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US Commanders Hold Secret Meeting on Afghan war
WASHINGTON - Top US military officer Admiral Mike Mullen on Friday held a secret meeting in Germany with the NATO commander in Afghanistan to discuss a request for more troops, officials said.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff US Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, seen here September 15, in Washington, DC. Mullen on Friday held a secret meeting in Germany with the NATO commander in Afghanistan to discuss a request for more troops, officials said. (AFP/Getty Images/File/Chip Somodevilla) Mullen met General Stanley McChrystal at an air base in Ramstein "so he could get a better understanding of the general's request" for additional troops, a defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.
The unannounced meeting comes at a pivotal moment in the war as President Barack Obama weighs strategy in the face of rising casualties, a disputed Afghan election and declining public support for the mission on both sides of the Atlantic.
McChrystal's appeal for more troops and resources was due to be formally submitted to Defense Secretary Robert Gates by Saturday but Gates has decided to hold off presenting the request to Obama until the administration completes a review of war strategy.
The details of McChrystal's request remain unclear but he is reportedly expected to appeal for 10,000 to 40,000 additional troops.
McChrystal, who took over command in June after his predecessor was sacked, warned in an assessment leaked to US media this week that the NATO-led mission faces failure in a year without more forces.
The defense official denied any tension between the military leadership and the White House over the pace of decision-making on Afghanistan.
"There is no sense of unease here with regard to the president's review of strategy," the official said.
Admiral Mullen and the rest of the joint chiefs of staff agreed there was a need to examine the mission six months after Obama unveiled a strategy focused on improving security and economic development, the official said.
But the top officers recognize that counter-insurgency campaigns are "dynamic" and that there is "a very fine line between success and failure," he said.
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Same old, same old. And to admit "failure in a year" means we are totally disconnected from the fact our policy is violating the supreme international crime under Nuremberg, capital offenses. We are an international outlaw with no force able to stop us unless the USA people occupy the streets, day after day.
Laws don't apply to the good guys, like cops, FBI agents, the United States, and Israel.
Don't you ever watch TV ?
Laws are made so we can blow away criminals, commies, terrorists, pedophiles, degenerates, drug addicts, and rogue states, like Iraq, Afghanistan, Nicaragua, Panama and Iran.
Ya hear that, Venezuela, North Korea, China and Libya ?
Label it a victory and go home to momma.
Who says that's what they discussed. The military is ramping up here, in Europe, in Canada, and elsewhere to take control, using the pandemic as a pretext.
Go to http://www.theflucase.com and see the plans for your life and what is happening to democracies world wide thanks to the WHO (the pharmaceutical industry and the Rockefellers) and Bush and Cheney prearranging all this.
Cheney = Pandemic.
“Today America would be outraged if UN troops entered Los Angeles to restore order. Tomorrow they will be grateful! This is especially true if they were told that there was an outside threat from beyond, whether real or promulgated, that threatened our very existence. It is then that all people of the world will plead to deliver them from this evil. The one thing every man fears is the unknown. When presented with this scenario, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee of their well being granted to them by the World Government.”
- Henry Kissinger, 1991 Bilderberg Conference.
Sibelius at HHS who would announce the "pandemic emergency" that would - based on Bush's directive 51 - suspend the Constitution and put us under fascist control, is also part of the Bilderberger group.
Even though I oppose the wars, I wouldn't want the military to have OPEN meetings about strategies....
More war, more war, etc.
Is there anyone alive who can explain why we are in Afghanistan? What is our mission, exactly? How long could
it take? What are the chances of winning in a country with
such difficult, alpine terrain? What is the estimate for the number of needed troops? Is it possible to estimate the number of needed troops? Are we fighting a religious or civil war, or both? Do we have an exit strategy or date of departure in mind?--[rounded off to the decade?] Are we actually fighting a proxy war? Will peace ever prevail on
earth [outside of christmas-time?] Has any invader in history ever conquered Afghanistan? Do we have enough troops to effectively fight in Afghanistan? Are we vunerable
to an unforeseen attack from a different enemy, as our troops continue to dwindle,
and burn-out beyond the point of no return? Should the American people rise up
in righteous anger and protest the perpetual shedding of American blood in the name of fossil energy resources?
We are there to build a Pipe-Line, nothing else..from the north to the south..
Why is the US (never say "we")in Afghanistan?
