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US Defends Afghanistan Tactics After Karzai Calls for Troop Reduction
Afghan president warned he is undermining war effort by publicly criticising military strategy against Taliban fighters
The White House and the head of Nato have defended US tactics against the Taliban after the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, again angered Washington by publicly criticising military operations and calling for a reduction in the number of troops on the ground.
"We do not have an exit strategy but a transition strategy," Obama's special representative Holbrooke said, adding that "2014 is not the end of international presence in Afghanistan but to be sure there will be some drawdown of troops in July next year. The size and pace will be decided by the president." (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File) Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, threw her support behind targeted assaults and raids against Taliban fighters after Karzai told the Washington Post that they increase Afghan civilians' hostility to coalition forces and help the insurgents.
Karzai said: "The time has come to reduce military operations [and] boots in Afghanistan … to reduce the intrusiveness into the daily Afghan life."
Nato's military commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, responded to Karzai's demands by warning that his criticisms threaten to undermine the war and could make Petraeus's position "untenable", the Post reported.
Clinton today supported Petraeus, saying that while the US shares some of Karzai's concerns about the toll of raids on civilians, the strategy is right. "We believe that the use of intelligence driven, precision, targeted operations against high-value insurgents and their networks is a key component of our comprehensive civilian-military operations," she said.
The head of Nato, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, also backed US military tactics days before Barack Obama, other Nato leaders and Karzai are to meet in Lisbon to map out a gradual shift in security responsibility from foreign troops to Afghan forces, beginning next year.
The US said it expects the plan to confirm that Nato forces will remain to carry out combat missions until 2014.
Rasmussen said that the military assault against the Taliban must continue in order to force them to the negotiating table: "I consider it of utmost importance to continue our military operations because it is the increasing military pressure on the Taliban and the Taliban leadership that has stimulated the reconciliation talks.
"I can't say I agree with everything President Karzai has stated on all issues, but we also have to accept that he is the elected president of the country and of course he can express his views as he wishes."
The Afghan government tried to undo some of the damage caused by Karzai's interview, the latest in a series of public disagreements with the Americans, who have come to view him as erratic.
Karzai's spokesman, Waheed Omar, said that the full text showed that the Afghan president was "very clear about his confidence in General Petraeus".
He said that Karzai was not making a "critique" of the overall strategy in Afghanistan, and that he had been speaking in the context of the transition plan, which calls for Afghan forces to gradually take the leading role in operations.
He said that the international coalition understood the government's "traditional and cultural sensitivities" over raids on homes by foreign soldiers.
Nato officials have been irritated by the quotes because Afghan forces are involved in night raids – something the government has been lobbying for years for.
One diplomat described Karzai's remarks as "astounding and breathtaking". He said: "Is it right to undermine the strategy of your partner so directly and fundamentally in public without telling him first?"
Others have reacted with resignation given Karzai's history of contentious comments. said one aAnother official said: "It is not helpful a few days before Lisbon. But a reliable partner in Kabul is a registered trademark, not an actual reality."
Obama's special representative, Richard Holbrooke, reiterated that while some US troops will be pulled out of Afghanistan next year, the combat mission will go on at least until 2014.
"We do not have an exit strategy but a transition strategy," Holbrooke said, adding that "2014 is not the end of international presence in Afghanistan [but] to be sure there will be some drawdown [of troops] in July next year. The size and pace will be decided by the president."
The Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, said that the insurgents had no intention of negotiating with Karzai's government, despite claims that the two sides are already talking. He said the Taliban would escalate their attacks on Nato forces to "compel the enemy to come out from their hideouts and then crush them through tactical raids".
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26 Comments so far
Show AllThe occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, and the world wide web of U.S. garrisons will go on until the United States is economically ruined and totally bankrupt.
Agenda 21 is a set of resolutions taken in 1992 by the UN that are meant to deal with various environmental issues, in particular, global warming. These resolutions were turned into a program. The problem, however, is that the implementation of the program unfortunately leaves much to be desired, as is too often the case with matters of the environment.
So true, this is how the fascist amerikan empire IS collapsing; right NOW! Nothing can be done to stop the fall of empire. Imperialist amerika is past the point of recovery, with all the suffering it is causing !
I think you are correct. Move your money and children to safety, offshore.
Nazi Germany, with its systematic violent subjection and eradication of others by military and technological means was a phenomenon that arose out of the humiliation of Germany both economically and nationally. As with present neo-Israel there was reason for their excess even if there was no excuse.
Presently the USA is systematically killing others and occupying their land not only by means of direct military attack but also by remote control; both by means of technology as with the drones which are no better than gas chambers and by means of sedition through private contractors.
The US citizens have not been humiliated or economically oppressed, other than by their own stupid actions.
A look at history shows the Anglo Saxon entity was part of the original humiliation of the Germans.
