America = doomed (merged many times)

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Diopos

They should've had a plan about the "puppy" from day one. Let's hope they'll cook up something good. Iraq and Afganistan was never a military issue (well if you're the US that is ) it was always about the "next day". Does anybody believe they actually had a plan for it? Or that they were "adaptive" enough? :hmm:

As you can see in the prize-awared documentary I had linked, and could have seen from many other sources as well as from just observing the obvious, they did not have a plan. Insiders working for the government as commandig authorities at location confirm that. All they had was a presdient leaving the decision making to others, and Rumsfeld and his demagogic talent. "I don't do quagmires", as he insisted.

I think both Obama and McCain were successful to let these two burning problems of foreign politics slip below the radar of election campaigning, surprisingly. Reason would have expected these problems to be a decisive key issue. Instead, it is almost unimporant, it seems.

Whoever looses the election, probably will be happy to have avoided needing to deal with these issues for real. While the winner will curse them.

[Skybird]

Now Gen. Craddock joins the chorus.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7681166.stm

[Skybird]

British commander in Afghanistan renews new British sense of realism:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7747145.stm

When the commander of British forces in Afghanistan tells you that "good enough" is the best that can be achieved here, you have to sit up and listen.
(...)
The Afghanistan British troops leave behind - and no-one is willing to commit to any timeline other than to repeat the mantra that it will take "many years" - is going to be an imperfect state.
Parts of it may well remain beyond the reach of central government in Kabul, and some of those responsible for the mayhem of the last 30 years could well retain much of their power and influence, perhaps even their militia.
It is a far cry from the beacon of democracy some had hoped for. "I don't think it will be recognisable in Western Europe, but Afghanistan will be something which will provide good enough security for the people. I think good enough should be what we look for," the brigadier said.

"It's not second best, it's realistic."

"There is a new realism in the air. In fact, all that has happened is that the rhetoric is finally catching up with what is actually happening on the ground.
My guess is that ordinary Afghans have known for some time that the liberation of 2001 offered more promise than delivery.
(...)