U.S. to boost combat force in Afghanistan

[laststeamtrain]

Source: LA TIMES

U.S. to boost combat force in Afghanistan

Support units will be replaced by up to 14,000 'trigger-pullers,' and noncombat posts will be contracted out, Defense officials say. The swap will allow the U.S. to keep its troop level unchanged.

By Julian E. Barnes

September 2, 2009


Reporting from Washington - U.S. officials are planning to add as many as 14,000 combat troops to the American force in Afghanistan by sending home support units and replacing them with "trigger-pullers," Defense officials say.

The move would beef up the combat force in the country without increasing the overall number of U.S. troops, a contentious issue as public support for the war slips. But many of the noncombat jobs are likely be filled by private contractors, who have proved to be a source of controversy in Iraq and a growing issue in Afghanistan.

<snip>

"It makes sense to get rid of the clerks and replace them with trigger-pullers," said one Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the plans have not been announced. Officials have spoken in recent days about aspects of the plan.

The changes will not offset the potential need for additional troops in the future, but could reduce the size of any request from Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top U.S. and allied commander, officials said.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/afghanistan/la-fg-afghan-troops2-2009sep02,0,6263790,full.story

[Don Caballero]

1. This can be good news

The President understands that the previous administration did not have the courage to win in Afghanistan. He understands that a solid democracy backed by a stable central government is the only way the Afghan people will be able to live in peace and harmony.

[Mari333]

5. wrong.

The USA is hell bent on protecting an oil pipeline thru that area. Thats all.
http://ringnebula.com/Oil/Timeline.htm

they could give a rats ass about the people of Afghanistan
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/08/22-1

we created the TALIBAN and paid them well when they were at war with Russia
we are also STILL paying them vis a vis other means
http://blogs.reuters.com/global/2009/08/13/who-is-funding-the-afghan-taliban-you-dont-want-to-know/

http://www.thedebate.org/thedebate/afghanistan.asp

afghanistan has always been about OIL..and MONEY..always follow the money

it has nothing to do with anything else

thats why there are more MERCENARIES BEING PAID FOR THERE THEN US SOLDIERS

[saigon68]

7. That's Bullshit ------Gen McCrazy wants a New Afghan-Nam

"a solid democracy backed by a stable central government" ain't happening in this fucking place it's a War Of Religion.

You'd basically have to kill them all and let god sort them out.

19,000 eighteen year old trigger pullers will bring a Democracy ????

WHAT A FUCKING JOKE

Women there are subjected to draconian treatment under Puppet Charlie McKarzai, who quivers in his slippers.

If it wasn't for 900 Black-Water mercenaries who guard his sorry ass, he would have been taking a long deserved "dirt nap" a long time ago.

[Bigmack]

13. Whaaaat?

Win? Afghanistan? Solid Democracy? Stable Central Government? Peace and Harmony?

There is not one single fucking concept there that is possible. Have you read any history of the area?

[Autumn]

15. Sounds like George Bush to me. In fact I am

sure your second sentence was what the previous administration said .

[Blandocyte]

2. I hope he understands

that greater forces than ours couldn't conquer Afghanistan. But I suppose, like W, any prez needs to take advantage of an opportunity to look like a tuff guy.


Isn't there a smaller country we could take over to feed the oiligarchy's greed?

:sarcasm:

[Turborama]

4. "greater forces than ours couldn't conquer Afghanistan": Which "greater forces"?

[bahrbearian]

14. The Mongols, they sure had it "together" more than We do.

[PeaceDreamer]

3. This will be Obama's failure

Escalating troops is the opposite of what Obama should be doing.

[Mari333]

6. he loses my vote if he doesnt do a 180.

[saigon68]

8. We are going to take him on over this

[Mari333]

9. we have to.

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/

its starting

[saigon68]

10. Time to dust off the boots and March Again

[Mari333]

11. the afghan citizens dont even want it

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0302/p01s01-wosc.html

[Brother Buzz]

29. Send us 30,000 scholars instead. Or 30,000 engineers.

"Send us 30,000 scholars instead. Or 30,000 engineers. But don't send more troops – it will just bring more violence."

I guess that about sums up the whole mess.

[mvd]

12. At least this administration sounded like..

it might listen to what the American people want when Americans are polled. That would be a switch. The military commanders don't want to admit truths that you can't change the ME to be what you want, so Obama will have to show leadership here.

[IndianaGreen]

16. U.S. to boost combat force in Afghanistan

Source: LA Times

U.S. to boost combat force in Afghanistan

Support units will be replaced by up to 14,000 'trigger-pullers,' and noncombat posts will be contracted out, Defense officials say. The swap will allow the U.S. to keep its troop level unchanged.

