Yep, we sure straightened things out for Afganistan and Iraq. 16 years and counting. It's the same great job we did in Korea, Vietnam, Somalia, Beirut. Some advice for anyone living in a country the USA comes to help- run as far away as you can and hide! But not to worry, our greatest American Air Force will simply drop some more 'mother of all bombs' and it will all work out just fine. Trust us. And there is also an upside for all those young men in the coal regions, when they finally figure out they won't be following their dad's down in to the mines, they can simply enlist in the military, a business known for good pay and benefits- until they get you killed for no good reason.
3
Let's not forget that we just dropped the Mother of All Bombs on this country. Did our military really think they had won the war with such an action? Did they really think there would be no retaliation by ISIS or the Taliban or whomever? Mr. Graham commented that the Dems are as responsible as the Republicans for the atrocity that the Middle East has become because they voted to authorize war. Plenty of people were warning at the time that going to war there was a mistake and would destabilize the whole region. Many at the time were recommending a "police action" to get Bin Laden - not all out war. Did the Bush administration listen to these warnings or heed this advice? This country was badly shaken by 9/11, and the country at that time came together in their grief and gave the president the power to wage this horrible war. It was ultimately his decision. Now we are paying the price. Our new president (another Republican) has now signed on to selling Saudi Arabia billions of dollars of weapons, mainly to use against Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the world. For what? To increase our GDP? How is this going to help? Violence begets violence. It is very simple.
5
The United States will be making an Himalayan Blunder if it sends troops into Afghanistan,ostensibly for "Security Reasons"
If after so many years the Afghans have not been able to spruce up a semblance of a security apparatus,then they will never ever be able to do so,hereafter.
Instead you will be entering a quagmire of hate & death.
Progressively,your involvement will only increase,leading to body bags back in the US.
There are limits & limitations to helping a people or a nation.Who don't wished to be helped.
Afghanistan is a sink hole of no return.
If the United States truly does wish to help then it needs to open up a dialogue with Pakistan.
Pakistan has the required credibility & skill set that caused the explosion at Kabul.
Haqqani,Al Qaeda,Taliban,ISIS are mere acronym of the variegated talent groups in terror emanating from Pakistan.
Mere brand names of different terrorist organisation,Made & blessed in Pakistan.
If after so many years the Afghans have not been able to spruce up a semblance of a security apparatus,then they will never ever be able to do so,hereafter.
Instead you will be entering a quagmire of hate & death.
Progressively,your involvement will only increase,leading to body bags back in the US.
There are limits & limitations to helping a people or a nation.Who don't wished to be helped.
Afghanistan is a sink hole of no return.
If the United States truly does wish to help then it needs to open up a dialogue with Pakistan.
Pakistan has the required credibility & skill set that caused the explosion at Kabul.
Haqqani,Al Qaeda,Taliban,ISIS are mere acronym of the variegated talent groups in terror emanating from Pakistan.
Mere brand names of different terrorist organisation,Made & blessed in Pakistan.
Are Democrats still so shocked by losing an election by running an unvetted and war monger candidate for Presidentd that they want to impeach Trump for this tragedy? Snap out of it, boys and girls!. Within three days of 9/11, both major parties in Congress passed a resolution authorizing this war in Afghanistan. Trump is the third President to deal with it. On 9/11, the twin towers and building #7 at the World Trade Center came down from professionally engineered controlled demolition, -- a fact carefully covered up by the government and major news media of the United States, and proved by impeccable forensic evidence. Yes, 9/11 was an inside job. We should never invaded Afghanistan which did not attack the United States. Democrats are are responsible for this mistake as Republicans. -- John Remington Graham of Minnesota Bar (#3664X)
George W. Bush.
The 'Gift' that keeps right on giving.
I wonder how right-wingers sleep at night...
The 'Gift' that keeps right on giving.
I wonder how right-wingers sleep at night...
2
Remember the Mother of all Bombs (MOAB) that the US dropped on the Taliban? After dropping our largest conventional bomb, Mr Trump called the bombing “another very, very successful mission.” That "success" was killing people with a large, indiscriminate bomb. Well, the Taliban likely just did the same in return. The most frustrating part of this endless war is that it was so predictable. Of course, in 2001 we needed to find the people responsible for 9/11 and eliminate or disable them. But we should have realized that accomplishing that narrow mission was enough. Al Qaeda are mostly foreign fighters who took up residence in Afghanistan given its failure as a state. The Taliban are native people in Afghanistan who hold archaic, religious views. We are now fighting these native people who want us and our allies out so that they can live their lives the way they want to live them. Were the Taliban responsible for allowing Al Qaeda in their country? Possibly. But they likely had neither the means nor the will to throw them out. Did the Taliban know Al Qaeda was going to bomb the US? Of course not. No chance UBL shared his plans with them. 15 years of war and tens of thousands of dead is punishment enough for the Taliban's "role" in 9/11. If 18 people committed a crime in DC, we would go into their neighborhood, kill, or lock them up. We would not "occupy" their neighborhood endlessly. And if we did, we would face the same resistance that we now face in Afghanistan.
4
Invading the whole of Afghanistan just to (try to) catch Bin Laden and his few followers was idiotic, stupid and criminal. And then, to put icing on the cake, invading Iraq was idiotic, stupid and criminal. And was has been accomplished since then, in those 16 years? And at what cost, ~$6 trillion? What if those $6 trillions had been used to build subways in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia?
1
Afghanistan is called the Cemetery of Empires by Western historians. Bad karma for the Central Asian country.
Invaded and fighting the British, Soviet and American empires since the 19th century.
A country which never experienced peace and prosperity. Only suffering and pain without an end in sight. Poor Afghan people.
Invaded and fighting the British, Soviet and American empires since the 19th century.
A country which never experienced peace and prosperity. Only suffering and pain without an end in sight. Poor Afghan people.
6
The questions that arise after this attack are as follows. The serious questions are about can we tame the country (1), can we control the Taliban (2) and why should we even if the answers to (1) and (2) are yes. If the answers are no to both, we should pack up and leave. I believe that our presence remains an irritant in two places, Pakistan and Afghanistan. We will never be able to maintain a peaceful position in either one. I do not know why we would want a partnership with either country.
5
We do not need to send anymore of our military over there. They have been fighting in that part of the world amongst themselves since Christ was a carpenter. Us being there only makes it worse. And that's just what they want, more American bloodshed.
3
Best just to let those people sort it out among themselves.
2
This truck supposedly was allowed past one level of Afghan security. "Security has steadily worsened" may be a clue. The following comment is not meant to be racist, anti religion, anti culture it is merely an historical observation.
We are involved with the world's greatest hustlers, the center of trade and international deals for thousands of years. We are also dealing with an area that has been numbed by constant warfare. The rest of the world has to step back and ask if they are being hustled into supplying security and other free benefits. This is a land where people use Pepsi cans or children loaded with explosives to get at an enemy.
Did the Afghan government create this event to get Trump and NATO to send soldiers and foreign aid, maybe even more free weapons? It's been almost 16 years since 9/11 and nothing has changed in the Middle East quagmire. Wasting American lives and tax dollars is not working. Let them fix their own mess.
This year, in the US, HHS estimates 78 people will die every day from opioid related overdoses. No craters, no burned out buildings, no bloody photos for the news reports, just 156 more Americans in the morgue since the bombing. What happened to making America great and America first?
We are involved with the world's greatest hustlers, the center of trade and international deals for thousands of years. We are also dealing with an area that has been numbed by constant warfare. The rest of the world has to step back and ask if they are being hustled into supplying security and other free benefits. This is a land where people use Pepsi cans or children loaded with explosives to get at an enemy.
Did the Afghan government create this event to get Trump and NATO to send soldiers and foreign aid, maybe even more free weapons? It's been almost 16 years since 9/11 and nothing has changed in the Middle East quagmire. Wasting American lives and tax dollars is not working. Let them fix their own mess.
This year, in the US, HHS estimates 78 people will die every day from opioid related overdoses. No craters, no burned out buildings, no bloody photos for the news reports, just 156 more Americans in the morgue since the bombing. What happened to making America great and America first?
Simple Fact for complex situation
The cost in lives is over one million for the past 20 year+of war
More troops is not a strategy or even a tactic
We have spent hundred of billions for this war (in a futile attempt to bring democratic value to tribal societies)
ANN states Does undeclared war, weapons, expending billions that are untraceable and unaccountable--really work?
Eisenhower warned about the military -defense complex collusion
Trump won for two reasons:
1.The ineptness of Hillary's campaign
2 Sanders and Trump both read the rampant disenchantment of the working classes
We are heading directly towards an"American Spring"revolution
The cost in lives is over one million for the past 20 year+of war
More troops is not a strategy or even a tactic
We have spent hundred of billions for this war (in a futile attempt to bring democratic value to tribal societies)
ANN states Does undeclared war, weapons, expending billions that are untraceable and unaccountable--really work?
Eisenhower warned about the military -defense complex collusion
Trump won for two reasons:
1.The ineptness of Hillary's campaign
2 Sanders and Trump both read the rampant disenchantment of the working classes
We are heading directly towards an"American Spring"revolution
1
In my opinion, this the best reporting and best writing on any subject from any news outlet in recent memory.
3
This article is brilliantly reported and written.
With almost no lead time.
With almost no lead time.
2
Do you know which is the longest war in U.S. history? That's right. And it's been 16 YEARS (and counting).
It's a heartbreak and there is no end in sight.
It's a heartbreak and there is no end in sight.
1
This is why McCain is a fool to say that Russia is a greater threat than radical Islamic terrorism. Imagine bombs like this going off in European or American cities. With the steady stream of successful attacks getting through, it's just a matter of time before something this deadly or worse happens to the West. Russia and China will never do such things, because they're rational people who can be deterred. By contrast, radical Islamists believe they'll go to heaven for their vile deeds, so they don't fear retaliatory anihilation - the concept of deterrence doesn't apply to them. This is the new war, and it's better to stop fighting and prolonging older obsolete conflicts in order to catch up to reality, which has moved on.
1
Our "mission in Afghanistan" will sink with nary a murmur, a footnote for a gravestone. Amnesia will block our ears and blind our eyes, -a mere channel flick away. Afghanistan will fall to the floor, the discarded toy of a malevolent child.
