Crocker: US Must Stay in Afghanistan Because of 9/11
Not Occupying Afghanistan a Risk 'No Sane Person' Would Take
Speaking today in an interview with Reuters, US Ambassador Ryan Crocker insisted that the United States will continue to have to occupy Afghanistan for the foreseeable future because of 9/11 and because if the occupation ended 9/11 might happen again.
The continued occupation of Afghanistan, he insisted, was “the ultimate guarantee that there will not be another 9/11.” While conceding that the American public was “war-weary,” he claimed ending the occupation was a risk “no sane person would willingly take.”
Though Crocker cited the already discounted 2014 date for certain of the war’s goals, he did not provide any estimate for how long he thought this occupation would need to last beyond some vague talk of a “stable Afghanistan.” Officials say the US will stay in Afghanistan beyond 2024.
Which suits Russian Ambassador Andrey Avetisyan just fine. While recounting the failed decade-long Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, Avetisyan encouraged the US to continue on with its own failing decade-long occupation for as long as it takes, adding that he believes the US has the “right” strategy.
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lydia
September 5th, 2011 at 6:12 pm
What part of "we are getting our collectives asses kicked in Afghanistan" doesn't he get and 'Afghanistan is where Nations go to die'
skulz fontaine
September 5th, 2011 at 8:29 pm
Ryan Crocker is out of his freaking mind. But then, we probably all knew that.
JLS
September 5th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
"Speaking today in an interview with Reuters, US Ambassador Ryan Crocker insisted that the United States will continue to have to occupy Afghanistan for the foreseeable future because of 9/11 and because if the occupation ended 9/11 might happen again."
Skulz is right, Crocker is out of his mind. Or just completely clueless. Maybe we can all chip in and buy him some basic economics textbooks or something? I mean, doesn't he know that the US is hopelessly in debt and is being bled dry economically or does he actually still think this is the 90's, Clinton's still president and we're running surplus's?
rybo1
September 5th, 2011 at 9:36 pm
He just wants to keep his job. What a crock!
Loraine
September 5th, 2011 at 11:15 pm
iIt MIGHT also happen again 50 years from now. WE CAN'T AFFORD IT! The Industrial Complex will just have to put itself on a diet.
Walter Cole
September 6th, 2011 at 1:46 am
Crocker is a crock of shit.
Geo1671
September 6th, 2011 at 3:36 am
Wrong country to have invaded-To crackers–UsraelUdummy
Brian
September 6th, 2011 at 4:14 am
Exactly how does occupying Afghanistan "prevent" terrorists who can organize themselves anywhere in the world from pulling off "another 9/11"? I mean, there have already been a couple of attempts since 9/11, two of them incompetent copycat attempts to bring down planes. Clearly there is no connection whatsoever between occupying a nation and stopping crime from occuring. The Americans have yet to see through the Cheneyian deleusional fog, that somehow terrorist acts are not crimes to be dealt with by police and the courts, but "acts of war" which somehow require a military response directed at entire nations (which, in the case of Iraq, were blameless).
Roger Lafontaine
September 6th, 2011 at 5:23 am
Yes, we must stay in Afghanistan because of 911 and Israel must keep on destroying the lives of Palestinians because of the Holocaust because it's 'never again' all over again and somebody has to pay for the pain we experienced on that dark day in September. It's a gut reaction and has nothing to do with justice or even security. It's really about vengeance, blind vengeance.
curmudgeonvt
September 6th, 2011 at 5:57 am
Well of course the Russian Ambassador believes the "US has the “right” strategy!!!" Previous Soviet oligarchs all predicted the fall of the Capitalist system of the West and Afghanistan will see that prediction come to fruition. Regardless of the fact that our system of government and financial mismanagement would have and probably did bring us to this point of imminent failure, our invasion and continued occupation of Afghanistan demonstrates the pure idiocy of those who purport to govern us. Khrushchev is laughing his ass off while he dances a shoeless Трeпак.
NavyVietnamWarVet
September 6th, 2011 at 6:21 am
Got to stay in Afghanistan so that the Texas Oil Compnaies can get that gas pipeline built and protected – right?
Afghanistan – "the graveyard of soldiers and of empires" – beating back the latest invader of that country.
Interesting how the strongest military power on planet Earth is getting beat back in that country – has been going on for thousands of years – NO invader 'wins' in Afghanistan.
The Taliban offered up Osama bin Laden to Bush – ONLY to be tried in a world court – Bush declined the offer – got to get that gas pipeline built – sell the stupid American people that it is all about 9/11 and terrorism – right?
JDonald
September 6th, 2011 at 7:12 am
With advise like this coming from Crocker, how in heaven's name can the USA government do the right thing and get out of Afghanistan? Unless he has been paid by El Queda to promote the distruction of the American Empire. To continue the wars in Iraq and Afganistan with their current costs is to continue our way to international oblivion. From where will be borrow the money to continues these ventures? With our 15 trillion dollar and ever growing debt, such stupid foreing policy for sure makes us the victim of the lenders who happen to be China, Japan and the Middle East. And at the moment none of these groups care if the USA commits economic bankruptsy.
Harry
September 6th, 2011 at 8:04 am
"US Ambassador Ryan Crocker insisted that the United States will continue to have to occupy Afghanistan for the foreseeable future because of 9/11 and because if the occupation ended 9/11 might happen again."
My car ran out of gas on the interstate last year so I'm only going to drive around the gas station parking lot so it will never happen again.
David
September 6th, 2011 at 8:32 am
No explanation for the "pulling" of building seven, and no plane wreckage ever found at the Pentagon…9-11 was a false flag attack period. There were no muslims with box cutters involved in this US government manufactured tragedy that spawned the lost disasters in Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Jamie N
September 6th, 2011 at 9:56 am
Its all a lie.Can't see how people all don't see 9/11 was done by America with help from Israel.To stop another 9/11 the terrorist government of America needs to be replaced and the troops need to guard the open borders.The only person that makes sence thats running for President is Ron Paul anyone else that seems to make sence is coppying just to do nothing they say if elected just like Obama.If Ron Paul don't win America is done unless the government is replaced.
ridehard
September 6th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Ryan Crocker had the full support and backing of John Mcain during the nomination process, Whet does that tell ya.!!!!!
masmanz
September 6th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
Afghans for sure had nothing to do with 9/11. Bin Laden was forced out of Sudan and sent to Afghanistan by the US government. Taliban offered to capture and send Bin Laden for trial in a fair and neutral court. Much of the 9/11 conspiracy, even according to government's own version, was carried out in Germany and the US. There is no indication that any Afghan even knew about it let alone participate in it. Bin Ladin is already dead, hardly any AlQaida is left in Afghanistan. So why is it necessary for us to be in Afghanistan Mr. Crocker?