Mikhail Gorbachev Supports US Withdrawal From Afghanistan (Video)

Mikhail Gorbachev supports a troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The former president of the Soviet Union spoke to CNN's John King Sunday on State Of The Union and after talking about the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Gorbachev suggested that the US revisit the Kremlin's efforts to control Afghanistan as the US plans its next move.

"I think that what's needed is not additional forces," said Gorbachev. "This is something that we discussed, too, years ago, and we decided not to do it. And I think our experience deserves attention." McClatchy has reported that President Obama is leaning toward sending as many as 34,000 more US troops to Afghanistan. The Soviet Union fought for nine years in Afghanistan in a war to support Afghanistan's then-communist government. The USSR ultimately lost the war and 13,000 of its soldiers died.

Gorbachev concluded that for the US, "withdrawal from Afghanistan should be the goal."

Comments

[provi]

I have written to the NY Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Huffington Post, etc, and posed the question, "WHAT the hell are doing in Afghanistan"?
NO ANSWERS!
bin Laden, is still hanging out, we are still pouring billions into that quagmire, eight years later,
all we have to show for our efforts{?} is the bodies of our young.
We will now be hearing all about the heroics of those sent to fight, BUT nothing of what the hell we are doing there!
IF, we decide to CUT OFFF FUNDING [both Afghanistan and Pakistan] no money, no arms, no private armies {blackwater] ,
UNTIL we have bin Laden in tow, I'll bet he will be turned over in a nano second.
However, it seems as if our presence there, has another purpose! What could that possibly be?
Could any of this have to do with OIL?
Fernando
Brisbane CA

[erewon]

Gorby has achieved some important sucessess. But Russian people cannot forget his failures. Namely: leading the country towards utter economical and political collapse; looking weak and scared after the attempted coup; betraying the security of his country in negotiations with the West.
In the process, Gorby lost support of his own people and was so inept, as to being unceremoniously thrown out of power by his rival, Yeltsin.
History is not very kind to weak and inept leaders-- Chamberlain, Khrushchev, Carter,Bush II
His advice on geo-political affairs is about as valuable as that of Bush the Second.

[wordvarc]

Only hubris keeps the US in Afghanistan.

[jnutlfam2]

I honestly think he's right. Afghanistan, in my opinion was a contributer to the collapse of USSR. No country has ever truly controlled them even as far back as the roman legions. A hint to the wise here

[Agent420]

I'm not sure if anyone has ever controlled Afghanistan. Correct me if you know different.

[AtheistUS]

No, if British empire, former USSR and present US could not correct you so far, it is probably impossible.

[BlaineNelson]

Should Obama take Gorbachev's advice and withdrawl from Afghanistan?

http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=6461
.

[Agent420]

Yes.

[SiberianRat]

Yep.

[sposton]

What Obama should do and what he will do are two different things. One thing is for sure he will not do what he ought to. Why? Because you can count on him doing what he is told to do by those for whose interest wars are fought.

[AtheistUS]

Yes, but Gorbachev advice or experience has not much to do with this. Gorbachev just stated obvious.

[TylerSutherland]

No.

[JavaManiac]

If we cannot get Bin Laden - let's get out and use the resources to protect ourselves at home.

[sparky73]

We should not be in Afghanistan. This is a losing battle that only results in the needless de@th of our brave men and women in the military. I don't understand why Obama is continuing this war. I thought we were getting a man interested in peace, not death.

[Zengeist]

Perhaps some people weren't paying attention when Gorbachev lead the dissolution of the old Soviet Union state, effectively ending the cold war. Of course, that doesn't mean the angry lunkheads on both sides of that old equation just evaporate. Remember, as Ronald Reagan said, "Facts are stupid things."

[sparky73]

So Reagan had nothing to do with ending the cold war? Just curious.

[SiberianRat]

Not nearly as much as the GOP gives him credit for.

[AtheistUS]

Yes, Reagan had almost nothing to do with ending the cold war. May be he prolonged it a little, or may be opposite - we cannot really play history backward.

On total, I think Regan effect on the World (all countries included) was very negative.

[rushour]

Gorvy is not telling who kick his @@-ss. WE DID!. We provide the Mujihadeen forces economical and millitary aquipment, like the FIN-92 stinger anti aircraft missil(HOME MADE BABY!). Gorby Ronni kick your @@@-SSSS!!!!!. Commies from the USA, you can't re-write history. WE WON IN AFGHANISTAN, THE SOVIETS LOST. USA#1

[SiberianRat]

LOL!!! Yikes! That's some serious misinformation...

[Mnemanth]

Uhmmm... do your parents know you're still up?

[rushour]

It's the best you can do?

[MilwaukeeDan]

Rush, I think you forgot Vietnam, where the Soviets/Chinese armed the North communists, yes those same North Vietnamese that are making stuff for the "great corporatist America". Are you for real?

[MilwaukeeDan]

At least Gorbachev knew when to get out, our Vietnam experience lasted over 13 years and ended the lives of over 50,000 Americans, now go fly your flag.

[chewie2008]

You remind me of that Eddy Murphy Skit......Hurray Rockaaaaay.

[sagondo]

Bush's wars are now Obama's wars, and if he does not re-define victory in these two wars and devise a face saving exit strategy surely he'll not be re-elected. As a Special Ops vet i can honestly say that what makes our military formidable is not as much its training as it is its killing technology. If the Iraqis and Afghans had the technology America has we would not have invaded their country or c waged war against them,especially given their tenacity and ability to defeat every foreign invader regardless of might.
In addition the Afghans were willing to turn over Osama if Bush had provided the evidence they requested, but rather than comply with that reasonable request Bush decide to wage war.
Most Americans do not know that our DOJ does NOT even have enough hard evidence to indite Osama for 911: if you need proof just go to the FBI's most wanted site and read the charges leveled against Osama. .
Our government is not and has not worked in the best interest of its people, when a nation can find plenty of money to fight elective wars rather than take care of its own...we have a problem.
The war on terror should have started with a domestic war plan aimed at the Wall Street warlords, for they've surely done more harm to America than Osama could have ever dreamed of doing.
It is time we clearly define who America's real enemies are.

[littlepeople]

Well said.....and I agree with the Gorbachev analysis. I believe he was the MOST instrumental in ending the so-called "Cold War".

[lightningbolt]

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq will continue for a very long time. The corporations which control our government are making lots of money from these wars. The defense contractors build the weapons, the oil companies extract oil and build pipelines, and the banks make money from financing the wars. They are the only winners in these wars. Unless we make bribery (private campaign finance) illegal, these corporations will continue to control our government and war will continue.

[Mnemanth]

You said it.
As long as there's a profit to be made, we're not going anywhere.

[lightningbolt]

Obama should listen to Gorbachev's advice. He has lots of experience with Afghanistan.

[GayGrandpa]

A word to the wise is sufficient but it is a fool who will not learn by any other means.

[Photon55]

Reckless spending and the loss of lives in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan trump any rational thought or common sense to end the disasters for whatever unexplainable reasons, so this country will not listen to any voice of reason. We face the same dilemma Russia did--carrying on a futile war or go bankrupt. We appear to choose the latter.