more troops going to afghanistan

#4
#4
I thought he said he was shifting the focus from Iraq to Afghanistan.

Speaking of, have any of you read First In: How Seven CIA Officers Spearheaded the War on Terror in Afghanistan? It isn't the best read in the world, but I learned a lot about the Northern Alliance and a fair amount of historical context by reading it. Also along those same lines, The Main Enemy offers some decent background on the situation from a historical cold-war context.
 
#5
#5
TennTradition said:
I thought he said he was shifting the focus from Iraq to Afghanistan.

Speaking of, have any of you read First In: How Seven CIA Officers Spearheaded the War on Terror in Afghanistan? It isn't the best read in the world, but I learned a lot about the Northern Alliance and a fair amount of historical context by reading it. Also along those same lines, The Main Enemy offers some decent background on the situation from a historical cold-war context.
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didn't read it but watched the story (Afghan one) on History channel. Interesting story
 
#8
#8
#9
#9
TennTradition said:
I thought he said he was shifting the focus from Iraq to Afghanistan.

Speaking of, have any of you read First In: How Seven CIA Officers Spearheaded the War on Terror in Afghanistan? It isn't the best read in the world, but I learned a lot about the Northern Alliance and a fair amount of historical context by reading it. Also along those same lines, The Main Enemy offers some decent background on the situation from a historical cold-war context.
Click to expand...

I'll have to look into those, they sound like they're right up my alley.
 
#10
#10
DC Vol said:
Obama: U.S. to withdraw most Iraq troops by August 2010 - CNN

Iraq does not equal Afghanistan. Though the fact that people don't know or refuse to understand the difference doesn't surprise me.

It was always Obama's plan to pull troops out of Iraq... first by 2009 but that was quickly deflated as pulling out too quickly would result in a pink sock.

And nobody wants that.
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The exit strategy from Iraq to be done by 09 was unrealistic and dangerous
 
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#13
#13
We have seen a huge jump in requirements for TOW and Javelin over the last few months to the Afghan region. All that really says though is that they sure are trigger happy right now and that the operations have picked up.
 
#14
#14
JTrainDavis said:
I'll have to look into those, they sound like they're right up my alley.
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I enjoyed The Main Enemy more, but First In is a quick read that is fairly enjoyable. I am just now finishing it, but I think it is fair to characterize it as a decent account of a very important few weeks in our battle against safe harbor of terrorists in Afghanistan. The author, like the author of The Main Enemy, has a lot of personal history with the Afghani tribes and has a solid understanding of the geopolitical influences. That is what I appreciated most about them. If you know a fair amount about that already, you might find it to be less informative than I did, though.
 
#15
#15
IPorange said:
What? Joevol doesn't know what he's talking about?
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i believe he campaigned on getting the troops out of both wars but then shifted to focus on afghanistan. becareful IPgaytor, people may think you're being a dumbass, (of course some know you are)
 
#16
#16
joevol320 said:
i believe he campaigned on getting the troops out of both wars but then shifted to focus on afghanistan. becareful IPgaytor, people may think you're being a dumbass, (of course some know you are)
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I dont remember this being the case, however I didnt pay too much attention to his campaign due to my disinterest. Like I said, it has been clear that the strategy was not for an exit from Afghanistan
 
#17
#17
BearCat204 said:
I dont remember this being the case, however I didnt pay too much attention to his campaign due to my disinterest. Like I said, it has been clear that the strategy was not for an exit from Afghanistan
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it was probably the primary again hillary, he needed to get the leftist's vote
 
#18
#18
joevol320 said:
it was probably the primary again hillary, he needed to get the leftist's vote
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Ok, I can buy that, but also remember the situation isnt as easy or cut and dry like you are making it out to be. If Obama comes out tomorrow and says we are sending an additional 15,000 to Iraq, does that mean he is going against his promise necessarily? IMO no, the situation is so fluid that it changes daily. There is a reason the we are sending additional troops to the Afghan region and even if Obama said last year we would be reducing the force there, I dont have a problem with the current increase. Boots on the ground say we need more, then we need more regardless of political backlash.
 
#19
#19
TennTradition said:
I thought he said he was shifting the focus from Iraq to Afghanistan.

Speaking of, have any of you read First In: How Seven CIA Officers Spearheaded the War on Terror in Afghanistan? It isn't the best read in the world, but I learned a lot about the Northern Alliance and a fair amount of historical context by reading it. Also along those same lines, The Main Enemy offers some decent background on the situation from a historical cold-war context.
Click to expand...

If your looking for a better read on the same subject check out 'Horse Soldiers' by Doug Stanton. The Book is essentially the exact same thing but was written by the guy who wrote Band of Brothers.
 
#20
#20
BearCat204 said:
Ok, I can buy that, but also remember the situation isnt as easy or cut and dry like you are making it out to be. If Obama comes out tomorrow and says we are sending an additional 15,000 to Iraq, does that mean he is going against his promise necessarily? IMO no, the situation is so fluid that it changes daily. There is a reason the we are sending additional troops to the Afghan region and even if Obama said last year we would be reducing the force there, I dont have a problem with the current increase. Boots on the ground say we need more, then we need more regardless of political backlash.
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i agree, it's not easy at all. once he got into office and saw the intelligence, he had to step back into the real world.
 
#21
#21
I know it's off topic but did anyone else catch "Restrepo" on National Geographic earlier this week?

If not you need to, very good documentary.
 
#22
#22
MontereyVol said:
If your looking for a better read on the same subject check out 'Horse Soldiers' by Doug Stanton. The Book is essentially the exact same thing but was written by the guy who wrote Band of Brothers.
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I was thinking about reading Decision Points next...but while I'm on this topic, I may give Horse Soldiers a try.
 
#23
#23
TennTradition said:
I was thinking about reading Decision Points next...but while I'm on this topic, I may give Horse Soldiers a try.
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My wife has been all over me to read Decision Points so that's probably my next read.

Right now I am reading about Ogadai.
 
#25
#25
joevol320 said:
i believe he campaigned on getting the troops out of both wars but then shifted to focus on afghanistan. becareful IPgaytor, people may think you're being a dumbass, (of course some know you are)
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IPgaytor? How many degrees do you have from Tennessee?
 
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