Afghan Exit:why, how and more in country and beyond

[Ken White]

I don't particularly like having the genesis of this thread attributed to me...

Heh. Stuff like that happens when and where ever well intentioned persons meddle when there was no real cause to do so...

This was never about Afghanistan. It was never about Iraq. Even AQ is as much a symptom as a problem. It is time to stop agonizing over specific places or organizations or individuals and begin thinking about who we are and how we best define and secure our interests in the changing world emerging around us.

All true but agonizing over spilt milk apparently makes one feel good. It also seems to focus one on the symptoms rather than the causes...

Debates over who "won" or who "lost"; or excessive hand-wringing over a particular place such as Afghanistan where we happened to act out on these fears is not that helpful.

Even more true -- in fact, it's instead harmful and a distraction from what's important.

[davidbfpo]

Originally Posted by Bob's World:

I don't particularly like having the genesis of this thread attributed to me...

Then Ken White:

...when there was no real cause to do so...

Such delicacy and to meet Bob's concern I have amended the Moderator's Note in the first post, the last line now reads: this thread was not started by Bob's World, rather I used it as the starting point.

This thread may venture into who "won" or "lost" Afghanistan, the key, uncomfortable theme is 'Afghan Exit:why, how and more in country and beyond'. A theme that SWC should consider and discuss - it might actually help!

[Bob's World]

No worries Dave. I appreciate very much what you do to keep this site what it is.

[Ken White]

Very much so.

No delicacy involved -- I've been accused of many things but that's a first -- just taking advantage of what I thought a non-issue as a reminder to all that the best of intentions (as in Afghanistan) can have unintended and sometimes not at all humorous but sometimes mildly humorous effects.

My apologies if you or anyone else was offended, no insult intended. The thrust of my comment was not that minor aside and poor attempt at humor but the contention that we tend to attack symptoms rather than the root of problems and, in the case of Afghanistan, my opinion stated in the last paragraph:

"...in fact, it's (Debates or excessive hand-wringing over a particular place such as Afghanistan) instead harmful and a distraction from what's important."