Poll: Afghanistan Troop Increase Unpopular

CBS News/New York Times Survey Finds Most Americans Don't Back McChrystal's Call for More Troops; Split Over War's Value

(CBS)  Fewer than one in three Americans believe the number of troops in Afghanistan should be increased, a new CBS News/New York Times poll finds, despite a leaked memo from General Stanley A. McChrystal, the U.S.'s top military commander in Afghanistan, suggesting that an increase is necessary for the United States to avoid failure there.

Twenty-nine percent of those surveyed say troop levels should be increased, while thirty-two percent say they should be decreased. Another 27 percent say troop levels should be kept at the level they are now.

Still, news of McChrystal's position may have had some effect: In August, a higher percentage - 41 percent - wanted troop levels decreased, and slightly fewer (25 percent) backed a troop increase.

Americans who have been paying a lot of attention to news about Afghanistan are significantly more likely to support an increase in troops.

President Obama is now reportedly reassessing his Afghanistan strategy and considering whether to further increase troop levels. The president has already ordered the deployment of 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan by the end of the year, bringing the U.S. total to 68,000 and the coalition total to 110,000.

Americans are split on whether the United States is doing the right thing by fighting the war in Afghanistan. Forty-seven percent, including 67 percent of Republicans, say yes. Forty-two percent, including more than half of Democrats, say no. Independents are nearly evenly divided.

More than half of those surveyed (53 percent) say things are going badly for the United States in Afghanistan, while just 35 percent say they are going well. That negative assessment is nonetheless an improvement from December, when 62 percent said things were going badly and 27 percent said they were going well.

Read the Complete Poll

Most Americans think the situation in Afghanistan faced by the United States is unchanged. Twenty-six percent say it is getting worse, while just eight percent say it is improving.

Despite this overall pessimism, most Americans - 62 percent - are willing to leave large numbers of troops in Afghanistan for a year or longer. That includes 26 percent who say they should stay "as long as it takes."

Thirty-two percent want the troops brought home immediately or within the year.

Most Americans do not believe that American military action in Afghanistan has made them safer: Just 27 percent say U.S. efforts have decreased the threat of terrorism. Seventeen percent believe American efforts have instead increased the terrorism threat. A majority - 51 percent - say the threat has stayed the same.

Still, 43 percent say the terrorism threat will increase if the United States withdraws its troops. Roughly the same percentage believes the threat will stay the same.

Asked about the main goal of U.S. military action in Afghanistan, 44 percent said it was to eliminate all terrorists from the country. Another 28 percent pointed to defeating the Taliban, while nine percent cited capturing or killing Osama Bin Laden specifically.

The War in Iraq:

Americans continue to be positive about the current status of the war in Iraq, though a clear majority say that it was not worth fighting.

Fifty-seven percent say the war is going well for the United States, while 38 percent say it is going badly. Those percentages are essentially unchanged from July, though they reflect a decline in optimism from April, when 71 percent said things were going well there.

Still, two in three Americans - 67 percent - say the war was not worth the loss of life and other costs that came with it. Less than one in four (24 percent) now say the war was worth it, down from 28 percent in March of last year.



McChrystal on "60 Minutes": Violence "Worse" Than Expected
Pentagon to Get Afghan Troop Request Soon

More CBS News Polls:

More Approve of Obama on Health Care
Improved Perceptions of Stimulus Package
On Issues, Obama Approval Rating Lags
Obama Overexposed? Most Say No
CBS News Poll Database

---

This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1042 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone September 19-23, 2009. Phone numbers were dialed from random digit dial samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

[jefleshman]

Hower

I am proud to be an American. I see you are ashamed of where you are from because not one time have you declaired your country is in anyway better. Case closed.

My first person point of view is just too much for you. You can not defend against reality. This is because you can not debate against a person that is actually doing good.

You are running around with no point of view. Every comment made has been negated by reality and truth. Enjoy soaking in knowing I am an American and proud of all the great work I am doing along with the hundreds of thousands of others over here and around the world to make the world a better place for my children and future generations. Good bye!

