Gates: Military Has One Year To Turn It Around In Afghanistan

[babylonsister]

Americans won't accept 'long slog' in Afghanistan war, Gates says

“After the Iraq experience, nobody is prepared to have a long slog where it is not apparent we are making headway,” Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in an interview. “The troops are tired, the American people are pretty tired.”

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.

By Julian E. Barnes
July 19, 2009


Reporting from Washington -- After eight years, U.S.-led forces must show progress in Afghanistan by next summer to avoid the public perception that the conflict has become unwinnable, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in a sharp critique of the war effort.

Gates said that victory was a "long-term prospect" under any scenario and that the U.S. would not win the war in a year's time. However, U.S. forces must begin to turn the situation around in a year, he said, or face the likely loss of public support.

"After the Iraq experience, nobody is prepared to have a long slog where it is not apparent we are making headway," Gates said in an interview. "The troops are tired; the American people are pretty tired."

Deep public unhappiness with the war in Iraq helped sink President George W. Bush's approval ratings, making him the most unpopular president in recent history, according to some surveys.

While not predicting a parallel fate for the Obama administration, Gates emphasized the need for progress in Afghanistan during an interview aboard his plane as he returned to Washington after visiting sailors Friday at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois.

more...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-gates19-2009jul19,0,5421292.story?track=rss

[bemildred]

1. Well, give it up now then, because that is not going to happen. nt

[babylonsister]

2. I don't see it happening either. nt

[spanone]

3. i agree, let's save the lives of those many who will die in the next year.

[bemildred]

5. Only two more Friedman Units(tm) to go.

Do anything to stay alive until then.

[Fumesucker]

4. It's already *been* a "long slog"..

We have already spent nearly twice as long in Afghanistan than it took to totally defeat the Wehrmacht, the Luftwaffe, the Kriegsmarine, the Waffen SS, the Imperial Japanese Army, the Imperial Japanese Navy and the Imperial Japanese Air Force as well as random Italian and other forces..

Just two more Friedman Units, that's all we need to wait.

"Though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays." -Sun Tzu, the Art of War

[crickets]

6. After eight years, one more won't bring any improvement.

U.S.-led forces must show progress in Afghanistan by next summer to avoid the public perception that the conflict has become unwinnable

Progress? It just keeps getting worse. It's too late for the perception game. Face the reality that it won't get any better and bring the troops home.

[elehhhhna]

7. one year to turn around centuries of actions, factions, etc. lol gates.

[Hydra]

8. That's ok

It will be the same story in a year. "We have to do it to save the people!"

[rhett o rick]

9. Right! I will believe it only when I see it. nm

[bvar22]

10. "...turn it around..."

What the HELL does THAT mean?


"Gates said that victory was a "long-term prospect".
What IS "Victory"?
How are we supposed to measure it?

"Victory"....
*when Osama is dead?

*when the Afghanis love us?

*when the oil pipeline is secure?

....What the HELL is "victory", and HOW will we know when we get there?

There is NO "Military Objective" in Afghanistan.
Therefore, no "Victory" is possible!

[timeforpeace]

11. He's doesn't say "leave", he says will "lose public support". Empty rhetoric.