04 December 2009

Not sure how to feel...

I just read a posting on Michael Moore's website (the political instigator, not the fabulous London chef!) entitled "An Open Letter to President Obama from Michael Moore" which extolls the President not to swell troops numbers in Afghanistan. Since he wrote this letter, of course Pres. Obama did decide to increase troops in Afghanistan. I do not entirely agree with MM. First (and I would not say this in public because Americans go apeshit) I do not "support our troops" as the mantra goes as a matter of course. I do feel great compassion for individual soldiers and for their families, but I do not support the troops as a rule. You cannot be against war and for warriors as the same time. All these wars are sad shams and it's a shame that predominately poor, underprivileged young kids have no other option for money and education that to join the armed forces. I don't find that admirable.

But, more to the point - I think we're in the shit in Afghanistan and pulling out might make it worse. I will admit I don't know enough about the situation to really make good predictions, which is why the Pres and the Generals should be in the decision-making process. I don't think we should be fighting wars in the first place, but since we're there, we should finish the job. I am a HUGE fan of MM, but he really is given to unfounded histrionics sometimes. Iraq was the War of Mistakes, but that does not mean Afghanistan necessarily is... I am not entirely sure about any of this though, what do you all think?