[hower4]

jefleshman - Yet another bizarre fantasy rant from you. Not only are you in denial about your lies, you've added even more! .... and no, as far as I can make out from your vague and inconsistent rants we don't agree about anything, least of all that America has managed to improve anything significant in Iraq or Afghanistan. For an American to criticise human rights violations is truly a sickening case of the pot calling the kettle black. When America releases all the prisoners held without charge, apologises for the torture and extra-judicial killings and puts ALL those people responsible on trial....... THEN I will agree that America cares about human rights.

I've had enough of your lies, sarcasm and naive, violent jingoism. If there was even the faintest suggestion that you are capable of admitting that you might be wrong then I would persist, but there isn't. If you're typical of the Americans 'helping' in Afghanistan and elsewhere then things can only get worse there.

You have one last chance to show that you can be honest and open-minded. Otherwise goodbye to you and good luck to the people of Afghanistan........ they need it with people like you there screwing things up and wasting half their time trying to massage their failing egos on sites like this.

Here's a suggestion for you - why don't you attempt the concept of humility for a few moments. It's not prominent in the American lexicon, but why not try it?.................

[jefleshman]

I am a liar? Please tell me once where I have lied? All I have done from the beginning is kept proven your point of view false and wrong over and over and over and over again and again. All you have done is call names and nitpick on spelling and grammatical errors.

You said I was a liar because there was no perceived threat. Yet according to the 7 Oct 03 CRS report there was plenty to be worried about which I clearly articulated with sarcasm in my previous post. There was a perceived threat that has been documented not by me but from the actual UN Inspectors. The use of WMD biological weapons Saddam used against his own people is a known. Unless you deny this occurring? Kind of like the people who believe the concentration camps that Hitler used to try to exterminate the Jews during WWII was a made up story. Are you this kind of individual?

And you stated before in your post and I quote. Go back to torturing and killing defenceless and innocent civilians. You are not smart enough to do anything else.

Again. I not only proved you wrong but this quote also showed your own ignorance in matters of military affairs. Your quote follows. So you are a civil engineer. a doctor. a power grid expert. an agricultural consultant ............. or a liar. If only these were things that America was ACTUALLY succeeding in doing. Isn t it strange that your government is not telling us about them. You would have thought they would do so at every opportunity.

Again you were proven wrong. I even provided a pretty darn good source about the efforts conducted over here. Care to explain how in the heck did you Not have a clue about civil military operations or provincial reconstruction teams? I can take a guess. You have never served in the military! All you do is read about stuff and this is where your closed minded one sided view comes from. These types of efforts are not limited to the US Military. There are many countries and I bet your own country is involved in this endeavor. How come your country is not telling you in the media about all the good works they are doing? Again. I will say it. The media does not make money on good stories! IEDs and Death Sells.

I will end this post this way. We obviously disagree on reasons why and how things came to be. And that is fine. You have your view and I have mine. However. I believe we can agree on this point. The atrocities and basic human rights violations the average Iraqi and Afghani were subject to were unspeakable with the old regimes.

I for one find comfort knowing I AM MAKING A WONDERFUL DIFFERENCE. Another child can smile because she is able to have an education when once that was not a possibility here in Afghanistan! Another family has power for heat and running water close by where once they were cold during winters and had to walk miles for the closest water source. This well for the community is an awesome gift we take for granted when we walk into our bathrooms inside our house and brush our teeth or take a shower. A hospital now has medicine and children are receiving your basic vaccinations. Since I am here and see this with my own two eyes. It is an awesome feeling knowing you have made a difference in someone elses life!

You see not only have I assisted other citizens but in my very own country I have made a difference. During natural disasters we have mobilized to assist those in need. From forest fires to earth quakes to hurricanes I have been part of the relief effort! What have you done to improve the outlook and help citizens around the world or in your own country? I hope someday you know this feeling and put away the obvious hate that runs through your veins. I make a positive difference instead of just complaining. Can you say the same?

[hower4]

jefleshman - You're simply lying again! What's the point of trying to discuss any issue with you when you just make things up? Where did I say that ALL you do is torture and kill innocents? NOWHERE!

