CNN

Mr Wilson is a very smart man. Wish I could say the same for the republican party. They can't even shut up when the president receives the Nobel prize. Such unpatriotic idiots should be removed from their offices. The majority of the people are sick of them and the morons that write in to complain about this administration. Most have their facts wrong or spout out right lies that they have picked from dumb E mail that someone made up and is circulating .

I thought that obama was the president so this makes it his war. You can only blame someelse for so long. It sounds like the demo's don't know what to do.

Charlie Wilson is just plain wrong. He didn't understand the situation in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation, he didn't understand it during the civil war afterward, and I can only assume he does not understand it now (given his "I'll support anything Obama decides" stance on the country).
First of all, US involvement during the Soviet occupation, especially our completely hands-off approach of funneling money and supplies through Pakistani intelligence is probably the sole reason why the Taliban rose to power and gave Al Qaeda safe haven.
Second, while leaving Afghanistan to fend for itself after the Soviet withdrawal was clearly a problem, $20-30million? That figure is totally fantastical. The situation was not "reconstruction" as Charlie Wilson puts it. It was full-scale civil war.
As far as calculated withdrawal, and setting aside any moral qualms about royally screwing the Afghan people, you need more of a plan than "let's just leave." Remember, "calculated withdrawals" are essentially the basis for Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations' belief that they can defeat superpowers. They remember all to well what happened to the US in Lebanon and Vietnam and the Soviets in Afghanistan.

Chalie Wilsons War! Wasn't that a Movie??

Thank you Charlie Wilson for being patriotic enough and speaking up. I believe you because, you have been there and you know what you are talking about.

Interesting take...not enough attention is given to what the Soviets did in the 80's and just because you have a lot of troops does not mean you can win.

Obama's War????

Huh?

Bush started this war... deployed troops without a clear strategy... left them to "muddle through" for 7+ years putting them in harm's way... took necessary troops and resources for a war of choice in Iraq... and somehow this is Obama's War.

Uh, OK. Whatever. The sky is green and down is up.

This war is not like a movie. It doesn't just run for two hours while we eat our popcorn. Then we go home. People are dying and communites are being ruined. There are too many detractors and talk show host making millions on critizing a leader that has to make a decision about life, death, and the destruction of communities.

You trying doing that with a conscience.

Schmeckel get you historical facts straight. It was not Carter it was Ford and some say actually Nixon who started funding the Afgans intially. I love how some of you spew incorrect statements, quit watching Faux news and pick up a book.

The more republicans and democrats snipe at each other, the weaker America becomes.

Excellent post, Alex. I too am deeply disturbed by allegations that Glen Beck raped and killed a girl in 1990. I have heard these rumors online in news network blogs, and I can only wonder why Glen Beck has not produced evidence proving that he was not near any girls in 1990. without such proof, how can we be expected to believe that he did not, as has been reported online, rape and kill a girl in 1990? All I am saying is that all he has to do is produce the evidence, and the whole thing goes away. Until then, we can just wander why he would rape and kill a girl in 1990.

President Obama need to start firing some of these idiots, and maybe they can go back to school and get a decent education. Some of you granfathered in CNN people should follow suite. Evil prevails nothing

Does Obama really think you can separate the Taliban from Al Quida? Talk about the intellectualizing defense mechanism in full display. Do that and before long Al Quida will own theTaliban. What poor leadership.

Afghanis are a lot like Americans.... they won't be ruled by foreigners.

I hope we can find a way to help these proud people to create a nation they believe in. Only then is it possible to "win" this conflict.

Wilson must not want to WIN THE WAR! He forgot what we learned in the Russian war in Afganistan. You win by killing the enemy.

