How to get out of Afghanistan

[Bill Nerin]

Here's how we do it.

We know that Karzai is exceedingly open to receiving under the table money. So Obama decides to offer a bribe to Karzai so attractive that he can't pass it up. It is lots of money and an offer for him and family and close friends to reside for the rest of their lives in the US with guaranteed safeguards if he so chooses. For this bribe all Karzai must do is to declare that all foreign troops must leave Afghanistan within 6 months for the sake of peace.

Then the Nobel Peace President simply says that for the sake of peace and abiding by international law we must leave. In six months all our troops, hired mercenaries and CIA are gone.

The world cheers; the Norwegians are vindicated. With the expenses of the DOD reduced since the war is over, we take that money and use it for universal healthcare at home.

Bingo - Obama is guaranteed reelection in 2012 and the Dems are all back in Congress in 2010.

[abby0802]

Brian, the care that veterans receive vary from place to place, but on the whole, once you are no longer a tool to be used you are thrown away -- i.e., the cases of our current crop of veterans who have permanent head damage who have to fight to get more than 10% disability.

For those who don't know -- as for retirees, for every dollar of va disability the government takes away a dollar of retirement -- unless you are 100% disabled (and try getting that!)

For widows/widowers of retirees -- for every dollar of survivor benefit from military retirement the government takes away a dollar of social security no matter how many years the person worked and paid into social security ----

So, the financial compensation is not what it should be and the retirees had to fight to keep the promised health care for life benefit -- in fact, I actually pay an annual premium for my health care benefit -- (a low premium compared to most, but still -- so much for free health care for life as promised the military when they agreed to serve 20 years or more)

Here's a story to make all soldiers (and retirees and vets) nod their head since they understand how the government works --

Military retirees are always subject to recall, and the government never really pays attention to a veteran's status. My father got his official letter that he was subject to recall to active military duty. Of course, I had to read the letter to him as he was blind; he shook his head in disbelief as he sat in his wheelchair -- being a double amputee he needed a wheelchair --

SNAFU --

[Dennis St. John]

It's really much simpler than that. Orders are cut, military personnel and supplies are loaded onto transport, and everyone and everything ships out. Either that, or we leave Iraq and Afghanistan the same way we left Vietnam -- in panic, disorder, and slaughter, all the while betraying all those who supported the United States.

[Brian]

Thing is, the military follow orders. Oh, sometimes like naughty sheep, they stray outside the fence, but not for long. They answer to civilian authority, and civilian authority is owned, as we know, by corporate interests, whose interests are "perpetual war for perpetual peace" in G. Vidal's phrase. We see how influential the military is when we observe the shameful treatment of our veterans, who have sustained terrible injuries (others gave their lives) for nothing, absolutely nothing, the lies of Bush and now Obama being, of course, nothing, unreality, air, nothing. It should be on their gravestones: "Here lies one who died for absolutely nothing."

[Bill Nerin]

Abby, Maybe, but the military is so strained right now they may not want to

[abby0802]

Love the idea, but do you honestly think that the military industrial complex and the DOD won't find another war somewhere else?

Bill Nerin for Pres -- yeah, and will brian be your running mate?

[Brian]

You, sir, are a mutha******* genius. Bill Nerin for President, 2012.