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Franklin bifocals Monday, December 26, 2005


Commodore George Dewey Commodore George Dewey on the Bridge
[1837 - Commodore George Dewey born in Montpelier, Vermont]

Right Way - Wrong Way

President Karzai of Afghanistan and Vice President Cheney were present as the newly elected Afghan National Assembly of 349 members was sworn in this month. It includes a number of the warlords who have challenged the central authority of the new government, and who maintain their private militias by intimidating the populace and profiting in the drug trade, but in the end perhaps a spirit of nationalism will prevail. President Karzai is the first popularly elected president of his country, having won 55% of the popular vote. The election was a result of the US intervention that involved about 9,000 troops and relied primarily on the local mujahadin to take down the Taliban regime. American lives lost in the regime change: about 150. Cost to the US taxpayer: about $20 Billion. Although we continue to lose lives and spend treasure in Afghanistan, it was, after all, from that place that Osama Bin Laden launched the 9-11 terrorist attacks, and surely we are entitled to some revenge. Perhaps we would have Osama himself if the President had not diverted most of our military into Iraq chasing nonexistent WMD. Also, the international community has supported our efforts in Afghanistan with troops and training assistance, reducing the burden on the United States. Result: Afghanistan, a nation of almost 30 million people, takes another small step in the right direction.

The violence and insurgency continue in Iraq. A recent month was the fourth deadliest in toll taken on American lives in Iraq since we invaded that country two and a half years ago. US troop strength in the country recently peaked at 150,000, and it is clear that substantial forces will have to be maintained in Iraq, according to the Secretary of State, possibly for a decade, to ensure stability in the country. Since the unprovoked US invasion of the country almost 2 years ago, civil order and public safety have virtually disappeared. The largest block of votes in the government is controlled by a Shiite Muslim cleric. Elections are over, but the parties have yet to work out power sharing relationships and a specific constitution that will enable the Sunni minority to participate in significant numbers. American lives lost: over 2,100 to date, with fifteen thousand wounded. Cost to the US taxpayer: approaching $300 Billion. Result: Iraq, a nation of almost 24 million people, takes an uncertain step in an unknown direction.

William's Whimsical Words:

Notice that in Afghanistan it now takes several times the number of foreign troops to insure some minimum security in the country than it did initially to bring down the Taliban.

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