The US is in Afghanistan because of "location,location,location"! Look where it sits in close proximity to China, Russia, Iran, and the oil and gas fields of the Caspian Basin. That is all you really need to know.
the pashtuns are making fools of the US. concurrently they are drawing us in deeper, and refining their tactics and weaponry as they do; better i.e.d.s daily. this month US kia is a near record level. we are beaten. because these guys fight with their hearts, and they are in the right. which makes might.
try fighting in the street when you are wrong, hello e.r.
try never fighting, being always right, you cannot lose.
the palestinians?? we've waited for so long, they are so right yet so wronged-the rectification of this horror will transpire soon....peace will eminate worldwide. concentric rippling kisses annointing us all
until yhen unending war. israel is the epicentre via it's own actions and ability to dictate us military invasions et al
the pashtuns are making fools of the US. concurrently they are drawing us in deeper, and refining their tactics and weaponry as they do; better i.e.d.s daily. this month US kia is a near record level. we are beaten. because these guys fight with their hearts, and they are in the right. which makes might.
try fighting in the street when you are wrong, hello e.r.
try never fighting, being always right, you cannot lose.
the palestinians?? we've waited for so long, they are so right yet so wronged-the rectification of this horror will transpire soon....peace will eminate worldwide. concentric rippling kisses annointing us all
until then unending war. israel is the epicentre via it's own actions and ability to dictate us military invasions et al
If we had real honest to goodness news media not controlled by Zionists--TOMORROWS NEWS HEADLINES WOULD READ: EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT: CHICAGO MOB BOSS AIDED BY ISRAEL PLAN TO LOOT IRAN NEXT! I'm thinking that once the right number of boots are on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq, the final act will begin. They are thinking the time to strike is when the irons hot and the nuke is not. This time their really going to hit it big and get that smart ass prick Jew hater all at the same time--how dare he not believe in the holocaust after we worked so hard to prove it--that's what going to happen soon it appears to me 'cause there no way they could fairly debate and win. Has anyone else noticed the one sided coverage again???
There are now 58,000 plus (demi-surge )U.S. troops on the ground and 78,000 mercenaries, as of June 09.This number comes from a quick link and I can't attest to it's accuracy.The main reason that the Commander and Chief cannot comply with these Pentagon Hawks' request ,is the fear of the draft, as political suicide.Even in a depression getting a half million impoverished kids to enlist is a big stretch.Please contact the American Friends Service Committee to find counter recruitment literature and helpful resources.The military is short one half of a million soldiers,and the government is bankrupting itself maintaining the 1000 plus bases and fighting two wars simultaneously.The military consumes over 50% of the budget now,all borrowed money plus interest.This to counter ...what?
We need a big push for an exit date in the Stans.The reason no one is talking about this openly is that they know we are doomed to failure ,for an unjust occupation based on lies. peace
I agree with Johnny Hempseed, who seems to have done research. The US can't afford the luxury of unending occupation. Who gains? GE, Pratt & Whitney, Hamilton Sundstrand, Halliburton, KBR and the rest of the Military Industrial War Hawks on the backs of the next few generations of Americans, 40 million of whom are w/o health care.
It's a secret. We want to control the country so that we can build a pipe line that will carry oil and gas.Obama is simply
to young and to inexperienced in the ways of the oil corporate system.
I don't believe President Obama is naive in the ways of corporate workings. I DO believe that for any situation there can be more than one truth, and that just because one person's truth is confirmed, that does not make another's un-true by default.
We WANT the pipeline, basically in order to supply CHINA with oil, which we've promised as part of the 'payment' plan. By keeping China supplied with oil, our supplies will last longer, and they will create more pollution within their own boarders. This will lead to a shorter life span for ASIAN culture.
We WANT the opium to continue to flow. Opium money is big business for certain agencies, AND it disproportionately effects the minority sectors of our society. (a method of control and dominance, as well as reducing the life span of minorities.)
We WANT to provide profits for military contractors in order to build up more labor support within the US. I suspect that we still have a lot of 'untested' systems that we're chomping at the bit to test out.
President Obama will NOT stop the war. Congress will NOT defund the war. Only a voter rebellion, the voting in of new unproved representatives has any chance of success. Of course, we can only get 1/3 of the senate at a time, but the entire house is up for re-election next year..... think Independent, think Green, thing Libritarian,.... hell, think ANYTHING except Republ-ocrats... (IMHO)
nobody known --- correct there are multiple reasons for destroying Afghanistan and Pakistan, MIC profits, attacking Iran, zionist interests and oil pipelines.
But the USA recognizes that it may soon be crushed by China and the USA's efforts are also aimed at control of oil so that China cannot independently obtain oil through the Port it built in southern Pakistan (Gandts sp?)
China's air polution is already poisoning LA and CA. plus ocean currents carry debris extremely far. (China has banned plastic bags). China has a $600 billion renewable energy policy as opposed to the USA's $6 billion.
$600 Billion...about the cost of 2 screwed up wars of choice...
It's a secret. We want to control the country so that we can build a pipe line that will carry oil and gas.Obama is simply
to young and to inexperienced in the ways of the oil corporate.
FK, hi. The pipeline would have been gravy, like the oil in Iraq. We occupied both countries to break the back of Islam per Tel Aviv orders articulated in PNAC.
When Iraq got too hot to loot, it mitigated not our intensity-our primary mission was to destroy.
