Comments on: Garamendi returns from Afghanistan http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2011/05/31/garamendi-returns-from-afghanistan/ Politics in the Bay Area and beyond Sat, 18 May 2013 18:00:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: John W http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2011/05/31/garamendi-returns-from-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-32101 John W Thu, 02 Jun 2011 05:04:22 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=16010#comment-32101 Re #3

I’d say our purpose is to keep AfPak Al Qaeda and Taliban on the run so that they cannot regroup pre-9/11 style or over-run Pakistan and gain control of the nukes. It’s a bit misleading when people say we’ve been at war in Afghanistan for 10 years. We went in after 9/11 but then quickly diverted assets to Iraq and didn’t get serious about Afghanistan again until 2009/10. So, excluding the time when we had minimal presence and focus in the country, we’ve been at it more like 4 years. But political support on both sides of the aisle is eroding fast.

]]> By: Elwood http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2011/05/31/garamendi-returns-from-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-32094 Elwood Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:20:22 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=16010#comment-32094 @CT

Having been one of those forces for a couple of years, I would say their goal is to deter Russky aggression. It’s been successful.

Furthermore, these are garrison troops. No one is shooting at them. Although German beer and friendly frauleins can be a hazard.

]]> By: Common Tater http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2011/05/31/garamendi-returns-from-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-32091 Common Tater Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:53:27 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=16010#comment-32091 American Armed Forces have been in Germany for 65 years. What is our goal there?

]]> By: Elwood http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2011/05/31/garamendi-returns-from-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-32089 Elwood Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:55:53 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=16010#comment-32089 What is our goal in Afghanistan?

How will we know when or if we have accomplished it?

Is ten years long enough?

]]> By: RR, Senile Columnist http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2011/05/31/garamendi-returns-from-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-32088 RR, Senile Columnist Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:49:34 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=16010#comment-32088 Taleban fighters are tough bastards. As Kipling said of another fanatical fighting force (Mahdi/Khalifa) in 19th Century Sudan:
So ‘ere’s to you, Fuzzy Wuzzy
at yer ‘ome in old Sudan!
Yer a poor, benight’d ‘eathen
But a first-class fightin’ man!

]]> By: Common Tater http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2011/05/31/garamendi-returns-from-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-32076 Common Tater Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:10:58 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=16010#comment-32076 “JG returns from Afghanistan?”

That’s not news. News would be if he stayed in Afghanistan. And it would be welcome news, at that.

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