By Julian E. Barnes

September 2, 2009

Reporting from Washington - U.S. officials are planning to add as many as 14,000 combat troops to the American force in Afghanistan by sending home support units and replacing them with "trigger-pullers," Defense officials say.

The move would beef up the combat force in the country without increasing the overall number of U.S. troops, a contentious issue as public support for the war slips. But many of the noncombat jobs are likely be filled by private contractors, who have proved to be a source of controversy in Iraq and a growing issue in Afghanistan.

The plan represents a key step in the Obama administration's drive to counter Taliban gains and demonstrate progress in the war nearly eight years after it began.

Forces that could be swapped out include units assigned to noncombat duty, such as guards or lookouts, or those on clerical and support squads.

"It makes sense to get rid of the clerks and replace them with trigger-pullers," said one Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the plans have not been announced. Officials have spoken in recent days about aspects of the plan.

The changes will not offset the potential need for additional troops in the future, but could reduce the size of any request from Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top U.S. and allied commander, officials said.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/afghanistan/la-fg-afghan-troops2-2009sep02,0,6170770.story

[elocs]

17. As Yogi said, it's deja vu all over again.

Obama has read history, but it seems he skipped some.

[IndianaGreen]

18. Obama should read the translation of Soviet General Staff analysis of Afghan War

The Soviet-Afghan War: How a Superpower Fought and Lost by by Michael Gress and Lester Grau (who wrote an excellent paper for the US Army on the Afghan war).

The paperback is on sale at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Soviet-Afghan-War-Superpower-Fought-Lost/dp/070061186X#

[cleverusername]

19. Hello! Is there anybody out there?

Even George Will spoke out in favor of withdrawing from Afghanistan. HELLO?!?!?:banghead:

[IndianaGreen]

20. And Russ Feingold called for a withdrawal schedule

and he was ignored!

[IDFbunny]

23. I would favor retreat as well,

but how do we keep al Queda from setting up shop again?

[Bragi]

24. AQ doesn't need Afghanistan

They've moved out and on. Time for Obama to do the same.

[IDFbunny]

26. They'll come right back in and set up shop again.

We've lost in the sense that only our continued presence keeps the terrorist training camps out.

Some time in the future when another 9/11 happens with roots into Afghanistan then what?

[ProudDad]

33. Make friends with the people who will

tell you what they're doing...

[Strong Atheist]

27. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[Political Heretic]

22. MEET THE NEW BOSS.

:eyes:

[Nihil]

21. "trigger-pullers"? WTF?

I thought they were "valiant heroes fighting the evil tyrants for
freedom, liberty, pipelines (sorry), democracy etc."?

Still (finding a silver lining) this suggests that they'll soon
get even more honest and call them "cannon-fodder" ...

[jakeXT]

25. What a name

[TheWatcher]

28. But I thought this was Right Wing Propaganda and didn't exist.

The Wars are not going to end.

They are going to EXPAND

We are not leaving Iraq.

We are not leaving Afghanistan.

EVER.

I'll believe it when I see it.

What's next? A Secret Plan to end all of the wars by expanding them into Pakistan?

[ProudDad]

34. Nope...

The "secret plan" is to invade Canada and steal their Health Care...

[ProudDad]

30. Welcome to Obama's Vietnam

Deja-Vu all over again.

I'd make the troop levels; Zero...

In all of the 130 countries where they're pissing away our resources garrisoning the Empire's legions.

And while I'm at it, I'd end the Empire and cut the fucking war budget by at least 75% and use the money to cut the deficit and help human beings all around the world...starting at home.

I'd start making reparations for all the harm the USAmerikan Empire has done at home and abroad...

[CountAllVotes]

31. here here

I've had enough of these wars without end. Obama isn't about to end this one.

Where are the 14,000 troops going to come from?

Is it getting a bit drafty dare I suggest? Lots of folks out of work desperate for a job right now and enlisting in the military might be the last option for one too many of them.

God damn Obama for this sh*t. GOD DAMN HIM!

:mad:

:kick:

[ProudDad]

32. Fucking egotistical idiots...

Every tyrant from Alexander the Great through the Brits, the Russians and now the USAmerikan thugs...

Have had their clock cleaned by the Afghans.

Stupid, stupid, stupid...

"In a letter to his mother, Alexander described his encounters with the western and northern tribes (Afghans) thus: "I am involved in the land of a 'Leonine' (lion-like) and brave people, where every foot of the ground is like a wall of steel, confronting my soldier. You have brought only one son into the world, but everyone in this land can be called an Alexander.” Local resistance and the difficult terrain made it difficult for Alexander's forces to subdue the region as many invaders have found the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan similar to a maze that often trapped outside invaders."

Stupid, stupid, stupid...