. How about Afghanistan, was that a smart war?
. The attacks on September 11 2001 did serve as a justifiable cause under the internationally accepted retaliatory "inherent right to self defence" to remove the Taliban regime and destroy Al Qaeda that had made safe-haven and planned the WRC and Pentagon attacks from there. I do not prefer to use the term 'good war' because no war is is sensually good for way too many people and their property. The AfPak long war was at least justifiable in terms of our own national security. After the 9/11 attacks it was necessary to remove the Taliban and also to put an end to the major terrorist controlled region on both sides of the AfPak border. Pakistan ( a nuclear armed nation) was said to be vulnerable to falling under Taliban and other terrorist's control if
nothing was done. It was a justified act of war and a 'good' military act to enter Pakistan's sovereign space in order to kill Bin Ladin.
But in reference to Bush diverting military assets, personell and resources to Iraq thereby abandoning the justified AfPak War; yes it was wise for Obama to point out that Bush would be ******* up big time in AfPak to start a dumb war in Iraq as he most certainly did. The U.S. Military focus should have remained on AfPak in 2002 and let the UN Inspectors do the job diplomatically and peacefully of verifying that Iraq was being disarmed of WMD. There was no reason to start another war where no terrorists were operating or being sheltered specifically because SH had openly decided in November 2002 to allow the return of UN inspectors to complete the WMD disarmament process as he had never ever done at anytime before. The invasion of Iraq was a very dumb war and I will conclude also by pointing out that AFPak is and was a NATO war - an attack upon one is an attack upon all. It was and still is justified . It's that the 2003 invasion of Iraq prolonged it and caused the 90 percent support it once had to erode. I supported it when it began and I continue to support the Afghan people and our military who continue to take the fight to the Taliban as ruthless and as brutal as they are. I did not cut and run from my original support of our troops fighting in Afghanistan under Bush's dire and pathetic command as so many right wingers did when Obama became President and surfed a tripling of US troop over there.
It is smart to keep our troops out of direct engagement with the enemy on the ground. The struggle goes on over there with 2 U.S. lives lost in hostile action this year. Our support for the good Afghan people must remain strong.