tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36404602.post7559424464091760206..comments2023-10-26T05:08:20.977-04:00Comments on Connecting.the.Dots: Obama's Bay of Pigs?ROBERT STEINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11999996852219220599noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36404602.post-32360652840191914792009-03-12T22:46:00.000-04:002009-03-12T22:46:00.000-04:00Unfortunately, Obama inherited two wretched quagmi...Unfortunately, Obama inherited two wretched quagmires. Iraq is a profound moral dilemma, even for those of us who rigorously opposed the war. The most awful president in modern history, in our name, went into the country and destroyed it. Powell had it right: "You break it, you own it." All of us Americans bear a deep responsibility for what was done in our name. The issue facing Obama is how to fulfill our obligation to the Iraqi people with a minimum of bloodshed for all and not adding to the economic mess he inherited from the idiots.<BR/><BR/>Ironically, the Afghanistan mess was exactly the opposite. We went into the country, with more than adequate moral standing, cleared out the Taliban and Al Qaeda, then abandoned the Afghans to the criminals and warlords the Taliban had thrown out.<BR/><BR/>One can only hope that Obama is trying a holding action in Afghanistan to give him some breathing room in Iraq. The message coming out of the Pentagon these days is not "more is better", which your blog seems to indicate. It's more like "we lost our belt, pants and shoes, and we're just trying to stay warm here."<BR/><BR/>Senior military officers are often more historically savvy than their civilian counterparts. A basic knowledge of the history of Afghanistan (the British and Soviet attempts to control it) know it is a chump's game. I think they want out as much as Obama wants them out. But, that ole devil morality raises his ugly head again.<BR/><BR/>And, I cannot see any sensible remedies to these messes that don't involve long term personnel and financial commitment for the US.<BR/><BR/>Good luck with trying to persuade the American people about that.<BR/><BR/>Richard YorkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com