicians. Or maybe you are a hippe left over. I have no idea. I know WWII was a different war. Our soldiers went to war and stayed there until the war was over. Now they do a 12 to 18 months and go home. What are we in Afganistan for? Remember what happened on 9/11/01? There is this guy name Osama that had a few nut cases fly some plane into some building and murder thousands of people. Afganistand had him and wouldn't turn his sorry butt over so we went in to get him. Now we are stuck there because Pakistan won't let us into that country to get him. I say, just go and get him no matter what and bring him to justice.
Iraq? That is all for oil, which backfired and to get back as Saddam for going after GW's Dad.

Having sent family to both theatres of this war (one with double tours of both Afghanistan and Iraq and a bad case of PTSD for his trouble - with little help from the VA), I can only sympathize with the soldiers serving this ungrateful, ignorant nation and this incompetent and corrupt administration.  The only good thing is that, on a personal level, people have behaved decently.  When my youngest daughter and my granddaughter sent off my son-in-law, a fellow diner at the Portland, Oregon airport noticed them (and my son-in-law's uniform) and picked up their meal tab.  Thank you to whoever that was.  I've seen some other such acts of spontaneous kindness, as well, and my thanks go to those individuals.  My own welcome home from Vietnam involved an older woman bestirring herself to get up and spit on my uniform, and, at least, we haven't gotten that vile.  Yet, if the troops have been spared the hostility engendered by that war, by and large, most people don't even pause to reflect that young men and women are dying for us in distant lands even as I type this - in Iraq, the war that never should have been, and in Afghanistan, where incompetence and inattention and diverted interests have sacrificed soldiers needlessly and gone far toward snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.  Being ignored is, in some ways, worse than a glob of spittle.  We can do better.  

This whole war started in Afghanistan as a result of 9-11. But the reality is that is was an opportunity for George W to go after Sadam. Bush said as much when he stated "this is the guy who tried to kill my dad." The emotions that swept the nation after the Twin Towers came down rendered us blind to rational thinking. Americans, fueled by fear and anger, without tyhe benefit of intellect went all in with support for the invasion of Iraq. Colin Powell said on national tv "if we go in we'll never get out" we didn't listen. The real war is still in Afghanistan but the political (sexy)war is in Iraq. Ironically bin laden said the reason the world trade center was targeted was their desire to cripple the economic structure of the "infidels". Taken a look at the state of the economy lately? WAKE UP AMERICA! Osama just needed Bush to finish what he (Osama) started.

Will we ever learn? In the 80's (I)we trained a rag tag buch of guys called the Mujahedin to fight the Soviets. We made many promises and then when the tide turned the the USSR withdrew from Afghanistan, so did we. We abandon our fellow combatants and wished them luck rebuilding what is left of their country. We are now hunting our mortal enenmy Osama Bin Laden. The same Bin Ladens, Haliburton's and Carlile's that are in business with the Mullahs to establish oil and gas lines to central asia. If you want Osama, try the House of Saud in Saiudi Arabia. He will be the guy on the kidney dialisysis machine sitting next to the Soviet brief case nuke waiting for us to end our long relationship with him.

Will we ever learn? In the 80's (I)we trained a rag tag buch of guys called the Mujahedin to fight the Soviets. We made many promises and then when the tide turned the the USSR withdrew from Afghanistan, so did we. We abandon our fellow combatants and wished them luck rebuilding what is left of their country. We are now hunting our mortal enenmy Osama Bin Laden. The same Bin Ladens, Haliburton's and Carlile's that are in business with the Mullahs to establish oil and gas lines to central asia. If you want Osama, try the House of Saud in Saudi Arabia. He will be the guy on the kidney dialisysis machine sitting next to the Soviet brief case nuke waiting for us to end our long relationship with him.

