Does anyome changed their mind about the Afghan War?

I asked because it was widely supported at the time of the invasion.

Have you changed your mind on this? If so, why? Do you think it could ever have worked out and what do you think would have been a good outcome? Do you feel you were lied to?

Please keep the Trump vrs Biden stuff off the thread because it's not relevent to my question. Thanks.

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ElwoodBlues · M

Yes.

In 2001 I thought Bush did the right thing invading Afghanistan and going directly after Bin Laden. And I thought the CIA was doing a great job trading suitcases of money for tribal loyalty to go after the fanatics.

I was shocked, at the end of 2001, when Bin Laden escaped thru Tora Bora. I was even more shocked when Bush changed directions, pulled troops out of Afghanistan, and focused on Iraq.

Afghanistan on the back burner in 2003, leaving the job undone, was the huge mistake in my view. Any decisions about Afghanistan should have been made in those first 5 years. Kicking the can down the road only continued the mistake.

Update Since Bush didn't pull us out, Obama should have grasped the nettle. Since Obama didn't grasp the nettle, Trump should have. Finally Biden did. I do wonder what the Joint Chiefs told Obama & Trump about our situation there.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@ElwoodBlues I don't agree with you but thanks for being honest. I just don't see how either conflict could have ended well.

Obama did authorise a massive troop surge and did win some battles. The British army were struggling badly in Helmand at the time. The Taliban survived defeats though by hiding and regrouping in the population.

I think it was badly executed. There needed to be some serious money and organisation put into reconstruction. Some of this was done but too little and too late. Same with Iraq. Whether that would have been enough anyway, I don't know.

Its a country of 40 million people, most of them rural and anti western. How do you reconstruct a country like that? I don't think anyone knows.

beckyromero · 36-40, F

@ElwoodBlues

I was shocked, at the end of 2001, when Bin Laden escaped thru Tora Bora.

Because Rummy fought the war on the cheap.

beckyromero · 36-40, F

@Burnley123

I think it was badly executed. There needed to be some serious money and organisation put into reconstruction. Some of this was done but too little and too late. Same with Iraq.

I agree with you there.

ElwoodBlues · M

@beckyromero

Because Rummy fought the war on the cheap.

Right. And Rummy's genius was bureaucratic battles, not actual ones. He told Bush the Pentagon couldn't get involved unless he, Rummy had total control. Bureaucratic checkmate, leading directly to tactical failure.