Should we send more troops to Afghanistan?: Panorama: Rocky Mountain PBS: a1

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Should we send more troops to Afghanistan?

posted Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009 9:59am

See more on: Blogs, Frontline, News & Current Affairs, Poll

Judging from the comments on Frontline's website, tonight's "Obama's War" at 9pm is must-watch television.

Some comments that jumped out at me:

"Whether FOR this war or NOT, this should be shown in every high school, college and prime-time network. ..."

"I could not do what those soldiers are being asked to do. As I watched on my home screen, every time a Taliban shot was fired I literally ducked under the table. This is an impossible task."

"My son, my hero, is part of Echo Company. Thank you for honoring their work by sharing it with the American people. This war is difficult to say the least. America needs to see what our service men and women deal with on a daily basis. They fight for each one of us back at home in the States. Sleep tight, America, my Marine has got your back! ..."

The timing for this program couldn't be better. We recently passed the eight-year mark in the war in Afghanistan, and there are currently more than 65,000 U.S. troops stationed there. Yet President Obama's top commander is reportedly pushing for an additional 40,000 troops.

It'll be interesting to see what Obama does with this decision-tree moment. As he reevaluates our military strategy for Afghanistan and decides whether to increase troop levels, I'm curious to hear what Coloradans think. No attacks, please, just your thoughts on this ongoing war. And be sure to take our poll below.

-Elizabeth Mayer, Rocky Mountain PBS

Oct 13, 2009 12:15pm to Nov 19, 2009 1:18pm

Tune In

Frontline
"Obama's War"

What's your point of view?

Sandy Parker
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 12:52pm
This is a useless war. Get out now.

Coco
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 2:54pm
Time to bring our troops home and put the money and people power to better use.

Jim Urish
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 4:02pm
Why not try to win this war? AFter all, Obama said this was the theater we should have stayed in and gotten Osama bin Laden. Looks like the 'loony left' is getting to our President!

Joan Fleming
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 4:07pm
It's time we give our generals the tools they need to fight the war properly and win. Then bring our boys home.

Patricia Craven
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 4:09pm
I bet that Osama bin Laden is safely ensconced in his parent's house. No one will look there. No more killing! Stop the war! Obama will never get re-elected if he has this horrible war on his record...won't matter who the other candidates are. Obama has proven that he can't be trusted to do what he says, and the opponents, including democrats, are going to use this effectively against him. Ending the war is Obama's ONLY chance for a successful administration. He should also fire Hillary Clinton. She is a failure at Secretary of State.

Shirley Martin
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 4:11pm
Why should we not let the military leaders decide what is possible and what is not. What common citizen has enuf knowledge to make that decision. No one I know.

roberta
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 4:14pm
Many of us said this will be another "viet nam" and it is. There is no winning for us but if we stay we are doing exactly what the terrorists want; wasting money, time and people. They want to break us and they are... FINANCIALLY! We need this money for our own country!

Helen Nuce
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 4:23pm
The orginal objective was to stop bin Laden and his forces. That particular ball was dropped! The people of Afganistan deserve better than what the Taliban or bin Laden offer. I'm not sure what we can achieve with military might. Education and a trustworthy government are not achieved with bombs. We saw that in Viet Nam. Foreign armies have been styimed by Afganistan for thousands of years. Ask the British about the Hindu Kush.

Michael Nowak
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 4:30pm
We can't possibly commit the manpower and resources needed to really keep the Taliban at bay. The are indigenous; we are outsiders. We should have learned this lesson in Vietnam. Like Iraq, the minute we leave, things will return to a kind of "before us".

Sylvia Sullivan
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 4:37pm
This war is just like Vietnam, pointless, unwinnable, a war of occupation. We should get out altogether. THe only reason citizens are not demanding an end to the war is because we have no draft.

dennis johnston
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 4:51pm
it looks like vietnam to me.i went to vietnam.get them ALL home

Frank
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 4:58pm
The last time we left Afganistan. The vacuum was filled with the Taliban. the Taliban created a haven for al-Queda, installed extremist rule, destroyed ancient archaeological sites, eliminated human rights for women and children. US has told the Afgan people we would not abandon them again. I would say the world needs to come to aid of the Afgan peoples. Yes, I would support sending more troops even if I have to go.

