The “Graveyard of Empires” continues

In a very disturbing though predictable statement from US and NATO commander General Stanley McChrystal, the general states that nobody is winning the war in Afghanistan and called it a “draw”.

You mean to tell me that the most powerful and technologically advanced military force in the history of mankind is at a “draw” with a group of rag-tag rebel fighters from one of the poorest nations on the planet?

You mean the massive increases in military personnel in the region by the Obama administration has failed to achieve the government’s military objectives (if there are any)?

You mean spending $ 1 million per year/ per soldier has not achieved victory?

You mean after nearly a decade, we have not defeated our enemies in Afghanistan? (We did spend about 10 years in that other quagmire Vietnam).

Why should anyone be surprised? Ancient to recent history has showed us this is the eventual outcome of war and occupation in Afghanistan.

The “graveyard of empires” has defeated military occupation for two millennia to include the worst military defeat in the history of the British empire early last century and sending the powerful  Soviet military back north with their tails between their legs and not a nickel left in their pockets.

I guess George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Bill Kristol and all the other neocon “chicken-hawks” and Barack Obama never read about this history in newspapers or books.

What always seems to happen whether it be in matters of foreign policy or economics, many people think that these things can’t happen here. We are somehow immune from the hatred of a reckless foreign policy or ignoring Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” in economic matters.

It may take somewhat longer to see these disastrous results in America but that hardly means we won’t see them.