Americans are supporting the current effort, but (there is always a "but"), we're none too sure of where this will all go as well. Vietnam comes to mind alot. Something we temporarily forgot when the U.N. asked us to poke around in Somalia a few years back.
Still, comparing Vietnam with Afganistan, even Afganistan vs Russia compared to today, there are some differences. Vietnam had Russian help. Afgansitan had American help when they fought the Russians. Nobody is helping the Taliban right now (at least not that we can tell....I wouldn't put it past some Arabs to suddenly start smuggling them whatever they need on their own just to hurt America). Hell, Russia is helping us this time, something I am VERY grateful for and hope to return the favor to Russia. Vietnam was a war that American's didn't really want to fight. This time it is personal to America. There are no peace movments, just flying American flags (a toejamload of them too, they're everywhere).
The goals are clear, at least in the short term. Get Afganistan back into the real world so they don't depend on rich whackos for part of their money. Also, kill the whackos as often as possible when they pop up. Part of Al Queda is devoted to helping the Taliban. The Al Queda recruits are not all sent overseas to bomb Americans. Alot get sent to the frontlines to fight the Northern Alliance. The Taliban helps Al Queda and in return Al Queda helps the Taliban. They are strongly rumored to be behind the suicide bombing of the Northern Alliance leader a few days before September 11 for example.
BTW, news tidbit. Did you get the feeling the USA was bombing all over the country of Afganistan with no point? Well, from what I just heard two days ago, all those scattered places are FOREIGNERS, not Afgans. Those troops and bunkers were all the known places that Pakistanis, Saudis, and others were working from. There is logic behind this stuff.
Now that this part is over so from now on we're devoting most of our strikes are towards the Taliban front lines. My guess is that we ran out of terrorist style targets, which naturally came first in the US bombing campaign. The Northern Alliance can squeak all they want about the lack of US help, but our interest do come first. The Northern Alliance are no angels, but the enemy of my enemy is my friend you know. Hopefully we can persuade the Norhtern Alliance to show some restraint when this war is over, but it could get dicey. I don't neccessary care if they don't stop growing opium, or are pro American. All they need to promise the US is to not support terrorists and that would be enough.
I was worried about British temperment too. I often check out the BBC's website for information, because I find CNN to be...well...skewed towards one direction and not as objective. Now, the BBC's website has this thing they call the "talking point". If you ever read that, you almost think the whole world was pro-Taliban or something. I couldn't figure it out untill I realised that whoever was selecting which posts make it onto the board is DEFINELY anti-war. The US led campaign is just evil if you read the Talking Point section. Your not getting an accurate cross section of public opinion. Your getting that BBC employee's opinion.
I'm glad the word on the street is more like the US version of it.
Hans.
