General Petraeus

[GregMilitary]

By the way, General Petraeus arrived from Afghanistan today? What do you think about his career and do you like him? For me, he is my hero and role model. Remember, he is a graduate of West Point.

 

[Stealth]

I also consider him a role-model, right up there with GEN Patton. I know he changed ISAF command with GEN Allen yesterday. I've heard nothing but good things about him from those who served under him in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I know there has been a lot of critiquing about whether his tactics worked in Afghanistan or not. The way it was explained to me is that Afghanistan is a bunch of small countries (tribes) and their people don't really know what goes outside of their bubble. The exceptions being the larger cities IE: Bagram, Kabul and Kandahar. It's a lot more complex than simply going in finding the bad guy and leaving. All and all I think he is a great choice for the next CIA director!

 

[GregMilitary]

He served for 37 tireless years and yes, Afghanistan is very different. It's 10 time more complex than Iraq because here our troops fight in mountains, but in Iraq, they fought in the streets.
Both Iraq and AFGHANistan he led the surge troops and they were his proposal, this made others think it's unsuccessful, but no, the surge in Iraq under his command proved to have a positive effect, but in Afghanistan, the story is different.

 

[scoutpilot]

He served for 37 tireless years and yes, Afghanistan is very different. It's 10 time more complex than Iraq because here our troops fight in mountains, but in Iraq, they fought in the streets.
Both Iraq and AFGHANistan he led the surge troops and they were his proposal, this made others think it's unsuccessful, but no, the surge in Iraq under his command proved to have a positive effect, but in Afghanistan, the story is different.

You say "here" as though you are in Afghanistan.

10 times more complex, eh? What exactly are you basing that on?

 

[GregMilitary]

Why did the Soviets lose in Afghanistan? Because they were weak? No. Because they didn't know the geography of the region, but for Afghans, it's their land, they people live there for hundreds of years, they know how to fight. So, Americans have never experienced a fight like in AFGHANISTAN, maybe Vietnam, but we lost there. Iraq was different, Americans fought in Iraq and won more easily and we know that the Iraq War could be won, but Afghanistan, we can't say the war can be won, once and for all. Petraeus, himself, never said that the War in Afghanistan will be won.
Let's wish our troops a long live and let them return in peace, without lifelong injuries or in a coffin.