Afghanistan could get 30,000 new US troops

[ZingPao]

By JASON STRAZIUSO, Associated Press Writer Jason Straziuso, Associated Press Writer

KABUL, Afghanistan – The top U.S. military officer said Saturday that the Pentagon could double the number of American forces in Afghanistan by next summer to 60,000 — the largest estimate of potential reinforcements ever publicly suggested.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that between 20,000 and 30,000 additional U.S. troops could be sent to Afghanistan to bolster the 31,000 already there.

This year has been the deadliest for U.S. forces in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion to oust the Taliban for hosting al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Suicide attacks and roadside bombs have become more dangerous, and Taliban fighters have infiltrated wide swaths of countryside and now roam in provinces on Kabul's doorstep.

U.S. commanders have long requested an additional 20,000 troops to aid Canadian and British forces in two provinces just outside Kabul and in the south. But the high end of Mullen's range is the largest number any top U.S. military official has said could be sent to Afghanistan.

Mullen said that increase would include combat forces but also aviation, medical and civilian affairs support troops.

"So some 20,000 to 30,000 is the window of overall increase from where we are right now," he told a news conference at a U.S. base in Kabul. "We certainly have enough forces to be successful in combat, but we haven't had enough forces to hold the territory that we clear."

Overall, there are more than 60,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan. Mullen said any increased U.S. deployment would be directly tied to force levels in Iraq, where U.S. commanders are drawing down troops.

"The Taliban and extremists are more sophisticated and effective," Mullen said. "They haven't won any battles but they certainly have increased the level of violence, and we're very focused on that. That's why the additional forces are so important, to be able to provide security for the Afghan people so these other areas can be developed."

U.S. officials already have plans to send four ground brigades and an aviation brigade to Afghanistan. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has approved the deployment of the aviation brigade, defense officials told The Associated Press. And 10th Mountain Division forces will deploy next month to two provinces that neighbor Kabul — Wardak and Logar, which have seen an influx of militants over the last year.

Mullen said that after the additional U.S. troops are added over the next eight months, only improvements in Afghanistan's governance and economic situation will affect the strength of the insurgency.

But the chairman conceded that the U.S. may have misjudged the central government's ability "to have the kind of impact that we wanted."

Afghanistan, Mullen said, has never been run by a strong central government, and the U.S. may look to communities and tribes in the country's provinces to take on a greater role in future strategy.

He called U.S. goals in Afghanistan "moderate," and said the long-term U.S. vision is for a country that can govern itself while respecting international law, while providing both material and economic security for its people.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081220/...as_afghanistan

[Thinking Man's Idiot]

30,000 more US troops set for Afghanistan

(Sunday 21 December 2008)


DISASTER ZONE: The US invasion of Afghanistan has left the country devastated.

THE Pentagon revealed plans on Saturday to double the number of US soldiers in Afghanistan to 60,000 by next summer.

US joint chiefs of staff Admiral Mike Mullen said that between 20,000 and 30,000 additional US troops would be sent to Afghanistan to bolster the 31,000 already there.
Speaking at a US base in Kabul Adm Mullen said: "Some 20,000 to 30,000 is the window of overall increase from where we are right now. We certainly have enough forces to be successful in combat, but we haven't had enough forces to hold the territory that we clear."
Overall, there are more than 60,000 foreign occupation troops in Afghanistan.
Adm Mullen said that any increased US deployment would be directly tied to force levels in Iraq, where US commanders are drawing down troops.
Taliban leader Mullah Omar responded by warning that the US escalation would only increase the level of violence.
Mr Omar has presented an alternative seven-point plan to resolve the conflict to Saudi King Abdullah, who informed US President George W Bush and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai about it at the UN headquarters in New York last month.
The peace plan proposes the establishment of a consensus government capable of uniting the war-weary country.
The Taliban chief suggests that this could be achieved by hammering out a power-sharing deal between resistance forces and Mr Karzai's Western-backed regime.
The peace plan calls for a specific timetable for the withdrawal of NATO and US forces and suggests that they should be replaced by peacekeeping forces from Muslim-majority countries.
This year has been the deadliest for US occupation forces in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion.
Suicide attacks and roadside bombs have become more dangerous and Afghan resistance fighters now control wide swathes of countryside and threaten Kabul.
On Saturday, Czech MPs voted not to extend a mandate for the deployment of the country's troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and other foreign missions for next year, meaning that soldiers are now preparing to leave.
The mandate for 415 Czech servicemen, who are serving in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and for another unit of 100 elite troops with the US-led operation against al-Qaida fighters, expires at the end of the year.
Czech military chief Leutenant General Vlastimil Picek complained that the imminent pull-out created a "a serious situation" that sent "a very bad signal to our partners."