As Afghanistan mires forward, mission unclear and obfuscated, let clarity be imbued by Kristol & McCain's pushing hard for more troops. Kristol don't give a damn about pipelines, nor his country isreal which calls the shots.
But if we hear pipeline, the public thinks it helps put oil in their car, so kill on then, kill away. ragheads anyhow.
Start up the draft!
And Congress should also raise taxes to pay for this war effort now.
The outcry will have us out of Afghanistan tomorrow.
Bingo!
With the draft 'Americans' would be committed to a resolution of the military conflict.
Raise taxes right away, and they'll be screaming to end some of these wars, is a great idea.
One problem:
Almost no one in a position of power in the USA has the slightest interest in doing the right thing, anymore.
Isn't time that our president and elected leaders provide direction to our military leaders, instead of the military and military industries controlling war policy?
Bring back the draft and the people of this country will determine where and when to go to war.
The system knows to NOT bring back the draft for the very reasons you suggest.
We have continuingly increasing unemployment and foreclosures as a substitute for the draft.
Secret Meeting? Some 'secret' when AFP posts what Mullah Omar's favorite generals have to say.
This was the summit of the real world leaders and not the gatherings of the sock puppets that happened in Pittsburgh and at the UN. At stake is the timely planned future development of Pipelinestan and the "world economic stimulis" package that it represents.
Be alert to the comings, goings, and utterances of VP Joe "Big Mouth" Biden current occupant of the LBJ seat of government in impatient waiting.
Like some fidgety Mafia debutante excitedly awaiting his debut into wiseguydom, he will not be able to resist running off at the mouth(and will be allowed at the right time to do so as a warning to anyone else who might oppose the established order).
If you want to know what Pipelinestan and Iraq have always been about, just look at what is between them both. That will be the next "regime change" attempted and this time Russia, China, Japan, and India will not just sit back and yawn.
Poet
Another five soldiers are dead in Afghanistan. Do you think they considered this at their secret meeting? Now we're there presumably to protect civilians who want us to go home.
With all the outcry in this country about the wars, why can't we get our message through to these leaders? Something is definitely wrong with this government amd its military.
The big military brass hold secret meetings?!!
Stop the presses!
We are fighting in Afghanistan so they do not bring chemicals from Afghanistan's hugh chemical industry to blow us all up.
Incidently Chemical Tankers carrying the precursors for Heroin refining, which is only used for heroin in Afghanistan, openly travel in tandem with USA convoys through the Kyber pass.
The US Government spends about $75 Billion per year on US Intelligence Agencies and they can't stop "deadly" chemicals from entering this country?
WTF kind of "intelligence" is that? Better still, who is this intelligence community working for?
The only "secret" is that the U.S. is demanding the continued participation of other NATO nations in military operations that are entirely outside the mandate of the North Atlantic Treaty.
Of course it's not in the interests of any of the parties involved to discuss their extralegal collusion and its promotional incentives and threats publicly. The citizenry might get the unfortunate (not to say inaccurate) impression that the motivations had little or nothing to do with their own North Atlantic security.
Chuck
On the mark!
You want to see peace in the world? Just begin a 'no exemptions" draft: the American sheeple will quickly come to life.
A no exemptions draft will never happen, the only slim hope I see is for the U.S. military to go bankrupt from all their addiction to war, like a drug addict that overdoses. If they cannot pay for it anymore, the first thing they would cut would be the retired military pensions and the Veterans benefits, then you would see a real tea party!
Most of the right wingers who would hope to put their kid's in any college to avoid the draft would be in for a big shock this time around. I read a little article last fall before the elctions that stated that the Selective Service laws had been changed. If his number comes up, that student goes to the end of the semester and then reports for active duty. OUCH! to all the right wing members of Congress and like minded thinkers who are quite willing to have someone elses sons and grandsons do the fighting and bleeding.
Another necessary, but unlikely action is to make war revenue-neutral---no profit.
If our actual national interests are at stake, no sacrifice is too great, right?
This admiral can kiss my booty!
AD
I got a preview message, thus if this is a duplication, bear with me.
This admiral can kiss my booty! I guess I'm gonna have to turn the cheek again.
AD
Obama faces two rotten choices - support the insane military sociopaths, and go the way of Vietnam, while losing liberal base support, or pull out, risking military and right-wing wrath, as well as the very likely outcome that the Taliban will come to power, and possibly allow Al-Qaeda in. However, the second alternative has at least the possibility of changing things up. The first choice ends in crap guaranteed.
The liberal base will be energized, the Taliban can be bought off, and we can still pinpoint attack Al-Qaeda. Whether or not the Taliban will be open to bribes after winning is hard to say, along with their effect on secular Pakistan. Meanwhile, the right-wing nutcases in America need to be chastened implicitly and violently. It is the only thing they understand.
Obama has to abort the status quo. Apparently Biden agrees, which should help.