Column: Time to get out of Afghanistan
In case anyone has any doubts about the wisdom of keeping troops in Afghanistan to defend the government of President Hamid Karzai, then you should read about one of his latest conversations with top American officials in that country. Meeting with Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador Karl W. Eikenberry, Karzai was less than gracious for the hundreds of billions of American dollars and thousands of American lives that have been lost in this war:
He told them that he now has three "main enemies" - the Taliban, the United States and the international community.
"If I had to choose sides today, I'd choose the Taliban," he fumed.
This isn't the first time Karzai has spoken this way.
Why do we continue to support this clown? Did we learn nothing about supporting corrupt dictators from our experience in Vietnam? If Karzai wants to side with the Taliban in order to maintain their corrupt excuse for a government, then let him, and bring our people home.
There are a lot more urgent problems that money could be spent on here in the U.S., not to mention ending the killing and wounding of our soldiers.
We snatched defeat from the jaws of victory starting in 2002 when forces were pulled out to focus on Iraq, leaving the Taliban room to regroup. With no national leadership in Kabul, there is little if any chance of our forces achieving anything close to victory.
Now the Afghan president we have supported and protected for all this time wants to join up with the same people who have been killing our people for the last 8+ years? I'm surprised Gen. Petraeus didn't tell Karzai to go Cheney himself and walk out.
Bring our people home, now.