Will you admit that you were lying and promise to answer honestly and openly from now on? Otherwise just go back to your naive fantasy world and don't bother to write any more.

[hower4]

jefleshman

You still seem to have no idea about the most basic questions of American foreign policy.

1) Why did you invade Iraq? You say it was "Self defense for a perceived threat" but you can't even say what kind of threat it was, let alone produce any proof of it. The truth is that there was NO THREAT, but you are totally blind to that reality. Why? Is it because you like war? Or is it because you like your rate of pay during a war?

2) You have absolutely no idea why you invaded Afghanistan. You claim it was because someone other that al-Qaeda attacked the WTC, but you STILL can't produce a scrap of evidence or a credible source. Your best argument is because of the number of other nations who are involved with the war, but NONE of them agree with your ridiculous argument!!!

I still say you are an idiot and a liar. Those are not insults, just simple statements of fact.

One further point that proves your blindness to the truth. You say that my point about America torturing and killing defenceless and innocent civilians is "just plain non sense". Are you denying that Americans have routinely tortured and killed many defenceless and innocent civilians from Iraq and Afghanistan? Can you please at least answer that one question honestly?............ I bet you don't!

[jefleshman]

Hower4

I will play your game. See if you are smart enough to catch the sarcasm.


There was no perceived threat to anyone. Yep Saddam never used Biological weapons before on his own people. Yep he did not hide things and half report to the UN inspectors about locations of chemical weapons sites and such. Yep the inspectors themselves were not threatened as was Saddams engineers. Yep UNMOVIC Executive Chairman Blix and IEDA Director ElBaradei NEVER reported five times to the UN Security Council that Iraq failed to cooperate fully and made efforts to evade disarmament. Yep there was no 122mm CBW cluster submunitions found in IRAQ. Yep there was no uranium imported from Niger and Saddam never had a uranium enrichment weapons program. I can go on and on. Yep there was never a threat to anyone. You are correct. Catching the sarcasm?


And you are so right. I want money. That is the most important thing to me. My family s safety along with fellow Americans and citizens around the world does not have anything to do with it. Yes this is totally my reason for being here in Afghanistan. It has nothing to do with freeing oppressed people especially woman and children. You are right the terrorist in Afghanistan and around the world are peaceful people who just blow up bombs and themselves in crowds for fun. The terrorist are good people they just are having a little fun. You are so right. Helmond Province is so peaceful there. You brothers in the UK are their guests and having a fun time dancing and singing together. They are no threat to our allies in Europe or anywhere. Catching the sarcasm?

If we leave it would be nice for them and they could just go back to a normal life of beheading males whose beards do not meet Taliban regulations. The could continue to sell women into sex or kill them at will. Only boys should go to school and they make such good play mates to terrorist. It is just a game and they do not mean any harm. The Terrorist will just go back to planning fun games like flying 747s into populated buildings for kicks. Or this favorite game for them. Go on a subway or a train and blow it up. See how high you can have westerners in the sky! Yes you are right Afghanistan and the Taliban and AQI and HQN along with many others have been misunderstood this whole time. Catching the sarcasm?

Yes you are so right about torture and killing. We never punished the criminals that called themselves soldiers who did that to the prisoners in Iraq. Man if we only lived by the Terrorist creed and just killed everyone that would be the best thing huh hower? I hate that I have been deployed for over 49 months in my military career and have not fired a shot. I am such a killing innocents and torturing kind of guy. Man you come up with the best stuff! I finally get it. What you are asking us to do is to be more like the terrorist. Just disregard the loss of life and just blow them to hell like the terrorist and never hold anyone responsible for their actions! As a matter of fact even be more like them and pay my family Martyr Money! Man Hower4 you are a one of a kind thinker. Few I am glad there are a few people who still follow Hitler! By building infrastructure and development projects we are killing so many innocent people over here. We build roads so the terrorist can put bombs in them! You are so right how did you get so smart? My goodness Hower you are a genius. You cannot be American since you are so smart! Man I wish I had your knowledge and could see things like you do from a chair watching a TV or reading a story on the computer in the UK.