Worry not, nor envy the psychopath's sleep, for the horror we have wrought. All corpses rot to dust, and true human remains are found only in the minds of orphans and hearts of widows. And they too do soon turn to dust. And for all here who "loved" our troops, who brayed for the bombs, the air strikes, the torture and the murder, who cheered the bravery of our soldiers, will dare not brave the stares of our victims: here come the bereaved, zombied by misery, their eyes painted in pictures of their dead. They trail galleries of the thousands, hundreds of thousands killed for nothing but our policy failures. What one thousandth child would not break your faith, what one thousandth child would not now, in the candle light of your private thought, make every cheek blush?
Take heart, it is almost over. We still yet have a few more of our young men to sacrifice. As life's last light leaves the eyes of another dead soldier, who in the acute brilliance of their youth and innocence, set down childish things to take up our banners, and die in this wasteland, please whisper a reason. Say anything, pretend anything, give them something to hold on to.
Only you who support this war will be left alone to live with your reasons.
Worry not, nor envy the psychopath's sleep, for the horror we have wrought. All corpses rot to dust, and true human remains are found only in the minds of orphans and hearts of widows. And they too do soon turn to dust. And for all here who "loved" our troops, who brayed for the bombs, the air strikes, the torture and the murder, who cheered the bravery of our soldiers, will dare not brave the stares of our victims: here come the bereaved, zombied by misery, their eyes painted in pictures of their dead. They trail galleries of the thousands, hundreds of thousands killed for nothing but our policy failures. What one thousandth child would not break your faith, what one thousandth child would not now, in the candle light of your private thought, make every cheek blush?
Take heart, it is almost over. We still yet have a few more of our young men to sacrifice. As life's last light leaves the eyes of another dead soldier, who in the acute brilliance of their youth and innocence, set down childish things to take up our banners, and die in this wasteland, please whisper a reason. Say anything, pretend anything, give them something to hold on to.
Only you who support this war will be left alone to live with your reasons.
2
And with the boy president aka Putins puppet at the helm, the world is doomed even further.
4
We got Osama bin Laden but no punishment for the Saudi government which were his backers. In fact they are Among Trump's new best friends and we are selling them lots of weapons. And the Taliban is being backed now by the Russians, just as we backed them against the Russians when the shoe was on the other foot. And the Russians are Trumps other wannabe best friends. Why are we so stupid?
4
The second "Mother of All Bombs" Trump owns, passed some way to his allies in Afghanistan.
Fantastic piece of writing, Mujib Mashal, Fahm Abed, and Jawad Sukhanyar. You made me feel I was there, witnessing all the tragedy. Thanks.
1
Pakistan and Russia are surely involved in this tragedy. They must have provided the bomb. Without any government involvement, these things do not happen like this. Afghanistan and Pakistan both are becoming a playground for proxy war between superpowers. There is no end in sight in near future.
A homemade version of the MOAB (mother of all bombs)? Retaliation? Escalation.
Might I suggest not sending more troops until there is a strong chance of doing more good than harm?
Our being there certainly isn't accomplishing anything positive. It is just perpetuating the fighting in a lost cause with a concomitant loss of innocent life. Yet, I look ahead to who will be back in power again. We have seen who and what they are; yesterday's depravity is just an example. This is a tragedy for Afghanistan that we are helpless to prevent. Evil often triumphs over good.
The U.S. has proved that it's impossible to defeat an insurgent movement that seems to have an inexhaustible supply of soldiers willing to put themselves on the line. Get our soldiers out of there immediately.
1
TRUMP Now wants to send 5000 US military into harm's way in Kabul and elsewhere in Afghanistan. In an asymmetric war, number of military are less important than the effective use of terroristic tactics. So many of the youth from the US and elsewhere will be sent to Kabul to be cannon fodder. Clearly there needs to be reinforcements at checkpoints throughout Afghanistan. But how will that be possible or effective? On the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I saw an interview with people in a small Afghani village that looked like nothing more than piles of stones and dust. Asked what they thought of 9/11, the villagers asked, What's 9/11? How can we win with the Afghans? A TV for every village? Or computer for every village?
I am so sorry, appalled and distressed by this untold suffering and death. Our country should be using the Intelligence agencies to intercept and target these mudering fanatics. This should be about hunting them down and nothing else. I am grieved to read of these good people's deaths. They are as precious as any Westener.
1
The blast sounded absolutely massive from my office, which is about 2kms away from the epicenter. Another act of senseless violence that will leave many families mourning loved ones in what should be a joyous, holy month.
I hesitate to point this out, for fear of the comment trolls, but we really ought not lump all Afghans, terrorists, and extremists in the same category. In my experience, people here are generous and kind, and simply war-weary.
Many humanitarian agencies and NGOs do good work, but they can only do so much to engage with the local communities to meet basic needs and build capacity. But it means nothing if that's not the real interest of the foreign powers that have a history of meddling.
I hesitate to point this out, for fear of the comment trolls, but we really ought not lump all Afghans, terrorists, and extremists in the same category. In my experience, people here are generous and kind, and simply war-weary.
Many humanitarian agencies and NGOs do good work, but they can only do so much to engage with the local communities to meet basic needs and build capacity. But it means nothing if that's not the real interest of the foreign powers that have a history of meddling.
2
Also consider the wounded, the maimed, those who lost limbs, those who lost family -- a number totaling more than 500. The shock, families thrown into horror, lost lives and livelihoods. The message that doing simple things, walking down the street, visiting a neighbor, going to market, to work--is no longer safe. This is the reality of a country that has been repeatedly invaded and betrayed and deals with murderous destabilization. We weep at the tragedy -- but the question needs to be asked: Does undeclared war, weapons, expending billions that are untraceable and unaccountable--really work?
6
Unfortunately, the ones that died instantly are the lucky. How nice the world has gotten in the short time America got back involved in changing the world thank Herbert, Cheney and his coal fired CD player, and on and on.
It is a tragedy the world is sharing both because our hearts know their suffering and because we are as vulnerable as the residents of Kabul. This is what the Taliban wanted. It was pure envy and hatred that spawned this movement of politicized guerrilla attacks upon ordinary people simply going about their lives nonviolently. That is the heart of terrorism. In answer to Ann's poignant question this world war against humanity is what it is. One cannot bring an olive branch to madmen any more than wishing kindness will cure hatred. Evil is. This is a phenomenon of intense evil funded by mercurial savages who have millions of dollars from oil, opium, real estate and hidden friends to carry out such devastating attacks. We of every nationality must join to eradicate this guerrilla style international war against humanity. To stop them requires money and hence the billions of dollars for defense. This is a pivotal war for the integrity of human kind, for the advances we have made as a world to have dignity, safety and diversity in which to raise our families and prosper. We were Charlie yesterday. Today we are Kabul.
Is there any possibility that Trump and family/acolytes colluded on some fashion with the Russians on this? After all the Russians lost a war in this country years ago, as have we after ghastly losses for the US and friendly NATO allies. Maybe this is us and the Russians playing a really strange game of payback, if Trump really is beholden to Russia in some way???
4
@Kathy,
Is that you Kathy Griffin? Your conspiracy theory would be funny if it wasn't so sad that a intelligent American could even come up with such rhetoric!
Is that you Kathy Griffin? Your conspiracy theory would be funny if it wasn't so sad that a intelligent American could even come up with such rhetoric!
1
Please. This is just speculation and does not make any sense at all, Kathy. The tragedy of this is immense; it would not have been done in this part of the city; it is a terrorist attack not of U.S. or Russian making.
2
I come from that part of the world, from that general neighborhood, India, to be precise. I was opposed to our sending foot soldiers in Afghanistan. We could have made our point and achieved our ends better by lobbing Toma Hawk and other missiles at Taliban basis, at their training grounds, at the friendly government offices and officials secretly aid the rebels. But here we are, where we are. What to do now?
We should immediately issue a warning, ultimatum, if you will, that we would get out by an undetermined date within reasonable time of our choosing, unless the Afgahani populace picks up the fight in their own defense. We should plaintly warn that we are unwilling to defend those who do not fight for their own defense. We should tell the Afghanis plainly that we give'em one year to eliminate the Talibans, ISIS, and Mujahiddins all of which groups are trying to bring Afghanistan under foreign control in the name of Islam We should inform them that we would start thinking of our next course immediately if they showed no signs of taking their own defense seriously. In the meanwhile from now on there would be no helping Afghanis to flee to overseas shelters. On the other hand, should they succeed in eliminating the Jihadis, we would not only ourselves aid their country in development projects, we will ask our allies and friends to help them, too.
At the rate at which things are moving, the next Tet Offensive is just around the corner.
We should immediately issue a warning, ultimatum, if you will, that we would get out by an undetermined date within reasonable time of our choosing, unless the Afgahani populace picks up the fight in their own defense. We should plaintly warn that we are unwilling to defend those who do not fight for their own defense. We should tell the Afghanis plainly that we give'em one year to eliminate the Talibans, ISIS, and Mujahiddins all of which groups are trying to bring Afghanistan under foreign control in the name of Islam We should inform them that we would start thinking of our next course immediately if they showed no signs of taking their own defense seriously. In the meanwhile from now on there would be no helping Afghanis to flee to overseas shelters. On the other hand, should they succeed in eliminating the Jihadis, we would not only ourselves aid their country in development projects, we will ask our allies and friends to help them, too.
At the rate at which things are moving, the next Tet Offensive is just around the corner.
5
How can this be said without being maudlin or preachy: So many of our brothers and sisters are living bleak daily lives filled with terror, bloodshed, destruction and death. A truck bomb indiscriminately kills dozens of my fellow human beings. We see the photograph of a man who is wounded -- perhaps mortally -- crawling through the aftermath, the world he once knew now gone. Destroyed in a flash.
And meanwhile, back in the USA, we tolerate a despicable man in the White House who encourages violence. Who practices epic greed and licentiousness on a scale heretofore unseen. A fairly demonic presence among us who encourages and nurses the worst traits of human behavior. A man who would have us living in the type of dismal terror we read about every day in so many other parts of the world. A man who WILL lead us down the toilet if he is not removed.