I AM THE MOTHER OF A SON IN THE ARMY CURRENTLY SERVING A TOUR IN AFGHANISTAN. AFTER HAVING MY SON HOME FOR A TWO WEEK LEAVE 6 MONTHS AGO AND LISTENING TO HIM, I TO CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT OUR SOLDIERS ARE DEFINITELY IN A BATTLE. MY SON AND HIS UNIT ARE SHOT AT EVERYDAY. THEY ARE STATIONED SOMEWHERE NEAR THE PAKISTAN BORDER. MY SON HAS LOST SEVERAL FRIENDS SINCE BEING IN AFGHANISTAN AND HAS SEEN THINGS THAT NO ONE SHOULD EVER HAVE TO SEE. IT HAS ALWAYS BOTHERED ME THAT AFGHANISTAN AND OUR SOILDERS THERE SEEM TO HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN BY THE NEWS MEDIA BECAUSE ALL YOU EVER HEAR ABOUT IS IRAQ. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT AMERICA WILL REMEMBER AND SUPPORT NOT ONLY THE TROOPS IN IRAQ BUT ALSO AFGHANISTAN. I KNOW THAT BOTH ARE JUST AS BAD BECAUSE I ALSO HAVE A SON-IN-LAW IN THE AIR FORCE WHO HAS ALREADY SERVED ONE TOUR IN IRAQ AND IS NOW GETTING READY FOR A SECOND TOUR AND A NEPHEW IN THE MARINES WHO IS CURRENTLY IN IRAQ. SO FROM THE MOTHER OF A MILITARY FAMILY I AM ASKING AMERICA TO PLEASE REMEMBER ALL OUR SOLIDERS NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND PRAY FOR THEIR SAFE RETURN TO THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO LOVE AND MISS THEM. I KNOW MY HEART BREAKS EVERYDAY FOR THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE FALLEN SOLIDERS. GOD BLESS AND KEEP OUR TROOPS SAFE AND LET THEM KNOW THAT AMERICA SUPPORTS THEM AND WILL NEVER TURN THEIR BACKS ON THEM. AND TO MY SON, I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU BABY BOY AND CAN NOT WAIT TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN. YOU ARE MY HEART ALWAYS.  

This administration should be impeached and jailed for crimes against the people of this country..

I can not believe the statements people make on line, what crimes? They are out there every day protecting your pompous butt pal. Why don't you get up off your desk chair and see what the world is really like. These people want you dead or converted to Radical Islam..that is it. That is the only truth you need to know, do you have loved ones? Do you want to see you young children raped and murdered, you brother beheaded. they are animals and they only understand superior firepower, not talk. Let Obama go sit with them, that will make it all better...Bull

To David A. Crosby.  Thank the maker that you voiced your opinion. You enjoy your freedoms as much as I enjoy mine and you validated the freedom I have to volunteer to fight for my country.  I know, that like me, a lot of guys over there kissed their wives and children good bye and went over to Afghanistan and did and are doing the jobs they swore to do.  I, like them, would rather fight them there down range rather than here, so our children aren't watching their fathers and mothers protect them from front lines on U.S. soil all the while protecting our and your freedoms at home.  Service members are taxpayers as well.  I know I pay mine so, not only do I have the right to freedoms for my taxes but, I fight for them as well. Just like the guys over there right now.
As for the colonization issue.  I've been there and have seen first hand the ravages that war can produce and have seen the potential for Afghanistan to be a paridise.  I've talked to her people and have heard first hand what they would want and it's not too far different than that which we enjoy in our country.  Still, I live in America and would not want to live anywhere else in the world, and I think I come real close to what the guys slugging it out in the field feel as well.  So stop lumping your feelings of why the administration wants our forces there with the pulse of the individual service Men and Women.  Generally we serve so we can have that "Right to Life, Liberty and to persue Happiness" in our own way just like you have.
To the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airman out there and waiting on deck.  Go get em and God Bless.    

Dear David Andrew Crosby Vail, CO

You're an idiot.

