Afghanistan To Receive 20,000 More US Troops By August, Says US Envoy

Afghanistan's foreign minister, Rangin Dadfar Spanta, met the United States' deputy of foreign affairs, Richard Boucher in Kabul today.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[ErnestineBass]

Afghanistan is a tar pit.

[PSM42]

Because Afghan children need what Gazan children are getting today? Gen. oci. de. Just say "no" to slau. ght ering civilians and gen. o. cide.

[Bcasey11]

OBAMA IS BETRAYING DEMS ALL AROUND BY THIS MOVE! THE ONLY ROLE OF THE US IN AFGAN IS SECURING POPPY CROPS!

[motoGpifupleez]

I find myself increasingly skeptical of this surge of forces to Afghanistan. I frequently rail at the Republicans for being so cavalier at the notion of risking other peoples children's lives and now see the Democrats as stepping into the same territory. Because Republicans have so successfully convinced the country that they are the stronger on defense issues, Democrats feel the need to establish themselves as well. Because they have so often called Iraq a mistake, they need a military action that can both show their willingness to deploy military might while at the same time demonstrating that they will do it intelligently and justly. I think this is why Democrats seized on Afghanistan during the '08 campaign as the "Right" war and now they are stuck with it. The thought of American military personnel being put into harms way so a political party can show it's toughness is repugnant, Democratic or Republican. I don't think any citizen doubts that the average Soldier or Marine on the ground believes wholeheartedly in their mission, but I would be interested to have a frank, unflinching, and no career detrimental consequences assessment of the true impact from the officer corps (Lieutenants thru Colonels) delivered directly to President-Elect Obama. I know this is outside the standard way of doing things, but maybe that's what the situation now calls for. If he then choses to move forward, at least it would be with a clear view from those who have lived it every day.

[Pat15]

Dont be in a haste to bring more troops to Afghanistan .we need to be careful, measured in our approach to solve the Taliban problem ..It will not go away soon ..will take time and a methodical approach to solve the insurgency. Issues

1) Pakistan is the main culprit in the region ..almost most of the problems in the area are supported by the govt OR the retired members of Pakistan Intelligence agency ..

2) Pressure has to put on the govt to cooperate OR threat of sanctions ..otherwise they will not change ..Look at the past history ..Military is the real power & the current PM does not hold sway over the military

3) Taliban is supported in Pakistan for everything money, drug sales, weapons & hiding madarassa..they get their recruits from the local population & smuggle the rest from arab other countries ..

4) Local Afghan citizens are too poor & will do anything to survive ..The so called warlords who run these tribal people are corrupt but they can be bought to turn against the Taliban ..small amount of $ will do the trick but they need to be controlled ..

5) The military need to win the mind/heart of people so some investment in school, water projects etc & agriculture willdo greater good ..

6) It will take time & the results will take years ..our presence will be needed for a long time ..OR it will go back to Taliban very quick ..

[hortonhearsawho2]

I am going to honor the first troop that dies protecting anyone there...and every other troop afterwards. I've already honored those that have passed.

[Kaye08]

Enough is enough. We must have a new idea for Afghanistan. There is not such thing as a good war!

[marignymitch]

Why are we falling into the maw that destroyed the Soviet Union? Why do we love war so much?

[PSM42]

Because Afghan children need the same treatment that the Israelis are giving Gazan children?

"How many people do you have to k. ill before you qualify to be described as a mass mur. de. rer and a war cri. mi. nal? One hundred thousand? More than enough, I would have thought. Therefore it is just that Bush and Blair be arraigned before the International Cri. minal Co. urt of Jus. tice." -- Harold Pinter.

[Tulka2]

Hear, hear.

[williamina]

weird, weird

[williamina]

weird

[Tulka2]

If the U.S. made an anouncment that we would buy all of Afgan's poppies...? It would be so much cheaper and more humane than the disaster that continues in that long suffering country. We could use all the opium for legit purposes. (I know Big Pharma wouldn't like it. They want to push synthetics more addictive than opiates down craws.)

U know what 20,000 we could send that would make a REAL difference? Women. Twenty thousand educated women and their children to start schools, teach literacy and feminism.

[williamina]

completely lost

[hortonhearsawho2]

enforce our culture....how, again ?

[sonoffestus]

...........into the valley of death rode the six hundred......................... when do we start getting "body counts" ?

[Tulka2]

(A nod to a well read person) I think poetry must not have been in Obama's education or Afganistan would give him pause. Also... ? Watch, "The Man Who Would Be King" with Michael Caine and Sean Connery.

[jrb35]

The Poem is from the Crimean War, not Britain's involvement in Afghanistan.

