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America's military situation in Afghanistan would be much better today if we had not been distracted by invading Iraq. Ask a Question

America's military situation in Afghanistan would be much better today if we had not been distracted by invading Iraq.
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4 Answers

We would probably be about 6 years more advanced than we are now. But whether that means success or deep quagmire, who knows? I have grave doubts about the likelihood of a good result from our intervention. I see nothing in our favor, and no way to leave without humiliation.

Afghanistan is no longer (if it ever was) strictly a military problem. The military objectives are largely met.

Afghanistan is still largely a heroin based economy. The Taliban take full advantage of that by taxing heroin, guarding convoys and poppy fields, and loaning money and seeds to farmers so that they can make 10 times as much as raising wheat. The US treats it as a police problem and the Taliban laughs all the way to the bank.

5 Replies to JWBrothers's answer

No, Joyce, Afghanistan is NOW a heroin=based economy--as a direct result of unending military intervention, starting with the Soviets but by no means ending with us.

http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/heroin/historic.htm

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_production_in_Afghanistan

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The Taliban was the government of Afghanistan until we largely destroyed them in 2001 and 2002. They have regained some of their former effectiveness by setting up a capitalistic heroin economy with profits going to themselves and the farmers.

If we bought the heroin, I'm afraid that we would have the same outcome as the British did in China in the 1800s. (which was a disaster for Great Britain and China.

You are right. Pakistan is the next al-Quida expansion operation.

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America would have been better if it had not invaded any country at all

1 Replies to Intinvage's answer

And we would have been even better off if Ben-Laden hadn't issued a Fatwa against us and we'd be better off if al-Qaida didn't mount the largest terrorist attack the World has ever witnessed against us. What's your point? Let the Taliban take over the World?

I don't think so. The Afghan tribes have never been able to create a cililised country - and are not going to anytime soon. The idea of 'building democray' there would only occur to the terminally naive.