New Afghanistan strategy

[myata]

The new US administration strategy for Afghanistan is finally released: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8388939.stm It'll add 30,000 more US troops, bringing the total number of foreign troops in the country to 100,000.

With this move, we should finally see the answer on practical efficiency of the strategy of near total subjugation, pacifisation and eventual democratisation (with population of Afghanistan estimated at some 25 million, it'd be approximately one foreign soldier per 50 adult males, probably much higher in the "instable" regions, and not counting local army / police / security services, also paid to a large extent from abroad), and we'll have it soon, most likely in less than a decade.

[eyeball]

...most likely in less than a decade.

Or three...

I thought Americans swore they'd never elect another moron.

[bush_cheney2004]

Or three...

I thought Americans swore they'd never elect another moron.

Americans swore no such thing, and will do as they please regardless of what you think.

President Obama will execute the duties of his office, just like presidents past.

As always, you are still welcomed to watch or read about it from the peanut gallery.

[myata]

Short of calling the thing for what it really is, indeed I'll be content to at least not participating in it.

[Guest TrueMetis]

Short of calling the thing for what it really is, indeed I'll be content to at least not participating in it.

Canada will be participating, we may be not active in a military fashion, but Canadian soldiers will still be there.

[eyeball]

Americans swore no such thing, and will do as they please regardless of what you think.

I've seen at least one bumper sticker that says otherwise and there's a store hereabouts that sells little buttons with has a picture of three Americans swearing it too.

[bush_cheney2004]

I've seen at least one bumper sticker that says otherwise and there's a store hereabouts that sells little buttons with has a picture of three Americans swearing it too.

Oh...I forgot...three people is a lot where you live. But they don't represent 300,000,000 of the other Americans.

We'll elect whomever we please....just like Canadians do.... thank-you very much.

[bush_cheney2004]

Short of calling the thing for what it really is, indeed I'll be content to at least not participating in it.

That's swell, but being content is not part of the program. Welcome back to the ISAF pool room.

[myata]

Canada will be participating, we may be not active in a military fashion, but Canadian soldiers will still be there.

Then we'll be mired as everybody else who is actively involved here, in another recolonisation project, if under different name / means / age. If that's how we see our international standing now, just another, smaller voice in a pack, then that's what we're going to be(come).

[Oleg Bach]

Lets not pull any punches here. Baffoons and weasils run the American empire - they can not stop a couple of gate crashing idots out of the White House - they can not stop what should have never gotten to New York..and that's the 9 11 attackers. Apparently they are not very bright - and they can never stop a bunch of primatives living in hovels of baked clay, that carry AK47s...who's only goal is to have a few bucks - some food and maybe even some riches. The American elite have one rule of thumb domestically and abroad - That only they are entitled to the good life or a normal non-survivalist exsistence. The western rich take great glee in making sure that no one prospers other than them - The up side of this strategy is the simple fact that now less Canadians will die as the fish in the barrel are exposed to less fire power because the Yanks are going to swarm the place like a bunch of uneducated blacks swarming you for your runners at the subway stop.

[Guest American Woman]

I thought Americans swore they'd never elect another moron.

It seems there is strong support for Obama's strategy, from the EU, NATO, and even the UN says "it's necessary."

Seems as if Obama's strategy has received a positive reaction.

The European Union issued a statement welcoming Obama’s announcement that the United States would further reinforce its engagement, inter alia in ISAF, as part of its continued commitment to Afghanistan.

Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that Nato countries are throwing their support behind Obama's new Afghan strategy, and will send at least 5000 more troops to fight insurgents in the war-torn country, the Voice of America reported on December 2.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Obama's decision to send an additional 30 000 troops is a "very difficult, but necessary strategy."

French president Nicolas Sarkozy said that he "fully supports" Obama's new strategy. Sarkozy called the announcement "courageous" and said it gives "new momentum" to the international engagement in Afghanistan.

link

[Oleg Bach]

Obama is doing what is expected of him - To be the front man of a certain class - Men who are very very rich - very very stupid - and very very determined to rule the world and in time get rid of any resistance - So sad that Obamas controlers could not convince intelligent people to join the military and be disposed of - That would solve a lot of their problems - Those pesky intelligent people are going to get in the way .........Stalin and Obama are not much different - other than Stalin actually revolted against his installers and handlers - Obama will continue to lose weight and go gray and fade - because there is a price to pay for doing the bidding of evil men in high hidden places - I guess it will be the trusting blacks who will go first..or maybe the trusting whites if Obama has his way.

[myata]

It seems there is strong support for Obama's strategy, from the EU, NATO, and even the UN says "it's necessary."

Seems as if Obama's strategy has received a positive reaction.

I'm disappointed that the UN is involved in this project, that is very obviously becoming a foreign involvement into the country's civil war. However after proclaiming the first elections legitimate while under foreign occupation, and the fiasco of the second ones I'm not sure how much credibility remains in their position. I guess all hope is now vested in the sheer military might, and should it fail to bring solution, it may very well end up being another nail in the coffin of UN as we know it.

[Oleg Bach]

More murdering of innocent civlians and soldiers on all sides. Just so a few parasistes can live like gods on earth - next time someone throws a war - maybe all should NOT show up..This is a disgrace - and anyone who rationalizes these matters to the level of neccesity is a lunitic.