YOU ARE THE MAN! Catching the sarcasm?

[hower4]

jefleshman - Sorry, I've been to busy to reply (unlike you). Let me know if you're still there and I will.

[jefleshman]

Good Day to you Hower4. I am still here.

[jefleshman]

hower4

I am so proud to be an American. What then is your country that you are so proud of? I have not seen in any of your posts how proud you are to be from wherever that may be. I wonder if you treat your government the same way. Always complaining.

When a person only relies on media for their point of discussion and does not have firsthand experience it is hard to debate with a person who is actually here. As I can tell from your personal attacks you are getting frustrated. Because since you have now have been proven uninformed and not in the know. You turn to nit picking spelling on a blog and trying to revert to something else. Are you now realizing just because it is on the internet it does not necessarily mean it is true. The internet is a media forum and bad news and conflict sells. They write stories to sensationalize the issues that stir debate. This debate turns into clicks on web sites and ratings. As you know they are a business and if you believe their business is reporting the news you are sadly mistaken. Their business is to keep readers and make money!

I reengage on your last comments prior to the hate comments because you have been proven wrong and not at all informed. In your own words you stated the following.

So you're a civil engineer, a doctor, a power grid expert, an agricultural consultant ............. or a liar. If only these were things that America was ACTUALLY succeeding in doing. Isn't it strange that your government isn't telling us about them. You would have thought they would do so at every opportunity.

You have no comprehension of what really goes on. That is a fact because you have no idea what the military is actually doing over here. You rely on the media which only reports IEDs and Death. If a media outlet actually does some sort of balanced reporting it is usually on page 13 of a 12 page paper or a quick blub as they break for commercial.

The media itself is a propaganda source and you are obviously a buyer of their crap. As for your question on why I am on here? I have answered that one already. I am know how to do time management. As for Iraq did not attack us question. Again I have already answered that one. Self defense for a perceived threat. Right or wrong I appreciate that my government did not wait until a nuclear bomb hits DC before they were to act. I see you agreed too. As for if I have information other than AQI for the Trade Center Terrorist attacks. Why do you think we are here in Afghanistan and why are there 42 other nations sending their men and woman over here as well?

I doubt you come back with anything of substance. Just the same old cut and paste from the internet or what you heard! Please dazzle me again with your first hand knowledge on what the US and 42 other countries with people on the ground are doing over here. This is not counting the 50 plus other countries providing humanitarian assistance or medicine or equipment such as water pumps and such to the great citizens of Afghanistan.

Have you quite? Giving Up? Nothing to say but curse words and personal attacks? Come back with something of substance not just the same old rhetoric your killers or murders or illegal occupiers and so forth which is just plain non sense.

[hower4]

"It is Sunday and almost 930pm here. Health Clinic refurb is more like a face lift. Fix broken windows. Fresh Paint and so on."

Why would American troops be fixing broken windows and painting a health clinic in Afghanistan? Is that part of your training?

....... and I have NOT apologised to you. I still think you are a liar, an idiot and part of a murdering, torturing, illegal force of occupation. You have said nothing yet to change my mind.

[jefleshman]

Hower4

and you called me a liar? And you believe that good stories actually make the news? Heck go to any major media and all the stories pretty much are negative!

After I am sure you did quality research on CMO and the article link I put in my last post.

I know you are starting to realize there ARE truly 2 sides to every story.

Apology accepted! Now I must say good night and I will see your comments tomorrow. I truly hope you see another point of view. And the good thing is. My point of view is first hand!

[jefleshman]

See Civil Military Operations or CIMIC.

The point was you added and I qoute.Go back to torturing and killing defenceless and innocent civilians. You're not smart enough to do anything else.