[Tulka2]

So literal.
The hopeless, heedless, deluded subject of said poem applies. Of course it does. This poem applies to any military disaster.

[jwcondrey]

I'll offer a perspective not often seen on this web site. I am an active duty army officer, and commanded for 11 months along the Afghan/Pakistan border. My assessment is that most Americans are occupied with $.10 increase in the cost of a gallon of gas or despairing over balance on their IRAs, giving little thought to the mission of our Armed Forces. While that initially envokes a feeling of disgust it quickly turns to satisfaction. If the average American can ride the subway concerned with local pick-pockets, or board an airplane concerned with missing a connecting flight, then our men and women in uniform, and our policies have been successful.

The premise that we go to war to line the pockets of some "fat-cat" defense contractor is laughable. Our leaders have no choice but to look in the eyes of the families that have lost loved ones or those men and women maimed in the defense of our national interests.

The premise of an "exit strategy" makes a great headline, but has not been a major consideration in US foreign policy. It begs the question: Where is the outrage for US forces that are still posted in Germany, Japan, and Korea?

It is too easy to mindlessly regurgitate comments you heard on the news or at a dinner party. I recommend you take a moment and think about the relevant history, and put some original thought toward the causes and effects of the decision.

[Tulka2]

You underestimate both your fellow citizens and the "laughable", as you put it, idea that we go to war to line the pockets of fat-cats.

Btw...? History shows nations also go to war when they have too many young men and not enough jobs.

Don't worry about the soldiers in Germany, Japan and Korea. They are mostly having a hell of a good time. It's the "year away" for the working classes. Do you mean why were people not outraged at the time these bases were put up? Deluded.

Stay safe. We will get you home. Hope there's a job for you when you get back.

[PSM42]

jw, another man in your situation, or a little more so, learnt the truth. Eventually.

"Now, I've analyzed carefully and even written a book about what made me change. And there were four people whom I can remember, who significantly altered my thinking. And they were people who pu. nched me in the intellectual belly. They were close friends who said:

"What you're doing with your life is dead wrong! You are participating in E. VIL! And you DO have a choice, and you CAN redirect your life."

And I raged. I hurt. I was upset. I had insomnia. It was painful. But they had made me think, and the thinking led me to break away. It's called "tough love."

John Stoc. kwell, American hero. http://www.serendipity.li/cia/stock2.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stockwell

[PSM42]

jw, another man in your situation, or a little more so, learnt the truth. Eventually.

"Now, I've analyzed carefully and even written a book about what made me change. And there were four people whom I can remember, who significantly altered my thinking. And they were people who pu. nched me in the intellectual belly. They were close friends who said:

"What you're doing with your life is dead wrong! You are participating in E. VIL! And you DO have a choice, and you CAN redirect your life."

And I raged. I hurt. I was upset. I had insomnia. It was painful. But they had made me think, and the thinking led me to break away. It's called "tough love."

John Sto.ckw. ell, American hero. Wiki and Google help.

[PSM42]

jw, another man in your situation, or a little more so, learnt the truth. Eventually.

"Now, I've analyzed carefully and even written a book about what made me change. And there were four people whom I can remember, who significantly altered my thinking. And they were people who pu. nched me in the intellectual belly. They were close friends who said:

"What you're doing with your life is de. ad wrong! You are participating in E. V. IL! And you DO have a choice, and you CAN redirect your life."

And I ra. ged. I h. urt. I was upset. I had insomnia. It was pai. nful. But they had made me think, and the thinking led me to break away. It's called "tou. gh love."

John Stoc. kwell, American hero. See Google.

[hamchunk]

I am afraid your words here fall on deaf ears, sir. Keep your heels down and stay in the shadows . I am sure I will see you over there soon (again), though we do not know each other.

v/r
11Z5P - You will know what it means but these hippies here won't.

[holeybuybull]

Must keep feeding the military-industrial complex. Our number one export is death.

[Tulka2]

Here, here! and....When will the media pick up on the great news story that the U.S.A. is the number one exporter of death machines of every kind?

[Furby]

They can't do that. Death owns them. Where do you get a good story if there are no wars and no murders?

[ErnestineBass]

Dunno...why not ask NBC?

Oh, that's right, they're owned by General Electric, a major military hardware producer.

[wadenelson1]

What did they keep saying during Vietnam? "Only 100,000 more troops and we'll win this thing. Light at the end of the tunnel. Enemy is in their last throes."

[uglicoyote]

Yes, there is a "light at the end of the tunnel. We just need a couple of more divisions."

[jake106]

Ah crap, please no. No more deployments. Ugh.