Gates Endorses $20 Billion Plan To Aid Afghanistan

New York Times:

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will endorse a $20 billion plan to substantially increase the size of Afghanistan's army and will also restructure the military command of American and NATO forces in response to the growing Taliban threat, senior Pentagon and military officials said Thursday.

Taken together, the two decisions are an acknowledgment of shortcomings that continue to hinder NATO- and American-led operations in Afghanistan. With the war in Iraq still an obstacle to any immediate American troop increase in Afghanistan, the plan was described by officials as an attempt to increase allied and Afghan capabilities in advance of deploying the additional American brigades that Mr. Gates and his commanders agree are necessary.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[KHAAANNN]

20 Billion?
I guess he's going to send in one more duce and 1/2 and a KBR driver.
That ought to do it.

[JoeBlough]

So where is THIS money going to come from? Are we going to cut more taxes to pay for it?

[Rog49Thomas]

If I remember correctly (and I may not since I am a recovering Republican), one of Brother Osama's goals from 911 was to get the United States to spend itself into bankruptcy.

For some strange reason, the party of "national security" seems to be doing just that.

[stargazer13]

this pisses me off

What about our own

[dwmulenex]

is doubling the size of the security forces the answer? Iraq has over 750,000 police, armed forces, Sunni mercenaries paid by the U.S., and 140,000 troops at a cost of $10 billion a month. And Iraq is smaller, less rugged in terrain, and doesn't share its longest border with Pakistan. Will doubling Afghani forces to 200,000 rreally do the job? I doubt it, and so should anyone looking at a country that is poor, mostly illiterate, and ruled beyond Kabul by a mix of Taliban and more independent war lords. Is the goal to tie us down five more years as part of the Bush endless war legacy, and to divert attention from Al Qaeda to building a military force that will allow Karzai to stay in power? Mr.Gates is about the most sensible guy in the Bush cabinet, but this plan smells more like a budget builder for the Pentagon than a real solution. And will NATO pay the bill? There's no oil to be had, no nukes to be dismantled, no exotic goods except heroin to be had.

[dwmulenex]

is doubling the size of the security forces the answer? Iraq has over 750,000 police, armed forces, Sunni mercenaries paid by the U.S., and 140,000 troops at a cost of $10 billion a month. And Iraq is smaller, less rugged in terrain, and doesn't share its longest border with Pakistan. Will doubling Afghani forces to 200,000 rreally do the job? I doubt it, and so should anyone looking at a country that is poor, mostly illiterate, and ruled beyond Kabul by a mix of Talibam and more independent war lords. Is the goal to tie us down five more years as part of the Bush endless war legacy, and to divert attention from Al Qaeda to building a military force that will allow Karzai to stay in power? Mr.Gates is aboutr the most sensible guy in the Bush cabinet, but this plan smells more like a budget builder for the Pentagon than a real solution. And will NATO pay the bill? There's no oil to be had, no nukes to be dismantled, no exotic goods except heroin to be had.

[jcorrington]

This is going to be 3x the nightmare that Iraq is. Our economy simply cannot sustain continued war.

[JoeBlough]

That was Bin Laden's plan. He knew we'd walk right into it, because the War Profiteers would demand it.

[likeicare]

Translation: $20 Billion Contract Awarded to Blackwater to Train Afghan Army

Well, since Eric Prince (Blackwater's CEO) announced he's getting out of the "private security" business (goota love the way Rethuglicans play with semantics!), he's got to scam his money some other way, doesn't he?

It's not like he could ever earn a dime legitimately -- he's addicted to the public feeding trough. Just like the rest of his reptilian ilk -- Haliburton, KBR, Lockheed-Martin, Exxon-Mobil, Dynacorp, etc., etc.

[1differentdrummer]

Republicans borrow and spend.

[dadw5boys]

Let's see tell Israel we can't give them $ 3.6 Billion next year it is going to Afganistan!!!!!

Tell Central America sorry no aide next year it is all going to Afganistan.

Tell all the other no aide the rest going to AMERICANS!­!!!!!!!!!!

[Bozwellian]

ANd then explain WHY we are repeating USSR "history", they spent ten years effort and their nations health/wealth and failed in conquering Afghanistan causing their collapse (few bother to note , prefer it to be but Ronnies effort to bring their collapse/e­tc...) Seems few to none care to see the futilty of OUR involvement to have "influence" of the direction of this region, be it Afghanistan or Iraq ...and then get upset as we "export" democracy and it does NOT work to OUR advantage ....HOW DENSE do we need to have our leaders prove to be ? Imagine if the monies spent on Iraq had been aimed at our OWN infrastrures and getting our OWN house in order rather than expending over there....A­gain few care to note, that with OUR meddling , the REJECTION of OUR way is what has indeed given rise /incentive to those that "oppose/hate" us to point where they feel justified in striking out at us , ala 911 and more !!! Afghanistan is an equal quagmire, Iraq was a major mistake that caused its own quagmire to be manifested where none needed it to ...ain't gonna be any too pretty as this all plays out ...we really can NOT IMPOSE OUR vison of democracy on others, time to get a grip on reality !!!

[dadw5boys]

If the USA minded it's own business and dealth with forgiens nations with respect and ethic it would not be profitable for the Weapons makers arounf the country or the people who proft from rebuilding after a war.

It is just not profitable to be a good world citizen!

A least that is the mind set the USA has been operating under for too many years.

[totaldisbelief]

I would like to endorse a 20 billion dollar plan to aid the USA.

[TRYKER]

Uh huh, $2 Bil for Afghans and $18 Bil for private accounts in tax havens. Not a chance that the money will go for the purposes claimed.

And here's the US govt claiming that Iraq has $79 Billion and should be paying for their own reconstruction of OUR destruction, but the money sits in the Federal Reserve Bank of the US in NY City.
We've brought democracy to Iraq, but we keep their money in NY?
Just when you think it can't get any squirrellier .
Democracy is so...slave­.

[1differentdrummer]

I don't think you have the facts straight. Who says their budget money is in this country?

[blueshield]

Well, that's good. Fer a moment there I thought it was gonna cost us.