McChrystal/Eikenberry Hearings - More Troops Leads to Success
Work has been a little heavier than usual, perhaps as government agencies try to complete their projects before the Christmas holiday incapacitates Washington DC. So I'm glad that Spencer Ackerman is on the job, watching the congressional hearings on Afghanistan.
But both McChrystal and Eikenberry replied that the administration was ultimately providing a long-term commitment to Afghanistan, even if the U.S.-led combat phase would diminish over time. McChrystal said setting the date for beginning a “conditions-based” transition would help navigate Afghans’ complex feelings about the presence of foreign troops on their soil. “The guarantee that we, the coalition, will support them but not stay too long is actually a positive,” McChrystal testified. Eikenberry emphasized that the Obama administration envisioned a “long-term relationship with Afghanistan, a diplomatic relationship, a long-term economic assistance relationship” after the ultimate departure of U.S. troops.
The general said he expressed such confidence in his strategy because the Taliban was “not credible as a political entity,” earning acquiescence from Afghans only through the lack of a credible alternative from the Afghan government and its NATO allies. As the U.S. flows forces into southern and eastern Afghanistan to establish “contiguous security” for the population, “the next 18 months will likely be decisive,” McChrystal said. “Rolling back the Taliban is a prerequisite to the ultimate defeat of al-Qaeda.”
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In an attempt to quash media speculation about a chilly relationship between Eikenberry and McChrystal, the two men made a show of their professional partnership. Eikenberry saw his internal doubts about a U.S. troop increase leak to the media last month. But ambassador said that he firmly supported the administration’s strategy and was “exactly aligned with Gen. McChrystal.” The general returned the compliment by gesturing to Eikenberry and saying, “The person I listen to most is about three feet on my right.”
Ahhhhhh... harmony. Isn't it swell? Now if only the Republican politicians at the hearing would act as responsibly as those two, we might just get somewhere. But lost in this discussion, in the hearings and, who knows, perhaps even in the White House, is the damning fact that no number of additional troops in Afghanistan will fix the non-military factors that remain outstanding. Oh, yeah, and this guy is still running around free and easy after eight-plus years...
that his strategy will work over the next 18 months he should agree that if it fails he will be shot before a firing squad.
I missed it. Anyone?
course...it's been defined. we know what's right and ... that's the way it is... and everyone else .. too bad.
and there is things that we don't know. However there are those things that we know that we don't know. Or as Rumsfeld defined the: known unknowns. Succes, however, is an unknown unknown in this case.
It's called MURDER.
State sponsored killing, in all our names. how does it feel?
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
Maybe it will be strictly a peace keeping mission...
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
Only the US has the experience to wage peace.
Try to catch this full interview on the BBC. I watched it yesterday (Korea) and all I can find at their website is this clip, It was very interesting!!
"In an interview for HARDtalk, he told Stephen Sackur that Nato would stay committed to Afghanistan until the job there was done."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtal...
Stephen Sackur (interviewer) goes on to say Obama is (essentially) a figurehead for the Pentagon/MIC...
"If the US government enforced its banking laws like it did its park regulations, we wouldn't be
in this damn park in the first place." OCCUPY.!!
Perfect,. Obama just a titular leader. The question is, did he ever expect to be anything more when he was running?
So his expectations were never met, if he did have any good ones.
Someone posted this earlier today in another thread, and it is very relevant here. The Real News: Why is the USA in Afghanistan?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2PNzG6q8bE
"If the US government enforced its banking laws like it did its park regulations, we wouldn't be
in this damn park in the first place." OCCUPY.!!
That is so funny the head of NATO stating that we will stay there until the Afghans are able to defend themselves.
He has no sense of irony. the Afghans have defended themselves so well they have been able to hold off a contingency of US and NATO forces for nearly a decade. And did the same to a super power 2 decades before.
When the Afghans are able to defend themselves, we will leave. LOL.
and there's just GOT to be a democracy under there somewhere!