If you'd studied the military assessments of Iraq, you would have realized the US military did not want to go in there and when ordered to, it did not get what was needed to do the job.

There's no "Colonization" attempt in Afghanistan. That land has no natural resources that we want. We're fighting there because that's where the folks who attacked us were based. You recall that attack perhaps?

The Iraq war has drained our military away from the war we really have to fight.

Its funny how quickly people are to judge. After reading this... I would say not alot of people have there facts straight. It just sucks that we can't express our true feelings alot of times because we don't want to say the wrong thing and end up in a not so good situation. Even us military personel have mixed feelings about this war but the majority of us believe in the war. I'm not talking about brainwashed people either. They don't feed us bullcrap. It's about getting the mission done in the military but we do have feelings on these also.

To David Andrew:
Dear Sir,
We "Boyscouts" seem to be doing our jobs so that you can have the freedom to speak as boldly as you have. It somewhat makes me happy to know that you as an individual can rant and rave. On the other hand we as a people should respect each other inside our own borders. I lived in Boulder for about three years. I heard your opinions from others in the area. While there I would be treated two different ways. While in uniform I was actually spit on and called many names by "non violent hard working tax paying people". While in civilian clothes I was treated nicely. It is amazing to me why you have the rights you do but that is the beauty of living in the United States of America! If you do not like what this government does, there is always Tibet and or China, try Russia while you are there. Better yet jump on a plane and head to Afghanistan and hug up on the Taliban. Spread your peace and popcorn to the oh so kind Afghans. If you do I'll be watching as they behead you on National TV. You my friend should be happy to have your upscale house up in Vail with all the others while we lowlanders fight for you to be able to sit up there. Come walk a mile in my boots. I believe in freedom, not because of the Army but because my Father did and so did his. I want it for my son. I want it for you. It is ok to have an opinion but there comes a time for you to put up or shut up. Don't go halfway with your beliefs do something about it. I did. I fought in Afghanistan, drove a tractor to a village to grow crops instead of poppies. I also got shot at for trying to help someone. What have you done besides protest? Did you actually say I don't like it here I think I will fix my situation. I hear Mexico is open to what you have to say. I hear Canada is open as well. North Korea would really love to have you as their guest. I fought in Iraq too. I suppose I was trying to colonize the poor Iraqi citizens. Actually I  spent most of my time responding to bad people killing other people. Other people would be those that are good such as a four year old girl, her brother, mother and father. This was done while they sat outside their home and received two mortar rounds in the yard that they sat in. So I stand up for the people of Iraq, I stand up for my fellow citizens when they are to scared to do so. Am I wrong? If I fought for the Tibetans would I be wrong? Would I be trying to colonize them also? I never got rich serving in either Iraq or Afghanistan. I spent long periods of time away from my family. We don't profit from war, that is those of us in the fight. Regroup mister peace man, go get your buddies in Boulder and do something meaningful instead of flapping your gums. Do you have what it takes for even a simple tea party? I think you will continue to sit there and do nothing but talk. But thanks for letting me, and all the other folks that have been or are in Iraq and Afghanistan, know that we have done what is right so you can say what you want. Have a nice day, and remember to thank a vet.

Mike, Colorado- You're an idiot.
My son is serving in Afghanistan, and I am tired of people spouting out with nonsence they know NOTHING about.

My son in law is in Afghanistan and I'm very proud of him.  Anyone in the service now is in voluntarily, helping this country maintain freedom.  If as some of you say the democrats will get us out, there will be genocide in Iraq.  I do  believe Hillary and Obama are to smart to be responsible for genocide.  There are making political false statements right now to get elected. CS Searcy istead fo being immature by name calling, tell us what you have done in the name of freedom?  

