Comments for Afghanistan - the Proxy War by Andrew Bacevich at http://www.planetarymovement.org , comment 0 to 2 out of 2 comments http://www.planetarymovement.org Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:05:58 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.planetarymovement.org/go/military-%26-war-crimes/afghanistan-%11-the-proxy-war-by-andrew-bacevich/#pc_496 Looking backward (and some noted this some years ago), it was obvious that the number one foreign/military objective of the Cheney/Bush administartion was to create Permanent War. It would benefit their party politically over the long term. It would also benefit the major economic interests their party represents: the wealthy, the extractive industries, the military industry, and all of the others, large and small, opposed to any major reforms in domestic policy. Using anger and fear, their principal political weapons, and the implied threat of another "terrorist strike" at the Homeland, they hope to force the Obama Administration to continue that policy, as much as it might not want to for all of the reasons stated by Prof. Bacevich, Frank Rich and etc. Of course, if the President does that, he will be virtually ensuring his defeat in 2012 and then the GOP will be able to run the policy directly again (Somalia, Yemen, anyone?) So unless the Pres. is very smart, draws up and then implements a very clever politcal and military strategy to get the US out of the Graveyard of Empires at the earliet possilbe time, it will be a win-win for the GOP. - Steven Jonas Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:06:51 +0100 http://www.planetarymovement.org/go/military-%26-war-crimes/afghanistan-%11-the-proxy-war-by-andrew-bacevich/#pc_495 Andrew Bacevich explains the dilemma of historical proportions that is sitting in the middle of Obama's desk in the Oval Office. If Obama opts for the status quo of perpetual war, he will be taking America in the direction of a military dictatorship. While Obama entered the White House facing many problems, foreign and domestic, the conundrum of Afghanistan will define his presidency more deeply than any other. McChrystal's plan is for the conquest and reconstruction of Afghanistan - not the elimination of the threat of radical Islamist terrorism. America's military supremacy is powerless in the face of Islamism. Only diplomacy re-enforced by international law and laser beam surgical strikes by special forces can deal with America's asymmetrical enemies in the realm of terror. The US needs about 40 Muslim James Bonds instead of 40,000 combat troops. - malleusmaleficarum Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:15:21 +0100