Russia doesn't want our bases on their border any more than we want theirs on ours. If we want a base in the Mid-East to fight all our wars over there it should be in Israel. We're paying them several billion dollars a year, running interference for them at the UN, and doing their bidding in Congress. I'm not sure if we're their client state, or they, ours. But, we're in be with them in every way possible. So build a base there and stay out of Russia's hair.

Obviously all that is going on with respect to our country will pale in comparison if Bibi N gets
elected. I fear he will make Sharon look like a wimp.

Sir;...Central Asia is a loser for us.... But try to tell people going in what a loser Afghanistan was going to be and they would laugh in your face... The place is easy to take, and impossible to hold; and nations more concerned with the loss of face than in demonstrating their intelligence always try to stay... When all the pieces come together it will be Russia that has the Queen, and holds the board... Sure, we can shed more blood for nothing... We can make the problem larger, but draw the solution no nearer.... What Britain had to concede in the great game was freedom for Russia to feed on the dieing Othman Empire.... Britain could not defend turkey, and Iran, and India, her Jewel... Both Russia and Britain whittled away at the Chinese Empire, but I would not count on that happening much today.. In any event, death and dollars are the inevitable price of empire... We have to decide what we are going to pay, for what possible gain... To me, there is no gain... We cannot in our wildest nightmares count a worn out and embittered military as a gain...We cannot count on a united and vengeful Pakistan as a gain.... We cannot count the billions spent so far for no gain as a gain... The object of war in not stalemate.... Our war with Islam has no other object...The object should always have been to leave... No one can fight an enemy that is not there...No one can win a defensive war with an offensive army...No one can win without interior lines... A guerilla war is difficult enough, but one where they have the choice of battle fields, and the battle field of choice means certain defeat for us... We should have fought it differently, and we should still get out... We should have considered Lincoln's advice to Seward to have one war at a time....I suppose, if you are going to the ends of the earth to buy at great price a victory or no worth, you might as well buy two...But it was always stupid...And it is still stupid to try to stay... Thanks...Sweeney