Posted on 02/02/2012 3:23:05 PM PST by Nachum
Obama administration officials are downplaying Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s comments that by late next year U.S. troops could switch away from a combat role in Afghanistan to an advise-and-assist mission.
Panetta’s remarks caught members of Congress, as well as European and Afghan allies, by surprise, and some surmised that his comments were a trial balloon for a strategy shift.
En route to a meeting in Brussels with NATO defense ministers, Panetta said Wednesday that it was his hope that U.S. and NATO troops would transition to a training-and-advisory mission in Afghanistan in mid- to late-2013.
“Hopefully, by mid- to the latter part of 2013, we’ll be able to make … a transition from a combat role to a training, advice and assist role,” Panetta said, “which is basically fulfilling what Lisbon was all about.”
On Thursday, Obama administration officials said Panetta’s comments were in line with the agreement reached at the NATO Lisbon Summit that the alliance would transfer security responsibility to Afghan security forces by the end of 2014.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
He’s encouraging the enemy.
It is always the same with this bunch...first it is one story then it is a denial or visa versa.
The next step in the Arab/Jihadist winter.
Yes, we are so screwed; and this disaster, long in the making and so wonder; if 'America' is retrievable - or just parts thereof. . .
We so need Leadership such as Newt can offer; John Bolton; Lt. Col. Allen West; Marco Rubio and that of any bold Republicans; and Military - and great citizens - who are not 'vision impaired'; per the task required.
Am wondering too; 'who' is the Military (Advisor/Lawyer?) sitting behind Perp/Aid, Leon Panetta - whose glibness along with that of General Dempsey is a message in itself.
Supposed to be here:
Panetta: 'International Permission’ Trumps Congressional Permission For Military Actions (video)
. . .link that 'speaks' as well to this thread.
Well another bump, anyway. . .
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