We all forget that the opium crop is at a record level since weve been there. Where's all that opium going? We must know or should I say the CIA does.My guess is we will stay there until the CIA has collected enough money from the opium trade to continue funding groups to fight the war we started in the middle east.  sad but true

Most of the people there think we are on the Talibans side.  They were held down by the Taliban Government, NOW THEY ARE HELD DOWN BY THEIR GOVERNMENT AND THE WORLD SUPPORTS THEIR GOVERNMENT.  So it's them against the world now.  A much more powerfull force.  They had a chance, now it's a loosing battle for the people.  We hired as possie the criminal Warlords to side with the Government.  So now money is given to the criminal Warlords and the people don't stand a chance against them now!  The Taliban burned their poppy fields.  We burn their poppy fields.  And we have sided with Pakistan who is their sworn enemy and where the Taliban come from.  We Like Pakistan/ We Like the Taliban in their eyes.  We support the Taliban/The world supports the Taliban by supoorting Pakistan and the Homeland of the extremists.  "IN THEIR EYES"!

I am an infantryman in the Oregon National Guard. Everything they say is true. The topic is always Iraq but recently the talk has been Iraq? wait until the elections to see if we are going.

to "very worried," you're an idiot, nobody flew planes into buildings in Russia like on 9-11. We should carpet bomb northwest Pakistan.

To the various soldiers and family of soldiers who have written in to this blog, let me just say "THANKS".  I know the pain.  I know the hardship.  I know the danger.  I even know the ingratitude.  To the gentleman who wrote in saying that "America is not at war, the military is at war.  America is at the mall...", all I can say is that there are a large number of us who DO care, who DO worry about you, and who DO support you.  Whatever our politics - be they pro-Obama (bring 'em home) or pro-McCain (give them the troops and tools to do the job) - they do, at least at some level, understand and appreciate your sacrifices.  To the rest of you, contact your local recruiting office and find out what you can do to make life a bit better for these folks in uniform, whether in Afghanistan or Iraq.  It doesn't take a whole lot to send a message that you know and you care.  Sometimes, we'll just put together a package with snacks and stuff (beef jerky is a big hit, so are stick pretzels and, for instance, the raspberry/honey mustard sold by folks like "Harry and David") and send it to some unit or "to any soldier".  Ofttimes, you can just drop it off at the recruiting office and they'll send it for you. AND, if you see someone in uniform, say "thanks", or, if the spirit moves you, buy 'em a meal.  The chap who did that for my son-in-law and his family sent a message which reverberated.  Not bad for $20 - you can spend that on a couple of lattes and not feel as good.  For 30 years I wouldn't talk about Vietnam, because of an old lady's spit.  Let's not impose that obligation of silence on our young this time around.  Do something decent for them and feel good about yourselves.

People refer to the Russians and their failures in Afghanistan.  The British had the same problem in the 19th century.  They ultimately decided that there was no way to "civilize" the Afghani people.  But really, they only want to be left alone.  I would hope that we would react the same way if they came to the U.S. to liberate us from the tyranny of the oil companies and Hollywood morality.  We probably could have found and dealt with Osama Bin Laden and company with some Navy Seals and CIA intelligence, but when 9/11 hit, our intelligence agencies had no Arabic speakers and wouldn't have been able to penetrate Al Qaeda on a bet.  Unfortunately, this enemy cannot be bought off - people of faith can be a very powerful enemy.

David Andrew Crosby..Its a good thing you dont live too far from the Canadian border, as Im sure the minute all hell breaks loose here in our country, you will be the first to defect..Why dont you just go NOW..we dont need spineless criticism. We need support for our troops who DO volunteer to protect our freedom and liberty. I feel for all of our troops.

My boyfriend is being deployed to Afghanistan in June. I couldn't be more scared. War is hard thing to go through, especially if your loved ones are fighting in it.

I say invade NW Pakistan and root out Al Queda and Taliban once and for all.  It is hard to believe with all of our sophisticated technology that we could not find these targets and destroy them.  

