Posted on 09/21/2009 1:03:07 PM PDT by nickcarraway
President Obama is resisting pressure from the Nato commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, for a rapid troop increase and shift away from judging success in the war by the numbers of Taliban killed, following the leak of a confidential 66-page report from McChrystal to the Pentagon.
The report says "success demands a comprehensive counter-insurgency campaign" that shifts the emphasis to protecting and winning support from ordinary Afghans so as not to be seen as an occupying army. But the general warns that Nato forces must be prepared for an escalating rate of casualties as they take greater risks to win over civilians.
In a grim assessment of the situation in the report, leaked to the Washington Post, the general says that task is being made more difficult by rampant Afghan government corruption and a hesitation by civilians to ally themselves with the authorities for fear that the Taliban might ultimately win. McChrystal does not propose a specific number of additional troops nor say whether he expects them principally to come from the US or other Nato countries. But he pressures the administration for a swift commitment by warning that if the Taliban is not driven back by coalition forces within a year then the war will be unwinnable.
The leak came as a British soldier from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment was killed yesterday in an explosion during a patrol in Helmand province, bringing the number of British military personnel killed in Afghanistan to 217. Italy also held a state funeral for six soldiers killed last week in a bomb attack in Kabul, with relatives, officials and thousands of Italians saluting their flag-draped coffins. The government called a national day of mourning, with flags at half-mast and a minute's silence at public offices.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
What a joke....The report was “leaked” to the Post...
McChrystal was Obama’s hand picked general to fight the “right and good war” At least it was the right and good war when Bush was in office.
What’s up with the Italians calling it a national day of mourning? They’re made up of better stuff than that. They’re descendents of Romans.
His dismissal papers are in the works, just wait and see...
I bet recruitment for the US Army is way down, and people seeking employment at the CIA has plunged.
Let me guess, they are going to call it “Afghanization” of the war.
Either (1) send enough resource to get the job done right, including troops, or (2) get our people and our allies’ (if we have any left) people the H#11 out of there! If option (2), give the Afghan govt all the conventional weapons they need to contiue the fight.
Instead, zero will muddle along with ever more insane ROEs and get more of our people killed. Bank on it. /SPIT
I hope the generals ban together and start making a LOT of noise...it’s not the ‘civilians’ bambi is protecting - it’s the Taliban -
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/75036.html
our traitor in chief is aiding and abetting our enemy in killing our troops = ducks in a shooting gallery and not allowed to defend themselves - no cover.
August was the deadliest month of the whole war for our troops = Sept is setting up to be even worse...because of the new ROE - Rules of Engagement...
which are NOT to provide air cover for our troops, even when ambushed, pinned down and being killed. (the rationale for these new ROE’s admits that it will cause more deaths for our troops now but that it will be worth it in the long run. Worth it for WHO?)
That is treason. Pure and simple. That is aiding and abetting the enemy, who now knows THEY have the cover, not our troops - and they are ramping it up.
We need to slam Rush, Beck and all with emails demanding that our traitor in chief DEFEND OUR TROOPS,NOT THE TALIBAN.
send them the above link about the battle - the same battles our troops are now subjected to daily.
I am sick - frightened and sick...and our troops feel they are being sent to be fodder for the enemy - who are the real friends of our CIC
He dismissed, in an unprecedented and shameful act, Gen McKiernan, and put in McCrystal to install his new ROE that are getting our troops killed - but it seems maybe McCrystal isn't too enthralled with bambi either.
that said, bambi couldn't now dismiss McC without raising some red flags...
I am fast approaching the reasoning (or insanity) that the only way out of this mess is a few well placed tactical nukes in order to negate this discussion of increased troops. It is clear the Afghans within the govt are corrupt to the point of no return, and the ones that aren’t fear taking a stand for..well, much of anything. Health clinics, schools, nation building..and if the Taliban gets back into the fray? What of these things then?
Any nukes used of course would pretty much end Obama’s presidency which of course would be a win-win situation. Like I said...insanity. Sometimes you just have to do the unthinkable.
He’ll install the first “Openly Gay” Lesbian General. Where’s the one who ran Abu Ghraib?
DAmn 0 just caught thetail end of this = Cavuto talkng on this right now on FOX
WE need to email FOX, Cavuto, Beck, Rush, Hannity, O'R and let them know we want them to not drop this ball -
We need to fight for our troops who are being abandoned by bambi in favor of the tallies.
DEFEND OUR TROOPS, NOT THE TALIBAN
He’s too busy to address picayune issues right now, he’s on the circuit pushing his HEALTH CARE SCHEME.
And there can be honest disagreements on the role of CAS ops. But at the end of the day, Gen. McCrystal is a hunter and the shooters by and far support him.
Unfortunately, General McChrystal has Major Reno as a commander-in-chief. Obama will not come through with the troops.
“By the way, Sir, are you wearing white socks.”
Obama, ticking people off by the millions! AMERICA will march ONCE AGAIN on Washington. This appeasing MARXIST must be stopped.
I wear OD socks. Captain Joe, Texas State Guard.
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