This no longer feels like the country I have lived in for the past 60 years.
And meanwhile, back in the USA, we tolerate a despicable man in the White House who encourages violence. Who practices epic greed and licentiousness on a scale heretofore unseen. A fairly demonic presence among us who encourages and nurses the worst traits of human behavior. A man who would have us living in the type of dismal terror we read about every day in so many other parts of the world. A man who WILL lead us down the toilet if he is not removed.
This no longer feels like the country I have lived in for the past 60 years.
26
Scott, this is a time of deep discomfort and sadness, of lost peace in our communities because of the influences that became strong in the past 25-30 years. It seems that a technological leap precedes every time humankind goes into international strife. Perhaps the segment of humanity who is violent and dominating grabs whatever it can use to gain control of as much as it can. We have choices to make in how we live and are governed. Many of us here in the US were not represented by the venues for social thought that shaped thinking in the past 25-30 years; the media, broadcast and entertainment industry must be high on cocaine to have twisted healthy life into glittery naked fools exemplifying very bad behavior as Idols (equivalent to role models for youth). I was physically ill listening to the filthy banter of very educated young women in the lunchroom of a prestigious organization where I worked, and where the managers blatantly lied, abused and connived. Scott, I think we have a vacuum of responsible leaders of "social thought", hence Trump. He did point out key changes needed in the US, and why we have to pay a price to discuss them openly and get them implemented tells me that a lot of cabals were replacing honest leadership while we were busy watching glittery fools shaking their fannies.
1
Vietnam? Iraq 1 & 2? The US identity is steeped in violence. It precedes Trump.
Kathleen, I agree. My concern here, though, is the fomenting of another Civil War within the USA. We have a clownish oaf for a President who is doing everything he can to make that happen. Not mindfully, but as the result of his own venality and baseness.
US Foreign Policy=Dumb
3
Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson ignored requests for more security! Trump was tweeting while Americans were being murdered!
Congress needs to act - impeach Trump and Pence and throw them in jail!
Congress needs to act - impeach Trump and Pence and throw them in jail!
4
Revolution can never be imposed or orchestrated. We should stop throwing money at this militarily. The only thing we should be doing is provide aid to the needy.
Revolution will happen when the people demand it. We just muddy the waters by getting involved.
In the meantime, we should commiserate with the Afghan people in the same way as we have done with the people of Manchester. People are the same all over the World. They have families and their blood runs red.
Revolution will happen when the people demand it. We just muddy the waters by getting involved.
In the meantime, we should commiserate with the Afghan people in the same way as we have done with the people of Manchester. People are the same all over the World. They have families and their blood runs red.
11
Didn't Trump just drop a big bomb (MOAB) on Afghanistan and and brag about it?
10
For 100 th time I report whoever will
See. We lost. Let's go home. Enough already.
See. We lost. Let's go home. Enough already.
6
All I can think of is why, why, why???
2
When will we pay attention to history? The USSR slaughtered thousands of Afghans, laid waste to most of the country and still lost. I did not support President Obama but sincerely hoped he would pull all US Forces out of the Afghanistan. This war is Americas tar baby, is a lost cause and not worth the death of anymore Americans, Afghanistan is a tribal society stuck in the dark ages! The country will never come into the sunlight, never be a democracy, never allow women or anyone else rights and is a lost cause. I hope President Trump sees the handwriting on the wall and brings the forces home!
8
This is exactly how America gets sucked into these never-ending religious civil wars. Wondering how many times we must continue to do the WRONG thing? How about something as simple as America declaring internationally that we will no longer continue to be involved in ANY WAY with the religious and/or political wars of other countries?
5
At what point do we finally admit, we went about this all wrong from Day 1? Hindsight is supposedly 20/20 but we continue to fumble ahead with the same incorrect assumptions and impossible objectives.
There are now Taliban fighters that weren't even born when this war started. The US has been their enemy their entire lives.
There are now Taliban fighters that weren't even born when this war started. The US has been their enemy their entire lives.
8
Korea is no longer the forgotten war. For most Americans, Afghanistan is the disregarded war, disregarded by most American citizens, Congress. and the press. We have tried to make it a nation governed by its people but who knows who those people are? Where are photos or news tapes of Americans at or part of the war in Afghanistan? We still die there. But for what, for whom, and why? Afghanistan is not Japan and the kamikazes at the end of WWII. We can never occupy and change Afghanistan and the Muslim belief of a holy death. What are we doing there?
9
Afghanistan is a land of perpetual war and death; it has been for thousands of years. There is no solution.
Thinking that we can make a difference where so many empires have failed is tragically naive and narcissistic.
Thinking that we can make a difference where so many empires have failed is tragically naive and narcissistic.
8
Could this Kabul bombing be retaliation of Trump's big bomb drop? Have the explosives been tested to see if they are Russian made? It's been reported in the press that the Kremlin was supporting the Taliban are they? If any of these questions are true what will this do to our sending more troops in harms way with Trump in command? Scary scenario is it not?
3
Thank you, Mujib, for the coverage. I hope you and loved ones are safe.
9
So much time lost; days, months, years, while Obama, Clinton and Rice were at the helm. These stories are wrenching. Even John Kerry's time of Secretary of State was a waste. And what about thecUN? There are no words to describe the utter lack of concern or degradation of duty from this organization. Afghanistan is only getting worse. It's impossible to negotiate orveven plead. Each leader has walked away with millions from the US and go on to a luxury life. It's heartbreaking to see what these people go through Day in and day out...and the children!! What a human disgrace for the world to just neglect and deflect.
6
Climate change will wipe us away and a new species will emerge.
3
I'm so surprised you didn't mention the name "bush". It all started with name "bush"!
2
I think Trump himself should go in person to Kabul and investigate what happened. Then he can tweet back and "acefefe" us.
7
Sad to say, the Afghan war is a war that can't be won. During the past 16 years, the US has suffered >2,200 troops killed, thousands more wounded, with many losing limbs. Our NATO allies have suffered similarly. Afghani tribes fight each other to control the opium trade--until foreigners invade the country. Then the tribes unite to fight the invaders. Check out the 3 opium wars in the 1840s. Then, of course, the Soviet invasion in 1979. Now NATO, consisting of mostly US troops. President Trump's generals want to send 5,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. Folly, I think. The only result will be more dead, more wounded, and more billions spent uselessly.
16
If opium is a major factor here, we should decriminalize it, synthesize it, tax it, and sell it legally, just as we do with nicotine and ethanol, both much more dangerous than opium and its derivatives.
2
While the U.S. tries to decipher Trump's Twitter rants the innocent continue to die in silence. Continued coverage of these events needs to be a priority too. Prayers for the fallen. Prayers for the salvation of humanity.
7
So very sad. As always, regular people suffer, and it isn't even clear why. What are we still doing in Afghanistan? No matter how much blood and treasure we pour into the country, in the end we will leave, and the Taliban will remain. They live there, in a country in which most people have only known a state of war. I wish it were possible to help; I'm sure NGOs are doing good and vital work, in partnership with the Afghan people, but this situation was created by generations of imperialist interference by many different powers, and it won't be righted by us, good intentions not withstanding. I pray fro the victims and their families.
10
Parse it as you will; there is no escape: We will be judged and found guilty of, "Lack of humanity." It will happen that a hologram of the earth will appear in the sky and we will all see dots jumping up in the East and simultaneously coming down in the West. A voice will heard all over the world speaking to us of, "The Trampoline Effect": What One does affects us All. Then, the Sky will zip up like a plastic bag (with a little blue cloud for a zipper) with all our heads in it dying of lack of oxygen as a disappearing voice intones, "There are no 'innocents'!"
The comment that the German forces in NATO are heavily involved in Afghanistan should show how short-sighted Trump's attacks on Germany really are. A response could be to withdraw from Afghanistan. I hope this does not happen, but who can say?
3
The German Troops remain for the most part in their guarded compound, rarely see combat except on television.
We all should withdraw. They are killing us. We lost.
2
The article on Trump pulling out of the climate accord has more than 10 times the comments in the same amount of time (7 hours) as this article about the bombing in Afghanistan has. You know what that means: Nobody Cares!
In war, people are generally excited the other side has suffered a decisive attack, that is how Americans must generally think of places like Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria: enemies of a sort. Not necessarily like WWII enemies, but nations who we've sent our military over to deal with on some level. People aren't waving American flags because this bombing occurred, but they seem content to know that it happened, but beyond that, don't care so much one way or the other.
Now Manchester, that was unacceptable!
In war, people are generally excited the other side has suffered a decisive attack, that is how Americans must generally think of places like Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria: enemies of a sort. Not necessarily like WWII enemies, but nations who we've sent our military over to deal with on some level. People aren't waving American flags because this bombing occurred, but they seem content to know that it happened, but beyond that, don't care so much one way or the other.
Now Manchester, that was unacceptable!
3
And the nominal religion of the Manchester and Kabul bombers is... Perhaps religion is merely an excuse for people to kill each other.
2
One of the very worst unforeseen results of US (et al) military ventures of the past 2 decades is the fact that we have created a whole generation of hardened, skilled warriors. Of course, we've killed untold thousands of Afghan, Iraqi, and various breeds of ISIS fighters. But along the way, they've learned to make the most of modern explosives, mastering roadside bombs and creating shaped charges to penetrate almost any armor. They're not afraid to go up against Marines, and they can survive daisy cutters and precision missiles. Those who remain today know their days are numbered, but more will follow, and the new ones will add to prior knowledge.
The result is that, through our constant military engagements, we have forced our enemies to evolve and evolve again. And when they start to feel beaten, they can simply put that knowledge to use and flatten another city block using a delivery truck. The longer we press the fight, the more likely we are to create our own worst enemy. That's exactly what's happened, and so hope for real, lasting peace seems impossible.
The result is that, through our constant military engagements, we have forced our enemies to evolve and evolve again. And when they start to feel beaten, they can simply put that knowledge to use and flatten another city block using a delivery truck. The longer we press the fight, the more likely we are to create our own worst enemy. That's exactly what's happened, and so hope for real, lasting peace seems impossible.
