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I don't think it's worth it. Afghanistan is classic example of scope-creep. We went in because al-qaeda blew up two of our buildings. We dismanted al-qaeda lead

by umvi 5y ago

I don't think it's worth it. Afghanistan is classic example of scope-creep. We went in because al-qaeda blew up two of our buildings. We dismanted al-qaeda leadership including killing its founder. But then instead of leaving we decided to stay because of scope creep and we are still there 20 years after initial deployment fighting against a totally different adversary (Taliban). So what, we pump more soldiers in and destroy Taliban leadership too? But then I'm sure the vacuum will be filled by the next religious-militia organization and we will be stuck like this forever. I am in favor of helping countries that genuinely want freedom from an oppressive regime. South Korea is a great example, they fought tooth and nail alongside the Americans to secure their own freedom. But Afghanis were not like South Koreans. They didn't seem to care much that they were ruled by oppressive regimes. We had a lot of friendly fire problems where Afghani security forces would go rogue and start killing random personnel on base.

wonderwonder 5y ago
Scope creep is always a problem when wars are a jobs program.
ausbah 5y ago
characterizing the Korean War like that is a bit simplistic. the South Korean was another one of the many proxy governments the US supported in SE Asia during the Cold War that committed their own share of atrocities, political repression, and otherwise authoritarian behavior - which the US tolerated because they were "anti-Communist"
ClumsyPilot 5y ago
"South Korea is a great example, they fought tooth and nail alongside the Americans to secure their own freedom" The First Republic [of Korea] was characterized by Rhee's authoritarianism and corruption, limited economic development, strong anti-communism, and by the late 1950s growing political instability And the second and third republics were dictatorships too.
pessimizer 5y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodo_League_massacre https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodo_League_massacre > The Bodo League massacre (Korean: 보도연맹 학살사건; Hanja: 保導聯盟虐殺事件) was a massacre and war crime against communists and suspected sympathizers (many of whom were civilians who had no connection with communism or communists) that occurred in the summer of 1950 during the Korean War. Estimates of the death toll vary. Historians and experts on the Korean War estimate that the full total ranges from at least 60,000–110,000 (Kim Dong-choon) to 200,000 (Park Myung-lim). The massacre was wrongly blamed on the communists. The South Korean government made efforts to conceal this massacre for four decades. Survivors were forbidden by the government from revealing it, under suspicion of being communist sympathizers; public revelation carried with it the threat of torture and death.
- umvi 5y ago
  I never said South Korea didn't commit any war crimes, just that they were highly motivated to prevent North Korea from taking over and ruling them. Unlike the Afghanis, who do not seem highly motivated to prevent the Taliban from ruling them.

by umvi 5y ago

wonderwonder 5y ago

Scope creep is always a problem when wars are a jobs program.

ausbah 5y ago

characterizing the Korean War like that is a bit simplistic. the South Korean was another one of the many proxy governments the US supported in SE Asia during the Cold War that committed their own share of atrocities, political repression, and otherwise authoritarian behavior - which the US tolerated because they were "anti-Communist"

ClumsyPilot 5y ago

"South Korea is a great example, they fought tooth and nail alongside the Americans to secure their own freedom" The First Republic [of Korea] was characterized by Rhee's authoritarianism and corruption, limited economic development, strong anti-communism, and by the late 1950s growing political instability And the second and third republics were dictatorships too.

pessimizer 5y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodo_League_massacre https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodo_League_massacre > The Bodo League massacre (Korean: 보도연맹 학살사건; Hanja: 保導聯盟虐殺事件) was a massacre and war crime against communists and suspected sympathizers (many of whom were civilians who had no connection with communism or communists) that occurred in the summer of 1950 during the Korean War. Estimates of the death toll vary. Historians and experts on the Korean War estimate that the full total ranges from at least 60,000–110,000 (Kim Dong-choon) to 200,000 (Park Myung-lim). The massacre was wrongly blamed on the communists. The South Korean government made efforts to conceal this massacre for four decades. Survivors were forbidden by the government from revealing it, under suspicion of being communist sympathizers; public revelation carried with it the threat of torture and death.

umvi 5y ago
I never said South Korea didn't commit any war crimes, just that they were highly motivated to prevent North Korea from taking over and ruling them. Unlike the Afghanis, who do not seem highly motivated to prevent the Taliban from ruling them.