Kucinich: Military Presence in Afghanistan is Counterproductive

[G_j]

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/10/13-11



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2009
4:41 PM

CONTACT: Congressman Dennis Kucinich
Nathan White [phone]

Military Presence in Afghanistan is Counterproductive
WASHINGTON - October 13 -

Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), who has been a leading advocate against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, today made the following statement after the Washington Post and other media outlets reported that the Pentagon has authorized the deployment of an additional 13,000 troops to Afghanistan to primarily serve in a support capacity:

“It is not simply combat troops that present a problem, but our entire military presence is counterproductive to our security. Sending additional military personnel indicates that we are deepening our military involvement in Afghanistan.

“Afghanistan is a nation of independent tribes that is rife with corruption. Nation building cannot come from the barrel of a gun. Instead the United States should work with Afghanistan’s neighbors to help provide regional security to allow the Afghan people to rebuild their nation. It is time that Congress takes control of this war by eliminating its funding and bringing our troops home."


###

[MadHound]

1. The man speaks the truth,

Pretty self evident truth at that. Sad that nobody in the Party or this administration wants to listen to him.

[Knight Hawk]

10. Exactly

I could not agree more.

[BeHereNow]

2. "Nation building cannot come from the barrel of a gun"

Corporate profits come from the barrel of a gun.
And that is what is really going on.

BHN

[NoPasaran]

3. It worked for Mao Zedong

[BBG]

17. bullshit

take the reactionary talking point and shove it up your ass.

[BeHereNow]

18. BWAHAHAHHAHAH!

I chose to ignore it, but tell me, how do YOU REALLY feel?
:toast: :hi: :thumbsup:
BHN

[L0oniX]

24. ...and if we are going to build a nation, how about we rebuild ours for a change?

[tekisui]

4. knr!~

[slipslidingaway]

5. knr nt

[flvegan]

6. KnR

[ConsAreLiars]

7. Anyone with the slightest familiarity with the people and cultures of Aghanistan, apparently not

very many even here, knows that brute force will only intensify the resistance, increase the power of local warlords, and promote the most brutal methods of social control internally including in particular suppression of women and the landless laborers or subsistence farmers and herders.

[bvar22]

13. Not to mention the radicalization of neighboring countries.

Iran turned to radical politicians in response to the US Invasion of Iraq.
The radical movement in Pakistan GREW in response to the invasion of Afghanistan.

I would go all RADICAL INSURGENT too if some foreign nation from the other side of the World came here and killed my family members while telling me my culture was no good and we had to change.
I would be in The Mountains with a rifle and a grenade launcher if I could find one.

[L0oniX]

27. Indeed. Just us being there creates new terrorists. They consider their land holy land and...

according to their religious belief, we are infidels and should not be in their country. Oh ...is it only the USA that has freedom of religion? It's stupid ...plain stupid and a total failure to understand what is creating and or motivating terrorists. America = idiot nation

[ConsAreLiars]

29. Well said, but a few tweaks.

The resistance is not based on religion or some holy land ideology. See Israel or Saudi Arabia for cases where that sort of nonsense is ideologically dominant. The resistance is based on the distinction between intruder/bandit/marauder and guest. As an obvious foreigner/infidel my barely scarfed female companion and I were welcomed everywhere we went because we were guests, and were seen and protected as guests. We were as welcome there as anywhere.

[timtom]

8. If I had a peace prize to award,

DK would be the recipient. Hands down.

[Vidar]

9. Thank you, Dennis. Recommended.

[Martin Eden]

11. "allow the Afghan people to rebuild their nation"

After we pull out of Afghanistan, how would the rebuilding take place? Does anyone think the Taliban would not regain their former control of the country?

Don't get me wrong. I love Dennis and I am becoming more convinced than ever that we cannot shape Afghanistan to our liking with the tool of military force. Stepping up our military efforts there will almost certainly just delay the inevitable withdrawal and waste more blood & treasure in the process.

