More Troops to Afghanistan a Mistake

[FayeforCure]

FLVCS GUEST COLUMN PUBLISHED IN SARASOTA HERALD TRIBUNE NOV. 12, 2009

MORE TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN A MISTAKE

In a press release about his recent trip to Afghanistan , U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan asked the public for its views on American policy.

Florida Veterans for Common Sense agrees with Buchanan that the Obama administration should consider all options for troop levels in Afghanistan . But our organization considers the recommendation of Gen. Stanley McChrystal to increase troop levels by 40,000 to be the worst option. 

We are extremely proud of our troops, and there is no doubt they are highly skilled and motivated.

Yet, no matter how well our soldiers execute their orders, they cannot prevail if the mission is not well defined.

And, we ask, “What is the mission?” Is it to prop up a corrupt, illegitimate, unstable central government in Afghanistan ?

In our view, our troops should be brought home from Afghanistan before more lives and treasure are wasted in misadventure.

No cogent national security interest exists that justifies the costs to maintain troops in Afghanistan . As the Pentagon acknowledges, al-Qaida in Afghanistan has been decimated. Furthermore, al-Qaida doesn’t need to use Afghanistan to plan and execute operations against the United States and its allies.

Al-Qaida is disbursed around the world. As we and Buchanan know, some al-Qaida training for the 9/11 attack took place in our own congressional district.

Should we invade and occupy Pakistan , Somalia , Sudan , Yemen and other unstable countries where al-Qaida is able to operate? 

Matthew Hoh, a former officer in both the Marines and State Department, resigned from State to protest the occupation in Afghanistan . Hoh said in his resignation letter:

“The Pashtun insurgency, which is composed of multiple, seemingly infinite, local groups, is fed by what is perceived by the Pashtun people as a continued and sustained assault, going back centuries, on Pashtun land, culture, traditions and religion by internal and external enemies.

“The U.S. and NATO presence and operations in Pashtun valleys and villages, as well as Afghan army and police units that are led and composed of non-Pashtun soldiers and police, provide an occupation force against which the insurgency is justified.”

“In both the Regional Command East and South, I have observed that the bulk of the insurgency fights not for the white banner of the Taliban, but rather against the presence of foreign soldiers and taxes imposed by an unrepresentative government in Kabul .”

In short, like Vietnam and Iraq , the United States is taking sides in a civil war.

Another military misadventure in Asia is a national security threat to America . How do Gen. McChrystal and others arguing for more troops in Afghanistan suggest that America pay the cost?

Are we to spend ourselves into oblivion by further mortgaging our economy on an occupation that we cannot afford? Do Congress and the president propose to raise taxes or to borrow more money from China ?

If the U.S. government takes into account the long-term price of treating our warriors wounded in Iraq â€" and the cost to replace the equipment expended and worn out in Iraq â€" the total cost for the Iraq will be $3 trillion or more. These expenditures are already stressing the economy. Sending more troops to Afghanistan will exacerbate the strain.

An additional 40,000 troops will not be sufficient to make a long term difference in Afghanistan . The standard counterinsurgency ratio of troops to population would require roughly 600,000 troops in Afghanistan . So, 40,000 more troops is only a down payment.

Where would Buchanan propose finding the troops? Through a draft?

Florida Veterans for Common Sense sees the addition of more troops to Afghanistan as a dangerous mistake that will lead to further escalation and complicate eventual withdrawal.

Our organization suggests that Buchanan call Matthew Hoh and other experts, including economists, to testify before Congress before voting to fund more troops for Afghanistan .