The Soviets were in Afghanistan for 10 years. They wanted to suppress the threat of Islamic fundamentalism. They made no pretense of avoiding civilian casualties. In fact, that was part of their strategy. They napalmed entire villages. They killed a million Afghans. They lost 15,000 men. Then, they left.
A few years later, enter the United States. We have lost over 1,000 young men, billions of dollars, and, nine years later, are still seeking traction. And we try to avoid civilian casualties. Although every time we kill an insurgent, 19 civilians die. This creates more hatred toward us. So, 19 years of high-technology superpower force has not been able to subdue the Afghans.
One of the reasons we are in Afghanistan is because we have no empathy: Imagine how you would feel if Islamic soldiers were marching through Lake County trying to dictate to us how to live? If I owned a gun, I would be loading it.
Another reason we can”t impose our will is that a conventional army fights to win. An insurgent army has only not to lose. As long as there are poor, desperate people, their will be recruits for the insurgents.
This war and the occupation of Iraq are bankrupting us financially and morally. We are not building nations, we are destroying our nation. Obama, like LBJ in Vietnam, seems incapable of getting out. It is time for us to go to the streets and demonstrate against this madness.
Nelson Strasser
Kelseyville