4
This bombing is the precise reason why the U.S. is going to spend more money & increase troop levels there in harm's way so that we don't get a Western city block leveled by extremists who seek to broaden their reach. As Dubya said, "better there than here." So, someeone and some place has to be unsafe so that we're relatively safer here. But you're right, they are getting very smart about how to retaliate and they will bring the front lines closer to home as long as we use their homes as the front line. This is more reason why U.S. should foster peace and cease current strategy instead of using it as the battle space in GWOT.
6
WE are the terrorists.
2
"We" have not created a whole generation of hardened, skilled warriors in Afghanistan. Afghanis are not our enemies.
This is an act of terror; we do not know why, yet.
This is an act of terror; we do not know why, yet.
1
So few comments thus far, true. This speaks to
the vast, unconscious - and largely unacknowledged - Western bias that innocent brown lives and Muslim lives and African lives lost are somehow worth less than innocent white and/or European lives.
That, and the appalling lack of geographic sophistication that many US adults display. Sadly, most will likely not even know what - or where - Kabul is. The same for Quetta, Doha, Karachi, Riyadh, Aceh province, Islamabad, Baghdad, or even Ottawa.
the vast, unconscious - and largely unacknowledged - Western bias that innocent brown lives and Muslim lives and African lives lost are somehow worth less than innocent white and/or European lives.
That, and the appalling lack of geographic sophistication that many US adults display. Sadly, most will likely not even know what - or where - Kabul is. The same for Quetta, Doha, Karachi, Riyadh, Aceh province, Islamabad, Baghdad, or even Ottawa.
12
It's time to leave. The situation is not getting better. It seems it never will. Enough.
4
Will the media be covering the victims of this horrific act in the same way they did the Manchester bombing? Will they memorialize and humanize each victim and give them the same recognition as those in Manchester so that we learn about the children, parents, grandparents and so on who were victims? If not, why not?
10
Why not? Because most of "us" are non-Moslems, non-Africans, non-brown, etc. Birds of a feather stick together. Nature's law, not mine.
Other than the relatively large size of the blast, this really isn't even news - why are we still in this cesspit masquerading as a nation?
It's time to get all of our troops out, before they are senselessly sacrificed.
It's time to get all of our troops out, before they are senselessly sacrificed.
6
Again, think more of one of the many other reasons why that it is of vital importance or crucial to ultimately find a curable vaccine for the Prophet’s disease, “Terrorism.” The loss, in economic terms, continues to be elephantine – more than $54 billion during the 2016 calendar year alone. This sum of money, astronomical it may be convinced to be, does not include nations/countries’ (the vast majority of them, Western industrialized lands) fast increasing public spending that is associated with counter-terrorism. What is known as the fight against the Prophet’s demon or disease, “Terrorism,” already in the trillions of dollars. So actions taken must not have the veneer of strength sufficient to simply contain the Prophet’s superbly contagious malady but be the equivalent of what all civilized men and women may, without reservations, call a curable vaccine, if the avowed enemies (especially the practitioners of Saudi Arabia’s ultra-strict, Wahhabi version of Islam) of progress, of Christianity of Judaism and all of the other faiths, are not to continue to attempt to conquer and exterminate all adherents, also by way of beheading, of the immediate above faiths, and ultimately pronounce the world “now, finally a purified environment.”
1
The Taliban needs to be spanked and hard.
Since the Rinky Dink nato forces or the Afghans inability to do so and we do know where they live. Spank the and forever solve this problem. Simple...
Since the Rinky Dink nato forces or the Afghans inability to do so and we do know where they live. Spank the and forever solve this problem. Simple...
People have been fighting each other before organized religion was created. The same reasons people fought then largely apply to the present day- population, resources, and territory. Everything else is a pretext for these primal purposes that play into the competition for survival of the fittest.
I've been part of Western efforts to defeat the Taliban and stabilize the Afghan government. I drank a lot of chai with soldiers and rug merchants. I'm deeply sickened by this latest event, thinking of the good people who are struggling every day to live normal lives while a very small minority cause this chaos.
To those who think we have no interests in Afghanistan; what happened after the defeat of the Soviets, when the U.S. completely disengaged?
The problems in the region are deep, and there are no short-term solutions. I think most folks in the U.S. have no idea how really safe and secure they are. We have to embrace the long view of this fight. Presidents Bush and Obama warned it would be a long war, this war on terrorism. In comments I see my fellow Americans starting to really waffle. My reaction is to reaffirm my personal commitment to the Afghan people.
To those who think we have no interests in Afghanistan; what happened after the defeat of the Soviets, when the U.S. completely disengaged?
The problems in the region are deep, and there are no short-term solutions. I think most folks in the U.S. have no idea how really safe and secure they are. We have to embrace the long view of this fight. Presidents Bush and Obama warned it would be a long war, this war on terrorism. In comments I see my fellow Americans starting to really waffle. My reaction is to reaffirm my personal commitment to the Afghan people.
16
Chris: I am with you on this. Thank you for your comments. This attack is a horrible crime against all of humanity. ALL of us.
To the people of Afghanistan, we are all Afghanis today. So, so sad for your losses. I hope that those who survive can be made whole again.
As for your country: It is worthy of protection and of thriving. Every Afghan person I have met...is a treasure. Stay strong and oppose terror.
To the people of Afghanistan, we are all Afghanis today. So, so sad for your losses. I hope that those who survive can be made whole again.
As for your country: It is worthy of protection and of thriving. Every Afghan person I have met...is a treasure. Stay strong and oppose terror.
it just might be that there is madness in the method; this war is self perpetuating and you know that.
Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq are these countries better off or worse since the U.S. was involved?
7
This is horrific....A few weeks ago, every news outlet was going gaga over the use of the MOAB. There was intense focus on the bomb itself and the self-congratulatory nature of the event and American firepower was ridiculous. However, no one (including the NY Times) questioned the strategy behind the bomb or its impact. Did that manage to make any dent in the terrorist apparatus in Afghanistan?
Unfortunately, this attack seems to suggest otherwise.
Unfortunately, this attack seems to suggest otherwise.
8
I'm glad that the US dropped the MOAB, as I own stock in the company that makes those things! (NOT!)
Any one familiar with Afghan history and that of the British imperialism knows you can draw a straight line between events of the 18th and 19th centuries and yesterday's tragedy. Has any nation in history been the root cause of so much human misery as the British? I'd really like to know.
2
Terrorism of this scale in Afghanistan can have only one obvious stamp: Taliban terrorists supported (or atleast tolerated and protected) by their ISI patrons in Pakistan. Suspicion is on Haqqani Network.
5
Pakistan is the method by which this war is perpetuated. If a appropriate strategy was developed it would be the invasion and occupation of Pakistan. Then of course there are the mountain trails into Iran. The western world will never win a war against the Taliban, containment is the only realistic option.
NYT unaware or ignoring credible reports that Pakistan ISI and Haqqani network behind this atrocity. Key question to ask would be how the truck got the pass / credential necessary to go past security & enter the diplomatic enclave...
8
“We shouldn’t assume that every time a country has problems that it reflects a failure of American policy,” President Obama
6
Get.Out.Now!
We have a POTUS who understands NOTHING about war. NOTHING.
100 years of not one Trump male ever serving in military..I’m in a military family. Trumps know NOTHING about the sacrifices they take. Trump’s fake Memorial Day speech. We already know how he feels about Gold Star families-he told us with the Khan Gold Star parents. He HATES them if they don’t like him. John McCain--meh! POWs so what “I like people who weren’t captured.”
I know the horrendous losses. I know what it is like to work in military medicine with our first ever quadruple amputees.
THINK about that! No arms, no legs, and not enough of the limbs left for prosthetic devices! Oh we’ve gotten SO good at keeping the critically injured alive...when they used to be mortally wounded and died. Now they face a life where services are being cut.
Yes! Trump has a hiring freeze with federal jobs. US Army will have to stop child care services as they can’t hire when people retire or quit. Who will care for the kids when parents are getting blown up?
So Trump surrounds himself with Generals! Generals who are throwing their 40 years of service away trying to cover his lies. Trump has no respect for these men or for any of our troops.
Jeffrey D. Sachs, the UN economist who is the senior economics professor at Columbia: “U.S. should get out of the Middle East NOW!”
https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2017/04/02/military-should-get-out-m...
We have a POTUS who understands NOTHING about war. NOTHING.
100 years of not one Trump male ever serving in military..I’m in a military family. Trumps know NOTHING about the sacrifices they take. Trump’s fake Memorial Day speech. We already know how he feels about Gold Star families-he told us with the Khan Gold Star parents. He HATES them if they don’t like him. John McCain--meh! POWs so what “I like people who weren’t captured.”
I know the horrendous losses. I know what it is like to work in military medicine with our first ever quadruple amputees.
THINK about that! No arms, no legs, and not enough of the limbs left for prosthetic devices! Oh we’ve gotten SO good at keeping the critically injured alive...when they used to be mortally wounded and died. Now they face a life where services are being cut.
Yes! Trump has a hiring freeze with federal jobs. US Army will have to stop child care services as they can’t hire when people retire or quit. Who will care for the kids when parents are getting blown up?
So Trump surrounds himself with Generals! Generals who are throwing their 40 years of service away trying to cover his lies. Trump has no respect for these men or for any of our troops.
Jeffrey D. Sachs, the UN economist who is the senior economics professor at Columbia: “U.S. should get out of the Middle East NOW!”
https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2017/04/02/military-should-get-out-m...
28
I hope that the New York Times soon publishes the names of the persons who caused this loss of life. They must have information that was secretly leaked to them like the bombing in the U.K.
5
“There was a big tremble, and then we heard a massive explosion,” said Ramin Sangar - The tremble was the seismic wave which moved faster and arrived sooner than the atmospheric shock wave. That was one really big explosion.
9
What is the end game? Some 70 virgins, annihilation of humans, something to do with your time? This is what happens when folks have nothing else to do with their time. Speaking of too much time on ones hands Berkeley California city council is proposing a ban on plastic drinking straws. One group in the world is dreaming of things to do with their time and the other part of the world is clueless. George Carlin was right, "People are Fxxxing DUMB!"
