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"If President Obama were to do what the British tried to do in the 19th century and literally control the country, or what the Russians did into the 1980s, trying to, have a puppet government and then send the whole Russian Army in there to fight, it could become Vietnam," Clinton told Larry King of the CNN in an interview.
"But I don't expect that to happen," Clinton said when asked if Afghanistan has the potential to become Obama's Vietnam. "In theory, it could happen. But I don't think so. I think what they mean is that Afghanistan has often been a sinkhole for other country's aspirations, that it is big, tough terrain, rugged people and impossible to control the borders," he said.
"He's (Obama) got perhaps our smartest General, Gen Petraeus, and our most successful diplomat in the modern era, Dick (Richard) Holbrooke, working together to craft a military and diplomatic strategy, strongly supported by (Secretary of State) Hillary (Clinton) and Secretary (of Defence Robert) Gates," Clinton said.
Holbrooke, the Special US Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan was recently in the region visiting Afghanistan, Pakistan and India to listen to the view of the leaders of these countries.
Clinton said the leadership of the Obama Administration knows what the risks are in Afghanistan.
"But they believe the risks of non-involvement, losing the Afghan democracy, having the Taliban come back in and institute the most repressive government in modern history against women and little girls, giving free reign to the Afghan -- Al Qaeda, all over Afghanistan -- those risks are far greater," he said.
"So I think that they'll be smart. I think they learned some lessons in Iraq. And I believe they've got a reasonable chance to succeed and no alternative but to try," Clinton said.
The former US president said, "As you see from the area of Pakistan where the Al Qaeda leaders and a lot of their Taliban supporters have hung out, hidden and from which they have launched attacks and incursions into Afghanistan.
"That's never ever even been a part of the central government's control in Pakistan."
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Afghanistan can become Obama's Vietnam because the Americans don't know how to learn lessons and how to act decisively and fast.
Mr Clinton, it is better that you take some wll deserved rest after your presidentship which was full of hectic sexual expolits.
The British suffered a defeat in Afghanistan a century ago only because the wars in those days were fought on the ground and not from the air.It was because of the support of the then mighty Soviet Union and China that America suffered defeat in Vietnam. As for the Afghanistan of the 1970s, the Mujahiden could defeat the Soviet Union only because of the support and weapons of USA(by creating Mujahideen against the Soviet Union, America has opened its own pandora's bos). As for the present Afghanistan, many Afghanis are supporting USA and those who resist American invasion do not receive any support from any countries and they do not have the means to thwart or resist American and NATO air-raid. So, the present Afghanistan cannot be America's Vietnam. Lt us pray for the return of the Soviet Union with its might to again set this world in order!!!!
Mr. Bill Clinton's warning is timely and most appropriate advice to President Obama as he has rich experience of his failures to contain Taliban and Osama Bin Laden and Paki rogues of ISI generals and military ruler Musharaff. America did reap what it has sown to contain Russia by arming Osama Bin Laden, In a way US past actions in arming Osama Bin Laden to contain Russian hegemony in Afghanistan has created the Taliban Frankestein Monster. U.S.Actions were comparable to what Indira Congresswallahs like Jail Singh did to promote Sant Binderenwalah to contain their political enemies in the state politics of Punjab State who later became a real Frankestein Monster to threaten the unity of India. Indira Gandhi also paid the price by giving her life in her bold efforts to free the Golden Temple from the extremists hold. The root cause of the problem were the congresswallahs internal strife,bickerings in their state politics in Punjab. Can any one deny it. Congress reaped what it has sown.
Taliban is surely is America's dirt. It is for them to clean it. India should silently watch for a year or two rather than spending precious indian money on war with pakis. Americans can clean up this mess in a weeks time. They should warn saudis, gulf states on aid to these organisations. Stop the weapons sale to these thugs. The most worried country is America as they fear that one day, a nuke will land in their country. That's why they are so much interested in cleaning up the mess. Pakistan also should understand that this time, if there is a war, there will be no pakistan... Every Indian will concentrate on finishing pakistan this time. So let there be peace and and let every indian propogate the thought of India rather than glorify a bunch of taliban crooks. (as the american do...) American did the same with Saddam Hussian ( see how he was caught in a hole ). So all this spreading of taliban fear is American way of dealing with situations. India need not worry!
May Ravana bless you to let you remain with your pipe dream!!!!
Thank you for your 2 cents Mr Playboy :) We all know Pakistan is the main terror base. But what are you doing about it? Filling their pockets to boost terrorism? UK and US treat Pakistan like their long lost son - now eat the fruits.