More evidence of the stupidity of invading Iraq

One of the biggest reasons to not invade Iraq, was the damage that act did to our reconstruction of Afghanistan. We removed the government, took control of the capital, declared victory, and then ignored the whole show.

What have we gained?

Thousands of soldiers are deserting Afghanistan's new British- and American-trained national army, their morale undermined by poor conditions and the threat from the Taliban.

Since the 205th Afghan National Army corps became the first unit of the new national army to be deployed outside Kabul, joining US forces fighting the Taliban in the south of the country, half of its strength has deserted.

"Between 1,200 and 1,500 have run away since September," said one officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, at the 205th corps base near Kandahar. "Morale is going down fast. Four to six hundred soldiers have deserted in the last two months."

A stable and peaceful country side and a viable national defense force is required to keep this land from again becoming a failed state. They need a strong army, not one with no moral, and depleted by desertion. Our mad dash to get assets to Iraq, and our lack of additional resources for Afghanistan is just assuring that this necessary war will fail.