AP sources: New benchmarks aimed at Afghan war

[laststeamtrain]

Source: AP

AP sources: New benchmarks aimed at Afghan war

By ANNE GEARAN (AP) – 34 minutes ago

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is preparing a set of about 50 benchmarks for Afghanistan, senior officials said Monday, redefining how to measure success in a war now widely assessed as a stalemate.

The benchmarks will test how well the U.S. military and civilian "surges" ordered by President Barack Obama are working.

The new measures, ordered by Congress, are due Sept. 24 amid creeping skepticism among many Democrats about the war's prognosis and costs.

"The deterioration of the security situation in Afghanistan is conspicuous," the Senate Foreign Relations Committee wrote in a report to be released this week. The report notes a record number of U.S. soldiers and Marines died in Afghanistan last month.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iqyaFh_efr-brDq0rMLF1hkop0tgD9A08NQ00

[bemildred]

1. This is painful to watch. nt

[laststeamtrain]

3. Swear to it, brother. I wish somebody would get a grip & stop playing politics...

...& start playing real world.

[bemildred]

4. It's like they want to destroy their own careers.

Sparrowfarts, all of them, to use Vonnegut's word. It's not just that it's stupid policy, it will destroy their careers too.

[Solly Mack]

2. Pete and Repeat were sitting on the fence. Pete flew away. Who was left?

[mbperrin]

5. Meanwhile, the bodies on both side continue to add up.

Yes, benchmarks are what we need! Rah! Rah!

You've heard this before from me, so it won't be new - stop killing people in foreign countries, and bring our troops home tonight!

Stuck record since 2001....

[Kahoneez]

6. and the answer is always MORE troops , more killing !

Forget about the left verses right paradigm , I grew up aND realized the military Industrial Complex sets the agendas and the next president won't be there unless , he's 110% on board , otherwise Obama the so called " anti -war " candidate would announce . . .

" Hey this is wack , we are in record debt , our infrastructure is falling apart , health care needs billions and even Post Offices are closing down , So I'm announcing this madness in Afghanistan will stop and I'm pulling out all troops and we'll save a bundle of coin . " NAW .

Instead he increases the killing machine in Afghanistan , guaranteeing more civilian deaths and increases base sizes , adding multi - level housing w/ tons of concrete , w/ taco bells , McDonalds , Commissaries for tens for thousands of troops and with the help from the complicit "news " media like CNN propaganda , will manufacture consent for bigger occupation of Afghanistan w/ crap from Wolf Blitzer " will more troops help " " I hope they get the vehicles they need " and is responded by the other sycophant , " we'll we have had troops in Japan for a long time " ...oh , that makes it ok to occupy another country in addition to the other hundreds of bases , costing over 2 5 0 BILLION A YEAR , to maintain those bases .

This crap needs to stop , this support by both party sheep needs to stop and it's not just about affordability , it's bcs of immorality of IMPERIALISM , RESISTED BY MILLIONS AROUND THE GLOBE .

[slay]

7. How bout this benchmark - we get the fuck out now and bring everyone home

and stop being the middle east police.

[earcandle]

8. This war will genocide Americans.

[KakistocracyHater]

9. as they shut down America to pay 4 Iraq & Afghanistan.......

BERLIN FOOD DROP ON AFGHANISTAN-ONLY FOOD MEDICINE ETC SHOULD BE DROPPED. Nothing they plan will work because they're not thinking like they live there-human nature. They'll cut corners, hell look at how they treat Americans! Here in America!

[Vidar]

10. We need 50 new benchmarks & 45,000 more troops because

every rational benchmark shows we're flushing money & blood down a sewer.

[subsuelo]

11. Kucinich would have had us OUT by now