Here's more:
There were NO Afghanis among the hijackers of those 9/11 airplanes. They were mostly Saudi Arabians. The Taliban no more attacked us on 9/11 by "allowing" al Qaeda elements to set up camp in Afghanistan than we attacked ourselves by "allowing" hijackers to train in US flight schools.
Here's still more.
Bin Laden stated he opposed us to begin with because "infidels" trod holy ground. He long ago boasted his life's mission was to rid his homeland of Saudi Arabia of American troops. In that, he succeeded, when we withdrew from there several years ago. There's little doubt he hoped we'd react to 9/11 in some way that would inflame the Arab world and cost us dearly in money and blood. Given our history of shortsighted over-reactions, I'd say we've hurt ourselves far worse than he ever could.
So, given that the war in Afghanistan has been a dismal failure to date. Given the near-absence of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and the reality of its presence in Pakistan. Given that al-Qaeda's grown in dozens of other countries and all over the Internet. Given that our presence in the Muslim world inflames more opposition, what could Obama be thinking by sending 30,000 more troops and adding an 18-month timeline for even beginning to leave?
I don't know anyone smart enough to answer that question, including Obama.
As one of his most ardent supporters just one year ago, I hate to admit it, but I think his extension of this war into yet another decade will prove to be a terrible mistake.
Had Bush proposed it, I would've opposed it.
I won't go along because it's Obama's plan.
It just feels wrong.
Damn it.
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