Is Afghanistan the next Vietnam

There is already growing opposition to the war in Afghanistan. For the last month, fighting there has been fierce and the opposition (mostly Taliban) have put up an unusually bloody fight. They also seem to have good intelligence.

From McClatchy:

“WASHINGTON — The prospect that U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal may ask for as many as 45,000 additional American troops in Afghanistan is fueling growing tension within President Barack Obama's administration over the U.S. commitment to the war there.

On Monday, McChrystal sent his assessment of the situation in Afghanistan to the Pentagon, the U.S. Central Command, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and NATO. Although the assessment didn't include any request for more troops, senior military officials said they expect McChrystal later in September to seek between 21,000 and 45,000 more troops. There currently are 62,000 American troops in Afghanistan.

However, administration officials said that amid rising violence and casualties, polls that show a majority of Americans now think the war in Afghanistan isn't worth fighting. With tough battles ahead on health care, the budget and other issues, Vice President Joe Biden and other officials are increasingly anxious about how the American public would respond to sending additional troops.”

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The generals are worried that politicians will listen to their constituents and pull back or get out of Afghanistan. The generals at he Pentagon are afraid the politicians, such as President Barack Obama and the public just won’t support a long bloody war with high casualties and US troops under nearly unbearable conditions.

US generals are beginning to see the Vietnam syndrome all over again.