Monday - March 26, 2007

U.S. Asks for More Allied Troops in Afghanistan

For the life of me, I can't understand this administration's inability to administer the occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq.  Concerning Afghanistan, the Bush administration is calling for more allied troops:

The United States urged European countries on Monday to provide more troops and aid for Afghanistan, forecasting an international presence in the war-shattered country for "many, many years" to come.

UnderSecretary of State Nicholas Burns said Washington was grateful to European countries such as Britain, Estonia, Romania and the Netherlands which have troops operating in combat zones in Afghanistan, but said more were needed.

"There is a need for a greater number of troops from Europe, for a greater degree of flexibility in how those troops are allowed to operate," Burns told reporters in Brussels.

"The caveats that limit the tactical deployments of troops inside the country, in our view, should be lifted. All states should lift them and there should be additional economic and humanitarian aid," he said.

Afghanistan was the heart of the jihad against the United States that resulted in the attacks in 2001.  It was this nation, ruled by an Islamic theocracy, that harbored Al-Qaeda, which in turned planned and carried out the attacks against the United States.  

While allied support and help is appreciated in Afghanistan, it is essentially, and should be essentially, an American effort.    The United States should have deployed the forces necessary to pacify the nation after the invasion and there should have been plans for the occupation and the rebuilding of Afghanistan.  Yet the Bush administration, almost like a 3rd grader with attention deficit disorder, let its attention wander to Iraq, leaving the Taliban the room and time to rebuild in Afghanistan.

No Mr. President, it is wrong to badger our allies for more troops and money for Afghanistan.  It is our fight.  Draw up an occupation plan that works.  

How many American troops do we need to destroy the Taliban?  How many troops do we need to suppress Islamic imperialism?  Create a realistic economic recovery plan, and allocate the needed billions.  But don't pass off our responsiblities to our allies.  It wasn't their nation that was attacked on September 11, 2001.

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