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/i...hp/ex/examples

[ZingPao]

I posted a similar story the other day. The dumb US is going broke, but still has the will to destroy other nations. I'm really counting on Obama to get us out of this soon. I'm hoping the muslims will straighten up for a while just to give Obama a chance to pull out.

I could be wrong, but I don't believe any invading force has ever been successful in Afghanistan. Any history buffs know?

Perhaps you could merge the two posts.

Pushtun were never conquered by the British. They made the Khyber pass a very dangerous place.

Alexander the 'Great' didn't get any further than there, either.

More please from the experts.....?

We have make body bags since 2001 and now do a roaring trade. This is good news for our business but you have to feel sorry for the Troops who have to go out there to fight the Terrorists.

This is good news for our business but you have to feel sorry for the Troops who have to go out there to fight the Terrorists

I found this thread interesting... and then you had to go and ruin it with this nonsense.

How can these people be terrorists, when they have no access to firepower and the means with which to extend that power to 'terrorise' you ?

Can you explain - maybe I'm a bit thick and just don't get it.

Please spare me the 911 crap too. IF ... IF IF IF that particular piece of terrorism was carried out by the alleged folks who have been claimed to be guily - NONE of them were / are from Afghanistan !

(I say 'are' since some of the alleged 'dead' hijackers are in fact alive and kicking - minus their stolen passports - of which one miraculously turns up unscathed a couple blocks away from the alleged terrorist act)

If they were innocent why does the Government keep persecuting them?

Its better to fight them there so they cant do another attack.

[Thinking Man's Idiot]

New Today ---------- 22 December 2008

Perspective
-----------------------------------------------------
A union in name only
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/de...pers-d22.shtml

News & Analysis
-----------------------------------------------------
US to double military forces in Afghanistan
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/de...afgh-d22.shtml

Growing signs of workers’ unrest in China
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/de...chin-d22.shtml

Mass layoffs expected in Greece
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/de...gree-d22.shtml

WSWS reports from Athens
“This is more than a protest, it is an anti-capitalist movement”
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/de...spot-d22.shtml

US, Israel, other military powers refuse to sign cluster munitions treaty
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/de...bomb-d22.shtml

Historical usage of cluster munitions: a weapon to terrorize civilian populations
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/de...clus-d22.shtml

Faces of foreclosure in Pittsburgh
Working class families feel brunt of housing crisis
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/de...pitt-d22.shtml

French president proposes repressive “reform” of mental health care
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/de...fran-d22.shtml

Ukraine’s “Orange” elite reunites to impose IMF-dictated austerity measures
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/de...ukra-d22.shtml

Australia: Hundreds of jobs to be axed as childcare centres close
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/de...abcl-d22.shtml

Socialist Equality Party
-----------------------------------------------------
SEP holds public meeting on crisis in the auto industry
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/de...meet-d22.shtml

Report to SEP meeting: “Auto workers must resist government-corporate demand for poverty wages”
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/de...whit-d22.shtml

A lecture by Nick Beams
The World Economic Crisis: A Marxist Analysis
Part 3
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/de...nbe3-d22.shtml

Yeah, that's the answer - lets tell everybody.

Does being a Commy mean you don't have to have a wash?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If they were innocent why does the Government keep persecuting them?

Its better to fight them there so they cant do another attack.

Which attack did they do in the first place?