Plastic drinking straws are the most littered and thrown away item on earth. 500 million are used per day in the U.S alone. It has nothing to do with this tragic act of violence but I don't think a solution is necessarily a waste of time
What is their end game? When they've blown up everything of value, made all women submissive, destroyed all culture, history and art, then what?
"History is more or less bunk. It's tradition. We don't want tradition. We want to live in the present, and the only history that is worth a tinker's damn is the history that we make today." (Henry Ford, Chicago Tribune, 1916).
As long as our leaders believe this, we'll continue to tinker in Afghanistan.
As long as our leaders believe this, we'll continue to tinker in Afghanistan.
2
There are those amongst us who seem to want to risk it here. Collateral damage right?
It is indeed "complicated" as German interior minister Thomas de Maizière is quoted.
My son and my neighbor's son served in Afghanistan outside the wire but in different specialties and provinces in the past 3 years. Both have returned and are in or completed college.
Both recommend that others read Carlotta Gall's fine book, "The Wrong Enemy: America in Afghanistan, 2001-2014". In it she accused the ISI, Pakistan's clandestine intelligence service, of hiding and protecting Osama bin Laden and his family after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Ms. Gall has long been a NY Times reporter with excellent contacts and insights.
My son and my neighbor's son served in Afghanistan outside the wire but in different specialties and provinces in the past 3 years. Both have returned and are in or completed college.
Both recommend that others read Carlotta Gall's fine book, "The Wrong Enemy: America in Afghanistan, 2001-2014". In it she accused the ISI, Pakistan's clandestine intelligence service, of hiding and protecting Osama bin Laden and his family after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Ms. Gall has long been a NY Times reporter with excellent contacts and insights.
There is a reason they call it the graveyard of empires that is all Afghanistan has been for powers that have tried to conquer it. We are no different than the Soviet that tried it back in the 1980s because the Afghan people hate occupiers just like they hated the Soviet they hate us American as well.
11
I did not know that it was the policy of the United States to conquer Afghanistan or to even occupy the country.
2
reply to tired of hypocrisy:
What's the difference between policy and reality in this case?
What's the difference between policy and reality in this case?
1
this type of violence reminds one of the conflict between Catholics and Protestants during the Reformation and 30 year war.
4
Disgusted when I think of all the money the U.S. wasted, and all the injuries and deaths sustained by our armed services on our Afghanistan adventure, and to what end? The country is still in chaos. Let us please not intervene any more.
4
I feel sick to my stomach about this horrible bombings. Killing innocent people is attacking someone who has nothing to do about the bomber's grouse. It looks like only a political settlement will avert tragedies like this. Military action cannot deter these random attacks.
3
I am so very sorry that thisas happened yet again. My heart goes out to the people of Kabul and especially the victims and their families.
12
It is insanity to continue with a course of action that has failed over and over again. Our way of life continues to fail here in America as we ignore the lesson of History about foreign intervention and bankruptcy due to military waste in war, resources gone forever with little rate of return. Why cannot either Party in Washington admit their massive failure? How many more wasted lives will it take? How can the leadership of either Party ignore the damage it's done to our world reputation after we used the very tactics of non State warfare against the Soviets and then warned them it would be their Vietnam? Enough ego and bravado and foolish "tactics". Any politician who has anything to do with this fiasco needs to either resign or be defeated; leadership, NOT.
1
If we want to help the Afghans the west needs to send all Afghans back to their native country and let them fight it out. As long as there is an outlet valve to the west meaning Europe and Germany the disaffected would rather just move out than face the hard work of building a nation. Having spent several years in AFG I can say that I never met a single Afghan that wanted to stay in Afghanistan. They are angry that they are poor and they watch TV just like we do.
2
I think it's past time to admit that 'Afghanistan' doesn't exist except as an abstraction- lines arbitrarily drawn on a map long ago, which have no connection with the 'tribal' or ethnic groupings in that area. Is it not past time for Western countries to butt out, and allow the factions to discuss the breakup of the country into spaces which can be governed in whichever way they choose?
3
It's a simple choice the United States should make. Are we willing to send in a hundred thousand men, on a par with the Korean War in 1950 and completely remake this country. I doubt it, and on top of that I doubt that a 100,000 American men on the ground would change much. Our presence is a cause of instability there. The problem is we may not be able to leave. We may find that leaving just installs ISIS in our wake and then we will start a sci-fi drone war against the Afghan people to hurt ISIS because we don't want to re-invade. We talk as if this were a problem with an answer when in truth the world that existed in these countries appears to have changed for the worse for America since our invasions here and in Iraq. The entire region from the Mediterranean to India, aside from Iran, is at war with itself and with us. It's a war that has already reached the West. The problem is that we have unleashed a genie and have no way to get it back in its bottle
7
Gather our stuff and move out.....enough already
If the rumors of Russian aid to the Taliban are true, we will regret saying another day longer
Time to go
If the rumors of Russian aid to the Taliban are true, we will regret saying another day longer
Time to go
4
Stop sending troops and money to a corrupt Afghan government, and instead support economic development by going to the grass roots. Rumi Spice, a small company founded by American war veterans to help villagers grow and sell saffron and spices is a great example. Everything else is a waste of blood and treasure.
3
Enough is enough. The president needs to explain to the American people why we are there anymore; however. I doubt he has the capacity in verbal skills or reasoning power to do so.
4
I feel as if I've been sucker punched after reading about this horrible, savage and inhuman attack. I fee there is no stop to these relentless attacks and any efforts to combat are likened to Whac-A-Mole.
2
The book Beauty School Kabul (controversy aside) was my introduction to the liberation felt by the women of Kabul as the Taliban released its grip on the city. Since then, I have rooted for the people there, wishing peace and stability for them. Today’s bombing is a reminder of how difficult this is to attain and how ardently, I am sure, the Taliban would like to take over that city. My heart goes out to all the victims and their families.
4
you do realize that the OVERWHELMING MAJORITY of that nation's population finds the views of that book abhorant, do you not? Much of the world finds western "values" to be a disease. Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa, a few months ago for example criticized the Dutch foreign minister for the fact that his country did not permit polygamy. He complained in made Zulus "not welcome".
This is something that multiculturalists in the Western world need to recognize.
This is something that multiculturalists in the Western world need to recognize.
2
A non sequitor about Jacob Zumba is just what this conversation needs.
2
doug, I would argue that Zuma's views are relevant. They make it clear that many outside the West, like many in Afganistan, detest Western values. I find it hard to believe you do not see the relevancy of that.
If the New Mantra of Donnie, Bannon, et al, is centered on making sound business decisions in government, how will any additional American financial and human investment in Middle East terrorist-laden conflict be justified as prudent?
It seems to me that this kind of attack would not be possible without the aid of a number of the Afghanistan people. How do you build and transport a bomb of this size without people noticing? This situation reminds me so much of Vietnam. The people in the South aided the insurgents and the troops from the North, often while working during the day for the foreign troops in their country.
I've read that the only solution to the Afghanistan war is a political agreement between the different forces now fighting. If so many of the Afghanistan people support the insurgents, then there is no way that outside armies can bring about peace by military force. It's time for all of the combatants to sit down and negotiate a peace. And it's time for our troops to come home.
I've read that the only solution to the Afghanistan war is a political agreement between the different forces now fighting. If so many of the Afghanistan people support the insurgents, then there is no way that outside armies can bring about peace by military force. It's time for all of the combatants to sit down and negotiate a peace. And it's time for our troops to come home.
6
You're forgetting the role of Pakistan in all this. There is no negotiation with stealth.
The cynicism of many of these comments is heartbreaking. Perhaps engaging in a quiet moment of reflection for the lives lost and damaged today is what's called for, rather than political debate. Je suis Kabul.
5
I have reflected on these for the last 16 years and mourned for the lives of so many people, particularly our young soldiers. My conclusion, let us get out of there.We already lost the Afghan people if not the war. 54 billion for defense will not change that. Our mere presence radicalizes people and our reactions create more terrorists.
Remember way back before all this, when we'd see videos of remote terrorist training camps in Afghanistan, but that seemed to be the extent of overt terrorist activity going on in the world? Now, entire regions are terrorist training camps and battlegrounds, entire cities subject to extremist rule, entire minorities (Yazidis, Coptic Christians, Muslims of an opposing sect) subject to the worst persecution--daily, everywhere, all the time it seems. And we are in an eternal war, with children reaching adulthood who have never known America at peace.
All we have for everything we've tried is greater insecurity, greater inequality, loss of stature, loss of moral standing. We've gained nothing and lost so much, purportedly in the name of freedom, but really in the name of feeling secure that "they" won't come get "us".
Add to this our stepping back from international commitments, like the Paris Climate agreement--an action that will only make the poor poorer, so that we won't be inconvenienced in a relatively (compared to the rest of the world's poverty) minor way.
I don't know what the USA stands for anymore. I know what it means in our hearts, but in our actions, I only see more willingness to sacrifice values (freedom for security, generosity for greed) and more war and destitution for the most vulnerable in the world. What's the end game here? When does it end and how do we get back to being a force for good?
All we have for everything we've tried is greater insecurity, greater inequality, loss of stature, loss of moral standing. We've gained nothing and lost so much, purportedly in the name of freedom, but really in the name of feeling secure that "they" won't come get "us".
Add to this our stepping back from international commitments, like the Paris Climate agreement--an action that will only make the poor poorer, so that we won't be inconvenienced in a relatively (compared to the rest of the world's poverty) minor way.
I don't know what the USA stands for anymore. I know what it means in our hearts, but in our actions, I only see more willingness to sacrifice values (freedom for security, generosity for greed) and more war and destitution for the most vulnerable in the world. What's the end game here? When does it end and how do we get back to being a force for good?
7
I spent the 4th of July in Kabul 11 years ago playing a concert at the U.S. embassy with the 10th Mountain Division Band. We spent the night there and departed for the airport the next morning in a convoy wearing full battle gear. This trip to the airport had a couple of nervous moments. The first happened when we had to come to a full stop on a major thoroughfare because a goat herder was guiding his flock across the boulevard. The second one happened when the private security firm tasked to get us safely to the airport got lost along the way and took us down a dead end street. Moments like that combined with news stories like this make me shudder.
3
it sounds like it part of the adventure of being a tourist in Afganistan, Iraq or Pakistan. Why not sit back and enjoy the experience?
