"worse than Vietnam"

[dave32]

Link

 

:

 

"“We did the Cole and we wanted the United States to react. And if they reacted, they are going to invade Afghanistan and that’s what we want … . Then we will start holy war against the Americans, exactly like the Soviets.â€Â

 Mohammed Atef, military commander of Al Qaeda, in November of 2000

 

You have to give the people at Al Qaeda this much: They plan ahead. And they stick with their goals. If bombing the U.S.S. Cole failed to get American troops mired in Afghanistan, maybe 9/11 would do the trick?

 

You might say. Last week at the NATO summit President Obama pushed the light at the end of the tunnel further down the tracks. By the end of 2014, he now tells us, American combat operations in Afghanistan will cease.

 

It’s not as if we need those four years to set any records. At just over nine years of age, this war is already the longest in American history. And this Saturday we’ll eclipse the Soviet Union’s misadventure in Afghanistan; the Soviets brought their own personal Vietnam to an end after nine years and seven weeks.

 

Is Afghanistan, as some people say, America’s second Vietnam? Actually, a point-by-point comparison of the two wars suggests that it’s worse than that..."

 

 

[Old Hippie]

"...At just over nine years of age, this war is already the longest in American history..."

 

 

I thought Vietnam was?

[chuckwoww]

I think the Vietnam War started officially with the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in 1964 and ended in 73 when the last American combat forces were withdrawn.

[Old Hippie]

Yeah..."officially." Unofficially, we were in there since what 1948? After Truman supposedly paid the French to go back in post WWII. We stayed until what 1975 when Saigon finally fell? In today's dollars I wonder which war will cost more.

 

The Vietnam war divided the country, people fought for the war and fought against the war...today, it is as if we don't even know there is a war on.

[chuckwoww]

Yes the apathy is amazing especially among young people. But it will stay that way because the MSM only echoes the Pentagon line about 'progress being made'. Also of course any withdrawal date keeps getting moved.

[chuckwoww]

Another thing....it's a volunteer army. A draft might focus people's attention more.

[TheCorinthian]

Link

 

:

 

"“We did the Cole and we wanted the United States to react. And if they reacted, they are going to invade Afghanistan and that’s what we want … . Then we will start holy war against the Americans, exactly like the Soviets.â€Â

 Mohammed Atef, military commander of Al Qaeda, in November of 2000

 

 

I imagine that if the average Afghani knew that was their plan form the beginning they would be cutting AQA to pieces for bringing down the shit storm on their heads.

[Flashermac]

<< We stayed until what 1975 when Saigon finally fell? >>

 

Who stayed? The last US troops flew out of South Vietnam on 29 March 1973. Hanoi immediately began rebuilding its forces in the South and preparing to invade.

 

<< Last U.S. soldiers leave Vietnam; 8,500 American civilians, embassy guards, defense office soldiers remain. >>

 

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1959.html

 

 

Abandoning conscription was a callous decision by the rightwing. It meant the sons of the rich and powerful would no longer have to join stay-at-home units and could start making money without the fear of having to do even token service. The pay raises also insured the poor folks would quickly fill the ranks, since it's the best way for them to make a decent salary. The left went along with it like sheep.

 

 

p.s. Dates of the American Revolution ... 18 April 1775 to 3 September 1783. Why doesn't this war count?

 

[chuckwoww]

p.s. Dates of the American Revolution ... 18 April 1775 to 3 September 1783. Why doesn't this war count?

 

The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1782. Even if you're talking about ratification that's still only 8 years.

 

[Flashermac]

Where do you get 1782???

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Paris_(1783)