Do you agree with this article that we should withdraw from Afghanistan?

COL Sam Russell — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:23:43 -0400

It is always enlightening to challenge one's assumptions by reading a contrarian viewpoint.

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-1020-bacevich-war-no-choice-20151018-story.html

Yes, the U.S. can leave Afghanistan

"The narrative that we're leaving Afghanistan is self-defeating," Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter announced last week, in justifying the latest course change in U.S. policy toward that country. "We're not, we can't, and to do so would not be to take advantage of the success we've had to date."

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Oct 20 at 2015 3:27 PM

SCPO David Lockwood — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:27:26 -0400

We need to stay put. We need to have a presence there.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2015 3:45 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:45:09 -0400

I want to say yes, but I see 2 sides here - Leave them and let them deal with their problems, stay there and continue to advise. On the first side, all the sacrifices, time, money, energy would have been in vain; on the second, do those people even care what the heck is going on? I'm talking from what I've seen, and unfortunately, I've seen a lot of demotivated, shady and questionable people, that seemed to just want us to leave so that they can do whatever is that they want to do (go back to tribal warfare, let the baddest warlord rule the province?).....

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2015 3:54 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:54:36 -0400

He's right, and wrong.

My opinion is once we leave It will completely collapse. Democracy doesn't work in these countries as the population, for generations through the centuries they've lived that life of subordination. It won't disappear anytime soon regardless of what we do.
America was fortunate at our birth, our biggest influence (England) had already mostly been a democratic state with its parliamen. It's all we've known.

That said pulling out would remove the deterrence of IS expansion to Afghanistan and open the country to be a Walmart of American weapons and equipment.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Oct 20 at 2015 3:59 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:59:10 -0400

In Nature all voids are soon filled, the same applies to human relations all voids are soon filled, the facts prove this, most recently Iraq and for all of us that have been divorce that void is soon filled too.

Response by LTC David Stender made Oct 20 at 2015 3:59 PM

LTC David Stender — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:59:28 -0400

Only comiting a Brigade in such a large country is a waste of time and resources; the force protection alone leaves little else for flexibility and reaction. It's better to have a mobile brigade able to provide a show of force in multiple locations than one locked into defensive of Kabel or Bagram.

Response by PO1 Russell Henson made Oct 20 at 2015 4:05 PM

PO1 Russell Henson — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 16:05:07 -0400

Yes time to leave. Only spec ops/medical and embassy members need to stay.

Response by SFC Kenneth Hunnell made Oct 20 at 2015 4:08 PM

SFC Kenneth Hunnell — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 16:08:38 -0400

Do we need to repeat history again.
Back in '91 we went into Iraq accomplished a tiny part of a goal. We liberated Kuwait.
In my opinion, we should have gone all the way to Baghdad and either taken out Huisan or arrested him and maintained a presence there. There wouldn't have been a round trip and possibly averted the attack on the twin towers and no reason to go into Afghanistan.

To answer the question of leaving Afghanistan, we could have done that at any point in time. But, at what cost. Just to return again to do it again.

Look at how long we have been in Germany.
By all means never let your adversaries know your plan

Response by Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin made Oct 20 at 2015 4:15 PM

Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 16:15:14 -0400

I would agree in that if we are not going to insert the recommended effort into Afghanistan, we might as well pull out. But I disagreed With the overall opinion that it was a worthless venture in the first place. As a former Advisor to Afghanistan I noted the desire coming from mostly the younger generations to learn from us and rid themselves of Taliban control. It was the Soviet era senior leadership that generally got in the way of progress. We were stating to break down those barriers and then the President pulled the carpet from underneath us.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2015 4:23 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 16:23:38 -0400

No. But if we aren't going to take it seriously, and I'd argue that we have not, then we should.

Response by MAJ James Woods made Oct 20 at 2015 6:16 PM

MAJ James Woods — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 18:16:30 -0400

Only two questions always come to mind with articles like this. 1) how does it impact our homeland security? & 2) will the Middle East region further destabilize into extremist control? that's the risk assessment I want to hear.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Oct 20 at 2015 6:31 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 18:31:42 -0400

Can anyone answer these for me:
1. What is the mission that we want to see happen?
2. What is our timeline to affect this outcome?
3. How can mission creep affect our plans?
4. How will we maintain our presence with the locals (supposedly everyone's coming to a large FOB near you)
5. What are we using as a measuring stick to gauge the progress of the ANA, ANP, ABP, and subordinate units?
6. Do we have a viable exit plain?
There are more that I'd like answered, but I don't want to know the answers in all honesty, and definitely not on this forum. I asked them because they seem to be clear as mud, and flow in the wind with the political pull behind them. Out troops need these types of answers and not the typical "do your job" stuff. They will do their jobs, but need to understand what they are there for along with what to expect of the host nation. If this will be an infinite rotation, get the wheels turning now in preparation for something like a Korea or Europe type rotation. Rotations are bigger than moving gear; you have to ship mindsets, and they need to be cultivated and trained. The US sucks at nation building. It's made worse when the host nation doesn't want the same things for itself that we want for it.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Oct 21 at 2015 5:55 AM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 05:55:12 -0400

The plan to not withdraw from Afghanistan in 2016 was approved & recommended to Obama by Gen Dunford So who am I to challenge a 4 Star Chairman of the Joints Chiefs???

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 6:19 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 18:19:35 -0400

I believe our first question is, 'why are we there?' From that question we should consider 'what is or mission?' And 'can we accomplish the mission through Diplomatic, Economic or Military means?

There may be case for remaining as strong as a case for leaving. But it all comes down to desired outcomes. If they aren't known or achievable, then we need to leave.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 8:54 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 20:54:57 -0400

I think we should apply the Powell Doctrine here Sir.