When is the benefit concert?
4
And this is done why? Because the residents are not suitably pious? If you do not embrace the exact tenets of my religious beliefs with sufficient fervor, I reserve the right to massacre any and all bystanders to express my righteous indignation.
7
This is an horrific tragedy, but doesn't it all come down to whether the Afghan government and people are willing to do whatever it takes to root out the Taliban and other terrorists and defeat them? We and other foreign powers cannot do it for them. Indeed, I think our presence is probably counter-productive -- we lull the people who want peace into thinking that the all-powerful Western countries will protect them, and our presence is a recruiting tool for the terrorists. Let's get out. We can continue to provide financial aid to the government so long as they show they are aggressively pursuing measures to defeat terrorism, but otherwise it is up to them. The U.S. wouldn't exist today as an independent country if enough patriots had not risen up to defeat the British. The same is true of any country.
66
In a way you are right, there does need to be a more aggressive push by the Afghan government and people to root out terrorists. The only pr Belem is that they are so depleted of manpower, wealth, and will after almost 30 years of constant insurgency. There are entire generations who know nothing but war and explosions. I feel for them and am glad you do too, especially when so many prefer to victim blame without understanding how this quagmire occurred in the first place (US aid against the Soviet invasion lead to the creation of modern Islamist rebels who revel in combat). I must disagree on your point to leave them to their own devices- instead that would only cause the afghans to be overrun (they are already losing pretty much every engagement outside the cities). A troop surge focused on an offensive stance with the goal of assisting the people in the outlying villages would probably yield better results that anything. It would be tough, but US soldiers have an interesting history of low casualties in foreign conflicts (even in Vietnam the proportion of casualties between US and N.Vietnamese was very low despite the news coverage). I don't believe that it is not our problem, if a hostile force is able to control a country then they have a safe haven from which to gather resources and plan attacks anywhere they want.
Sometimes it is just impossible and financial aid from the outside won't simply do it. Even if 99% of Afghans is against Taliban, terrorists will prevail since they have money, arms and an organizational structure exceeding that of the government. Their whole existence is to destroy and disturb, so they will do everything to spread fear. I lived in a city torn by an armed group for about a month. Twelve of us hid inside an apartment and the head of the household would leave once a day to get some provisions. I guess one could also say it was up to him to resist and fight but all he could care about is to protect us, the kids, and the women from any threat. Afghan torn by wars for the last 40 years, wars that were inflicted on it, may not have much of a male population to organize into an army and their primary goal would always be to protect the family first.
5
The logic of this comment , applied to the Paris climate change accords, would have us believe that "developing" polluters and established polluters as China should have the fortitude and national will to curb their greenhouse gases for the sake of future generations etc without one hundred billion in the constantly maligned by the Chinese , Indian , etc press, national political bodies and propaganda outlets Western nations, but they will not do it without Western aid and the Afghan government cannot root out "terrorists" without US aid and provocation , and thus Afghanistan will become terror central and the West will have to deal with truck bombs galore in their own cities , we have to support the Afghans in their battle against the barbarians
an attack on “those who are in Afghanistan working with the people there for a better future.”
- I can't believe thr dude has no feelings for the 80 Afghan civilians who were killed!!
They don't even call it a terrorist attack! When are we going to believe the fact that Muslims themselves are the victims of terrorism the most.
- I can't believe thr dude has no feelings for the 80 Afghan civilians who were killed!!
They don't even call it a terrorist attack! When are we going to believe the fact that Muslims themselves are the victims of terrorism the most.
7
Well, heck! That wise counselor Brzezinski who everyone is eulogizing this week was a prime architect of arming the Afghan mujahedin to fight the Soviets. We've been doing harm there for a lot longer than 16 years.
We didn't learn from the British experience in Afghanistan and we didn't learn from the French experience in Indochina and the smart people haven't done any better than the dumb ones when it comes to foresight.
As far as foreign aid workers, educators et al--when I founded a women's center in a conservative neighborhood of a conservative city in a conservative Muslim country, I made sure the local people--men and women, and religious leaders--made their support for our work clear. When I closed the neighborhood center and relocated it to a commercial area of the city, local people asked us to reconsider, because their girls and women couldn't easily access the new location. They guaranteed our safety and enhanced the security of our compound with their own labor and materials.
Demand that from your local partners, or leave. People only value what costs them something in return.
We didn't learn from the British experience in Afghanistan and we didn't learn from the French experience in Indochina and the smart people haven't done any better than the dumb ones when it comes to foresight.
As far as foreign aid workers, educators et al--when I founded a women's center in a conservative neighborhood of a conservative city in a conservative Muslim country, I made sure the local people--men and women, and religious leaders--made their support for our work clear. When I closed the neighborhood center and relocated it to a commercial area of the city, local people asked us to reconsider, because their girls and women couldn't easily access the new location. They guaranteed our safety and enhanced the security of our compound with their own labor and materials.
Demand that from your local partners, or leave. People only value what costs them something in return.
24
" That wise counselor Brzezinski who everyone is eulogizing this week was a prime architect of arming the Afghan mujahedin to fight the Soviets"
Brezinski was, above all, a Polish nationalist dedicated to liberating his country from Soviet imperialism. And in that his Afganistan policy played an important role.
Brezinski was, above all, a Polish nationalist dedicated to liberating his country from Soviet imperialism. And in that his Afganistan policy played an important role.
1
Yes, Yoda, exactly. His personal obsession drove his foreign policy and that is always, at all times and in every circumstance a very great impediment to rational decision-making.
Like W. wanting to avenge his father by overthrowing Saddam Hussein.
Like W. wanting to avenge his father by overthrowing Saddam Hussein.
2
it was not an impediment to rationa decision-making. His goal was to liberate eastern Europe of soviet imperialism. And he was willing to pay the price in terms of Americans (and other western Europeans) killed to liberate Poland and Eastern Europe. It was a calculation well made. He achieved this goal. He was rational considering his motivation.
Horrific. If after 15 years you still have these kind of bombings happening, what makes you think in the next 15 they won't be happening?
I wish the Afghan people the very best but it's ridiculous to think we can stabilize this country.
I wish the Afghan people the very best but it's ridiculous to think we can stabilize this country.
7
Our biggest mistake in Afghanistan happened in the 80's during the Bush administrations when we "helped" the Afghans defeat the Russians (yes, those Russians), then left them high and dry on domestic aid for education and rebuilding despite the best efforts of Congressman Charlie Wilson and his backers. The Taliban marched in to the opening we left, and had more than 10 years to build up to the 9/11 attacks. We have no one to blame but ourselves.
34
Some truth, except that it wasn't the Taliban building up to the 9/11 attacks. Al Qaeda's roots lie in the anti-Soviet war in Afghanistan, and Bin Laden returned to Afghanistan after being kicked out of Sudan - so they were guests and collaborators with the Taliban at the time of the 9/11 - but the Taliban has always had a regional focus, dedicated to governing Afghanistan, while al Qaeda has had a more international vision.
Alice, the problems go way back before that, there were others , the British were there too, every country that has been there has left in defeat, it cannot be ruled or conquered, there is the difficult terrain and then there is the mindset.
@Alice - so true. Except for progressive media - the MSM never talks about this - NEVER. This is THE biggest problem our current form of humanity has: we collectively fail to learn from our mistakes - both domestic and foreign. This is what happens when we elect incurious - no - anti-curious and anti-introspective politicians to run the ship.
Saudi Arabia good, Iran bad, according to Trump. Yet 94% of terrorism is by Sunnis, 6% by Shias and other. This would not be happening without the influence of Pakistan.
31
Saudi Arabia is amazingly exempted from any blame for extremism.
The history points fingers at Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and USA for
creating extremism. These three countries brought all these extremists
to Afghanistan in 1980 to fight Soviets. They were trained and armed by
CIA and Pakistan and financed by Saudi Arabia. It is not surprising that
Americans suffering from amnesia point fingers at Pakistan and Saudi
Arabia and give clean chit to USA. President Trump in TV interview
asked a rhetorical question" are we innocent".
The history points fingers at Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and USA for
creating extremism. These three countries brought all these extremists
to Afghanistan in 1980 to fight Soviets. They were trained and armed by
CIA and Pakistan and financed by Saudi Arabia. It is not surprising that
Americans suffering from amnesia point fingers at Pakistan and Saudi
Arabia and give clean chit to USA. President Trump in TV interview
asked a rhetorical question" are we innocent".
Mmm, in reality the actions of the terrorists lead to believe they are not Muslims at all! What Muslim goes to war during Ramadan? What Muslim commits suicide willingly when the act is forbidden? What Muslim attacks women, children, the elderly, and non-combatant men? I feel like they have been so indoctrinated by a pseuodo- Islam that they haven't even tried to learn what Islam actually is. Our esteemed president is...not the brightest bulb... he knows only what he hears and does not care to hear things from those he does not respect. I imagine if he went to Iran instead of Saudi Arabia he would be saying the opposite! President Obama was actually quite good with understanding this, which is why he never used the term Radical Islam- because for that that term to make sense the terrorists have to be Muslim! I think his method was working well, especially since the mass attacks we've had during his tenure were mostly due to home-grown gun fanatics, racists, and police. And they still are, but that's a different story. I just wish he was more decisivein pursuing victory against terrorists, he had the belief that people ultimately shared his vision and would jump in to help, but politics from all sides and all nations came in between common trust and sense.
5
Afghanistan is very simply a casualty of cynical & callous superpower regional geo-political machinations. Afghans (NUG and insurgents) must stop taking foreign monies and cease pursuing their interests. Foreigners are not there for the best interests of Afghans. They are there for their own intetests!
7
Why are we still there? It's a good question. The answer is very elusive. When America feels threatened by such atrocities not to mention those posed by North Korea, our government has a duty to try and intervene particularly as we are supposed to be the most powerful country on earth. The Muslim world appears to be in total disarray. Nothing, it seems, can resolve the conflicts between themselves. While the Great Satan offers them some sort of unifying alternative, they still can't overcome their own bitter rivalries. God help them because no one else can.
9
They will never unify, it sunni against shia and this has been going on forever and nary the two shall meet. The middle east will continue to be a conflageration because it is a relgious issue.
