Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski venerable statesman by day, but in the dark of the night he becomes

Captain Obvious

The Taliban have ruled through intimidation, and allways have. Unfortunately in much of the country the government is so corrupt that the population pretty much sees them as the same...one shakes them down during the day and the other shakes them down at night.

If the Karzai government can reduce corruption and improve security there will be few tears shed at the departure of the Taliban.

One of our biggest problems with our tactics in Afghanistan is to take a 'war on drugs' attitude there...The Taliban provides the farmers with loans to be paid off in X number of kilos of opium at harvest. When we just come through and and destroy the fields we drive the farmers even further into debt with the Taliban. Instead we should be paying market price at the gate (and then destroy it) and then providing a planting loan and guaraunteed market for any crop other than opium. You may think that is expensive but it is way cheaprer than having to fight a geurilla war or dealing with a flood of cheap heroin on the streets of Europe and the US.

The answer is simple: Get the hell out of other country's business! The so called terrorist, do not hate our freedom they hate our imperialist foreign policy of establishing military bases on their soil! Get the hell out Muslin Lands and let Israel fight their own battle with their own soldiers! If any one from the USA feels an allegiance towards their cause, they are free to volunteer and join their army! We are not the police of the World! I don't like all this tough talk by Sen. Obama to expand our military... He maybe too good of a politician for my taste!

Why the hell are we not able to elect people like Dennis Kucinich and/or Ron Paul?

I just dont think that people get Obama's point. Yes sending more military there is not the answer and thats never what Obama proposes to anything he favors going at things from several different fronts if you dont have a civilian surge that assist the people in how to grow food rather than poppy then the surge isnt going to work thats why Obama favors getting at the root cause of terrorism. A surge isnt the answer but if you are outmanned you need more troops. If that is a surge since the definition is flexible I dont see how you can be in a war and not have the troops necessary and think that you can win if you dont have the manpower. But of course troops alone is not going to work anymore than it did in Iraq. He need the Pakistan govermnent involved just like Obama said about Iraq you need other regional countries involved. You cant negotiate with terrorist Obama himself said that there are some that you cant negotiate with that you have to take out but you need to work with other countries on this issue you cant go at it alone and a surge is not going to work Obama knows thats why he opposed it in Iraq but I think the situation is a little more different in Afghanistan.

Carol