Petraeus Predicted Afghanistan Debacle in 1987
David Petraeus' 1987 PhD dissertation:After all, if a country with relatively few public opinion concerns or moral compunctions about its tactics cannot beat a bunch of ill-equipped Afghan tribesmen, what does that say about the ability of the United States --- with its domestic constraints, statutory limitations, moral inhibition, and zealous investigative reporters --- to carry out a successful action against a guerrilla force?
Adam Weinstein points to this passage in David Petraeus’ 1987 PhD dissertation:
And while observing the Soviet difficulties in Afghanistan with a certain sense of vindication, the US military are at the same time reminded of the difficulties of defeating a determined guerrilla opponent who enjoys sanctuaries and is fighting in rugged terrain. After all, if a country with relatively few public opinion concerns or moral compunctions about its tactics cannot beat a bunch of ill-equipped Afghan tribesmen, what does that say about the ability of the United States — with its domestic constraints, statutory limitations, moral inhibition, and zealous investigative reporters — to carry out a successful action against a guerrilla force?”
What, indeed?
via Crispin Burke
I would like to point out that the guerrilla force has a strong ideological belief, Islam. Do our troops have a strong belief in what they are doing, or are they simple trying to stay alive long enough to get back to the States?
During WW II we knew the threat of Nazi German and Imperial Japan. During the Cold War we know the threat of the Soviet Union. Now we are told that “Islam is peace.” How do you motivate your troops to wage war against the Religion of Peace? Here in America we are told that Muslims are free to practice their religion, even if we disagree. And now we are sending our troops into Afghanistan to deprive the Taliban of their right to practice Islam as they see fit. Our troops are told that the can kill the Taliban,but they must respect them and can’t insult them. Is it any question about why the war is proving unwinable.
Based on Abu Ghraib and many similar incidents, I’m not convinced our troops have been told to respect anything.
Are you trying to argue that having respect for your enemy renders you unable to fight effectively?
Do you really think that the reason we are in Afghanistan is so we can prevent the Taliban from practicing their religion in a certain manner?
Do you really think that we are in Afghanistan to fight against Islam?
I find your comment to be an odd mix of ridiculous ideas, having nothing to do with reality.
Southern Hoosier is right. The Afghanistan war is totally about Islam and something about the Taliban not practicing like we can practice which means the soldiers can’t fight effectively. Yup, totally coherent.
Yes. it is easier to kill the enemy when you dehumanize them. It is much easier to kill gooks, Krauts, Nazis, Commies, Japs etc than it is to kill human beings.
Why else are we fighting the Taliban? The Taliban practice a very pure form of Islam. They blow up girl schools, stone people to death for minor offenses, they allow disobedient wives to be disfigured. It comes down to human rights.
No, that is the problem. We are not fighting against Islam.but Islam is at war with the West and Islam is winning.
Really quite simple. You have to ask the question, why are they fighting and why are we fighting. Can you tell me that much?
Tthey kill us in the name of Allah according to the Koran. If they get killed they go to Paradise. We kill them in the name of of of, American Idol, I guess. If we get killed we get to come home in a body bag.
We have to respect Islam and do nothing to offend the enemy.
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/us-military-weapons-inscribed-secret-jesus-bible-codes/story?id=9575794
We burn Bibles so as not of offend Muslims.
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/05/20/us.military.bibles.burned/