[Peace-discuss] Tony's comments

[David Gill]

Regarding Iraq:  I was publicly against our involvement there from the time I began my initial campaign in December, 2002, and I have always opposed our involvement there.

Regarding Afghanistan, I oppose the concept of "nation-building" there through military action, and I view issues related to the Taliban as items that should be dealt with by the Afghani people themselves-- their opinions of the Taliban vary widely, and I don't think it is the business of America to be involved with their internal decisions.

I support drawing down American forces, leaving in place a relatively small number of Special Operations Forces, to prevent the re-establishment of Al-Qaida training camps.  I would encourage all to watch the interview with Rory Stewart on "Bill Moyers Journal" :   
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/09252009/profile.html
 
David Gill

----- Original Message ----
From: unionyes <unionyes at ameritech.net>
To: Peace-discuss List <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>; David Gill <docgill37 at yahoo.com>
Sent: Sat, October 17, 2009 1:52:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] Tony's comments

So what is your position on Afganistan ?

Maybe I was misinformed !

Do you support a TOTAL U.S. military ( including the U.S. government paid mercenaries, Blackwater et al. ) withdrawl from BOTH Afganistan and Iraq ?

David J.

----- Original Message ----- From: "David Gill" <docgill37 at yahoo.com>
To: "unionyes" <unionyes at ameritech.net>
Sent: Friday, October 16, 2009 11:53 PM
Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] Tony's comments


David J.: Not at all clear how you've dragged me into being a supporter of the occupation of Iraq-- I've publicly viewed this as a farce since before its inception. And the consequences of that occupation are far too calamitous for me to be as forgiving toward Mr. Johnson as Mr. Estabrook seems to be.

To repeat: there is no "party line" into which I buy. When any of you walk from one end of Afghanistan to the other, by yourself, and spend the time first-hand with an extremely wide variety of Afghani people, in 500 villages, I'll likely accord the same respect to your opinion on the subject as I currently do Mr. Stewart's.

David Gill

----- Original Message ----
From: unionyes <unionyes at ameritech.net>
To: Peace-discuss List <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>
Sent: Fri, October 16, 2009 6:14:02 PM
Subject: Fw: [Peace-discuss] Tony's comments


----- Original Message ----- From: "unionyes" <unionyes at ameritech.net>
To: <illyes at illinois.edu>
Sent: Friday, October 16, 2009 6:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] Tony's comments


> Bob,
> 
> Let's be objective about this !
> 
> WE ( The U.S. Government ) have NO right to have invaded Afganistan and WE certainly do NOT have ANY right to continue to occupy THEIR country !
> 
> Gill is excellent on the Health Care issue, BUT, he is buying into the " party line " about the continued corporate imperialistic occupation of BOTH Afganistan and Iraq !
> 
> The wars of terror ( NOT the war on terror ) is continueing and being EXPANDED under Obama, and you know Bob as well as I do, that the money, murder, and mayhem, that we perpetuate abroad, is that much less that is available to spend here at " home " ( in the U.S. ) for Health Care, Green Jobs, etc..
> 
> David J.
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <illyes at illinois.edu>
> To: <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>
> Sent: Friday, October 16, 2009 5:24 PM
> Subject: [Peace-discuss] Tony's comments
> 
> 
>> Sorry, Tony. I didn't notice your email till Dave Johnson reposted it.
>> 
>> It can be argued that we owe the Afghans. We and the Russians trashed their country in a proxy war. I am of the opinion that just leaving is the best plan, but I would not reject out of hand having a small military presence for the single purpose of providing security for infrastructure projects using aid money supplied by us..
>> 
>> I'm not sure how radical a Libertarian you are, but since you supported Costas, a Green, I suspect you find arguments such as the above at least worth considering.
>> 
>> Bob
>> _______________________________________________
>> Peace-discuss mailing list
>> Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
>> http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/peace-discuss
> 

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