But we need to ask the hard questions about what will follow our departure and we need realistic answers to those questions. There is much at stake on several fronts, including the political fortunes of the Democratic Party. It would take tremendous courage for President Obama to declare it is best to give up on efforts to tame Afghanistan and begin pulling out. YOU KNOW what the RW response would be ... Obama is a cut-n-run pansy liberal coward who doesn't have the guts to keep America safe. They would have a field day when the Taliban marches triumphantly into Kabul and celebrates the defeat of the "Great Satan." That likely scenario could very well revive the GOP political fortunes with all the disastrous consequences when they once again have the power to implement their domestic policies and foreign/military agenda.

I know that domestic politics shouldn't enter into the calculation of what we should do in Afghanistan, but the above scenario would have real consequences for the lives of real people, and so it must be considered. Is that scenario far-fetched or pretty close to what could happen?

President Obama's upcoming decision has got to be the toughest of his presidency, at least so far. If he concludes after this extensive review that our mission there is mission impossible and utlimately counterproductive to our national security, he must then find a way to extricate us from that quagmire without committing political suicide for himself and his Party.

The easier, less courageous decision would be to comply with McChrystal's request for more troops. We will see how Mr. Obama deals with this severe test of his leadership and his presidency.

[bvar22]

14. That will happen if we pull out today...

...or ten years from now.
Just like it did in Vietnam.

I saw some video shot in HO Chi Minh City over the weekend.
If THAT is what happens when the US Military LEAVES, I ALL for it.

[Greyhound]

12. If we were serious about helping the people of Afghanistan, instead of protecting

the proceeds of corporate larceny, we would be sending an army of materials, supplies, and construction experts.

Osama got his base there, after we abandoned them in the 80s, by building roads and schools for a measly $25M.

[tritsofme]

15. Oh lord.

Isn't it cute when he acts like he's relevant?

I trust the judgment of President Obama over this clown any day of the week.

[timtom]

30. So, what part of what he's saying

do you disagree with? What part of what he's said since, oh, say 2000, do you take issue with? Which part of truth do you find irrelevant?

Or is this just another really bad ad hominem attack coming from a really "relevant" detractor and obstructionist?

[jonnyblitz]

16. wow. a thread full of people who I agree with (so far). what a nice

thing to behold. :hi:

the pod people must be in a meeting...

[BeHereNow]

20. They have a schedule- the pod people.

Several times a day, they must infuse their ears
with jello to pack the space where their brains used to be.
They watch Beck and Oprah while doing so,
check notes, and then show up on DU again.

BHN

[Greyhound]

21. LOL!

I never knew it was jello, I thought it was something related to the native substance that typically occupies their cranial cavities.
:rofl:

[BeHereNow]

22. Well actually, from what I understand, They DO sometimes resort to that substance.

But only when they have forgotten where they put the jello.

Which is, sadly, a frequent occurrence, in that neither packing material is capable
of memory storage.
But then you probably had the second point figured out by now-
given that you too, have read their postings.

BHN:evilgrin:

[anonymous171]

19. Which nation? Afghanistan is comprised of many nations, and they want nothing to do with eachother.

[timtom]

31. Yeah, they're a nation, all right.

They even have a capital city. Kabul.

Lest you think DK might have missed that distinction, “Afghanistan is a nation of independent tribes..." (from the OP).

I think you might be playing fast and loose with semantics.

[L0oniX]

23. AMEN ...damn ...is he the only man in our government with common sense?

:wtf:

[Swamp Rat]

25. I wish I could recommend this thread

:kick:

[autorank]

26. Not to mention, illegal. Thank you once again Dennis. k*r

[winyanstaz]

28. Thank you Dennis Kucinich...

Once again you speak truth to power.
Thank you for all your good work.
Please keep trying to end these wars...and bless you for all the times you have stood up for the citizens of America and for what is right.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

32. Too late to K&R

Not too late to say thanks. A few are speaking the truth.