Dick Thomas
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 5:19pm
The Taliban are nationalists and we are invaders. They will fight us forever. We must get out now. We cannot "win" this conflict because there is nothing to win.

Barbara Turner
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 5:26pm
Al Queda has for the most part left Afghanistan for Pakistan. We can no longer afford to fund this war and it is by no means certain that fughting the Taliban will make America safer. Better to spend the money on securing oiur ports, borders and airports.

Bruce Graydon
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 5:47pm
They hate us because we are over there. Bring the troops home, leave them alone. They haven't changed their way of life for thousands of years. Let them live theirs lives the way they choose and they will leave us alone.

Lee
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 6:43pm
Why is it Obama's war now? If Bush had not gotten us into Iraq, we would have finished off Bin Laden years ago. Let the Military Commanders do the job they were hired to do.

Shirley Crowfoot
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 8:22pm
Give the military what it needs to win the war. It is only another Vietnam if we allow the doves to force a retreat. How many million Cambodians and Vietnamese were murdered after we retreated because of the outcry of the peaceniks? It amazes me that the very young women who are so concerned about women's rights and humanitarian endeavors are the very ones so eager to throw the women and ordinary people of Afghanistan to the Taliban who have a very different idea of a woman's role in society.

Aleeda Johns
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 8:29pm
Based on what I have heard from some experts who have and are involved from 2003 til now, and that the military and those there are better informed about what can be accomplished, I say send the extra troops. Sooner is better than delaying. When the citizens there are at least as safe as those in Iraq, we can't quit now.

Louis E. Guzman
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 8:48pm
By sending tropps into Afghanistan ... and inadvertantly Pakistan ... we stepped into the centuries old clash between Islam and Christianity. A potenitally fatel mistake. We are awakening the lost memories of the Crusades and, perhaps, even the early diffusion of the Muslims across the world. Now that world is the frontier for its religious struggles. No more than we can could backoff Catholicism, can we confront Islam the world around. We should oursleves back away to our own shores and returin to building global economic strength, which alone can stablize people's wellbeing the world around. Obama should think centuries ahead.

Mike
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 9:44pm
If Bush were contemplating more troops in Afghanistan the mainstream media lynch mob would have already hung him. Double standard aside, this is a bottomless pit unworthy of the lives of our kids.

Jeff Burns
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 11:58pm
Your survey does not include a choice for "bring the troops home now". Instead of "nation building" in other countries (why is that our business anyway?), when did that become more important than nation building here at home? I submit if the public were asked at the outset, "Do you favor fighting, death, and spending vast amounts of money overseas, or, making that investment to improve things at home, we would never go to war except in actual defense. We are never asked because they know what the answer would be. Please read "Rogue Nation" to understand America's preoccupation with war. When will we wake up and tell our government to stop all this? We all think of ourselves as a peace-loving nation but we are the most aggressive war nation on the planet. Bring our troops home now!

Helen Erickson
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 › 12:41am
Does anybody read history? Afganistan does not want us there. This is another "Vietnam". Let the tribes decide the countrys policies. Bring all our troops home. We need them and the spent money here.

L.A.S.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 › 1:02am
If the "President" is going to send our troops in harms way, he should put his money where his mouth is and SUPPORT them with whatever mthey need!!

Jack
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 › 5:33am
America had its chance and was willing to commit the resources but piddled it away in a useless Iraq war. We were too timid to go after bin Laden in Pakistan because of their nuclear capability and poor relations with India. Face facts: the previous administration blew it, and now (like the weak economy) it's up to Obama to clean up the mess. America isn't an inexhaustible reservoir of young lives and deep pockets. Unless other countries who've also experienced terror attacks (England, Spain, etc.) are willing to share equitably in direct attacks on Pakistani strongholds, we should wisely walk away like we did in another badly chosen war -- Vietnam.

