Friday, August 20, 2010

Meeting a Republican

I had an interesting conversation with a friend today. Her politics have been unknown to me; I just assumed that they are similar to mine. Was I in for a surprise! She announced that she is Republican "all the way". I asked why? Her response was that she did not like Obama and did not like what he said. At that point, I suggested that we change the topic of conversation. Thinking I was saying something positive, I remarked that the last combat troops left Iraq last night. My friend said, "That's another thing...I think if we fight a war we should finish it". Apparently, I had put my foot in it again! Then I really changed the subject and asked her to tell me about some events that were taking place in her community. During the course of this part of the conversation, my friend gave some opinions about her own community that made me realize that she is, indeed, a Republican. Some members of her community are in difficult straits and she is inclined to help them but not insure their survival. That sounds a lot like today's Republicans.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Afghanistan

General Petraeus says the Afghan war is winnable. I am not clear about what he means by "winnable". If he means that we will leave the Afghans with an uncorrupt government, a suitable infrastructure, a well trained army, a reliable police force, an intact health system and universal education, then I think he is wrong. We can never do this. Only the Afghans can. If this is not what is meant by "winnable" then what is?
We should leave before one more soldier or Afghan dies. We should leave now.