Posted on 01/30/2016 5:04:52 AM PST by huldah1776
The senators' message to the officer tapped to lead the fight in Afghanistan on Thursday was clear: just tell us how many troops you need, and we'll make it happen.
The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that Lt. Gen. John Nicholson would be nominated to take over as leader of U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan when Gen. John Campbell steps down. Less than a day later, Nicholson appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.
*********snip*********
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., described problems the Afghan forces have faced over the past year, including a resurgence of the Taliban and the rise of Islamic State in the Khorasan peninsula. The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said he sees the security situation in Afghanistan as "deteriorating rather than improving."
"I agree with your assessment," Nicholson said.
The general said Afghan forces, while he praised their bravery and will to fight, were not able to make planned advances because the Taliban attacked more aggressively than officials had expected.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
why cant AFGHANISTAN fend for itself after 15 years.......???????
who really controls the dope trade.....??????
why didnt we destroy the poppy fields....??????
“just tell us how many troops you need, and we’ll make it happen.”
Another Trump effect.
very, very good questions, especially #3
It will fall the day we leave.
Saigon..
First thing we should have done was to nuke the poppy fields.
You Crazy??
That’s Why we went there in the first place, to TAKE THEM OVER and Keep the Profits for ourselves, the Government needs that money
why cant AFGHANISTAN fend for itself after 15 years.......???????
who really controls the dope trade.....??????
why didnt we destroy the poppy fields....??????
Afghanistan is not fending for itself for several reasons:
- They are poor, and economic growth is hampered by the lack of security - muulti-national companies stay out.
- They are corrupt. World class corruption in Government from bottom to top.
- Their larger and richer neighbors (Pakistan, Iran and others) sponsor destabilizing Afghanistan. Pakistan is the main patron of the Taliban.
“Who really controls the dope trade?”
Anyone who is anyone in Afghanistan is involved in the drug trade - all the Warlords and their militias, all the political parties. Opium/heroin is about half of the total GDP, and they produce about 90% of the global crop. It used to be mainly the Russian mafia that bought the product for export worldwide, but gradually others have developed connections.
“Why didnt we destroy the poppy fields?”
We sprayed herbicide, and ran programs to encourage farmers to substitute crops, but nothing approached the money from poppy.
Under the Bonn Agreement that re-established Afghanistan after we overthrew the Taliban, the Brits were going to lead counter narcotics (Germans would train the police, Japan would stand down the Militias, etc.). Like everything else, it mostly fell back on the US to fund, do, and take the blame for.
Farmers just make more money from poppy, and the crop never fails due to drought, disease or insects. Only strong domestic law enforcement would stop replanting of poppy, and it is too corrupt (and they have bigger problems, in a virtual war with the Taliban and other insurgents).
Dear God!?!
A new Commander in Chief?
Nonsense.
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