4yrs Since 9/11-What did the US do Right/Wrong Afterwards?What Would You Have Done?
09-11-2015, 11:55 PM
Complex topic. First, the situation did not arise in a vacuum. Lots of history brought the world to that point. If you choose the starting point as 9/11/2001, I think the following is about the best option that could have been pursued.
You had to hit Afghanistan. There was no political alternative. However, you did not have to occupy. Early conflict was supporting the Northern Alliance against the Taliban. Taliban was driven out. Should have handed the NA the keys at that point and said not to screw it up or we would be back. No other nation in the world had success there. We would have left as winners.
GWB ran on a humble foreign policy. He could have still pulled it off. Massive draw downs in the overseas posture would have headed off the backbreaking expense and defused some situations. Politically you get that through by asking Senators whether they want the military bodies in their state or in Germany etc. We were still in the BRAC process. There was leverage.
Iraq should have been avoided. Hussein could have been brought back. Slow relaxation of sanctions. No invasion. Generate up some press for Saddam working against Al Quida.
Look to the immigration situation. Go after visa overstays. Control of the southern border by simple relationship of terrorists and narco orgs. Head off the demographic destruction of the GOP.
Back off on hostility with Russia. No war guarantees to its near abroad. Withdraw from NATO. Have separate deal with UK. Withdraw from ROK. Reduce presence in Japan.
Build ties with Russia as a hedge against China. We did the reverse during the Cold War.
Use CIA for anti Al Quaida efforts, but do not work so hard to generate new organizations or pick fights with organizations we have no issues with outside of methods.
You had to hit Afghanistan. There was no political alternative. However, you did not have to occupy. Early conflict was supporting the Northern Alliance against the Taliban. Taliban was driven out. Should have handed the NA the keys at that point and said not to screw it up or we would be back. No other nation in the world had success there. We would have left as winners.
GWB ran on a humble foreign policy. He could have still pulled it off. Massive draw downs in the overseas posture would have headed off the backbreaking expense and defused some situations. Politically you get that through by asking Senators whether they want the military bodies in their state or in Germany etc. We were still in the BRAC process. There was leverage.
Iraq should have been avoided. Hussein could have been brought back. Slow relaxation of sanctions. No invasion. Generate up some press for Saddam working against Al Quida.
Look to the immigration situation. Go after visa overstays. Control of the southern border by simple relationship of terrorists and narco orgs. Head off the demographic destruction of the GOP.
Back off on hostility with Russia. No war guarantees to its near abroad. Withdraw from NATO. Have separate deal with UK. Withdraw from ROK. Reduce presence in Japan.
Build ties with Russia as a hedge against China. We did the reverse during the Cold War.
Use CIA for anti Al Quaida efforts, but do not work so hard to generate new organizations or pick fights with organizations we have no issues with outside of methods.