With four months to go, Bush tries to save Afghanistan

Sometime soon, seven years after it invaded Afghanistan, the Bush administration is expected to settle on a new policy to stabilize that still-fragile country. As Gen. David McKiernan, the top commander there, said:

I think we are in a very tough fight -- a tough counter-insurgency fight. We're [at] a higher level of violence than we were this time last year. We are seeing a greater amount of insecurity in certain areas. The idea that it might get worse before it gets better is certainly a possibility.

McKiernan made news last week when he suggested that the now-famous "surge strategy" that Gen. David Petraeus fashioned for Iraq -- working with tribal leaders -- might not work in Afghanistan because of "a degree of complexity in the tribal system which is greater than what I found in Iraq years ago." Of the 400 major tribal networks in Afghanistan, he said, "a lot of that traditional tribal structure has broken down."

What to do? Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin suggested during last week's debate with Democratic counterpart Joe Biden that the principles of the surge strategy would still work.

But with four months left in office, some wonder if a new strategy is more about securing President Bush's legacy than protecting Afghanistan from rogue Taliban elements and Al Qaeda terrorists. Amid talk of increasing aid and reconstruction funds, Barnett Rubin of New York University told NPR:

The fact is our aid that is given is extraordinarily ineffective for many years, and they've done nothing about it. So now they're talking about it, but there's nothing they can accomplish in the last days of the administration.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Gen. David McKiernan meets with President Bush in the Oval Office to discuss the Afghanistan policy on Oct. 1. Credit: Alex Wong / Getty Images

Comments

[Elemgee]

As Army General David McKiernan calls for more military assets for the 7 year Afghan War, let us also consider providing equal resources to build on the progress he claims has been made in health care, education and transportation.

In the remote and wild areas of the borders of Pakistan and Afghanistan, reputed to be the stronghold of the Taliban, let us expand efforts to provide the tribal communities there with community based education and literacy programs, bridge building and road improvements, potable water and alternative energy sources, health care workers and clinics. Let us respect the cultural heritage of this area yet work to change the misogynistic brutal treatment of women.

Let us also work to rid the country of land mines and provide viable agricultural solutions. Why not consider purchasing every poppy seed pod grown instead of trying to prevent Afghan farmers from growing what for them is a cash crop?

Let us use ingenuity and creativity to provide positive peaceful solutions to this war torn region of the world. I urge General David McKiernan and the Pentagon to consider expanding these peace building efforts. I urge US politicians and diplomats to support the efforts of the Pakistani government to improve social and economic conditions in the “tribal belt”.

This will do more to turn away the Taliban than our bombs and other weapons.

[socalsailor]

Real solution: get out now, before the war crimes charges hit, Army General David McKiernan. . .We are toast, and rightly so. Invading other countries to secure "our" energy supplies just doesn't fly. The pyramid of bodies of the innocent is way too high a price to pay for affluence.

[deBeer]

Osama Is that you?

[Robert NO longer in LA]

Yes, another 'surge' of killing numerous civilians, creating havoc and chaos, will certainly end the violence; what would YOU DO if foreigners came and promised to 'Save you' by destroying you and yours? Doesn't anyone see the gross STUPIDITY of this administration, and the 'career-making opportunity ' to do bush's bidding? the bush cabal, and their lapdog hounds from hell..what a sick, sick excuse for a 'Leader of the 'Free' World."

[calchris]

Yes, keep it up main stream press. Yes, Bush will save Afganistan the same way he has saved Wall Street, Katrina, our constitiution. You wonder why no
one belives in our economy and our "free" press. Good job guys, keep it up.

[David]

Why would America start a preemptive war in Afghanistan since America is broke,infrastructure is decayed,the economy in shambles,the nation's finances
out of order.Bush and his oil pipelines from hell. while he is assured of his pensions the 700 billion bailout will see to it that all of the kings men will get
their pensions .As Bush screams let them eat cake to the American people.
I tell you that America is finished Bush made sure that the North American Union will prevail, it is either that or third world status for America.
no universal health care,no Bailout for the people only bailout for the crooks.
it is the American way the people are slaves and as such they merit nothing in kind.
over 1 million dead people in the middle east Americans do not even bother to think of that much less count the dead.
Americans do not travel abroad any where but North America they hunt you down like dogs.
The sickest nation and people to ever inhabit the earth Americans !

[Keith Kilduff]

BUSH U ARE A COMPLETE TOOL!!!!

ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, ALWAYS WILL BE!!!

THE SOONER YOU ARE OUT OF OFFICE THE BETTER FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE WORLD!!!!

[alan]

Is it too much to ask for this clown of a president to just go quitely into that good night. Enough already! Take 4 months off and give us all a friggn' break.

[May 15th Prophecy]

"McKiernan made news last week when he suggested that the now-famous "surge strategy" that Gen. David Petraeus fashioned for Iraq -- working with tribal leaders -- might not work in Afghanistan"

This is more proof of the 100% accuracy of the MAY 15th PROPHECY which has been 100% accurate about Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Syria the economy just to name a few

Do a Google search of the MAY 15th PROPHECY and you will see for yourself with 100% accuracy of what is about to happen next

[Heather]

The real purpose of military involvement in Afghanistan was never about Osama Bin Laden, it was about building oil and gas pipelines and making sure that the opium crop boomed. The Taliban stood in the way of all that. We are there to protect the Caspian oil pipeline and to make sure that cheap heroin/opium keeps flooding Europe. Don't believe what I say? Google all the above.

[Enough is enough]

Bush, you have earned the right to be in the same list of terrorists such as Osama bin laden, Hitler, and Stalin. U.S. policy dictates not to do business with terrorists, and like they say, "it takes one to know one". Hopefully you won't send any more Americans to be killed to protect the profits of all your oil friends. Let's see now if all those profits and friends can come to the aid of rescuing the financial crises in America and for Americans. My bet is that they won't.

I wish you be out of office right now so that the world problems don't continue, since by now, the whole world knows you are not the right person for the job.

Save America now, stop the war and this financial crises by not spending American's money abroad. Think of the American people first instead of your wallet and do the right thing by acknowledging that you created this mess we are all in.

I only hope that America is once again as prosperous and financially stable as it once was.