Tuesday, 10.20.15 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net views VIEWS PAGE: [email protected] PAGE 4 PRESS&DAKOTAN The Press Dakotan THE DAKOTAS’ OLDEST NEWSPAPER | FOUndED 1861 Yankton Media, Inc., 319 Walnut St., Yankton, SD 57078 CONTACT US OPINION PHONE: (605) 665-7811 (800) 743-2968 NEWS FAX: The US And A (605) 665-1721 ADVERTISING FAX: (605) 665-0288 ‘Flypaper’ War WEBSITE: www.yankton.net ––––– ast week’s announcement that the U.S. would not be with- SUBSCRIPTIONS/ drawing the remainder of its troops from Afghanistan by CIRCULATION the end of next year, as President Barack Obama had long Extension 104 envisioned and the public had long hoped, may well mean Lthat this nation will have a presence in Afghanistan for many years [email protected] CLASSIFIED ADS to come. Extension 116 Unfortunately, it may be time to change our view of the mission [email protected] in Afghanistan. NEWS DEPT. Obama’s decision came about as the Taliban have in recent months made significant inroads against Afghan forces — particu- Extension 114 [email protected] larly the brief fall of the strategic provincial capital of Kunduz, which has since been retaken. These gains have imperiled the frag- The Rez of the Story SPORTS DEPT. ile governmental structure that has been established in the country Extension 106 since the war started there a little more than a month after the Sept. [email protected] 11, 2001, attacks. ADVERTISING DEPT. The decision also promises to extend what is now the longest Extension 122 What Is Trump’s war in our nation’s history. In 14 years, it has seen 2,300 American [email protected] dead and more than 20,000 wounded, and has cost approximately BUSINESS OFFICE $110 billion. Extension 119 Obama announced that, instead of drawing down to about 1,000 [email protected] Idea Of ‘Greatness’? troops serving as advisors, the U.S. would keep nearly 10,000 troops NEW MEDIA: in place this year and reduce the number down to 5,500 next year. Extension 136 BY VINCE TWO EAGLES ships from the first moment to the present Whatever comes after that will be up to the next person to occupy day, shaping not only the historical flow of [email protected] the White House. COMPOSING DEPT. Hau Mitakuepi (Greetings My Relatives), interactions between invader and invaded, This decision was not made lightly by a president who yearned The French writer, economist and pub- but the nature of ongoing domination of na- Extension 129 to make good on his promise to end this war before he left office. [email protected] lisher Pierre Samuel Du Pont — who accord- tive peoples in areas such as governance and Most military analysts praise the decision to change direction ing to historians immigrated to the U.S. along jurisdiction, identification, recognition and * * * in light of the new facts on the ground. But those facts belie the with his two sons and their families during the education.” portrait both the White House and the Pentagon have labored to MANAGERS French Revolution — once wrote a Was it during the vast historical portray about Afghanistan, indicating Obama and company wanted letter to Thomas Jefferson in 1801: expropriation of Native lands and in- Gary L. Wood the narrative to fit their goals and not the realities. On Thursday, Publisher “The inhabitants of your country digenous resources, Mr. Trump? Was that was forced to change. districts regard — wrongfully, it is America’s greatness you are so keen Michele Schievelbein One cannot escape the lessons that could be drawn from history, true — Indians and forests as natu- to “return America to” when millions Advertising Director when the former Soviet Union went into Afghanistan and got bogged ral enemies which must be extermi- of Native people were exterminated down in a draining 10-year war, which has often been referred to as nated by fire and sword and brandy, as if their lives meant no more than a Jim Gevens “Russia’s Vietnam.” Circulation Director in order that they may seize their prairie dog infestation to be disposed What we are left with is the real prospect of the U.S. maintaining territory. They regard themselves of? Perhaps you are referring to the Tonya Schild troops in this region for the foreseeable future. and their posterity, as collateral time when millions didn’t suffer from Business Manager This is looking like a different outcome than Iraq, where we heirs to all the magnificent portion poverty in this “Great Country” and effectively pulled out five years ago. One big difference — and this of land which God has created from Vince when the only difference between the Tera Schmidt cannot be overstated — is that Afghans generally support keeping Classified Manager Cumberland to Ohio to