It is Sunday and almost 930pm here. Health Clinic refurb is more like a face lift. Fix broken windows. Fresh Paint and so on. Bridge is a joint venture and I am tracking it. You see we didnt blow it up the terrorist did who where TB and financially aided by AQI and encouraged by HQN but that is beside the point. The cold storage facility project we already have the specs on and all that is needed now is signatures on paper work. The Hydro project is a quality insurance 6 month check and so we worked on the flight to get out there. The MoA is a monthly scheduled meeting and takes place next week. But as for why I am here. well I like to try to at least spread good news and not doom and gloom as our mass media would like you to believe.

AND I AM SO GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP the point of dont you think people would know about these things.

please refer to the article and some of the posts. I HAVE BEEN SCREAMING THE SAME THING! And the US is not alone in this good fight!

AGRICULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT section is mid way through the article at the below link.

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/09/16/a-plea-from-afghanistan-my-friend-do-not-go/

I would like to here your thoughts on that.

[hower4]

"I would like to here your thoughts on that"

I would like to hear (note the correct spelling) you answer my questions first!

[jefleshman]

hower4

Is this how old you are 4? Did you read? Where you alive when this happened? The UN after Desert Storm in the early 90s were periodically as agreed upon conducting inspections. But Saddam decided to check the resolve of the UN and not allow inspectors to properly do their jobs or even prevented them to go to certain places. Then Saddam kicked the inspectors out. So the UN then went to sanctions and verbal threats and meetings after meetings and more months and months passed with no action. No more inspections were able to be done.

The point hower is the inspections could not happen anymore if so then we would not be where we are now.

Yes I believe in the right of self defense! Are you saying you are not? Are you saying your country would rather take a nuclear bomb in the capital before you would want your elected leaders to act?

Guy you are killing me. Seriously. You think the only people involved with 9-11 were AQI? Heck even over here in Afghanistan where the attack was planned you have Taliban who are financed by other groups and have foreign fighters from different walks of life and so on and so forth. They all are directly or indirectly connected!

Sorry hower I have a health clinic to refurbish. A bridge to be finalized. A cold storage facility to finish up with generation. A hydro electric power plant to check to see how it is doing. Oh and then meet with the ministry of agriculture to see about better irrigation plans for a district. I am glad you consider this torture and killing innocents. You are the one that is clueless! The military has many missions over here hower maybe you should READ about it!

[hower4]

jefleshman

> "..... Then Saddam kicked the inspectors out."
WRONG - They were RECALLED because GWB and Bliar were starting the invasion and it wasn't safe to stay. Hans Blix said so at the time and many times since. There were no WMDs and the inspectors were still there doing their job, so Saddam was actually NOT in breach of UN sanctions. Bush and Blair LIED.

>"Yes I believe in the right of self defense! Are you saying you are not."
For f***'s sake you moron!!!! Iraq didn't attack you and nobody in Iraq attacked you. Who the hell do you think were you defending yourself against?

>"Guy you are killing me. Seriously. You think the only people involved with 9-11 were AQI?"
Yes. As I said, if you have evidence that anyone else was involved then give it to the FBI........but you don't do you? You're a liar or an idiot, or both.

>"Sorry hower I have a health clinic to refurbish. A bridge to be finalized. A cold storage facility to finish up with generation. A hydro electric power plant to check to see how it is doing. Oh and then meet with the ministry of agriculture to see about better irrigation plans for a district."
So you're a civil engineer, a doctor, a power grid expert, an agricultural consultant ............. or a liar. If only these were things that America was ACTUALLY succeeding in doing. Isn't it strange that your government isn't telling us about them. You would have thought they would do so at every opportunity.

[hower4]

jefleshman - So to summarise what you just said. America has a right to attack anywhere it decides is a threat. There's no need to check or inspect properly first, and it doesn't matter if it turns out to be wrong later............ Is that what you're saying?

One further point - You said "to blame the attack of 9-11 solely on AQI is false". If you have evidence that someone else was also involved, don't you think you should tell the FBI? Even Bush and Cheney disagree with you! If you don't have any evidence then you're just another idiot Yank spouting moronic cr@p.

Go back to torturing and killing defenceless and innocent civilians. You're not smart enough to do anything else.

