01 May 2012
Status of Forces Agreement-Afghanistan 2012
The signing of a segment of the Status of Forces Agreement (SFA) with the government of Afghanistan last night was a good thing. The SFA seems consistent with prior agreements the U.S. has with Korea, with NATO host nations, with Viet Nam, and other countries in which the U.S. has a strategic interest in the success of a nation's pro-US allegiance. At least this one with Afghanistan provides a framework for ongoing formal and informal communication and it has an end date.
I suggest that the money to pay for our continuing military and nation-building support come from funds saved by closing some of the estimated 195 foreign deployment locations around the world.
I am also concerned about the State Department contracting out, viz., privatizing, its overseas security personnel needs, rather than use the Marines. I did not like it when the Department of Defense hired its mercenaries to supplement US military personnel during the Iraq War, and the DoD lacked the internal controls regarding costs and tactical controls over contractor personnel supporting military operations. Pin that on Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld.
The American people, most likely, will never know the extent of wasted, overcharged, or diverted war funding during the Bush Administration's two wars. If a ballpark number were ever published, I suspect that voters might pressure Congress to demand the DoJ establish several Special Prosecutors for criminal investigations and disciplinary actions. Because such actions seem doubtful, barring extensive whistle-blowing, I want the Department of Defense to fund its continuing military and contractor activity throughout the length of this US-Afghanistan Status of Forces Agreement.
President Obama, employing the considerable talents of Secretary of State Clinton and Vice President Biden, established two agendas for ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. No one remembers the janitor's name who cleaned up the gymnasium following the Senior Prom. Publishers market the author's name for a book, even though an editor has devoted months if not years to provide a publishable manuscript. Then, again, these metaphors only suggest the role that this President has had to play following the chaotic agendas of fear and calamity created by the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Rice Junta following the attacks of 9/11. Unlike editors who often receive public attribution from authors, we need not hold out for the Bush/Cheney Administration or for Republicans in Congress to congratulate President Obama on his efforts and results therefrom.
I suggest that the money to pay for our continuing military and nation-building support come from funds saved by closing some of the estimated 195 foreign deployment locations around the world.
I am also concerned about the State Department contracting out, viz., privatizing, its overseas security personnel needs, rather than use the Marines. I did not like it when the Department of Defense hired its mercenaries to supplement US military personnel during the Iraq War, and the DoD lacked the internal controls regarding costs and tactical controls over contractor personnel supporting military operations. Pin that on Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld.
The American people, most likely, will never know the extent of wasted, overcharged, or diverted war funding during the Bush Administration's two wars. If a ballpark number were ever published, I suspect that voters might pressure Congress to demand the DoJ establish several Special Prosecutors for criminal investigations and disciplinary actions. Because such actions seem doubtful, barring extensive whistle-blowing, I want the Department of Defense to fund its continuing military and contractor activity throughout the length of this US-Afghanistan Status of Forces Agreement.
President Obama, employing the considerable talents of Secretary of State Clinton and Vice President Biden, established two agendas for ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. No one remembers the janitor's name who cleaned up the gymnasium following the Senior Prom. Publishers market the author's name for a book, even though an editor has devoted months if not years to provide a publishable manuscript. Then, again, these metaphors only suggest the role that this President has had to play following the chaotic agendas of fear and calamity created by the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Rice Junta following the attacks of 9/11. Unlike editors who often receive public attribution from authors, we need not hold out for the Bush/Cheney Administration or for Republicans in Congress to congratulate President Obama on his efforts and results therefrom.
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