“Afghanistan looks increasingly like Vietnam for US”
Published: 30 October, 2009, 03:35
Edited: 04 November, 2009, 09:45
Afghanistan, Farah province : US Marines from Fox Company 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines watch as a CH-53 helicopter lands to transport them from their forward operating base in Farah Province, southern Afghanistan, on October 12, 2009. (AFP Photo / David Furst)
(27.8Mb) embed videoTAGS: Conflict, Military, Middle East, USA
In Afghanistan the US is facing some of the same challenges America had during the Vietnam War, according to Lawrence Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell.
“In Afghanistan we have three things that are really at the basis of what looks like an insurmountable challenge for the US – and for NATO, too, for that matter,” Wilkerson told RT. “One, sanctuary, just as we had in Vietnam. Two – you have an enemy who is fighting an unlimited war. And third, and looking increasingly like Vietnam in this respect, too, you have a basically illegitimate government in Kabul. I don’t think anyone thinks that Karzai is a legitimate ruler anymore – and that’s a real set of challenges to fight an insurgency in – and insurgency is extremely difficult to win anyway.”
29.10.2009, 23:10
6 comments
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This is The Ugly American all over again. We know little of their culture- we ignore the real needs for their everyday existence-we are trying to change or force our values on a population that has so many diverse tribes and customs dating back 1000's of years. Have we even established the bare basics for a grass movement? I certainly don't have the answers. I am torn by the greivious loss of our soldiers dying over there and the real fear of terrorists training and planning our destruction. Where do I turn for realistic and honest answers to this war? I am a Vietnam Vet and am still torn with love of my country and our policies and the loss of lives in that war. God Bless Our Servicemen serving this country.