Comparisons with the Nazis are often made to emphasise the depravity of aggressors, but in this respect the USA Anglo-Saxon entity leaves the Nazi in the shade. In this respect we can say the US Anglo-Saxon entity remains part of the original humiliation of the Germans. The absurdity of their present support of neo-Israel stands out as a blatant sign.
US citizens are ignorant of the depth of their depravity. The US Anglo-Saxon Democratic identity must go the way of the Nazi identity.
It is a mark of shame and a warning to us all.
That's some very deep thinking James. And some brilliant insights. "...there was reason for their excesses even if there was no excuse"
Oikos, that might be 2014 at this rate.
It's difficult to image how the country's president would think that he has any right to criticize the strategies and tactics of its occupying forces. The nerve of the guy is utterly appalling!
Yes, you'd think that he knew a little about the US's imperial history with "former" allies such as Saddam Hussein, Ngô Đình Diệm, Noriega etc. . . . He'll either mysteriously die in the next year or will be killed in a coup de grace.
OYE
I don't think the point is to win, it is just to occupy fight, and continue to transfer public money into the pockets of private military contractors. Good old Smedley Butler mentioned something along the line that 'War is a Racket.
American military brass are nuanced, subtle thinkers, that understand Afghanistan and its people better than Hamid Karzai ever could:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWS-FoXbjVI
My Headline: THE OCCUPATION OF AFGHANISTAN IS TO GO ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND...
I've got some bridges to sell anyone who believes the 2014 date.
Just think - we are building the largest permanent embassy in the world in Kabul, plus legations in other cities at a cost and size 1 1/2 times larger than the embassy in Baghdad - leaving ?
Excellent point: don't listen to what the House White says about leaving, just look at the size of the U.S. embassy being built in Kabul.
The same can be said, by the way, about Iraq: take a good look at the 21-building U.S. embassy that has been constructed in Baghdad. These buildings speak volumes about what the U.S.' intention is in those lands: it's called long-term occupation, just as in Okinawa.
New T-shirt: 'I, for one, welcome the coming societal collapse and economic apocalypse.'
If I were a cartoonist, I would create one of the figure we Americans call =Uncle Sam=. The cartoon would capture Uncle Sam masturbating an immense erection, and ejaculating copiously upon a Globe.
Trylon
The elites discovered long ago that keeping the war machinery cranking was one of the most efficient and fail proof mechanisms for transferring wealth from the poor to the rich.
Holbrooke is also a war criminal.
I think our rulers meant 2401, not 2014. ...Must be a misprint.
You really don't get much more freaking arrogant than the below statement:
"Clinton today supported Petraeus, saying that while the US shares some of Karzai's concerns about the toll of raids on civilians, the strategy is right."
What's that? You think it's your country? Bwahahahaha!
Seriously, these people are all f*cking crazy.
In 2006 they said at least till 2009, in 2009 they said at least until 2011, in 2010 they are saying at least until 2014, in 2014 they'll say at least until 2017, in 2017 they'll say at least until 2020.
Isn't it obvious they never intend to leave? They're playing the American people for the suckers they appear to be.
They're building permanent military bases in PipeLineistan, just like they did in Iraq. Obama says he's pulling out the "combat troops". He does not mean we are pulling out all the troops.
Oh No!
This government is so full if shit about everything, you would have to be a complete idiot to believe anything they say about anything!
In 2006 they said at least till 2009, in 2009 they said at least until 2011, in 2010 they are saying at least until 2014, in 2014 they'll say at least until 2017, in 2017 they'll say at least until 2020.
Isn't it obvious they never intend to leave? They're playing the American people for the suckers they appear to be.
They're building permanent military bases in PipeLineistan, just like they did in Iraq. Obama says he's pulling out the "combat troops". He does not mean we are pulling out all the troops.
Oh No!
This government is so full if shit about everything, you would have to be a complete idiot to believe anything they say about anything!
Boo ! Hiss !
We as the citizens of the U.S. have been led and are being led down a path to oblivion. First (and most recently) by the likes of Bush 43, and now Obama 44 is following blithely along on the same road lead by the advocates of "The Long War" who are in full accord with Petraeus' methods as outlined in his paper "FM 3-24" which demands a comprehensive counterinsurgency(COIN) campaign. Only now, in the last few months, the "big boys" in the Beltway have changed it to a GCOIN or Global COIN campaign with total disregard for the wisdom of George Washington in his farewell address, Secretary of State Adams in 1821, and Dwight D. Eisenhower in his farewell address in 1961. For a fulldiscussion of this, I suggest you read "Washington Rules" by Andrew J. Bacevich, Professor of History and International Relations at Boston University. It's time for an entirely new regime in Washington, D.C., and I don't mean the Tea Party, Republicans OR Democrats - - it's time for a peaceful revolution by peace-minded patriots!
"...we also have to accept that he is the elected president of the country and of course he can express his views as he wishes"
...but dont have to do what he wants.
...and we reserve the right to eliminate him when he expresses said views.
...and install whatever puppet we choose to replace him.
OYE
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