Mario Piperni dot Com

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Bob Herbert makes the argument for ending the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

What we have in Afghanistan is a war that most Americans believe is not worth fighting — and certainly not worth raising taxes to pay for. President Obama has not made a compelling case for the war and has set a deadline for the start of withdrawal that seems curiously close to the anticipated start of his 2012 campaign for a second term.

It’s time to bring the curtain down for good on these tragic, farcical wars. The fantasy of democracy blossoming at the point of a gun in Iraq and spreading blithely throughout the Middle East has been obliterated. And it’s hard to believe that anyone buys the notion that the U.S. can install a successful society in the medieval madness of Afghanistan.

For those who haven’t noticed, we have a nation that needs rebuilding here at home. Maybe we could muster some shared sacrifice on that front.

It’s time to bring the troops back, and nurse the wounded, and thank them all for their extraordinary service. It’s time to come to our senses and put the lunatic’s manual aside.

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In case you were curious.  Numbers are in 2011 dollars.

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(H/T: Foolocracy)

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Chris Cilizza named Gen. David Petraeus as the recipient of the ‘Worst Week in Washington’ award.  Here are the reasons he cites.

* Petraeus is already a bona fide war hero who now has to put his sterling reputation on the line in a war that many military strategists — including members of McChrystal’s inner circle — view as unwinnable.

* Petraeus moves from Tampa, Florida — home of U.S. Central Command — to Kabul, Afghanistan. ‘Nuff said.

* In some circles, Petraeus was regarded as Republicans’ strongest potential 2012 candidate against Obama. His new post effectively ends that speculation.

I could see the first two being downers but I can’t quite see why his new post would negate his running in 2012 if he so chooses.  If it’s a timing issue, then he could surely spend the next six to 10 months implementing his Afghan strategy, then turn it over to some other military whiz kid and take a run in 2012.  No?

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See? McChystral wasn’t all bad.

Even more about McChrystal: now it can be told. The story about him voting for Obama is not contrived. He is a political liberal. He is a social liberal. He banned Fox News from the television sets in his headquarters. Yes, really. This puts to rest another false rumor: that McChrystal deliberately precipitated his firing because he wants to run for President.

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