101 US deaths in Afghanistan

Taliban insurgents once derided as a ragtag rabble unable to match U.S. troops have transformed into a fighting force — one advanced enough to mount massive conventional attacks and claim American lives at a record pace. The U.S. military suffered its 101st death of the year in Afghanistan last week when Sgt. 1st Class David J. Todd Jr., a 36-year-old from Marrero, La., died of gunfire wounds while helping train Afghan police in the northwest. The total number of U.S. dead last year — 111 — was a record itself and is likely to be surpassed.
Top U.S. generals, European presidents and analysts say the blame lies to the east, in militant sanctuaries in neighboring Pakistan. As long as those areas remain havens where fighters arm, train, recruit and plot increasingly sophisticated ambushes, the Afghan war will continue to sour.

Where are all those "warlords" that was given so much credit for dethroning the Taliban after 9-11? There have been U.S. forces in Afghanistan for over 5 years waging a half-hearted military effort. Its amazing how we can win a war and not the peace. Same is true for Iraq.

What we have never learned it that these are tribal societies whose people have no allegiance outside their extended family group. Our western culture and way of thinking won't allow us to comprehend their rational. Uneducated people cannot rule themselves in a so-called democratic elected government that we are so determined to force on them. They do not have the socio-economic where-with-all that fosters independent thinking outside the group. It appears to be a fact that it takes a heavy fisted leader to keep all the different factions in line. Fear seems to be the greatest motivator of people. When we successfully topple dictatorial governments we open the barn door and all hell breaks. Especially in countries that our world leaders created after WWII forcing people with centuries old hatreds to live under one roof so to speak.

Look what happened to Yugoslavia after the death in 1980 of Communist Marshal Tito who was its leader from the inception March 7, 1945. The "Democratic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" was proclaimed in 1943 eventually encompassing Istria, Eijeka, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Vojvodina, Kosovo and Slovenia. Yugoslavia ceased to be in 2006 when Serbia and Montenegro declared independence. Peoples forced together had to break free from one another, even after 61 years. We have all witnessed the violence and loss of life in the region since.

The same is true of Iraq. The strong arm leader is dead who once held all the different warring groups and political parties together. Civil war will surely breakout after our departure dissolving what is now Iraq into possibility 3 autonomous regions ruled by Kurds, Sunnies and Shites respectfully. The sad part is counting all the innocent civilian lives lost there because of our unwarranted invasion. People who may well be alive today if George W. Bush had not attempted to prove his manhood at cost U.S. and Allied soldiers lives and the billions, if not trillions, of dollars spent. All for what? Nothing! I puzzles me how George W. Bush can sleep at night when knowing of the suffering he has caused. My only conclusion is, he has no conscience.