Rush Limbaugh was interviewed by the U,S, cable channel Fox News one of the subjects discussed was Afghanistan. Rush Limbaugh said Barrack Obama doesn't care about Afghanistan. he extrapolated that notion from President Obama's unwillingness to reach a hasty conclusion about the war in Afghanistan what America's policy will be and how it will succeed. Afghanistan and Iraq cannot be compared either politically or militarily. Iraq had until the U.S. invasion a stable government yes Saddam Hussein was authoritarian leader who violated the human rights of his countrymen on a massive scale but Iraq still had a working government. The same cannot be stated about Afghanistan. In 1979 the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan under the pretext of rendering assistance to a "Socialist Brother." In the 10 years of war that followed the Soviet's where unable to achieve military victory in fact the only parts of the country under their direct control were the cities seceding the rest to the Mujahideen. Following the withdrawal of Soviet forces the Mujahideen would morph into the Taliban with the aid of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence service.
Fast forward to 2001 Osama bin Laden has taken refuge in Afghanistan given protection by the Taliban government which controls a majority of the country but is still fighting a war with the Northern Alliance.
Al-Qaeda having already carried out successful attacks against U.S. interests in East Africa and the Middle East turned its focus towards America determined to attack the U.S. its self. George W. Bush the new elected president receives the now famous briefing from August 8 2001 which concludes Al-Qaeda determined to attack America President Bush dismisses the briefing and the person giving the brief by saying that "You have covered your ass." One month and 3 days later the attacks take place. By November of that same year the U.S. has bombed and will soon invade Afghanistan driving the Taliban from power by December. Even though Afghanistan is the country of origin for the attacks upon U.S. soil the Bush administration will do a complete 180 and turn its attention to Iraq. For the remaining six years of that administration the war in Afghanistan will be almost completely ignored not only by George Bush but by the American media and public as well.
This the situation President Obama inherits upon his inauguration a war pushed so far out of public view that few have noticed the resurgence of the Taliban or that Afghanistan is so unstable that if there isn't a change in policy the war literally could be lost.
Let's return to Rush Limbaugh and his interview: He firmly believes that President Obama should blindly follow the advice of the generals and give them what ever they want. After all one shouldn't question the small minded Mr. Limbaugh or Americas military leaders. Why should anyone look for a different strategy? Or different policies?
Mr. Limbaugh Afghanistan is not Iraq. In Afghanistan all politics is local literally people don't usually see themselves as a part of a whole but as part of the tribe and region in which they live. Additionally people are fighting the America and its NATO allies not because they believe in the Taliban. Its much simpler: they see them as invaders and not liberators.
While Rush Limbaugh has the right to offer his opinions they might have some legitimacy if he actually knew what he was talking about. But having a grade six education and a complete lack of intellectual curiosity doesn't encourage anyone to listen to any of your completely ignorant pronouncements.
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