Larry Lamm
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 › 9:51am
To complete the mission in "The Graveyard of Nations", we either have to commit the troops necessary, or get out of the situation.
Right now its like " digging a grave with a spoon."

t.mackey
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 › 12:43pm
Lets finish the job we started. We don't need another AlQueda/Taliban sanctuary where they can regroup/retrain/reattack. I am Ex Vietnam vet, my dad fought at Battle of Bulge in WWII and captured a leading Nazi scientist and the Nazi banner that flew in front of the bldg is signed by all the men in my dads unit and is in my safe. My uncle fought at Pork Chop Hill in Korea. Lets keep our troops safe, our country free and put the troops where they need to be to clean these criminals out once and for all.
I'm not interested in having a congress and so called commander in chief on the fence! What is there to decide? Move em out!

Lisa michot
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 › 2:07pm
I am totally against the war in Afganistan. Every book I've read and every news program I've seen further convinces me that this is a lost cause.The startling thing about last night's program for me is the disconnect between the soldiers and the people, and the horrid conditions the soldiers are living in. Why should those people listen to a bunch of naive, young soldiers who can't communicate with them in thier own language?! It's a loosing battle.

chris randol
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 › 3:26pm
From my limited knowledge of history, no foregn power has ever won a war in Afghanistan. And Obama has neither the democrats, nor the country behind him to expand this war.

Peter Kirkup
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 › 4:22pm
Get the troops out as soon as possible, we can never win in Afghanistan. The British could not tame that area when they had their Empire in what is now India and Pakistan, the Russians in more recent times failed completely. Get out NOW.

Jerry
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 › 5:18pm
Get our troops (& thousands of contractors) out of Afghanistan. Our human resources & money can be better used at home "keeping America safe".

Bernie Lewis
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 › 6:35pm
The military commanders should be listened to, theyare the experts. Obama knows nothing....especially about the military which he dodged.

Jerry
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 › 10:34pm
The Generals are the experts when it comes to fighting BUT do we need to fight? I don't think so. We are squandering our human resources & money
and for what? Better to use those resources at home.

John Sorensen
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 › 10:50pm
We need to come up with a program to prevent the animals or whatever from commandeering the commercial airlines, & make an example of AZIZ, and then blockade these countries except for humanitarian goods. Then we can pull out our people as soon as humanely possible. Very few of those supporting the never-ending war are prepared for the price, and that includes our current president. We just cannot "cut and run" without resolving several complex issues. The funds being wasted over there could be put to better use at home. If we are truly stuck staying there, we need to find a way to isolate the situation as humanely as possible.

Patricia Craven
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 › 11:02pm
The graphic above does NOT accurately reflect the posts. There have been 10 "stop the war/get out of Afghanistan" posts for every "stay and fight" post, by my estimation. To see what's real professionals think about it, go to Center for Strategic and International Studies, and become informed. http://www.csis.org

Bernie Ciazza
Thursday, October 15, 2009 › 1:39am
The USA has vital interests in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. We must ensure that Iran and Pakistan do not forget that the USA will fight to protect US interests. Baluchistan and Afghanistan can be defended and we must repeat must toss the Afghistan Terrorists out of Afghanistan by making The Iranians pay dearly for their forays into Afghanistan. Iran wants to dictate the future of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Their futures can be determi ned if we prevent Iran from moving into the area and taking control of the ocean area where Pakistan will eventually be able to import oil and gas for its development. If the USA surrenders to iran, we will never be able to give Pakistan the support it needs to become more developed.

Dano Mudd
Thursday, October 15, 2009 › 1:14pm
We cannot win this war... they are dissendants of the ancient Persians and other super powers of Biblical strength. A holy war where to die is to gain.. They are still fighting the 10th century crusades. The best that America can hope for is to send more troops to contain them or they will surely invade us again in grandure scale. They truely hate the west... The goverment should read the Bible not try to distroy it. GOD no longer has any mercy for our Freedom...

Richard Stone
Thursday, October 15, 2009 › 4:18pm
I think that we as a nation have already spent too mchh time . The commander on the ground knows what it is going to take to get the job done. If the general says 40,000 more send them. We lost too many troops, for what? Just like Korea and Viet Nam. Now I don't want to see that happen again.

