Posts Tagged ‘Gates’
Five Myths on Afghanistan
Truthout.org | Op-Ed | by Melvin Goodman | 8 October 2009 President Barack Obama is entering a crucial decision-making phase on Afghanistan at a time when geopolitical mythology is dominating the debate, the Pentagon is requesting additional forces in Afghanistan. The military bureaucracy is particularly vulnerable to such mythology. It is [...]
Rift with Karzai worsens as 95 perish in Nato air strike
The Independent | Article | 5 September 2009 By Kim Sengupta in Kabul and David Usborne Deadly attack undermines politicians’ attempts to convince public that Afghan war is worth fighting Western forces were engulfed in bitter controversy yesterday after Nato air strikes on two oil tankers hijacked by the Taliban in northern [...]
The Primary War Objective is to Deceive Americans: Bribe Iraq’s Militia and Declare the “Surge” a Success
The People's Voice | Jeff Huber (US Navy, Retired) | 10 August 2009 Perpetual War: Get ready for a “lasting military presence” in Iraq URUKNET: U.S. Army Col. Timothy R. Reese says it’s time for the U.S. to "declare victory" in Iraq and "go home." It was time to declare victory and go home in January 2007, when the Bush administration [...]
Fond Illusions: The “$10 Taliban”
TIME | By Mark Thompson | Washington 14 August 2009 An Afghanistan Exit Strategy: Buying Off the Taliban? By measure both of blood and of treasure, the war in Afghanistan is a costly business. To date, 782 U.S. troops have been killed there, and the conflict is costing Washington $4 billion a month. Is that a good investment? Some suggest [...]
U.S. commanders: more troops to Afghanistan
The Militant | Article by Róger Calero | Vol. 73/No. 31 | 17 August 2009 Imperialist war rages after nearly 8 years Top U.S. military and government officials are saying they need further increases in troop levels for their war in Afghanistan. It has been nearly eight years since a U.S.-led imperialist invasion overthrew the Taliban [...]
Pentagon Delays Afghan War Review
Antiwar.com | Article by Jason Ditz | 5 August 2009 Secretary Gates Wants Gen. McChrystal to Consider 'A Few Other Ideas' General Stanley McChrystal’s long awaited assessment of the situation in the ongoing Afghan war is to be delayed indefinitely, according to the Pentagon, as following his meeting with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates [...]
Americans won’t accept ‘long slog’ in Afghanistan war, Gates says
The Defense secretary says forces must show progress in a year or risk losing public support -- especially as casualties mount with at least 50 U.S. and NATO deaths in July, the deadliest month yet. Los Angeles Times | By Julian E. Barnes | July 19, 2009 Reporting from Washington -- After eight years, U.S.-led forces must show progress in [...]
Persistent Engagement — Preview of an Emergent Obama Doctrine
In his Posture Statement submitted, in advance of his testimony, to the US Senate Committee on Armed Services hearings on Thursday 14 May 2009, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, US Navy Admiral Michael G. Mullen has outlined a strategic vision of perpetual war that may well provide an early glimpse into much of what may come to be called "the [...]
US “Trainers” and Funds for the War in Pakistan
In executing the Obama administration's plan to expand the war in Afghanistan across international borders to Pakistan (hence "Af/Pak" war), two major bureaucratic shifts are being worked out: In pursuit of a comprehensive ("all government") approach to the war, much of the traditional responsibility for diplomacy, and military and economic [...]
Transcript of Senators Levin and McCain’s Questions on Pakistan and Drones, and Gates’ and Mullen’s Answers at the Armed Services Committee Hearing
The US Senate Committee on Armed Services conducted a full committee hearing on Thursday 14 May 2009, to receive testimony in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2010 and the Future Years Defense Program. What appears below is a rough selective transcript (from live webcast), of the discussion on Pakistan, in the early part [...]
