New Revelations About the War in Afghanistan

Richard Engle disclosed information that the unfinished report for military commanders clearly said that the main objective of training the Afghanistan National Army (ANA) could not be accomplished in the time frame President Obama laid out. It was mentioned that it would probably take four or more years to accomplish this goal. Many of my fellow service members were beginning to feel much better about their tours because they had finally seen the light at the end of this long dark tunnel called Afghanistan, what will this information do to their moral?

Even though I am no longer active in this military, I was disappointed by this news and the first thought that entered my mind was another uncontrollable obstacle placed in front of those who sacrifice more by noon that most during a lifetime. My second thought was what if that had been the main mission from the very beginning? We have already been there eight years; would that have been enough time? Would the ANA be in charge of their own country by now? Nothing like sending your military to fight and then losing sight of them for years before someone has to remind you that they are there.

I hope that this information proves to be false but even if it's not, I would still like to hear our president say that the eighteen months is all that they get. I would like to hear him say that whether or not the ANA is prepared or not, our military will be coming home. I would like to hear that before the eighteen months were up, that they had either captured or killed Osama Bin Laden. This, I think, would have to cause even the truly misguided individuals to say that this is a victory. I am saddened by the news of some being trained have turned on those who are training them. My only comfort is a dose of realism which must be factored in and the realism is that they are trying to recruit from many who have been fighting for an idea instead of a right. With that sometimes the real meaning of those trying to help can get lost in the translation.