Petraeus

Why the U.S. Government Must Release Information on al-Majalah Killings

Vincent Warren | Posted 04.17.2012

Vincent Warren

The case of the December 17, 2009, attack in Yemen demonstrates everything that is horribly wrong with the targeted killing program, and serves as a call to action to all those concerned about the rule of law and respect for human life.

Was Petraeus The Model For New Book's Drunk General?

The Washington Post | Posted 01.04.2012

Retired Gen. David H. Petraeus is probably the most photographed soldier of his generation. The pistol in his left hand and the whiskey in his right w...

Night Raids: For Afghan Civilians, the Costs May Outweigh the Benefits

Erica Gaston | Posted 11.19.2011

Erica Gaston

While individual night raids are unquestionably effective at getting insurgent leaders, the larger costs of night raids may outweigh the benefits.

Rod Kurtz

The McChrystal Scandal: How Would You Handle It?

HuffingtonPost.com | Rod Kurtz | Posted 08.15.2011

In one of the most dramatic moves of his presidency thus far, President Obama on Wednesday accepted the resignation of Gen. Stanley McChrystal and rep...

General Petraeus' Parting Spin

Robert Greenwald and Derrick Crowe | Posted 09.13.2011

Robert Greenwald and Derrick Crowe

Violence in Afghanistan is at the highest levels observed in the 10-year conflict. The simple fact is that security for Afghans is worse now than it was before the Obama Administration's repeated escalations. Nothing General Petraeus can say will change this fact.

Obama's Drone Surge in Pakistan Doing More Damage Than Good

Michael Hughes | Posted 09.11.2011

Michael Hughes

The facts unequivocally illustrate that the drone program is steering the U.S. away from achieving its national security objectives in the region.

Amanda Terkel

WATCH: Petraeus Backs Obama On Afghanistan Drawdown

HuffingtonPost.com | Amanda Terkel | Posted 08.23.2011

WASHINGTON -- Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, told members of Congress Thursday that he backs President Barack Obama's pla...

David Wood

After A Decade, Gen. Petraeus' Counterinsurgency Strategy Is Deemed A Failure

HuffingtonPost.com | David Wood | Posted 08.22.2011

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama's decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan signals the beginning of the end for the ambitious counterinsurgen...

Measuring Quick Sand

Matthew Hoh | Posted 08.09.2011

Matthew Hoh

All of the data and evidence available makes it clear: the insurgency's momentum and tempo of operations has not been adversely affected by our surge in Afghanistan.

Accidental Killing of 12-Year-Old Afghan Girl Highlights Major Challenge for U.S. Military

Daphne Eviatar | Posted 07.13.2011

Daphne Eviatar

Twelve-year-old Nelofar was shot dead early Thursday morning outside her family's home in Eastern Afghanistan because NATO troops mistakenly believed that her uncle was a Taliban leader.

Pentagon to White House, American People on Afghanistan: Take a Hike

Robert Greenwald and Derrick Crowe | Posted 07.10.2011

Robert Greenwald and Derrick Crowe

The Pentagon is working the press again, this time in support of a so-called withdrawal plan that would break a promise made to the American people by their president.

David Wood

Obama's National Security Shuffle

HuffingtonPost.com | David Wood | Posted 06.27.2011

WASHINGTON -- In a high-level reshuffle of his national security team, President Barack Obama intends to move CIA Director Leon Panetta to the Pentago...

David Wood

Battered and Bloodied, But U.S, Taliban Not Ready For Peace Talks

HuffingtonPost.com | David Wood | Posted 06.14.2011

WASHINGTON -- As the Afghan war’s 10th fighting season gets underway, both U.S.-led troops and Taliban insurgents are battered and bloodied. Militar...

Iraq: Memory and Meaning

Michael Brenner | Posted 06.12.2011

Michael Brenner

The professional successes racked up by those who produced the catastrophe of Iraq calls our attention to how evanescent memories of that historic exercise in deceit and failure are.

Petraeus "Understands the Frustration" With Spending "Enormous Amounts of Money," But He'll Keep Spending It If You Let Him

Robert Greenwald and Derrick Crowe | Posted 05.25.2011

Robert Greenwald and Derrick Crowe

News flash: if you can't turn the war effort around with 30,000 more troops at a cost of $1 million per troop, per year, maybe the military solutions aren't solutions after all.

David Wood

Petraeus, Polls Disagree On Afghan War Progress

HuffingtonPost.com | David Wood | Posted 05.25.2011

WASHINGTON -- Frustrated American military officers and civilian officials working in Afghanistan are increasingly questioning the U.S. war strategy, ...

Amanda Terkel

Kirsten Gillibrand's Big Afghanistan Announcement

HuffingtonPost.com | Amanda Terkel | Posted 05.25.2011

WASHINGTON -- While President Obama has said that U.S. combat forces will begin leaving Afghanistan in July 2011 and be fully out by 2014, the pace of...

Petraeus, McCain Continue Afghanistan War Spin, But No One Buys It (Nor Should They)

Derrick Crowe | Posted 05.25.2011

Derrick Crowe

General Petraeus and McCain can try to spin the situation in Afghanistan all they want, but the fact is that their counterinsurgency gamble failed, and the American people want our troops out, pronto.

Petraeus Is Focusing on the Wrong Body Count in Afghanistan

Michael Hughes | Posted 05.25.2011

Michael Hughes

Instead of focusing on metrics that matter, U.S. officials have decided to trumpet enemy body count. Apparently, the number of dead insurgents, not civilians, is now the barometer for determining the campaign's efficacy.

Pentagon Assertions of "Progress" In Afghanistan Are a Bad Joke

Derrick Crowe | Posted 05.25.2011

Derrick Crowe

The latest Petraeus/Gates media tour is under way in preparation for the general's testimony to Congress next week, and they're trotting out the same, tired spin they've been using since McChrystal was replaced in disgrace last year.

Reagan-Era Defense Official Proposes Failed Vietnam Strategy for Afghanistan

Michael Hughes | Posted 05.25.2011

Michael Hughes

Bing West's archaic solutions are highly unlikely to show anyone how to get out of Afghanistan; however, they do have quite the potential to pave a road to perpetual war.

Afghanistan War Not Worth the Burning of Children and Treasure

Derrick Crowe | Posted 05.25.2011

Derrick Crowe

With our money fueling the insurgency and our killing of civilians driving more people to join the Taliban's side every week, it's little wonder that the insurgency continues to grow in size and sophistication.

General Petraeus and ISAF, Blaming the Victims Again?

Derrick Crowe | Posted 05.25.2011

Derrick Crowe

Petraeus reportedly engaged in an attempt to deflect blame for an alleged civilian casualty event, suggesting Afghan parents burned their own children to incriminate international forces. Has he lost his mind?

On Anniversary of Marjah Push, Escalation Strategy Still Failing

Derrick Crowe | Posted 05.25.2011

Derrick Crowe

Today is the one-year anniversary of the launch of the escalated military strategy in Afghanistan. It's clear from the last 12 months that the escalation strategy is a failure. It's time to come home.

Obama's War, One Year Later: 195 Million Say No to War

Robert Greenwald | Posted 05.25.2011

Robert Greenwald

Next month will mark the one-year anniversary of the launch of President Obama's escalated military campaign in Afghanistan. One year later, violence is still getting worse and costs are skyrocketing.