To a hammer, every problem is a nail. Competent politicians should know better than to trust generals.
All his generals told JFK to attack Cuba during the missile crisis. Where would we be if he'd followed their sage counsel?
Same with LBJ: His generals told him to escalate the war in Vietnam, that we could win it if we just poured in more troops. How'd that one work out?
testicular fortitude.
in this world would be solved if men in this world had their balls snipped off.
Well it would certainly help control the pet population. Margaret Thatcher would certainly challenge you on the 98%.
I know what yer sayin'... but ouch!
I had a really buzzy night (on something not entirely legal) in Tokyo, a few years back, and I was laughing about that very thing. It was one of those mind-expanding things: visionary stuff.
(Remember-- Drugs are bad... m'kay?)
"If the US government enforced its banking laws like it did its park regulations, we wouldn't be
in this damn park in the first place." OCCUPY.!!
Dude - you need a new connection!
Mine are pretty good...
I wish I had some. VERBOTEN in Korea!!!!!
Japan has (had?) some interesting headshops, unless the conservatives have shut them all down.
For a brief window, of 6 months, magic mushrooms were 100% legal there because of a legal glitch. :) But that was another time than mentioned in the original post. (I get around a bit.)
"If the US government enforced its banking laws like it did its park regulations, we wouldn't be
in this damn park in the first place." OCCUPY.!!
It is the generals plan - his time schedule - if things are better in 18 months we should get out, if things are worse we should get out, if things are just the same we should get the heck out.
I don't see what 18 months and more troops will do that couldn't have been done in the last eight years.
Either way we should get out and out of many if not all of our foreign military misadventures.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
.
and also Iraq: Three words -- "Production Sharing Agreements."
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
-- John F. Kennedy
More troops leads to more death and destruction in the name of saving OIL ventures from Asia to the Caspian Sea. More troops leads to greater debt. More troops leads to continued insanity because our military is fighting a war for benefits they nor their families will ever see. Corporations don't share their wealth.
just like in the 'Nam...
just like in Lebanon...
just like in Iraq...Korea? Grenada! We whupped Grenada's sorry ass!
Ewe Ess Aye!
I have heard Greg Mortenson being interviewed several times recently. He is the guy who wrote "Three Cups of Tea." If you haven't read it I highly recommend it. Apparently McChrystal and Petraeus consult with him. I really hope that they take his advice seriously as he knows what he is talking about. He has spent years in the mountains of both Pakistan and Afghanistan among the tribes. He knows these people and their customs. He knows what they want, and more importantly, what they don't want. My wife and I have heard him speak in person twice in San Diego. We contribute to his Central Asia Institute. A very worthwhile cause.
We're finally gonna get Bin Laden? Great!!
.the real threats are those that appear on Faux Noise Channel on a reg. basis..
Not to mention a certain pastor who still appears on the "Family" Channel. (And what kind of family does he prefer, hm?)
yep.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
I was trying to make a point (in my typical feeble fashion) regarding the original reason we went there and possibly the only justification for having a single troop there. Those days are long gone..
Again, the BBC last night: The hunt for bin Laden is back on. No shit. It's back at the top of the list of
excusesreasons."If the US government enforced its banking laws like it did its park regulations, we wouldn't be
in this damn park in the first place." OCCUPY.!!
Even though in all likelihood Bin Laden is dead. It's the old look over here, no look over there game.
Dick Cheney should be declared public enemy #1. His energy task force and policy secrets are the very details that would expose the military misadventures in Iraq and Afghanistan. His so called criticism of President Obama being radical and all is a big charade. Deep inside, Cheney is ecstatic President Obama is committing more troops.
Take a look at Kazakhstan, Exxon-Mobil, and Swiss Bank Accounts.
And given that we're waging a war against a concept, which has been grossly fought using private contractors whose prospect of profit are inversely proportional to the probability of victory. I am expecting all sorts of creative hand waving about those little "details."