Gee, there was no Islamic insurgency in Afghanistan, until we funded, trained, and supplied it, was there.  This began well before the Soviets went in, in fact before the Afghan communists took over the country.  Henry Kissinger, working through the Shah's secret police, engineered an attempt to round up the Afghan left, with the usual arrests, shooting of trade unionists, parliamentarians, etc.  The Afghan left, strong in the military, wasn't interested in being massacred, and took over.  Then Henry, and subsequently Zbig, sent in arms, money, and supplies (partly paid for by the Saudis, and the opium trade, with the Pakistani intelligence taking a cut) to raise and train a fundamentalist Muslim opposition to the godless communists.  They had help from the mullahs in Iran, too.

So after 14 requests from the DRA government, the Soviets sent in troops.  A good read is "The Bear Went Over the Mountain" a Soviet account of small unit actions, edited and commented on by my friend, Col. Les Grau, who oversaw the US Army's part in supporting the mujihadeen.  It reads amazingly like the stories of today, understrength troops, in a country that does not want them there, subject to ambushes, raids, shelling.  At least the US troops don't have to contend with the wealthiest superpower funding the guerrillas who are fighting them.

The fact is, Afghanistan is the last place anyone wants to send an army.  No one has done well there, from Alex the Great on.  What other country has heriditary ambush sites passed down in families?

Another US colonel told me he met two young Afghan officers, who had gotten their education in the Soviet Frunze Academy, their West Point.  They told him how lucky and honored they felt to be Afghan officers at a time when there was a foreign occupier (at that time the Soviets) in their country.  Where would you care to guess they are now?

We summoned this genie, and trying to stuff it back in the bottle just breaks the bottle.  Best thing, get our troops the hell out of there.  NOW.

While many people have posted heartfelt messages, some have given no thought to the long-term effect to pulling out precipitously(conveniently forgetting what happened in South-East Asia after we left Viet-Nam.) America is not the bad guy and while we get things wrong now and then, the world is a better place because we have been here and paid with our blood time and time again to fix  problems,. It is easy to blame Bush for everything that went wrong but war is messy and not organized.  Viet Nam could have been over quickly if we had had the resolve to put whatever was necessary to win on the line. Goldwater had it right " Decide if it is in our National defense  interest to get involved, and if it is the right thing to do, then do whatever we need to do to win quickly"   LBJ had a 'better way'(RIGHT) The same thing could be said for this war.  Actually, we did win the war , we just did not plan very well for the follow-up. I did a two year tour in Nam(LRRPs),and I am very proud of all of our troops; no matter what they do but I feel closest to the guys with the CIBs.( Combat Infantryman Badge)  It is never easy and each war is different.  I do worry about our strength as a people and a nation.  Are we strong enough to last?  I wonder.  Our liberal press and educational elite have just about destroyed us. If you doubt the effectiveness of our educational system, go back and read the comments, paying close attention to spelling, and  sentence structure.  I pray to God that we find our voice as a people, reclaim our heritage, limit our federal goverments power and thus become the  envy and the guilding light for the world once again.    

My son is in Afghanistan serving in the US Army, and it doesn't matter where they are, they need the support of the American public.  He chose to serve while his most of his friends are still "finding themselves."  The American public needs to realize that the military is at the mercy of the politicians, so let's elect those who make wise decisions.  

I think all young people need to serve their country either at home or in the service to give back to this country instead of living self-absorbed lives whining about working and going into debt.  Guess what?  Not everybody gets a trophy.

If you value our way of life, whether you're a dem or rep, you better pay attention because we are weak and spoiled.  The military does our business so the rest of us don't have to.  Be grateful you weren't on those planes that went down on 9/11.  And, if you don't like our way of life, take one of those planes and leave on it.  Bet you won't though, huh?  It is a lot easier to just complain and point the finger.

With all our problems and issues right now, we are still the best country in the world.  We just need to right ourselves and get back to our core values.

Support the military.  It could be you or yours one day!  
Sua Sponte!  (Look it up!)

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