Have we played into bin Laden's hands?

[cmac2012]

Wasn't part of OBL's master plan to see us bankrupt ourselves by attacking Afghanistan, 'where empires go to die,' in much the same way that the USSR did? Of course, we helped that plan a great deal by going into Iraq also, and now we are poised to finish our ruination by trying to subdue a nation that no one from Alexander on (and before no doubt) has been able to.

Obama would never have been elected if he hadn't promoted the idea of US military might. In Afghanistan particularly. We spend about as much on military matters as the rest of the world combined. If that's what brought us out of the depression in the 40s, why isn't it working now?

[450slcguy]

Originally Posted by cmac2012

We spend about as much on military matters as the rest of the world combined. If that's what brought us out of depression in the 40s, why isn't it working now?

Because in WW2, we didn't pay $15 dollars to a private contractor to feed a soldier 1 slice of pizza.

[cmac2012]

Originally Posted by 450slcguy

Because in WW2, we didn't pay $15 dollars to a private contractor to feed a soldier 1 slice of pizza.

Hey, are you knocking free enterprise?

[pawoSD]

Originally Posted by 450slcguy

Because in WW2, we didn't pay $15 dollars to a private contractor to feed a soldier 1 slice of pizza.

Absolutely correct. And that pizza is made in China. So its even worse.

[jt20]

the fact that I think 911 was allowed to happen is irrelevant. But I said it.

My impression has been that America has been disintegrating for quite some time. The 'manifest destiny' invasions into the Middle East are more or less the desperate attempts of a failing civilization.

I use these terms to render a sense of history and parallels only, not literally.

[compress ignite]

We should have all taken Haliburton's move to Dubai as the "Kiss of Death".
HEY, They didn't move all that way to protect Cheney's assets from US courts.

Since Nov. 5th 2008...You simply would not believe how Badly you've been
Arointed by the Republicans...Rowe had no further hope of manipulating the
outcome ...So "Burn" (F**K *p) EVERYTHING and blame the Democrats.

[MS Fowler]

To answer the original question...
Yes, in many ways.

[POS]

The only problem is that our "bankruptcy" isn't being caused by war, it's being caused the citizens of the US who bought more than they could pay for, and THAT mentality in this country has been going on for far too long. We're more a consumer nation than a producer nation, so we're paying the price for that with "market adjustments".

[tankdriver]

Originally Posted by POS

The only problem is that our "bankruptcy" isn't being caused by war, it's being caused the citizens of the US who bought more than they could pay for, and THAT mentality in this country has been going on for far too long. We're more a consumer nation than a producer nation, so we're paying the price for that with "market adjustments".

Yeah. Our economic issues are not related to the war in Afghanistan. If Bin Laden truly did want us to attack Afghanistan, and I don't think he did, it would be because he's familiar with successful tactics there.

Besides, Afghanistan has nothing we want, so we didn't invade and occupy them.

[KarTek]

Unlike WWII, most Americans today don't want to be "inconvenienced" by a war that they either don't believe in or at most, only half-heartedly...

Originally Posted by KarTek

Unlike WWII, most Americans today don't want to be "inconvenienced" by a war that they either don't believe in or at most, only half-heartedly...

Why should we? The country we are at war with was never a threat to the USA, the country was sovereign until we came along and we murdered their elected leader.

[pj67coll]

No.

- Peter.

[jlomon]

Originally Posted by cmac2012

Wasn't part of OBL's master plan to see us bankrupt ourselves by attacking Afghanistan, 'where empires go to die,' in much the same way that the USSR did? Of course, we helped that plan a great deal by going into Iraq also, and now we are poised to finish our ruination by trying to subdue a nation that no one from Alexander on (and before no doubt) has been able to.

No, because as you said, Afghanistan has cost far, far less than Iraq. I don't think that OBL could have hoped in his wildest dreams for being the inspiration/excuse for a costly (and far more isolated) US invasion of Iraq, resulting in a crippling financial burden.

[cmac2012]

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

To answer the original question...
Yes, in many ways.

Whoa, if the sober man of reason also thinks so, we might be in trouble. It doesn't take that much of a study of history to realize that Afghanistan is a very hard nut to crack. About as big as Texas, which is not small, but I understand that when you're there, it seems much bigger, as the ruggedness of the land and poor transportation infrastructure makes getting around really slow.

I saw some footage of Pakistani tribesmen/villagers on the tube the other day. They were sorting through the scraps that remained of one of our missiles, looking decidedly disgusted. It reminds me a bit of Nam. Our guys deal out major death from a safe distance, even safer now than then. They have no respect for that and it only solidifies their resolve for vengeance. How many decades and/or centuries are we going to knock our heads against that wall?

[cmac2012]

Originally Posted by POS

The only problem is that our "bankruptcy" isn't being caused by war, it's being caused the citizens of the US who bought more than they could pay for, and THAT mentality in this country has been going on for far too long. We're more a consumer nation than a producer nation, so we're paying the price for that with "market adjustments".

I agree with that in large measure but I think the war has only exacerbated our predicament.