[Black Dog]

I'm disappointed that the UN is involved in this project, that is very obviously becoming a foreign involvement into the country's civil war. However after proclaiming the first elections legitimate while under foreign occupation, and the fiasco of the second ones I'm not sure how much credibility remains in their position. I guess all hope is now vested in the sheer military might, and should it fail to bring solution, it may very well end up being another nail in the coffin of UN as we know it.

Isn't the UN's entire purpose to facilitate such things under the guise of "multilateralism"?

[myata]

Isn't the UN's entire purpose to facilitate such things under the guise of "multilateralism"?

Facilitate direct military involvement in other people's conflicts under whatever guise? I'm not aware of that mission, nor would support it.

Edited December 3, 2009 by myata

[M.Dancer]

Isn't the UN's entire purpose to facilitate such things under the guise of "multilateralism"?

Like Korea?

[Moonlight Graham]

Americans swore no such thing, and will do as they please regardless of what you think.

President Obama will execute the duties of his office, just like presidents past.

As always, you are still welcomed to watch or read about it from the peanut gallery.

And 'eyeball' will say whatever he pleases about your President, regardless of what you think.

Yes Americans & their government can do whatever they want, but they will deal with the consequences of those actions also.

[Moonlight Graham]

Regarding Obama's new strategy, i think its flawed. Publicly stating that the U.S. will withdraw troops in 18 months is idiotic, its gives the Taliban etc. the message of if they just hold out until then, then they win. And if the pullout is based on "the situation on the ground", then all the insurgents have to do is stop fighting for those 18 months, making it seems to the U.S. as if the situation is better, and then when they withdraw the Taliban can take down control of the country again.

Also, what the HECK does Obama think the military can accomplish in 18 months? The troops will hardly be there by the time they may leave. Its all political in my view.

I'm glad many others have expressed their displeasure about the 18 month drawdown.

If NATO/U.S. wish to continue the military operations route, i think Obama should have ordered the troops without any drawdown date, and seen over the next 18-24 months if the situation improves or not. if it does, then they can keep at it, if it doesn't then think about ending the military operations.

[DogOnPorch]

Regarding Obama's new strategy, i think its flawed. Publicly stating that the U.S. will withdraw troops in 18 months is idiotic, its gives the Taliban etc. the message of if they just hold out until then, then they win. And if the pullout is based on "the situation on the ground", then all the insurgents have to do is stop fighting for those 18 months, making it seems to the U.S. as if the situation is better, and then when they withdraw the Taliban can take down control of the country again.

Also, what the HECK does Obama think the military can accomplish in 18 months? The troops will hardly be there by the time they may leave. Its all political in my view.

I'm glad many others have expressed their displeasure about the 18 month drawdown.

If NATO/U.S. wish to continue the military operations route, i think Obama should have ordered the troops without any drawdown date, and seen over the next 18-24 months if the situation improves or not. if it does, then they can keep at it, if it doesn't then think about ending the military operations.

Damn straight.

[Peter F]

...

Also, what the HECK does Obama think the military can accomplish in 18 months? The troops will hardly be there by the time they may leave. Its all political in my view.

...

If NATO/U.S. wish to continue the military operations route, i think Obama should have ordered the troops without any drawdown date, and seen over the next 18-24 months if the situation improves or not. if it does, then they can keep at it, if it doesn't then think about ending the military operations.

Of course its political. What war isn't? The President has now got his politically acceptable exit from the quagmire. The surge will supposedly kick taliban arse forcing the Taliban to lay low. Or the Taliban will lay low to wait out the surge. Either way, in 18 months things will be toned down and Afghan forces deemed ready to assume security ops. Then victory will be declared and the majority of US forces pulled out.

Mission Accomplished!

[Guest American Woman]

Regarding Obama's new strategy, i think its flawed. ....

You might find this site interesting as it deals with the issues you raised, along with other questions/concerns people have expressed regarding Obama's plan. You might find some answers to the issues you raised there.

[Moonlight Graham]

Of course its political. What war isn't? The President has now got his politically acceptable exit from the quagmire. The surge will supposedly kick taliban arse forcing the Taliban to lay low. Or the Taliban will lay low to wait out the surge. Either way, in 18 months things will be toned down and Afghan forces deemed ready to assume security ops. Then victory will be declared and the majority of US forces pulled out.

Mission Accomplished!

Very interesting theory! Is Obama & co. this smart? But you forgot another scenario: what if the Taliban actually keeps kicking U.S. arse by the end of the 18 months? How do they declare victory then?

[Moonlight Graham]

You might find this site interesting as it deals with the issues you raised, along with other questions/concerns people have expressed regarding Obama's plan. You might find some answers to the issues you raised there.

Thank you very much.

[Peter F]

Very interesting theory! Is Obama & co. this smart? But you forgot another scenario: what if the Taliban actually keeps kicking U.S. arse by the end of the 18 months? How do they declare victory then?

The Taliban can't, and never has been able to, kick US arse. They won't even be able to raise the intensity - and they'd be idiots to try. The Taliban stratagy should be very simple: Lay low and let Obama have his victory.