|
OBAMA / RETHINK AFGHANISTAN BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
During a house search in Semkar, Afghanistan a US soldier soldier walks past a group of Afghan men. (Photo: Oleg Popov / Reuters)
Absent a Congressional debate, President Obama is about to dispatch 17,000 more military forces into a country that not only does not want us there but has been the waterloo for all occupying countries who have tried to conquer them: Allen L Roland
On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stressed that it was 'impossible' to determine when U.S. troops would return home from Afghanistan ~ thus setting the stage for a protracted, costly and unpopular military occupation of another Middle East country.
President Obama must rethink increasing our military presence in Afghanistan before it's too late or we will find ourselves in another Middle East quagmire ~ but this time it will be Obama's quagmire.
Eric Margolis,Toronto Sun, states the U.S influence in Iraq and Afghanistan is far from over ~
" At a time when the U.S. is bankrupt and faces a $1.75 trillion deficit, the Pentagon's gargantuan $664 billion budget (50% of total global military spending) will grow in 2009 and 2010 by another $200 billion to pay for the occupation of Iraq and Obama's expanded war in Afghanistan. Throw in another $40 billion to $50 billion for the CIA and other intelligence agencies
Obama insists the U.S. will withdraw from Iraq. But his words are belied by the Pentagon, which continues to expand bases in Iraq, including Balad and Al-Asad, with 4,400-metre runways for heavy bombers and transports."
In short, contrary to all Obama's high-blown rhetoric about pulling out of Iraq, Washington clearly intends it will remain a U.S. military, political and economic protectorate." http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/eric_margolis/2009/03/01/8576276-sun.html
Robert Greenwald's Brave New Foundation is working to spark a much needed Afghanistan debate before it's too late. They've produced a ten-minute "mini-documentary " questioning the wisdom of sending more troops in support of the same failed policy. Help spread the word by watching and sharing this video.
http://www.truthout.org/video/030209T
Allen L Roland http://blogs.salon.com/0002255/2009/03/04.html
Freelance Online columnist and psychotherapist Allen L Roland is available for comments, interviews, speaking engagements and private consultations ( allen@allenroland.com )
Allen L Roland is a practicing psychotherapist, author and lecturer who also shares a daily political and social commentary on his weblog and website allenroland.com He also guest hosts a monthly national radio show TRUTHTALK on www.conscioustalk.net | 
