Army Times article says poll finds a souring mood among troops

[sad sally]

Are we surprised? Haven't the majority of Americans not in the military said the same thing? Why does the 10-year Operation Enduring Freedom aka the Afghanistan War need to continue thru 2014? Would the outcome be different if the draw-down was moved up and the 20 black interrogation sites Special Ops maintains there for interrogation purposes closed down?

Troops less sure of success in war, disillusioned with military quality of life
By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Sep 15, 2011 10:04:48 EDT

After a decade of war in Afghanistan, many troops are losing confidence in the long-term likelihood of success for the U.S. military mission there, and their overall support for President Obama has slipped, according to the latest Military Times annual reader survey.

---

Doubts about success in Afghanistan are slightly higher among troops who have deployed there. In a series of interviews, some troops say the mission there is fraught with a sense of futility driven by several factors, including a belief that the Afghan security forces are unmotivated.

“A lot of are just kind of like, ‘Well, we’ll fight with you here today and if tomorrow you all leave, then we’ll just fight for the next guy who comes along,’ said a 33-year-old Army captain who deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 and worked as a mentor to Afghan security forces. He requested anonymity because he said his command discourages talking to the media.

Michael Menning, a recently retired Air Force colonel and hospital administrator, said he became skeptical of the mission in Afghanistan after working with Afghans trying to set up a medical facility.

“They really have no interest in professional development, in learning how to run a hospital,” Menning said. “They really just think, ‘Hey, build us the hospital and we’ll run it the way we’ve always run it.’”

The pessimism is also fueled by a belief that the country is hopelessly corrupt. A 31-year-old Army sergeant who deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 said many troops believe the Afghan central government and many tribal leaders play both sides of the fence.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/09/military-times-poll-finds-souring-mood-091411w/?du

[TwilightGardener]

1. They have been dissatisfied with Afghanistan for a few years now.

Many are questioning it, and morale is sinking. Time to bring it to a decisive end.

[msongs]

2. seems like everyone knows the history of Afghanistan except our stupid leaders who shill for war

profiteers

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Killing and dying in a lost war fought for PR will do that.

See Vietnam and Iraq for precedents.

[Arctic Dave]

4. Yesterday on NPR there was a story about a female pilot who was being trained by the US

for the Afghan Airforce, but here was the kicker, she also trained with the Soviets during that war. YES, you read that right. She has trained with both occupying forces against her own country. Talk about a WTF moment for me. Does this not raise any flags as to why this is a futile operation? If a person is willing to wage war against their own countrymen, TWICE, does this not give a reason as to why the people of Afghanistan hate us and distrust their central government?

I'm sure it was meant to be PR dog and pony show about how women have "oppurtunities" now, but damn, couldn't they pick a better candidate then this lady.

[sad sally]

6. A line in this WA Post story yesterday shores up what you're saying

Young Afghan fighters eager to rejoin Taliban

By Kevin Sieff, Published: September 15

KABUL — The teenage insurgents spend their days learning to make shoes and bookshelves, listening to religious leaders denounce the radical interpretation of Islam they learned as children.

But when they return to their cells at Kabul’s juvenile rehabilitation center, the boys with wispy beards and cracking voices talk only of the holy war from which they were plucked and their plans to resume fighting for the Taliban.

“They bring us here to change us,” said Nane Asha, in his late teens. “But this is our way. We cannot be changed.”

As the Taliban presses its efforts to recruit teenage fighters, Afghan officials and their international backers have crafted a program to reintegrate the country’s youngest insurgents into mainstream society. But that ambition is coming up against the intransigence of the teens, who say they would rather be on the battlefield.

“We’ll fight against America for a thousand years if we have to,” said Ali Ahmad, 17, sitting at a desk that has hearts and Koran verses scratched in the wood. “Jihad is the duty of every Muslim.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/young-afghan-fighters-eager-to-rejoin-taliban/2011/08/16/gIQAE5sQVK_print.html?du

[zalinda]

5. Not only is the war crappy

but when they see KBR people getting $100,000 a year, with better equipment and food, and they are stuck with our military services, I can see where their sense of futility comes from.

Our "leaders" suck, big time.

zalinda

[leveymg]

7. Since when did soldiers' private opinions count? This is all about resolve, position, and geography

and making the 800 pound gorillas in the room feel better: