US Weighing Thousands Of More Troops For Afghanistan

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Reuters   |   May 3, 2008 08:41 AM

Read More: Afghanistan, Afghanistan US Troops, Pentagon, Warwire, Politics News
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The Pentagon is considering sending up to 7,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan next year to make up for a shortfall in contributions from NATO allies, the New York Times reported on Saturday.

The increase would likely result in "the re-Americanization" of the war, one U.S. official said, according to the Times. U.S. forces would then account for two-thirds of foreign troops in Afghanistan, it said.

The report appeared a day after Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the United States could consider taking over NATO's command in southern Afghanistan, where some NATO allies have been reluctant to provide combat forces.

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- hope4theflowers See Profile I'm a Fan of hope4theflowers

this is more bologna.The war in Afganistan is as nefarious as Iraq's occupation.Americans are so dumb they actually think we are protecting ourselves by occupying other countries.Clueless to the fact we are slaves to a modern day tyranny.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:34 AM on 05/04/2008
- Richcelt See Profile I'm a Fan of Richcelt

About freaking TIME! If they'd had Iraq level troops in Afghanistan, bin Ladin would have been caught by now. Someone in Washington finally beginning to wake up?

I remember hearing a speech McCain gave about a month ago where he stated to the effect that he, Dubya, and OSAMA BIN LADIN *ALL* agreed that the central focus on the "War on Terror" was in IRAQ. Well DUH! Of course bin Ladin will agree to that. That puts the focus of the war THOUSANDS of miles away from HIM! And of course no one in the MSM (and unfortunately no one in either democratic camp either) picked up on this idiotic statement and then bludgeoned him with it.

The focus of the "War on Terror" should be on Afghanistan (and Pakistan if they are not willing or able to do their part). Al Qaeda attacked us. They were in Afghanistan, shielded by the Taliban. We had every right to invade and take them both out. Then like Hitler in WWII, who took his eyes off his fight with England to attack Russia, Bush took his eyes off of Afghanistan to pick a fight with Iraq. And look at the mess we've been in since! For those of you who have supported Bush and his war in Iraq, I'm sure bin Ladin thanks you.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:19 AM on 05/04/2008
- plages See Profile I'm a Fan of plages

You mean that the Romney men are doing the right thing!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:56 AM on 05/04/2008
- fourex See Profile I'm a Fan of fourex

Come on, Rush and Hannity, this is your chance at redemption.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:03 PM on 05/03/2008
- wmbear See Profile I'm a Fan of wmbear

I FEEL THE URGE...

The urge to surge....

(General David Petroleus)

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:50 PM on 05/03/2008
- rollingdivision See Profile I'm a Fan of rollingdivision

This plan matches exactly with Obama's plan. So why would Obama supporters not know this and not support this? From the posted article, "The Pentagon is considering sending up to 7,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan next year to make up for a shortfall in contributions from NATO allies, the New York Times reported on Saturday." From Obama's published plan, "Afghanistan: Barack Obama believes that we need to begin to end the war in order to finish the fight in Afghanistan. He would redeploy at least two combat brigades (7,000 personnel) of rested, trained American troops to Afghanistan to reinforce our counter-terrorism operations and support NATO"s efforts to fight the Taliban." Obama=Bush on this one issue.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:10 PM on 05/03/2008
- wmbear See Profile I'm a Fan of wmbear

AND HOW MUCH DO THOSE TROOPS WEIGH?...

If you figure 10,000 troops at about 200lbs. each, that's 2,000,000 more lbs. of cannon fodder....

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:38 PM on 05/03/2008
- MagisterLudi See Profile I'm a Fan of MagisterLudi

about time someone takes out some Al Qaeda/Taliban camps.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:53 PM on 05/03/2008
- wmbear See Profile I'm a Fan of wmbear

THE TALIBAN IS NEVER GOING TO GIVE UP...

The Russians occupied Afghanistan for 10 years to no avail. There is no such thing as "winning" this kind of occupation. And if you want Al Qaeda and (especially) bin Laden, look to our glorious ally Pakistan instead. The Pakis are the ones who are really harboring Al Qaeda and they always were....

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:54 PM on 05/03/2008
- cdnnewsjunky See Profile I'm a Fan of cdnnewsjunky

Exactly, and Iraq is a mess because the operation is being run by the same calibre of people that troll on this site. Total idiots that wouldn't know a fact if it slapped them upside the head. Idiotic opinions spouted by a few and sung by the flock are good enough for these morons, facts only get in the way and are a real liability to their delusions of grandeur.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:48 AM on 05/04/2008
- Stevelagain See Profile I'm a Fan of Stevelagain

Wow, Afghanistan, the war liberals support. Oh gee, what a surprise, the left didn't really mean it when they said get out of Iraq and get into Afghanistan, the real war. LAUGH.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:36 PM on 05/03/2008
- KarateKid See Profile I'm a Fan of KarateKid

And what do you "conservatives" support? More of the same? That says a lot about your intelligence level. Why don't you volunteer and go to Iraq, big talker? You won't be laughing then. And you wouldn't have been laughing in Vietnam, either. No one who was there is laughing now, sonny.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:33 PM on 05/03/2008
- KarateKid See Profile I'm a Fan of KarateKid

And where is Georgie going to get the troops from?? Some of them are already on their 7th or 8th rotation already. What fools they are. This is where we should have had our troops all along, not mired in Iraq.

The lunacy of this administration never ceases to amaze me. I only hope Georgie and Dickie don't go off the deep end and bomb Iran. The next six months will be nerve wracking so see how much more of a mess this crappy administration will leave the new one stuck in.

Where are all you loudmouthed Republicans now? Look at what your heroes have done.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:25 PM on 05/03/2008
- MissingAmerica See Profile I'm a Fan of MissingAmerica

Has it dawned on the Pentagon that the reason for the NATO shortfall is that the world is fed up with the US occupation of countries in the Middle East? It has to end, and it seems the only ones that don't get that are the warlords in the White House.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:32 PM on 05/03/2008
- Stevelagain See Profile I'm a Fan of Stevelagain

Umm, not, Nato has problems with weak UN troops who from the very start would not fight.

Europe is falling to "progressivism" and their culture is dying as they import millions of muslims to replace their dying White Western population. They are not longer capable of standing up militarily and they are losing the will to defend their boarders, their flags, their religion, their way of life.

Natos problem is that the "enlightened left" or "progressives" are destroying their countries cultures from within.

The west is gradually falling, and progressives rejoice at their part in it, while Islam licks it's greedy chops eager for the day when radical islam will ring and rule the globe.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:40 PM on 05/03/2008
- HamletsMill See Profile I'm a Fan of HamletsMill

Stevelagain,

Where and when did you ever serve in the Armed Forces of the United States? If you haven't ever served yourself, from what experience and knowledge do you speak?

My oldest sister has been in Afghanistan on the ground for the last seven years. She can get you into the Frontier Quarter with Pakistan if you want to serve. You'll be dead within 48 hours. Just tell her where to send your body. You don't know jack squat. brother, about what is really going on in Afghanistan.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:34 AM on 05/04/2008
- hoodrat See Profile I'm a Fan of hoodrat

I'm sure Germany would be real interested in your opinion - so Islam itself, the Religion, is what has the world in a stranglehold, and not big countries/superpowers that can't stop playing games in others backyards - is that it? Maybe this big "dying population" has seen centuries of bullshit wars for profit, and had enough. Just maybe, they're so fed up with bullshit neocon agendas they told georgie,dickless and rummy to go fuck themselves - and as it turns out - for good reason. Unless you have recently trained with our NATO allies, it's foolish at the least, to test their mettle - weakened or not.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:38 PM on 05/03/2008
- speakingtruth2power See Profile I'm a Fan of speakingtruth2power


Has anyone suggested that these troops are meant for dealing with Iran?

Certainly another 5 or 7 thousand is not an invasion force but supporting

air bases for incursions, they could be extremely effective at harassment.

Darth has promised both the Likudists and the Saudi Royals that we'll

take out Iran's energy capabilities for nuclear, and oil/gas foreign export.

This will destroy Iran's ability to influence both the ME politics and OPEC.

ST2P

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:47 PM on 05/03/2008
- hoodrat See Profile I'm a Fan of hoodrat

Sorry ST2P - dig deeper bro., you're thinking like an American. If you attack my enemy, but a brother in the faith - what next with me? Thinking Iran is a fatal flaw to stability of the region if you take in GLOBAL opinion - not just ours. Afghanistan is where we should've been - if you're thinking justice to the criminals that got this ball rollin'. Iran has always been the prize for the warmachine. Unfortunately the gleam in uncle Sams eye didn't go unnoticed by the rest of the world. Unrighteous fights brought the greatest civilizations in history down - thoughts of subjugating the masses for their own good with greed and conquest being the lynchpins of their eventual downfall. Meanwhile the TRUE enemies of America pout and post smaller than predicted profits, while still in the billions. Meanwhile McSenile slipped and told the truth on why our boys/girls die daily in a country we have no business in. In DC - the district of corruption, Pelosi and Co. take impeachment off the table. We need to start REALLY asking ourselves - whose our TRUE enemies.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:40 PM on 05/03/2008
- LOL123 See Profile I'm a Fan of LOL123

Excellent, now people are starting to read between the lines and think for themselves. Keep doing your homework. ;-) maybe Congress will catch up to us someday.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:12 PM on 05/03/2008
- ErnestineBass See Profile I'm a Fan of ErnestineBass

Any chance Congress could rescind that bulls**t Kyl-Lieberman Amendment?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:12 PM on 05/03/2008
- Stokes See Profile I'm a Fan of Stokes

There will be a draft. The weary and tired troops will be relieved. The added troops from the draft will assure the residents of the world that peace and order is on the way. Expect this change to bring together the warring factions with diplomacy. The CRIMINALS responsible for the Iraq FIASCO will be rounded up and disciplined.
(woman's God given intuition. posted in Huff-post 4-11-08 )

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:48 PM on 05/03/2008
- CrazyDemocrat See Profile I'm a Fan of CrazyDemocrat

There will be no draft when we have 1 million troops around the world to pull from...and forget any criminal charges about the war !!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:01 PM on 05/03/2008
- speakingtruth2power See Profile I'm a Fan of speakingtruth2power


America can sign the ICC Accords RETROACTIVELY,

making Bush & Co subject to the Court at the Hague.

There is no expos facto here since the laws regarding

war crimes were already in place w/ international law.

Besides, application of the law depends on who is in

power, as the neocons have so often proven to us all.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:58 PM on 05/03/2008
- CrazyDemocrat See Profile I'm a Fan of CrazyDemocrat

Never happen, time to put down the crack pipe and come back to reality

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:15 PM on 05/03/2008
- Harrier See Profile I'm a Fan of Harrier

I don't believe anyone disagrees with going after Al Qaeda and Bin Laden. With respect to Iraq, its clear tis never had anything to do with terrorism at at. Completely manufactured by boomers. I would like to see a draft for that war, but for people above the age of 40 years and not below. I would like to see it start with executive corporate management and work its way down. If these are the best and brightest our country has, we need to use the best resources we have to attack our biggest problems. As far a I can see, all wars seem to be to help corporations. I would like to see more corporate responsibility and domestic participation. I have no doubt, all that talent together would be able to figure out a way to get out of this mess

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:46 PM on 05/03/2008
- IowaKid See Profile I'm a Fan of IowaKid

Why the HELL did we go to Iraq in the first place. Where are WMD and it also was proven later that Al Queida was NOT dealing with Sadam Hussein. I'm not saying what Sadam Hussein was doing was okay but mg we took our eyes off Al Quieda in Afghanstan, Pakistan to go to war in Iraq. Please explain the logic in that. Also explain after 5 years why there are people in Bagdad that don't have running water or electric.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:40 PM on 05/03/2008
- ProfessorDuh See Profile I'm a Fan of ProfessorDuh

Why? McCain just admitted why. Oopsy.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:20 PM on 05/03/2008
- iBgood See Profile I'm a Fan of iBgood

lol!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:38 PM on 05/03/2008
- Amishguy See Profile I'm a Fan of Amishguy

While everyone here is engaged in a million different debates about semantics here I just want to know where the hell we are going go get 7,000 more troops from?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:49 PM on 05/03/2008
- CrazyDemocrat See Profile I'm a Fan of CrazyDemocrat

Simple, we have over 1 million troops stationed in other countries doing nothing, just pull some of them..grab some for Iran also !!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:36 PM on 05/03/2008
- faith See Profile I'm a Fan of faith

BRING BACK THE DRAFT ! We would be out of the middle east in a heartbeat if every family had to send one of their own children to fight Bush and Cheney's immoral war. BRING BACK THE DRAFT.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:28 PM on 05/03/2008
- biwee See Profile I'm a Fan of biwee

Correct!! If the 29 percenters had to send their children to fight in the unnecessary war of choice, it would have never started. By the way, are any relatives of Wolfowitz, or Feith, or Kristol, or Krauthammer, or Miller, or Adelman, or Abrams fighting in the US military in IraQ, OR ARE THEY IN THE IDF???

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:20 PM on 05/03/2008
- CrazyDemocrat See Profile I'm a Fan of CrazyDemocrat

Not necessary, we have over 1 million troops around the world we could pull from

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:37 PM on 05/03/2008
- biwee See Profile I'm a Fan of biwee

You did not answer my question, US military or IDF??

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:41 AM on 05/04/2008
- EspritDeVoltaire See Profile I'm a Fan of EspritDeVoltaire

Look for new Draft legislation to be one of the first Congressional agenda items after the election. This was what Senator Clinton's code phrase "rebuilding our military" was referring to since they are obviously not going to provide pay or benefits at a level which will spark enlistment.

If you don't believe the Democrats in Congress will do it, all I have to say is it was a Democratic administration which did it to me.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:24 PM on 05/03/2008
- wayoutleft See Profile I'm a Fan of wayoutleft

you're right. the dems will pass a "national service" draft. right away.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:30 PM on 05/03/2008
- MACS See Profile I'm a Fan of MACS

.
FDR thanks you for your service in WWII.
.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:28 PM on 05/03/2008
- wayoutleft See Profile I'm a Fan of wayoutleft

i don't see what the problem is. we may have already won (check krauthammer or kristol). the only problem will be how to explain to liberals why- even though we've won- it doesn't look that way. and we have to learn our lesson. it doesn't do any good to say we'll stay for 100 years until after we declare we've already won. once the public believes we've already won;no one will object to continuing to spend money and take casualties.
(the actual fact is: when we've won- there is liquor. when the taliban have won- no liquor- just like basra.) a really stacked female military analyst on one of the networks would be interesting- as long as there was no odd torture baggage on her service record. she could wear a field jacket and report from somewhere.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:39 PM on 05/03/2008
- ejay579 See Profile I'm a Fan of ejay579

Historically, no foreign power has had much success in Afganistan. We came close until Shrub turned his attention to the debacle in the desert. The other day I say an item indicating how the Marines were getting ready to start the spring offensive. The SEVENTH spring offensive. So sad.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:19 PM on 05/03/2008
- MACS See Profile I'm a Fan of MACS

.
The bush unwarrented invasion of Iraq was nothing more than a "Cut & Run" from the search for Osama. This little mistake has cost America over a billion dollars, over 4,050 deathe and world prestige.
.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:31 PM on 05/03/2008
- rascalov See Profile I'm a Fan of rascalov

Yay! More troops for more places mean more "support the troops" ribbons and happy soldier-boy-usa-pride everywhere. Wave the flag! Yayyyyyyy!
Pathetic

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:59 PM on 05/03/2008
- billaryisswillary See Profile