That's because both candidates support the same policy. They just don't want you to know that, Americans. They want you to think you have a choice in the political s*** show fooley. Then we can have "change."
"Afghanistan is missing from the campaign" by Linda J. Bilmes | July 15, 2012
After 11 years, 2,000 American lives, trillions of dollars, and lifelong disabilities for nearly half of the soldiers who have fought there — we are still at war in Afghanistan. Yet if you listen to the election campaign, you would hardly know it.
The war has become an inconvenience that nobody wants to mention....
One reason for the conspiracy of silence is that it is obvious that the United States — like the British, the Russians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Huns, and many others — cannot “win” in Afghanistan. We invaded Afghanistan in 2001 with the clear aim of rooting out Al Qaeda and preventing it from reestablishing itself.
That is when I have to hit the head.
Now, with Bin Laden dead and the rump of Al Qaeda located in Yemen, our goals are unclear.
Going to be a while (with stench).
The Afghan people don’t want us there, the Karzai government is riddled with corruption, and our remorseless drone attacks are creating the next generation of America-haters across the border in Pakistan.
What was that first one again?
Within Afghanistan, the hand-off to local security forces is not going well; Afghan police officers and soldiers have already killed 25 coalition members this year. Innocent civilians are routinely maimed and killed as they try to go to school and mosque and buy food in the markets.
I beg to differ. My government and mouthpiece media have indicated it is going pretty well. Yes, ther are problems, BUT....
The human and financial toll of the war is debilitating for the United States, if only we would stop to hear it.
Imagine what it is for the innocent people whom AmeriKa has murdered and the victims left behind in shattered and environmentally-degraded villages.
Last weekend, we lost six more young Americans. I've kind of stopped caring because I have said for nearly six years out now, out now, out now. I've said stop enlisting, stop taking orders, hit an Occupy rally.
The AmeriKan people have had plenty of time to practice nonviolent noncooperation here, and they haven't. I am sad about the losses for the families and friends involved; however, HOW LONG MUST THIS MADNESS CONTINUE?
Every single day we pay out $328 million for Afghanistan, much of it to ship fuel to remote locations.
And back home we get social service austerity.
On average, one active-duty soldier commits suicide each day.
Related: Sunday Globe Special: US Army F***ing With Vets' Minds
Maybe they just need to get high, huh?
Half of all US veterans from this war are claiming disability benefits, racking up trillions of dollars in long-term support costs.
Okay, on this one that is MY FIRST (and likely only) "defense" BUDGET ITEM!
Let's CARE FOR the PEOPLE who have ALREADY BEEN DAMAGED before MAKING MORE, 'kay?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Women veterans are suffering disproportionately, with higher rates of unemployment, depression, homelessness, suicide, and divorce.
Related: Quick Vet Check
And HOW ABOUT those DAILY SUICIDES across the services and service members, 'eh?
Congress, which hasn’t managed to enact a regular budget in three years, has already appropriated another $200 billion to be disbursed into Afghanistan during 2012-13 (in addition to $500 billion previously), according to a new report by Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. As Cordesman puts it, “This is an incredible amount of money to have spent with so few controls, so few plans, so little auditing, and almost no credible measures of effectiveness.”
But hey, it's for war, so....
Despite all this, no one is seriously debating our role in Afghanistan.
Except for BLOGGERS!!
Last week representatives from some 70 nations and international organizations pledged ongoing support when the United Sates and the coalition pull out in 2014. Despite Afghanistan’s atrocious disregard for human rights, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that it is now a “major ally” of the United States — in the same league as Israel and Japan.
Yeah, she is a real piece of work.
Accordingly, the United States promised to give our new BFF several billions of dollars per year in ongoing financial aid over the next decade.
For some reason the number $4 billion -- that's right $4 billion -- sticks with me. And that is JUST FOR OPENERS!
Faced with all this, why are voters not demanding that the war, with its uncertainties and its enormous cost in lives and money, be a central issue in the presidential campaign?
Oh, WE ARE!! It is the Globe and the REST of the AmeriKan media that have DISTRACTED from the issue!
Some argue that the war is eclipsed by our economic problems at home.
No, THEY ARE ONE of the HUGE REA$ON$ FOR OUR ECONOMIC PROBLEMS!
But as Joe Stiglitz and I showed in our book “The Three Trillion Dollar War,” these issues are closely related.
And COUNTING!!!!
The money we spend in Afghanistan is not helping the US economy. The same amount, whether spent on middle class tax cuts or aid to state and local governments, could put people back to work at home.
Voters must ask the presidential candidates why US troops should be in Afghanistan for another two years — or longer? And if the end game is some type of political deal with the Taliban, why not sooner rather than later?
Because MANY INNOCENT AFGHANS and maybe even a few Americans and Europeans might live?
In short, the election provides an opportunity for Americans to take a clear-eyed view of our policy in Afghanistan. The war is costing too much for us to simply push it under the carpet.
Been there, done that.
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