SOCIALISM….. GOP calls Obama a Socialist.
SOCIALISM….. GOP calls Public Option, Socialism.
SOCIALISM….. Social Security, is it not Socialism?
SOCIALISM….. Free education until 12th grade, is it not Socialism?
SOCIALISM….. Bailout of Wall Street and AIG, is it not Socialism?
SOCIALISM….. Bush like that Iraq has WMDs, is it not Socialism?
SOCIALISM….. We believed what Bush said, is it not Socialism?
SOCIALISM….. 4300 Troops died, is it not Socialism?
SOCIALISM….. Bush visits Beijing Olympics, is not a waste of Tax Money.
SOCIALISM….. Obama flies to Copenhagen to Canvas for Chicago, GOP calls it a waste of Tax Dollars.
How easily we get Fooled and Misled by GOP………… Whatever Bush and GOP did is not Socialism……….. Whatever Obama is doing is Socialism………….

It is funny seeing the righties call it Obama's war; just as funny to see the lefties say it is Bush's war. Here is a news flash; this is Jimmy Carter's war people. He wanted Russia to have their very own Vietnam so he recruited the most extreme radicals the middle east had to offer, and gave them guns, lots of guns (do you really think the afghans could have stood up to the USSR on their own). So now we are fighting against the army that Carter created (which was enhanced and fine tuned by Reagan, and put into power by Clinton). Bush was the first president that was forced into action through no fault of his own; and Obama just inherited it. All the other presidents were just there for the love of their country (yes that last part is sarcastic).

r curtis your though is worth thinking about.

It is a forsaken land, the billions spent on war efforts would be better spent propping up the country against al qaeda than trying to root out the ones we set up.

vicious rumour that Glenn Beck raped and murdered a young girl in 1990. I don't claim to know the truth - only that the rumor floating around saying that Glenn Beck raped and murdered a young girl in 1990 should be discussed. So I want to do my part to try and help get to the bottom of this. Why won't Glenn Beck deny these allegations? I wouldn't accuse Glenn Beck of raping and murdering a young girl in 1990 – in fact, I think he didn't! But I can't help but wonder, since he has failed to deny these horrible allegations. Why won't he deny that he raped and killed a young girl in 1990?

PS. The Soviets NEVER CONTROLLED AFGHANISTAN! They had to withdraw and leave.

First of all, BUSH got the Troops into Afghanistan, to eradicate Bin-Laden and Al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda is no longer IN Afghanistan.

Secondly, BUSH started the war with Iraq, so that Big Oil could once again gain control of Iraqi OIL FIELDS! True. Sadaam Hussein threw Big Oil out of Iraq, 20 years ago. And Big Oil wanted back in. Bush lied our Troops die!

The Taliban were trained and armed by the Reagan administration! Now our sons and daughters are dying because of an arrogant GOP president who wanted the Taliban to fight the Soviets!

Afghanistan is another Vietnam, and worse. EIGHT YEARS and counting!

Maybe, Just a thought....the war in Iraq and the war in Afghan is so that we have two attack fronts for maybe going to war with Iran.

I hope we don't have to go that far but one never knows.... in the crazy world.

If Iran does get the bomb and does something really really stupid like target their neighbors to the east and all hell breaks loose. We won't have to move troops that far to march into Iran.

And the Nobel War Prize goes to................

BUSH, CHENEY, RUMSFELD and GOP of America

Who was the American president in
1989 ?

Please tell me ? Just mention his NAME !

Hey, we shot ourselves in the foot!! What comes areound, goes around!! Never look down on poor countries! Always make friends!!!

Republican’s congress Republican’s president went to the war

They didn’t have plan B or C or D

So ignore what ever they say now

In case you weren't aware Michael from AZ, the Brits ARE in Afghanistan.

Michael M.,

It seems you are as good at studying current events as you think Bush was at history. I have worked inside one of the British command posts in Afghanistan. The Brits have made a big contribution there.

Didn't Bush proclaim victory over the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan on June 5, 2004?

Sending troops into battle is a hard decision for any president. But it's only one decision among many: If we're going to send them, how many, what will be their mission, how do we define victory, when do they come home? If we're not going to send them, what will be the cost to America's security, relationships with allies, perceptions of our enemies, reputation, national pride, etc? If we do nothing, will our troops be killed gradually and how can that be acceptable politically, militarily or morally.

