Charlie Wilson: I'd Probably Shut Down The War In Afghanistan

Charlie Wilson, the former Democratic representative from Texas and the inspiration for the movie (and book) Charlie Wilson's War sat down with the Scranton Times-Tribune to talk about the current war in Afghanistan.

"I think they're looking at us more and more like occupiers," he said. That's a powerful statement coming from Wilson who's covert and influential role in the Afghan-Soviet conflict of the 1980s spawned the term 'Afghan Freedom Fighters.' "I decided the Afghans were really going to put up a fight," Wilson said.

Wilson also said that the current war was "a very tough situation," and that if he were President Obama, he's not sure what he would do. He did say: "I'd probably shut it down, rather than lose a lot of soldiers and treasure."

Comments

[Project4NuBostonTeaParty]

Now that President Obama has just won the Nobel Peace Prize, perhaps he'll rethink doing a George Bush surge in Afghanistan.

.

[OgreDaddy]

Under Bush and Cheney, we managed to bungle our way into becoming another version
of Britain. Subdue the natives at all cost in order to exploit them. Sound familiar?

They became too bold and stretched themselves too thin until We The People
stood our ground, fought hard, fought dirty and never quit.

We have no business there other than to help the needy and capture the criminals who
are left of AlQaeda.

[Fred Hood]

I'm with chalie Start bringing them home in the AM defund blackwate by months end....

[sadsac]

"Obama's War" preview on FRONTLINE.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/obamaswar/

[Paula Ann]

what would the situation be now if instead of just leaving after the soviets were routed, investment was made in afghan education, medicine, energy, roads............

[lionzion]

The war in Afghanistan and Iraq is breaking the bank. In two years, it's going to be a decade of war; not just one but two fronts. The funny thing is, congress never declares war on either countries. We are fighting now for eight years for a resolution to attack by the cowards in congress, who wouldnt stand up to Bush. Unprecedent in the history of the United Sates. Plus a side note, why the heavens do we still spend billions of dollars in NASA? If there is something out there, they know where to find us, in other people's country.

[jbarilla]

The scope of space exploration is much broader than just a search for intelligent life.

[co-sine]

think you might of missed the gist of lionzion's in part humorous nasa aside.

[co-sine]

just because it might help one's understanding of how things have changed in afghanistan and what we are/will be dealing with, give gretchen peter's book "seeds of terror" a read. underestimating the role poppy plays in funding and corrupting the players is the gravest of mistakes. and unlike bush's proclamation of being a 'spray man', there are no simple solutions to eradicating a crop that ensures the war's continuation. what to do? what to do?

[jsarets]

What to do?

We could put the Taliban back in charge. They eradicated over 90% of Afghanistan's opium poppy crop between fall 2000 and spring 2001. The Taliban is the most steadfast and successful anti-narcotic political organization in the world.

But of course, after we invaded, the opium crop returned in more abundance than ever, and in times of war, the Taliban depends significantly (but by no means entirely) on the opium harvest to fund its military operations.

There's no doubt that, among the various regimes that have attempted to rule Afghanistan in the past 30 years, the Taliban is the most social repressive. But it's also been by some margin the most successful at enforcing some semblance of order in this treacherous territory.

What to do? I don't think there are any remotely "good" answers. It's a matter of differentiating between various shades of unfortunate realities.

[co-sine]

the problem with eradication of the crop ala the taliban 2000, 2001 is one of dwindling supply and static or increased demand. with opium reserves stashed and numbered in excess of 3 years, as tonnage slides prices spike. more money, more money. and don't even get me started on our "ally" pakistan. it is a fact that whenever drug money is a key component in any conflict, said conflict drags on by a factor of...... think colombia. that said, your comments are well received because they are accurate. at least nancy reagan isn't telling the european addicts, which by the way is where most of the refined poppy winds up, to "just say no!" no simple solutions or sweeping of the problem under the afghani rug here.

[kasinca]

This is another quagmire that has no easy exit.

[lazercat2008]

Just say it Charlie. This whole mess was My Fault.

[colorperdaughter]

That would take some personal integrity and self decency, anyone who has read "Charlie Wilson's War" knows this creep has neither.

[jimrs]

Almost all of the posters in these forums have some interesting suggestions but I think that our financial situation is going to settle some of these issues very soon.
Ya can't be an empire without real money and lots of it. We are meddling in a dangerous situation over there while ignoring the really explosive situation here.

[darter22]

We are in Afghanistan to do what's best for us, not them. The "cut and run" talk is just stupid. Afghanistan is a victim of geography. We are not there to build a western style democracy. If we were, we would fail at that.

[wadenelson1]

Here's how I see it.

All these war-mongering politicians absolutely LOVED it that we were sticking it to the USSR in Afghanistan.

Cause the USSR stuck it to us during the Vietnam war, supplying the NVA with thousands of SAM missiles, MIG airplanes, AK-47's, medical supplies, everything including the kitchen sink.

The Republicans in particular never got over the fact that we lost in Vietnam, and BY GOLLY THEY WANTED REVENGE.

They got it, cold on a platter, by supplying the Mujaheddin Stinger missiles, land mines, IED's, and everything else they needed to stick it to the USSR.

Once the opportunity to STICK IT to the USSR was gone, the polits were no longer interested in the Afghan peoples.

Now that fickle finger of fate has once again twisted, and is again pointing at us. Along with a lot of those same weapons systems.

Thanks a freakin' lot Charlie Wilson. You and your war lovin, revenge seeking brethren caused this quagmire.

[NoComment9]

I second that. We trained 'em, armed 'em, and then abandoned 'em. And they've been fighting us with our weapons and training and then some.

[Paula Ann]

i'd agree about arming and abandoning them, but no-one need to teach Afghans how to fight

[jsarets]

There are three sides to every story in modern political history: There's the official story, there's the limited hangout, and there's the truth.

This is a great summary of the limited hangout story of Afghanistan. This is the one designed for the skeptics who imagine themselves as savvy observers with an edge on the ignorant masses.

It's plausible, it demonstrates causal relationships, it appeals to certain ideological sensibilities, it has a pertinent moral or object lesson...

And it's completely wrong.

The truth is not a secret. It's hidden only by obscurity. Do your own research. Think for yourself.

[wadenelson1]

>And it's completely wrong.

Good job. Tell everyone "it's completely wrong" without offering one ounce of what IS correct, in your opinion. You didn't offer one single fact to refute what I said.

Some of us are writers who put up original thought and commentary, others, like you, just critics.

[Ergon]

What weapons systems? Your democratic president is being defeated by a peasant army with IED's and AK 47's.

[talkingdog]

This has been George W. Bush's boondagle for the last 7 & 1/2 years,....not Barack Obama's.

What he's doing is evaluating it at the moment.

Perhaps if George W. Bush had taked some time to evaluate it FIRST we wouldn't be starting over now!

[maxfax]

Send George.

[GarryLad]

Charlie Wilson forgets that this is a NATO intervention. I suspect that had he been in government he might have said less.

As a Canadian, and we have lost many scores of men and women, such a personal possession of this issue might seem offensive had it not been made by an American idiot, filled with the fame of movie portrayal.

Men will continue to fight and die while charlie dreams of his one chance he had with booze and Julia.

[jsarets]

You're right. People in government don't usually comment on hypotheticals, and that's partly to protect themselves and partly to avoid offending sensitive people like yourself.

But people outside of government are entitled to have opinions about politics and express them in public. What's your opinion?

[nanooknw]

Don't you folks read the article before you make your comments.