[jefleshman]

hower4

There is the complexity of the matter. I am still referring to the who done it murder mystery question. I run into this all the time over here. You do not have pure terrorist cells. So to blame the attack of 9-11 solely on AQI is false. However the senior leadership for that attack was. They do not wear name tags and to find out true ideology and each individuals intent. You would have to pretty much talk to them or read there writings. There were others involved.

On to your question. Why did America invade IRAQ. From the media and public release stand point. Very easy. National Security Threat. The posture this unstable leader presented by not allowing for follow on inspections and kicking the UN inspectors out also made an invalid assumption Iraq was hiding something. As the US for months ask the UN to grow some balls and act on its demands and threats of a piece of paper that said. Iraq if you do not do this the UN will have to act.

Bla Bla Bla. That is all we do is talk talk talk for months and months with no action taking what so ever. And guess what Iraq knew this too. Do you think Saddam was scared to play hard ball? No he gave the finger to the UN and the UN did not do a thing but put their head in the sand. Finally the POTUS said enough. I cannot wait any longer to see if they do or do not have this threat to us and our national security and with the intelligence or lack thereof we went to find out.

In doing so and committing forces multiple things occurred and we are still there now because of it. Bottom Line we went to IRAQ because there was a perceived national threat to our Nations Security. Had we not gone and the threat was real and Saddam press the little red button. The world would be singing a different tone. But that is another topic. Do you act or do you wait to be acted upon?

[hower4]

jefleshman - You only asked me two questions. They were (and I quote your words EXACTLY):
1) Why are the Bloods and the Crips labeled a TERRORIST group by the UN?
2) Why are the Bloods and the Crips NOT labeled a TERRORIST group by the UN?

How the hell can I answer if you don't even know what question you're trying to ask?????? As I said before, you're obviously a very confused person.

I have answered you as far as is humanly possible, but you didn't answer my question. Why do you think America invaded Iraq?

P.S. The phrase is "I DON'T give a damn", otherwise it makes no sense.

[jefleshman]

Yes I caught that I did not put NOT in front of the first post.That is why I put it in all caps. I am human. And that little word makes a big difference.

Again I will get to the IRAQ question. But understanding what a Terrorist is and is not leads to futher understanding.

So again I wait for you to answer the question.

I answered yours. Who attack the WTC? My answer TERRORIST

Your answer to the question of. Why are the Bloods and the Crips NOT labeled a TERRORIST group by the UN?

[hower4]

jefleshman - ...... then why the f*** didn't you say you were correcting yourself? How else can anyone know what you're trying to say? For the sake of your colleagues and innocent bystanders I hope you communicate more clearly when you're conducting your duties!

I'll answer your question, even though the answer is perfectly obvious to anyone with more than three brain cells. The Bloods and Crips do not have political aims, they are therefore by definition of the word "terrorist" not terrorist organisations. They are simply criminal gangs.

So you think the WTC was attacked by "TERRORIST" do you? Was it the IRA or ETA or FARC? They are all terrorists too. No, it was al-Qaeda. Do you see how meaningless your answer is? Unless you clearly identify exactly who committed the crime you cannot possibly pursue them and bring them to justice. This is where America is going so badly wrong. It's simply not possible to wage a war on "terror", least of all by using purely military means.

I have now answered you very clearly and patiently. Will you now answer my question. WHY DO YOU THINK AMERICA INVADED IRAQ?

[jefleshman]

hower4

I apologize I was busy fighting terrorism and just returned to my Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan. I give a damn what you want to call a group of terrorist and understand the functionality and why they are called what that is normally but not always based on Ideology and the groups end state. I know the difference of a foreign fighter and an insurgent and so on. My point is they are terrorist plan and simple who attacked the twin towers. The ironic thing is the perception one has can easily be applied to our forces as well with some of these terms. It is all about perspective.

So dont try to play like you are all the high and mighty. Remember I am living this crap. Also why dont we discuss one at a time? You seem to have all these questions. Sounds to me you need answers because you are NOT informed and have to rely on others to provide your ammunition in an argument.