The reason we are still there is because 9/11 is the result of the fact that right after the Russians left we simply ditched out and left the place to rot. That led to the rise of the Taliban and Al Qaeda (which as you may remember was hatched in Afghanistan), the rise of the Madrassas (in Pakistan), the interference of Pakistan with the support of the Pakistan military, and a devastating civil war. Since we are main contributors to the instability, we owe it the country to stick it out, and it is in our own best interests. Don't forget, Pakistan has nuclear weapons.
2
the human determination and resilience is remarkable, right after the attack, the municipal workers (as shown in the pics) got to work to clean the streets around the German Embassy. This is yet also another reminder to the extremists that they will not succeed.
7
We expect this activity to occur over there*, and we're outraged when it happens over here**.
* "There" are the locations NATO has attacked in the course of war.
** "Here" are the location of NATO countries.
I would call this phenomenon war: perhaps we're not happy it occurred the way we'd have been delighted during WWII while firebombing Dresden, but we're content they are doing it to themselves. Even when the US bombed and killed 225 civilians, including 36 women and 44 children in Syria last month, nobody really cared from the NATO nations. Regarding the Manchester bombing and this recent bombing in Afghanistan, people think, "hmm, payback" even when it's the wrong country.
* "There" are the locations NATO has attacked in the course of war.
** "Here" are the location of NATO countries.
I would call this phenomenon war: perhaps we're not happy it occurred the way we'd have been delighted during WWII while firebombing Dresden, but we're content they are doing it to themselves. Even when the US bombed and killed 225 civilians, including 36 women and 44 children in Syria last month, nobody really cared from the NATO nations. Regarding the Manchester bombing and this recent bombing in Afghanistan, people think, "hmm, payback" even when it's the wrong country.
5
what has improved in Afghanistan over the last 30 years of American involvement?And now General want more troops!
WE don't have a strategy and tactics are not working which is precisely
what you expect when bringing democracy Muslim tribes
But is does generates jobs and profits for our defence industry and protects Israel and Saudi Arabia
Has any noticed India's-non particption
WE don't have a strategy and tactics are not working which is precisely
what you expect when bringing democracy Muslim tribes
But is does generates jobs and profits for our defence industry and protects Israel and Saudi Arabia
Has any noticed India's-non particption
13
maybe we can just sit back, let the Taliban come to power, and then watch Islamic terrorists use Afganistan as a base to launch terrorist attacks? You know, like they did on the World Trade Center.
1
This is really horrible. I also want to write about what I observed while trying to read about this on several news websites. The death toll for this attack is about 4 times the Manchester attack, however it is not covered as extensively as the Manchester attack. I am not a journalist but this feels as different standards of reporting. This also makes me ask the question: "Is the value of a human life more important in the western world than some other parts of the world". Both attacks were horrific where innocent people were killed. I just want to bring to attention which I felt about the reporting. The main story on some news websites (e.g. CNN, FOX, MSNBC) today is Mr Trump's use of the word "COVFEFE". This is really absurd.
128
I see your point and I somehow agree. One thing that must be remembered is that Afghanistan is basically a war zone. Manchester and the UK are not.
7
It appears Afghanistan is used as the battle space and front line on the West's global war on terror. Without an Afghanistan to attract extremists to fight on, the West would've suffered more Manchester type attacks. So the West uses Afghanistan to mitigate attacks in U.S. and Western cities. As GWB said, "better (to fight) there than (fight us) here." That is essentially what is happening. That's why U.S. pays salary of nearly every single Afghan soldier- so U.S. troops don't suffer the casualties- let the Afghans take the brunt of the U.S.-led global war on terror while U.S. pays the thieves in NUG to rent their country out to foreigners to use as they will.
3
The difference in coverage is not about the value of lives but the value of news. Kabul is a literal war zone and has been for years. And it's in a part of the world with rampant violence throughout. A western city like Manchester is safe and civilized, not to mention a lot closer to home. For those reasons (and not racism as you imply) the Manchester bombing is more newsworthy.
1
After 15 years of war, there is no place safe, no place stable. There is no government there worthy of the name. They can't pay for the forces they've got, and those forces are not worth much anyway.
It is a failure. More years, more American lives, more American hundreds of billions, won't change that. What has not worked at all won't suddenly start to work.
It is a failure. More years, more American lives, more American hundreds of billions, won't change that. What has not worked at all won't suddenly start to work.
50
And the top story being read among NYT readers is about a misspelling by Trump. Truly sad.
46
I've disagreed with our current Commandeering Chief on just about every thing he has said and done to date, however, I'm not sure those very small minorities of radical muslims can be filtered out if our doors are wide open. It's like a they manage an Oklahoma bombing type of disasters once a month. Are we ready for that?
2
As long as Pakistan provides safe havens to Afghan insurgents and Haqqani Network, Afghanistan would suffer and so would the U.S. in form of military lives and tax payers money. It is long overdue to address the Pakistan problem as part of the new Afghan Strategy.
19
Totally right about the role of Pakistan - but somehow the idea of solving this war by expanding it to a neighboring country seems - just wrong. I'm afraid what we have to recognize is that there terrible people are so deeply rooted in the region that we don't have any way of kicking them out - the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan are going to have to concede territory and work out their own arrangements. We will be looking at times like when Hillary Clinton was protesting about the terrible women's rights situation under the Taliban - but we weren't fighting a war to try to eradicate them...
More Scapegoating, we have failed to secure Afghanistan and its borders and so has our trained up Afghan Army, situation will not change if we stay another 15 years. 1/3 of Afghanistan is in the hand of the enemy and we cant take ownership of our situation & cut our losses & get out! we resort to scapegoating as if that will change Afghanistan quagmire. If we start addressing Pakistan Problem, then Pakistani's will start addressing Indian problem in Afghanistan. We have no bone in this fight and would rather stay out. The only hawks wanting to go to war with Pakistan are Indians! Good for them they can duke it out with Pakistan we are done fighting other people battles!
Pakistan is already addressing the Indian problem in Afghanistan and that's why Taliban and the Haqqani Network are used as proxy in this undeclared war against the Afghan state and the U.S and allies. It is not about doing other people battles or going to a war with Pakistan, but using strong diplomatic pressures and sanctions against Pakistan for their double game and calling them out for what they do. Otherwise it is a betrayal to many U.S. service man and woman who paid with their life, IMO.
1
The scope of the discord in Afghanland is beyond our ability to control it. Vietnam again. We must come to agreement with the Taliban at some level. We must remove ourselves from an untenable position. If we do not do so, we risk our future. The guns should be put away. Our staying threatens the security of the Afghan country.
6
There will be no peace until the head is cut off of the snake that funds the Taliban. American news coverage should educate and/or remind us that this is what ANY sort of religious extremism looks like. We are teetering dangerously close to ultra-conservative Christian rule right here, and this Catholic, for one, wants no part of it. The framers of our Constitution separated church and state for a reason. See photos for argument exhibits 1-4.
61
It's sad knowing a vast majority of Muslims are the actual targets of these terror attacks worldwide. Question: Would they all end if other countries left? Is it certain the Taliban would retake the country? It's a conundrum.
9
And Trump is actually weighing whether to send more troops to this country. We have no interests there, 15 years have been wasted, countless billions and nothing has changed. The country is run by corrupt officials working on behalf of a religion rooted in tribal rivalries based in the middle ages. We need to get out of there now.
111
But wait--our munitions industry can make so much money keeping the fighting eternal. And the soldiers chewed up there, on their first tour or their fifth tour will be proclaimed saints by the King of the Russian States of America, and we can all explode our fireworks in honor of our King and Fighting Saints.
I just got off the phone with my colleague in Afghanistan. He's not corrupt, nor are his colleagues who are trying to create a peaceful civil society and there are millions of human beings who are working along side of them. If you knew Afghans by name and regularly Skyped with them, my guess is that you'd not write what you just wrote.
Are you talking about Afghanistan or the United States? Your descriptions could apply to either. As well as all nations and all humans. But what can we really expect of humans, an entitled but failed species that is nothing but a parasite on this world, which we are quickly killing.
1
Such anger and sadness and waste of energy and life. And then we add Donald Trump to the wreckage who stands like the king of all things evil. The world needs leaders who are truly interesting in lifting people up and offering a chance for life other than terror and an addiction to killing.
41
HOw in God's name did you bring Trump into this?
6
Seeing the footage of this bombing brought me back to 9/11. My heart and prayers go out to all the people of Kabul and the country of Afghanistan.
40
Instead of saying no one has "claimed responsibility" , it would be better to say no one "has accepted blame". or no one has "admitted guilt" for this atrocity.
60
Absolutely. Words used can promote the terrorist propaganda and attention to their murderous spectacle. The spectacle and violence has become entertainment. The thirst for violent entertainment is titrating to yet more extreme events.
1
What a terrible tragedy for everyone touched by it (which should be the whole world, but I fear we in the US are already too desensitized to violence in Afghanistan to feel very touched). My heart goes out to Kabul.
17
If the Western powers that pretend to be had any self respect they'd spare an already insulted world their crocodile tears and feigned outrage and just quietly crawl back into their useless hole and stay there for good.
2
I think the world is a little more insulted by the people blowing up their markets and pop concerts
1
This is the reason we need to get our troops out of Kabul. This is no time for our troops to Rambo in Afghan. Our leader has suffered from victory disease and want his men to die for his wonderful future.
8
What a horrible tragedy. Two thoughts come immediately to mind: 1) We've been in Afghanistan for almost 16 years. Has the cost in blood and treasure achieved anything since al Qaeda was expelled from the country in late 2001? 2) Will Trump call Merkel and express condolences over the German casualties?
22
We need new strategies for making peace. All we'll ever get from responding to violence with more violence is ... more violence. I want peace, love, and understanding. We need to learn about everyone. This is ONE WORLD.
5
It's shocking how few comments there are on this. This is of course not new, but I still am surprised by the tendency to ignore non-Western tragedies. How incredibly sad.
38
I almost wrote the same comment. Almost 4 times as many victims as Manchester and less than 30 comments already.
22
Right? Trump misspelling a word in his Tweet has received more attention.
