12, September 2019 Afghanistan, Graveyard of Empires
Much like President Nixon’s false Vietnam narrative, both Bush and Cheney
continued to mislead the American people falsely stating “we have the Taliban
on the run.”
The invasion was a visceral reaction to 9/11. The war followed a familiar
trajectory much like the disastrous Vietnam War. Thousands of Americans and a
significantly higher number of Afghans have perished. Much like the bungled
invasion of Iraq, Afghanistan is in utter chaos. Many veterans returning home
are traumatized by the horrors of war.
Others returned in body bags in the dead of night away from the public
eye on route to Arlington Cemetery.
According to “Stars and Strikes” 20 veterans commit suicide every day;
others turn to drugs to ease the constant pain. After 18 years, the country has
become so violent, American diplomats and other supporting personnel
still rely on privately-operated helicopters to safely get around in
Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul. The
invasion was a horrible mistake. The Afghan government is thoroughly corrupt
and many Afghans view the Taliban as lesser of the two evils.
The Taliban own most of the countryside. Conflicted Americans should
recall the 1990 interview with Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap of
Vietnam, who was asked how long he would have fought the Americans. He
responded, “Another 20 years, even a hundred years — as long as it took to
win, regardless of cost.”
The final exit will be similar to Vietnam. There will come a point when
the only way out will be by helicopter from the embassy roof.
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