Go ahead and dazzle us with your wisdom and if I am not mistaking it is your turn to answer a basic question. Please explain to the readers the difference between a Terrorist and lets say a gang such as the Bloods and the Crips in America. Why are the Bloods and the Crips NOT labeled a TERRORIST group by the UN?

[hower4]

jefleshman - You seem to have just about grasped that America was attacked by Al-Qaeda, but you are very confused about "insurgents", "terrorists", "Taliban", etc. These are NOT interchangeable terms and prove that you have only the vaguest idea of what you're talking about.

There are so many questions arising from you bizarre, illiterate and ill-informed rant that I hardly know where to start, but how about this question - Why did you invade Iraq?

Depending on whether/how you answer that most basic question, I may continue and try to help you understand the true nature of these conflicts that you are so keen to defend.

[jefleshman]

As for your second question

and are you REALLY trying to claim that America didn't attack anyone in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and more? There are millions of people in those countries who would disagree with you!

The word attack depends on the perception of those who are witnessing an action. Since I have NOT just read about all the areas you mention and actually been serving in the military and part or 3 of the 4 mentioned I understand what my perception was of each of those actions were.

Again as posted earlier to your first question. I will try to dumb it down to keep it brief and only use Somalia in 1993 and this was the only one I was not physically there but have discussed with whom have and were there what happened. So I have first person accounts and studied the Humanitarian Mission or Attack as you would claim.

The UN sends a Peace Keeping Humanitarian Force to Somalia. Their mission was to provide aid and humanitarian assistance and relief. But not being stupid and naive of the danger they also send security with the mission to DEFEND themselves. Any human being would understand that.

As for the millions you would claim say it was an attack. I ask you what other option do the local populace of Somalia have? If they do not believe their government or a Humanitarian UN Mission is in it to stay and assist them and the TERRORIST live with them. Who would you side on? Hmmmm is this too much for you to understand? Is this beyond your comprehension? I assume based on your post you associate me as an idiot. And since your post is the only thing I have to go on. I associate you as uninformed and not American since you stated. You Americans.

Ball is in your court. Oh this is an American slang sports term used in dialogue meaning your turn to act or in this case write a response.

[jefleshman]

Ok hower4

Let us play your game. Let me fill you in on a little thing called truth and see if you have the intellectual means to discuss the topic. The truth is I am not some chump who doesnt understand what is really going on. I live in this crap and fight THEM every day. So you want to know who THEY or THEM were. Most claim Al-Qaeda (AQI) because that is the token name of the subgroup that attacked America on 9-11 and many other places. But other names include Terrorist or Insurgents or Haqqani or Taliban or foreign fighters or extremist groups so on and so on. I bet you are laughing right now going then so who was it then? It is not a sub group that the Global War to combat Terrorism is focused on. Al Qaeda is just one of many.

AQI attack on 9-11 was not just about an attack and killing Westerners. It was about influencing and changing the attitudes of the American People and the US government. It was to serve also as a warning to others to include other FREE States that they are powerful and this could happen to you.

So THEY THEM and AQI or whatever subgroup you want to refer to are TERRORIST. So I do not write a dissertation and trust me I can and allow you time to do your homework so you can actual add intellectual dialogue to this blog other than rhetoric and non sense I have a request from you.

Please explain to the readers the difference between a Terrorist and lets say a gang such as the Bloods and the Crips in America. Why are the Bloods and the Crips labeled a TERRORIST group by the UN?

Hower4 the ball is in your court. Do you still want to continue to play your game?

[decotoguy]

that was a nice post lovegetpeace,and hower4.The CIA and thier mercenaries have been very busy throught-out this world,under the ORDERS
of a very SECRET ORGANIZATION separate from the Government,for last
sixty years...yes the equipment the Military-Industrial Complex has provide are for a very different type of WAR..questionews,while in Vietnam there were the Korean Marines that would do some very naughty things in the name of the United States...they are the type of soldier
that is needed in Afghanistan.Good Luck folks....

[lovegetpeace]

Folks,

Finally, this request is proof that Expensive Hi-Tech Military hardware is useless and a waste to winning wars.