Afganistan is so very different from the two other wars that have become the definition of corruption, mismanagement and failure - Vietnam and Iraq.
Iraq was blood for oil, a rush to war without giving due credence to the UN WMD inspectors, a personal vendetta from a 95 I.Q. war mongering President and his evil Vice President, etc.
Vietnam was a product of the Cold War, where it became the front for what was basically a functional World War III.
Afganistan has no signficant oil reserves.
The 20th century cold war between East and West is over.
So the paradigm has shifted. The comparisons do not apply.
So that begs the question - Why turn up the volume on our involvement in Afganistan?
Answer: Terrorism, drug running and arms trade. We need to contain those where we can. With more troops, we can have a positive effect here. Yes we can. Or at least it's worth waiting more time and giving Obama more of a chance to see what happens...
This is still Bush's mess. This is still a smaller effort in terms of troop levels than Vietnam or Iraq.
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