Afghanistan.  Ten years today, but no crazy parties and wild celebrations.   Turley mentioned it for fear that no one else would.  I pass the date along, as no ten year anniversary should go unnoticed.

Today, our country passes an important anniversary, which (unlike the 9-11 anniversary) will be largely ignored by politicians and the White House. We have now been in Afghanistan for ten years. That’s right, ten years. We have had 2 million troops in the country and lost roughly 1,700 lives. We have spent hundreds of billions of dollars. Yet, the President and other politicians would prefer to have the anniversary pass without much notice for good reason. It has been a disaster and it is not improving. In the meantime, the public is heavily opposed to our presence in the country.

We have now been in Afghanistan longer than any prior war from the Revolutionary War to World II to Vietnam. Yet, the American people are still unsure why we are there while their leaders shutdown vital educational, scientific, environmental and social programs for lack of funding at home. Polls show 6 out of 10 people want us out of Afghanistan, but it does not seem to matter. This year alone Afghanistan will cost over $116 billion. President Obama has set a date of 2013, which will guarantee more loss of life and money in this ill-conceived war.

As he notes, there were credible reasons for going in, in comparison to the invasion of Iraq.  But what we planned to do there, well, remains something of a mystery. 

At the time, finding some enemy to go to war with seemed like such a great idea.  We were angry, a wounded giant who had to teach the little fleas a lesson.  No one questioned what the cost would be, or what our goal would be so that we would know when we achieved it and could come home and throw some parades to celebrate our success.

Now it’s ten years later.  The economy isn’t good, and we’ve thrown a whole buncha money into a hole. Even though we can never get that back, given all money that’s gone missing from Kabul airport, somebody is doing well.  American’s have long had an inexplicable disconnect when it comes to money spent on military-type purpose and money spent for any domestic reason.  We’re ready to start a revolution over the latter, but who cares that a “bunker-buster” bomb costs $145,600 per?  When you need to bomb someone, price is no object.

No doubt you’re a sentimental fool like me, and would feel awful if this anniversary passed unmarked.  What to do about it? Well, it’s an anniversary, right?  Throw a party.