I'd recommend the "military experts" to read less Tom Clancy, and invest a few hours reviewing Afghanistan's history, esp. the past two thousand and change years.
ya, if you want to be understood don't use the word "terror" any more.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
inversely proportional to the probability of victory." Brilliant!
The real question is:
Does more troops lead to less slain persons?
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
this is the same old story i heard during the nam war.
always more troops.
give the american war machine credit it knew that the draft was the killer during the nam war.
they now have a private army that likes to kill and this will allow the war machine to keep right on with its imperialism american style.
the college students could care less that there is a war going on. visit a campus and watch and learn it is all about cell phones and texting.
wars forever baby that is the american way.
this country is imperialistic to the core
and most if any americans have a clue they are imperialists.
liberals progressives all are imperialists.
now the repubs they are out and out war mongers.
mc war would have bombed every man woman and child in nam to win that war.
the price of imperialism: moral and economic bankruptcy.
history tells us that but few americans know history.
just heard a lady on npr today state that obama and the liberals dont love america because they talk of the faults of america.
faults of america? we create suffering all over the world and killed one million vietnamese and never lost a moments sleep over it.
americans were upset over the lives of american soldiers not the vietnamese.
nothing has changed we are still the greatest threat to peace in the world.
few will understand my words very few.
America Owned by Its Army
http://www.williampfaff.com/modules/news/arti...
"If the US government enforced its banking laws like it did its park regulations, we wouldn't be
in this damn park in the first place." OCCUPY.!!
For a good synopsis of recent history (from Vietnam), especially for people like me that have never studied U.S. history, read these articles in succession:
WHY KENNEDY SAID NO TO VIETNAM COMBAT TROOPS
http://www.williampfaff.com/modules/news/arti...
THE DESTINY OF BARACK OBAMA
http://www.williampfaff.com/modules/news/inde...
"If the US government enforced its banking laws like it did its park regulations, we wouldn't be
in this damn park in the first place." OCCUPY.!!
The cost has already surpassed it significantly.
Also, at least LBJ had his "I am finally free" moment, and significant civil rights and social programs were enacted. There seems to be little indication so far that Obama will follow a similar epiphany, unless he is saving all that good old hope and change (tm) for his second term.
This is what Robert Fisk had to say:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl5iocwXTUE
I don't know what kind of 3D chess Mr. Obama is playing, but it apparently involves him owning the massive clusterf*cks of the previous admin.
Never told a fib in my life.... honest.
And higher casualties, with no certain outcome.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Reminds me of Reverend Henry Kane, "God Is In His Holy Temple", in the movie, Poltergeist!
"The general said he expressed such confidence in his strategy because the Taliban was 'NOT CREDIBLE AS A POLITICAL ENTITY [emphasis mine],' earning acquiescence from Afghans only through the lack of a credible alternative from the Afghan government"
Yeah, yeah. Neither were the Viet Cong, McChrystal, but I guess you were so young you needed nappy time during that current events class. Did you get to be a general without going to military academy or did you flunk that class?
Gee, how many years, I wonder, will our military have to occupy their major cities with their special sauce of "tough love" until the whole country returns that love to us with the flowers and sweets routine? Just a rough guess, please?
Truly, we never learn. Why does the world tolerate the U.S.?
doesn't have enough intelligence to realise just how stupid “Rolling back the Taliban is a prerequisite to the ultimate defeat of al-Qaeda.” actually sounds. I mean hell if Obama is going to insist on having an incompetent idiot in charge of forces in Afghanistan can't he at least find one that knows how to not sound like a retard?
at AntiWar.com yesterday:
"I am anticipating the day when the possession of Tibet and Afghanistan will be represented as vitally necessary to the security of Kansas and Nebraska. There is no logical end to this elastic conception of 'security' short of the conquest of the whole world."
William Henry Chamberlin, Dec 1940
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