Afghanistan had nothing to do with 9/11. It never threatened America and wouldn't now if US occupation ended. America's war is lawless. Neither the Security Council or Congress authorized it.
International law is clear. No nation may attack another except in self-defense. America hasn't fought a legal war since WW II. It hasn't either won one since then.
Al Qaeda is a US creation. Forces were recruited to fight Soviet troops in Afghanistan. Thereafter, it's served strategically as enemy and ally. Hillary Clinton acknowledged their elements supporting Washington's anti-Assad insurgency.
The longer fighting continues in Afghanistan, Yemen, and other US war theaters, the stronger its ranks grow. Washington likely prefers it. It needs enemies to wage wars. Peace, calm and stability prevent them.
America needs "some presence....to keep pummeling Al Qaeda and the Taliban on either side of the Pakistan-Afghan border. That longer-term commitment also sends an important message to Afghans that Washington" won't cut and run.
Fact check
Afghans despise Washington. They want occupation forces out. Pakistan's also fed up for good reason. Ties to America and protracted war produced destabilization, pain, and no gain.
Obama "made far more progress" than Bush. "His strongest argument for staying in Afghanistan for another two years is that it is the main base for continuing that fight and that, by 2014, the United States will be able to withdraw without seeing it turn once again into a haven for Al Qaeda. He didn't make the case Tuesday night."
Fact check
Resolving Afghanistan's conflict is no closer today than years earlier. Some observers believe conditions now are worse than ever. Obama inherited a quagmire and worsened it.
The longer Afghan fighting continues, the stronger Al Qaeda gets. Obama claiming US forces "devastated" its leadership is duplicitous political posturing. He didn't make the case Tuesday night because he has none.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at Email address removed .
His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"
http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