Alice Haverstock
Sunday, October 18, 2009 › 12:04pm
I do not believe that we can prove anything by staying in Afghanistan. We don't fight the way they fight and we don 't have their mentality. Let's get out and save the lives of our young men and women.

marileau
Monday, October 19, 2009 › 3:19am
Round up all the busses and go get all the inmates in Colorado, load them up(like a security evacuation to them) but as soon as the busses are loaded, off to the cargo planes , then explain in route to Iraq, here is your weapon, ammo, uniform, then start parachuting , oh and don't forget the sack lunch. Housing one inmate costs 33,000.00per year. Time they earned it. The longer the sentence the closer to enemy lines they go and all will be forgiven when they come home. Do our soldiers make 33 grand a year? No problem with any rioting on the plane, all that's on it are inmates. The key is getting the busses full without saying a word. Like we did on D-Day. this country can't keep a secret much these days. but if we could.....I say load them up

Karol
Monday, October 19, 2009 › 1:16pm
I am anti-war, any war. Nothing is solved by war. I am still in shock that we, United States, undertook a pre-emptive war. That is not like us! I vote to get out NOW, do not send anymore troops to that God-forsaken corrupt country!

Louis Guzman
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 › 3:52pm
I ponder the value of our country's impact on the world and wonder whether the present war in Afghanistan will add to it in a positive way. It may be minimal, probably not more than a footnote in Middle East history. The convoluted past remains deeply ingrained in the regional psyche - note Karsai's straight face when confronted with evidence of massive fraud.

Richard Stone USARMY Retired
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 › 8:20pm
For thoes who think we should pullout then why not invite our enemy to takje over the United States. Damn if I want to, and the army tells me I am too old.

Newsday
Monday, October 26, 2009 › 12:40pm
Please read about Marine family...

Marine allowed to come home to see his ill newborn
http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/marine-allowed-to-come-home-to-see-his-ill-newborn-1.1549193

Marine Lance Cpl. Keith Wagenhauser, originally denied emergency leave to see his newborn daughter - born more than two months premature - is coming home.

Susan H
Thursday, November 5, 2009 › 2:36pm
I think we should get all of our troops out of Afghanistan. We should stop all our torture chambers around the world, so that our citizens are not wanted for kidnapping, torture or incarcerating like they are in Canada and Italy. We also should not be supporting Dostum, who works for karzi and is a mass murderer, as seen in jamie Doran's video and Andy Worthington's book. We need to stop state secrets and war and increase individual, citizen and human rights. I'm sure all the families of 9-11 want those state secrets removed because they believe its heaped lies onto the US media and people, as they show in Blue Print 9-11. If we respected those lost in 9-11, we would respect the victim's families and what they wanted.

Steph
Friday, November 13, 2009 › 10:32am
We should never have gone out there in the first place ? It was nothing to do with us but now we're all at risk.

Richard Stone
Friday, November 13, 2009 › 1:24pm
For thoes thatforget the attack on 9/11 started from Afghanistan. It seems that there a lot of people who do not realize that thoes who are injured or died for your freedom. To leave the job undone will be telling them that they wastede their lives. My Family did their part did you. I spent over 20 years with a signed contract with the American People and Government. I love my country and do not want more people killed by terrorist.

SH
Monday, November 16, 2009 › 4:43pm
I just received a note that asked if I served in the military. No, one of my dad's cried every night for 20 years because of the horrors he witnessed. I also had a few friends in Vietnam - the US came home & they were glad. There are allocations of Afghanistan starting 9-11; & allocations of Bush's administration. Neither has prove nor has had official investigation. Ask the 9-11 families & the 80,000 New Yorkers who want a legitimate-unbiased investigation.

Sandy Parker
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 12:52pm
This is a useless war. Get out now.

Coco
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 2:54pm
Time to bring our troops home and put the money and people power to better use.

Joan Fleming
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 › 4:07pm
It's time we give our generals the tools they need to fight the war properly and win. Then bring our boys home.