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| Afghanistan |
| Have You Heard or Read Much about the Afghan War Lately? |
| 2013-12-18 |
| Recently, three members of the administration were quizzed before a Congressional committee. A congressman asked the three members if any of them could tell him how much the war cost and how many lives have been lost. None of those testifying at the hearing could answer these questions. I got to wondering what some of the answers are. Today, our local newspaper reported a story on page 10. The story was a very short story in the lower left hand corner of the page and consisted of two paragraphs. The story was headlined “6 US service members die in copter crash.” The crash occurred in Zabul Province, Shajau district; names have not yet been released. The story seemed to be relegated to away to obscurity. I searched the news for 2013 with regards to stories coming out of the Whitehouse concerning Afghanistan. What was surprising was not the stories being reported about Afghanistan but the absence of stories about Afghanistan. The focus of the stories seemed to be the captured by the following headline in Bloomberg Politics November 13, 2013: Sorry Is Hardest Word for U.S. Presidents to Say for War. The New York Times reported that Hamid Karzai and other Afghan officials “…would require an expression of contrition from President Barack Obama for military mistakes, including causing civilian casualties, in exchange for an agreement over how long U.S. troops could stay in their country.” Secretary of State John [I served in Vietnam] Kerry and National Security Adviser Susan [who insisted Benghazi was caused by a schlocky video] Rice were quick to respond with denials that Afghanistan was scheduled for the 2014 apology tour. Aside from this story, Afghanistan was mentioned in the State of the Union address in February. The gist of State of the Union speech regarding Afghanistan was: minimal reductions to wartime spending, maintaining the best military the world has ever known, commitment to a permanent a permanent war on terror. While I can agree that we have the best military the world has known, the other statements are in doubt. The sad truth about the lack of stories about Afghanistan is that such stories have fallen off the front pages of newspapers and televised news stories because of a lack of interest by the media. I don't think there is a lack of interest across the rural areas and in the small towns across the country or what is often referred to as "fly over country". It is generally flyover country that gives their sons and daughters to the wars. Perhaps such stories don’t serve the current narrative about the President. Maybe other stories such as ObamaCare have eclipsed stories about the war or maybe we are going into the political season and incumbents are worried about re-election and the 12-year war is not something they want to discuss. And yet the war goes on. Casualties and fatalities go on. The following source Afghanistan Casualties. summarizes casualties in Afghanistan since the WOT began. One hundred and fifty-six members of the coalition have given their lives so far this year. Coalition fatalities are not at the level they were during the 33,000 troop surge. Actually, they are about what they were just before the surge. Some coalition forces have dropped out of the coalition. However, fatalities are still occurring and at a relatively high level. The purpose of this piece is a reminder of the war's cost in and to put name's to the numbers of those fallen members of the military. Names are available at the website. The fatalities were caused by IEDs, hostile fire, and a number of other causes. They are spread across the coalition forces and across the various branches of service. I know I am preaching to the choir at Ransburg as many visitors and contributors who have served their country so well. Many members of coalition forces also visit Rantburg. A heartfelt thanks to all of those who have sacrificed and to those who given their all for their respective countries. Many thanks to the families and friends the fallen who have also sacrificed during the WOT. You are not forgotten. |
| Posted by:JohnQC |
| #2 It's simple, the war Obama hoped to start won't, so it's non-news. (The People overwhelmingly said NO, how dare they defy Obama, this can't stand, so President narcistic will ignore the rejecton, It didn't happen) The news will be placed on the back burner and NOT presented to the people, then they'll (The people) Will forget, at least that's what Obama hopes. GOD-BAMA HAS SPOKEN. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2013-12-18 18:47 |
| #1 Hear, hear! We'll said, JohnQC. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2013-12-18 18:39 |