the Pacific poor and the wealthy was that the a U.S. presence in place to stabilize the nation. That attitude has Ocean.” TWO EAGLES poor washed their own Cadillacs. Was Kelly Hertz merit, coming as it does during a hard year in which Afghan forces Theodore Roosevelt wrote in it during that great mythological era? Editor have shown themselves to not be up to the task of defending their “The Strenuous Life” in 1901: “Of Greatness is measured by many nation effectively. The civilian death toll has climbed, and fears the James D. Cimburek course our whole national history has been things but I know that excessive wealth build- nation will slip back into chaos are growing. Sports Editor one of expansion. ... That the barbarians ing, like Donald Trump and others work hard This doesn’t mean the U.S. needs to send in more troops and recede or are conquered, with the attendant to protect, is not one of them. What is pros- Beth Rye take over combat operations. An op-ed piece in the Washington Post fact that peace follows their retrogression or Digital Media Director perity anyway? Is it building political power last Friday said more advisors are needed as well as reliable air sup- conquest, is due solely to the power of the based upon the size of one’s bank account? Is Kathy Larson port to help Afghan commanders strike back at the Taliban. mighty civilized races which have not lost it creating and buying “things” we don’t really Composing Manager Was Obama naive to believe he could withdraw U.S. troops be- their fighting instinct, and which by their need so we can “grow” the economy? fore his second term ended? Perhaps. expansion are gradually bringing peace into I think “greatness” is about how resources Were we naive to hope that such a withdrawal could take place? the wastes where the barbarian peoples of the are equitably shared where no one gets more Probably. world hold sway.” than their fair share, where everyone is truly * * * Do we have any hope of seeing the U.S. ever leave Afghanistan One hears a lot of talk these days (as we equal whether they happen to look like I do, and effectively close this long chapter of our history? The best DAILY STAFF approach still another presidential election) talk like I do, believe like I do, or not. Great- guess is, probably not anytime soon. about immigration and how this country was ness is not about hoarding money or pretend- Reilly Biel And that is a sobering consequence of our longest war — it Cassandra Brockmoller founded and created by immigrants. “The ing to be superior when in fact that superior- Brandi Bue keeps getting longer, and doing anything else might turn it into an U.S. is a nation of immigrants,” is the politi- ity is based upon false pretexts and hidden Rob Buckingham utter disaster and a futile mission. cal battle cry of pundits and candidates for agendas. If deception is what Trump includes Caryn Chappelear This, it seems, is a flypaper war, and the U.S. is stuck for the time president alike. Donald Trump in particular Randy Dockendorf in his definition of “greatness,” we better all being. keeps iterating his “I will make America great take a second look around at the mess we Jeannine Economy kmh Rachel Frederick again” mantra. need to clean up before we make any such Jeremy Hoeck When would that be, Mr. Trump? Would claims to “greatness” which so far remain only Nicole Myers it be when the indigenous populations were empty and withered promises. Robert Nielsen IN HISTORY targeted with genocide to serve the interests Get involved in making your community a Diana Smallwood of “Great American Expansionists” policies David Stephenson great place to live where everyone is included Cathy Sudbeck By The Associated Press overturned on appeal.) A defense lawyer and colonization aspirations? in its development and where everyone is JoAnn Wiebelhaus Today is Tuesday, October 20, the in Saddam Hussein’s mass murder trial Ward Churchill, the Cherokee activist and encouraged to participate in spite of their dif- Brenda Willcuts 293rd day of 2015. There are 72 days left was abducted from his office and found author, puts it like this: “Since the inception ferences. As for Trump, my only hope is that in the year. murdered hours later. Jazz pianist and Alissa Woockman Today’s Highlight in History: On vocalist Shirley Horn died in Washington, of the U.S. republic, and before, control of the people tire of his pointless ranting and raving, October 20, 1965, in one of the more D.C. at age 71. land and the resources within it has been the and let him know at the voting booth what colorful moments of his presidency, Lyn- Five years ago: Iranian President essential source of conflict between the Eu- they really think.