"Hey, he's been busy!"
Posted on 10/20/2009 8:36:36 AM PDT by IrishMike
ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT (Reuters) - The United States cannot wait for problems surrounding the legitimacy of the Afghan government to be resolved before making a decision on troops, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said.
Gates, speaking to reporters on board a plane traveling to Tokyo, described the situation in Afghanistan as an evolutionary process that would not improve dramatically overnight, regardless of what course is taken following the country's flawed August election.
"I see this as a process, not something that's going to happen all of the sudden," Gates said.
"I believe that the president will have to make his decisions in the context of that evolutionary process."
Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell added that Gates believed the issue of the Afghan government's legitimacy went well beyond the question of whoever would be declared winner of the election, or an eventual run-off.
It depended on whether the government in Kabul had the faith and confidence of the people, Morrell said.
International observers have called for an election run-off after a U.N.-backed fraud watchdog invalidated tens of thousands of votes for Afghan President Hamid Karzai from the August poll.
Another vote could be complicated by a strengthening Taliban insurgency that has tied up tens of thousands of foreign and Afghan troops and the approaching harsh Afghan winter that cuts off hundreds of villages every year.
Gates said he was confident U.S. and NATO forces could provide security for a run-off, should one be decided, but added bad winter weather could prevent Afghans from voting.
"I think the key consideration before us at this point is actually less (one of) security ... (it's) the weather. So getting something done before winter sets in will be very important," he said
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
"Hey, he's been busy!"
Look either support the troops 100% of bring them home!
This will get the moonbats attention no doubt.
C Mathews will have ‘vibrations’ regarding disrespect for the POTUS by the Secretary of Defense
This battle is going to cost more lives than anything going on in the field.
Were the elections in Afghanistan perfect? No, they were not perfect. Obama's delay will give the enemy courage and motive to inflict as many casualties on our troops in the near future. They are trying to sway opinion against the war in Afghanistan.
THIS WILL LEAD TO MORE AMEICAN AND ALLIED CASULTIES AND DEATHS. THEIR BLOOD WILL BE ON THE HANDS OF OBAMA.
Something of extreme importance occured with the following quote of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
The United States cannot wait for problems surrounding the legitimacy of the Afghan government to be resolved before making a decision on troops, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said.
His statement is absolute defiance of Obama. How many Generals below the Secretary of Defense will now choose to defy the President? I do not know?
It would appear that we are living in interesting times, and that is not good.
Pray for our troops and the officers that lead them. They will need all the help they can get when serving under Obama.
Wrong. He needs to stay on until fired by Obama and that is coming soon. From the bully pulpit he can speak the truth until fired. The real question is, will the Generals follow the orders of the next Secretary of Defense whom will be a left wing puppet that will do to the Armed Services what Eric Holder has done to the Department Of Justice which now operates as a branch of the executive.
This is starting to sound like the VNW.
Mcfarlane sent Kennedy the same sort of advice concerning the SV Pres Diem. Stating he was not using American aid properly.
Even though the SVA had just had a major victory against the NVA.
Am I experiencing Deja VU.
Gen. Stanley McChrystal has submitted an assessment stating that, without additional forces, the U.S. effort in Afghanistan “will likely result in failure.”
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A goal of Obama’s, not a goal of the DOD.
David Rohde: Taliban no longer 'Al Qaeda lite'
Taliban FULLY supports Al-Qaeda.
It's a start.
Obama WH falsely downplaying risks of retreat in Afghanistan: Military, intel sources
GOOD! Gates called Obama to the carpet on his obvious STALL tactic.
I agree. I don't know if Gates will last much longer. I shudder to think who his replacement might be, though. Yikes.
I am very afraid for the troops trapped in Afghanistan. My son is a Marine, but he’s still stateside. This is a terrible situation—and our leadership has no sense of urgency. I wish there were some leadership from Congress—I don’t care which aisle they’re from. We’re talking about our troops!
I’d take Levin as Sec. of Defense if only because we could elect a Republican Senator from Michigan next year instead of having to wait to take Stabenow out in 2012.
Those were meant for Justice Sonia Sorta-a-Judge...M’Chelle Obizmal liked them more on her man but could not get the boob belt on him.
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