Web Letters: Obama's Afghan Dilemma

With all of the stats in this article, I was surprised there weren't stats on the dollars coming in from the heroin trade, which is funding the Taliban and Al Qaeda forces. The economic void in both Afghanistan and Pakistan have led to this disaster, allowing opium agriculture to flourish. In order to cut off this blood supply for the terrorists, the opium fields must first be destroyed, without destroying the soil, and replaced with a viable crop.

I do not believe for a minute that Karzai is exempt from any benefits of this trade! Why hasn't there been a thorough investigation following the money? More than 90 percent of the world's heroin now comes from Afghanistan? Where is the accountability--especially when US dollars seem to be funding this economy?

Not only does the heroin supply bring income for arms, bribes, and soldiers, it weakens the countries it goes to!

We need to destroy this bloodline first, and then send food and goods to both the Afghans and Pakistanis so they can survive while economic development takes hold. Creating goodwill instead of just focusing on destruction will create more allies in the region than a singular military strategy. This strategy will cost less in dollars and lives in the long run and lead to a sustainable economy.

Christina Ivazes

Sacramento, CA

A good article! If you are going to have a military action in Afghanistan, there are operational and support elements that need to be in place. If you want to reduce civilian casualties, a large number of troops need to be deployed. A small force is dependent on a lot of firepower to protect itself and to win battles. Heavy weapons are weapons of mass destruction, and more civilians will suffer. A large force reduces the reliance on firepower, and civilian casualties are reduced. American troops can secure the ground they stand on, therefore a substantial force needs to be on the ground to secure Afghanistan. A long deployment in Afghanistan would require the support of the American people, the industrial base we are currently outsourcing overseas, taxing those wealthy idiots who got us into this economic mess, and the draft to reduce the risk of death that a volunteer army imposes on its members with multiple deployments. This is how you support wars! If you are going to war these are the main elements you need! Wars are dirty and nasty, which is why they are always the last resort.

I agree with the regional and diplomatic approach to resolving the war in Afghanistan, along with the differences between Pakistan and India. All three of the countries are nervous and distrust one another's motives. Iran and Saudi Arabia need to be in the mix because they have religious interests similar to those of most militants. Islamic countries need to hold their hands and help reconcile their differences. Islam is a peaceful religion!

I like the ideas of micro-loans and building an infrastructure. The political structure must fit the needs of the people, but building an economy involves literally meat and potatoes issues that support life.

Pervis James Casey

Riverside, CA