Yep, The BUSHwacher got us into Afganistan...but since He was supposed to have been a history major at Yale, he apparently did not read the part where the Brits pulled out in the 19th century/early 20th because they could do anything either....You notice the Brits did NOT go into AFgan, only Iraq.

Obama's war , Obama's Nobel peace prize.Just like Carter, Obama gets something for a lot of glib talk , no substance.
Afghanistan should be over soon when he gives up , sucks up to
the terrorists. What a joke of a President , this guy even makes Bush look good and that is really hard to do.

Obama is going to be blamed for this mess if we stay or pull out. The best thing to do is what the Russian did. Leave.

As I watch news and see our soldiers in the Middle East, I always ask myself "what the H.." are we doing way over there when we have the means to fight from our own soil. This war is becoming more and more senseless to me and I do support Obama but it's not about that to me anymore.

Finally, there is someone who is thinking logically and makes great sense. This war probably would have been over, had Bush kept his eyes on the ball and continued to clean up in Afghanistan and not be talked into a very stupid war in Iraq.

The state of the US economy would not be in the condition that it is in today.

The heading is so lamentable; how is this Obama's war unless ofcourse "Lauren" is the nick name for Lou as in Dobbs?:):)

I saw the movie, and afterward I could not escape the feeling that we should have let the Russians (Soviets) keep the country. I would not be surprised if the new Russians are helping the Taliban in order to get even with us, the same way we helped the Taliban.

Getting out now is really not an option...you are dealing with the lives of innocent people that we are there to help. The decisve factor is what is the best way to help. Training of the natives for their own defense should be priority...support to their families/ communities is another...that alone is worth hundred of thousand's of bullets that wouldn't need to be fired. There seems to be lots of confusion of the role of AlQ and Tali's....that has to be clarified....from across the ocean persepctive it seems intertwined...a cord that should be broken.

From a guy whose message was lost. He is correct in many respects – the job is now far more difficult than it was years ago. More people should recognize that the decisions cannot be made hastily, and should consider the consequences carefully. Failing to do so has led us to where we are now.

Charlie Wilson's a smart man–Time to get out of Afghanistan.

How is this "Obama's War"? If you want to assign ownership to an American President, you're a year or so too late! In any case, it's OUR war now – Bush got us into it and we all have to pay with our Nation's reputation, it's money and the lives of its citizens. People should think about that BEFORE they allow their leaders to invade other countries without reason. Maybe if we had committed the resources lost in Iraq to Afghanistan earlier, we wouldn't still be in this mess and our President wouldn't be faced with such a "terrible decision".

Charlie Wilson rocks!!!!

Charlie Wilson is a smart man, too bad we didn't listen to him back then...

Wilson said, "We're going to wait for the president to make a decision [on Afghanistan] and I'm going to try to support that decision."

Uh, don't hold your breath there Charlie, waiting on Obama to make a decision... the people in Illinois are STILL waiting.

Present Barack Obama... oops, I meant "presIDent"

The Bush family was seen to be friends with Osama Bin Laden. No wonder King George didn't want to get him. W was probably "paid off".

Afghanistan is Bush's neglected war, CNN.. Obama is just trying to clean up Bush's mess.. again.

Well said, Charlie. If only the republicans would listen to you instead of running around instantly condemning everything Obama does, irregardless of the posttive affect his actions may have for world peace or rebuilding the once prosperous country that Bush and his fellow republicans destroyed...

Charlie Wilson will get his Nobel price for peace next year! Hurraahhhh!

Amen Brother, you are so correct then we would never have had Osama Bin Laden to contend with. We made him during that war then moved awsay from him and the Afghan's leaving them in a state of ill repair. We did it just to spite the Russians and not for the good of the Afghan people. I am sick of our Great Government system. And I devoted my life to it serving in the military for thirty years. I whole lot wiser now after knowing what our Uncle Sam was up to.