Truth, lies and Afghanistan - February 2012 - Armed Forces Journal - Military Strategy, Global Defense Strategy

Excellent, though legally limited account of the real situation in Afghanistan. Presidents have political interest in military incursions having the smallest footprint possible. Who doubts that Bush overemphasized gains and who else doubts that Obama has extrapolated that practice while intentionally weakening the military presence? I believed it was correct to go into the country after 911, Afghanistan was both militarily and politically controlled by the Taliban. Afghanistan officially resisted the capture of OBL. For that they were were put out of power. What has happened since is problem. When politicians dominate the decisions of warfare with inferior enemies the contest become something like a game of checkers, a childlike reaction to the last move, problem being that the politicians are reacting to move that are on the domestic board, not the real contested situation.

Politicians contributions to the process should be:
1) agree on the issue
2) agree on the goal, declaring war of necessary
3) allow the military design a comprehensive plan to accomplish the goal
4) provide for the logistical support of the military
5) get the fuck out of the way, understanding that military plans will have to be revised because the objective of the opponent is to foil and this sometimes succeeds.

What we have here is a set of failures:
1) lack of defined goal
2) failures to logistically support
3) keeping out of the way, interference

The politicians, currently led by Obama, are at the core of blame for all of these, they know the facts and are being dishonest in portraying the situation as stable. An admission that the situation is screwed up would force an open decision to re-engage or turn tail and run.  What they want is to turn tail and be praised for success.

What we have here is political cowardice and obfuscation.

. Truth, lies and Afghanistan - February 2012 - Armed Forces Journal - Military Strategy, Global Defense Strategy

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