3
No offense, but I'm really starting to resent comments like this. Do you think anyone in Afghanistan cared about the Manchester bombing? It's not their job to shed tears over all of our tragedies, nor is it our job to cry over theirs.
Back to the cold comfort in reading the perceptive comments of people here how also know the score about this Vietnam War clone and the power of money to create it. Amazing, but I guess educating, that something so wrong can be handily repeated in another generation, given enough money-making power and paid propaganda. You can fool (almost) all of the people at least for a while. Tragic, especially in just the attempt to save lives, we are the condemned by the warmongers. An international police/detective force to bring criminal terrorists to justice is the alternative to perpetual wars that merely inflame and recruit them, as well as dignify them as soldiers. But where's the profit in that approach?
4
Its heartening to see every day some where in Islamic world. Its time to retrospect their policies. Ideology for betterment of their society. Unless it may reached to situation where there is no come back.
1
I'm very confident that Arianna Grande and Justin Bieber will do a charity concert in Kabul and also in Baghdad. Ideally a monthly concert.
I was very surprised on the attention that the NYTimes gave to the Manchester bombing last week, when it was all about what a wonderful 23 year old Arianna Grande is.
Roger Cohen wrote a whole column in a timely fashion on her incredible personality.
I was very surprised on the attention that the NYTimes gave to the Manchester bombing last week, when it was all about what a wonderful 23 year old Arianna Grande is.
Roger Cohen wrote a whole column in a timely fashion on her incredible personality.
11
Amazing how some people are so consumed with liberal guilt that they'd sooner express anger at Ariana Grande than the animals who are blowing people up on every continent.
2
Sometimes it seems that the real objective of bombings like this (and the one in Manchester, as another example) is to cause anguish just for its own sake. How can we talk of rational strategic planning by the warped and demented minds that would methodically undertake to assemble, deploy and detonate such a blindly indiscriminate and monstrous thing as this huge truck filled with explosives that was blown up in the heavily peopled, busy city center?
59
The primary goal of a terrorists is to engender fear of everyone who is not know to us personally and distrust of the government, such as it is in Afghanistan.
Bottom line is the US has been fighting Islamic terrorists in Afghanistan since 2001, and have expended untold hundreds of billions of US treasure, the loss of 1000's of American service men and women lives and tens of 1000's of damaged and traumatized veterans. For what purpose? What stratgeic interests does this God-forsaken country hold for USA? I can think of NONE.
Bottom line is the US has been fighting Islamic terrorists in Afghanistan since 2001, and have expended untold hundreds of billions of US treasure, the loss of 1000's of American service men and women lives and tens of 1000's of damaged and traumatized veterans. For what purpose? What stratgeic interests does this God-forsaken country hold for USA? I can think of NONE.
12
All sides to this violent conflict are at fault:
- the Afghans for allowing the U.S.-Nato use its country to wage GWOT;
- the U.S. for using Afghanistan as its battle space and front lines to attract extremist violence there than in Western cities;
- Pakistan for using Afghanistan for its strategic depth policies;
- Russia for arming the Taliban to hurt U.S. interests in the region;
- Taliban for taking foreign support to fight.
Clearly, all the parties to the conflict are to blame for using the poorest country on earth to test each other's interests and ideologies.
- the Afghans for allowing the U.S.-Nato use its country to wage GWOT;
- the U.S. for using Afghanistan as its battle space and front lines to attract extremist violence there than in Western cities;
- Pakistan for using Afghanistan for its strategic depth policies;
- Russia for arming the Taliban to hurt U.S. interests in the region;
- Taliban for taking foreign support to fight.
Clearly, all the parties to the conflict are to blame for using the poorest country on earth to test each other's interests and ideologies.
> How can we talk of rational strategic planning by the warped and demented minds that would methodically undertake to assemble, deploy and detonate such a blindly indiscriminate and monstrous thing
The top two Times picks above yours are comments arguing that we end our support to Afghanistan (and indirectly to the NATO mission) -- which I'd imagine is pretty close to the top of the bad guys' wishlist. I'm sure that those opinions were not formed today, but because of the attack they're relevant in a way that they weren't two days ago.
Not sure if "rational" is the right word, but at least in the immediate short term looks to have been pretty strategic.
The top two Times picks above yours are comments arguing that we end our support to Afghanistan (and indirectly to the NATO mission) -- which I'd imagine is pretty close to the top of the bad guys' wishlist. I'm sure that those opinions were not formed today, but because of the attack they're relevant in a way that they weren't two days ago.
Not sure if "rational" is the right word, but at least in the immediate short term looks to have been pretty strategic.
Praying for these people right now.
And as someone who has asked for prayers, I do not believe that prayer is either useless or that it rules out taking appropriate action.
So at this moment I pray for these people and I know others out there are praying for them, as well.
And as someone who has asked for prayers, I do not believe that prayer is either useless or that it rules out taking appropriate action.
So at this moment I pray for these people and I know others out there are praying for them, as well.
4
It looks like we have simply run out of things to say. sad
4
Very sad. A war that can't be won.
I feel for these people just as much as Americans.
I feel for these people just as much as Americans.
2
We've always thought of these wars as temporary and aimed at building local governments... maybe we should do the opposite and simply crush these insurgencies while outright governing the countries through puppets. This tactic has worked perfectly well for centuries and brought peace to many of the war torn parts of the world during colonial times. The worst excesses of the colonial era can be avoided while female education, burka / bribery bans and the like can slowly modernize these corrupt cultures. In the meantime, we can utilize the resources of the countries to pay for the wars. Some may say this is ugly or unfair but the daily barbarism that is building in these places and spreading globally is not tolerable. Let's fight wars to win rather than riding this lethal merry-go-round forever.
2
Now, who was it the Taliban and Bin Laden were calling the Devil?
5
I don't see what we can do to prevent such cruel barbarism. Sometimes I begin to lose hope for our world.
9
Don't lose hope. 1 Corinthians 13:13
4
Danusha, so that's why 13 is such an unlucky number? I've always wondered were that superstition came from.
Blessings. Nice to know there are praying people still here. Individuals, our country and the world need our creator and Jesus, and focus on the bible. We realize people may not recognize Jesus, but he is the way.
My heart goes out to all who have lost loved ones.
18
The government of Afghanistan is paid for by US taxpayers. It is hopelessly corrupt. The corruption feeds the Taliban narrative of American crusaders and their mercenary quislings in Kabul.
With 500,000 troops, air power and all our technology we could not defeat the Viet Cong in the Vietnam war, which ended after more than ten years.
The US has been in Afghanistan for 15 years and counting, on a mission of perpetual war for perpetual peace. How much more US blood and taxpayer treasure has to be squandered before we learn that mercenaries will never defeat a people’s insurgency?
It will take a popular Muslim counter-insurgency motivated not by US bribes, but by patriotism and hatred of terrorism that offers a credible resistance to the Taliban.
Whether in the Middle East or Afghanistan, it’s up to the people themselves to fight their own battles and for the US to withdraw.
Isolationism, you say?
When our schools are excellent and high speed passenger trains have been built coast to coast; when our roads, highways and bridges have been repaired; when all Americans have great health care and Social Security, and the social safety net is ensured then perhaps we can adventure militarily abroad in some limited degree. But to endeavor to fund trillion dollar wars (Iraq; Afghanistan) overseas, while quality of life continues to deteriorate in America is interventionist insanity. If taking care of our people first is stigmatized as “isolationism” I accept the stigma.
With 500,000 troops, air power and all our technology we could not defeat the Viet Cong in the Vietnam war, which ended after more than ten years.
The US has been in Afghanistan for 15 years and counting, on a mission of perpetual war for perpetual peace. How much more US blood and taxpayer treasure has to be squandered before we learn that mercenaries will never defeat a people’s insurgency?
It will take a popular Muslim counter-insurgency motivated not by US bribes, but by patriotism and hatred of terrorism that offers a credible resistance to the Taliban.
Whether in the Middle East or Afghanistan, it’s up to the people themselves to fight their own battles and for the US to withdraw.
Isolationism, you say?
When our schools are excellent and high speed passenger trains have been built coast to coast; when our roads, highways and bridges have been repaired; when all Americans have great health care and Social Security, and the social safety net is ensured then perhaps we can adventure militarily abroad in some limited degree. But to endeavor to fund trillion dollar wars (Iraq; Afghanistan) overseas, while quality of life continues to deteriorate in America is interventionist insanity. If taking care of our people first is stigmatized as “isolationism” I accept the stigma.
165
Eloquently put, as the voice of sanity and compassion. Thank you very much.
8
I agree with your perspective, except on one minor point. Where tangible assistance can be provided (famine zones, medical emergencies, intelligent and thoughtful mediation among others) it would be disappointing if the US were to shirk that responsibility. But where wars are concerned, I agree that others should be expected to solve their own problems, perhaps with mediation of requested.
The Arab league needs to work to get past the sectarian chasm. If it can happen in Northern Ireland - where centuries of hatred were eclipsed by optimism and a willingness to forgive, then there is surely hope for the Shia and Sunni divide.
The Arab league needs to work to get past the sectarian chasm. If it can happen in Northern Ireland - where centuries of hatred were eclipsed by optimism and a willingness to forgive, then there is surely hope for the Shia and Sunni divide.
4
Sorry sir even though it was broken before you bought it you still became the owner. And you know something we will make the exact same decisions again the next time. Because, contrary to your assumptions, it's not about perpetual war in pursuit of perpetual peace. Rather it's about perpetual contracts for defense contractors and the longer and the less successful these adventure are the better they like it. Can you really judge the success or failure of any enterprise if you're not really privy to its ultimate objectives?
Beyond tragic and horrific - this massacre of more than 80 people - civilians! - and maiming of 350 innocent people in Kabul. Whether we like him or loathe him, it is time for President Trump to withdraw American troops from both Afghanistan and Iraq and declare the war - fomented by President George W. Bush and his Hawk "Mission Accomplished" Cabal of Cheney, Rove, Rumsfeld - lost, as we lost Vietnam. Truth is truth.
88
Include Obama and Colin Powell. Hillary Clinton as well.
1
What an idiotic terrible stupid tragic unbelievable error it was.