Don't Abandon Afghanistan After 2014 Handover,Plead Generals

[tekisui]

Source: The Guardian

The west must state clearly that it will not abandon Afghanistan after the handover of security to local forces in 2014 or risk further fighting in the region from an emboldened Taliban, the commander of British forces in the country has warned.

In his first interview since becoming second in command of the International Security and Assistance Force (Isaf), General James Bucknall told the Guardian "now is not the time to blink", and pleaded for more patience in the decade-long campaign because progress was being made.

Bucknall spoke amid growing unease in Kabul about what will happen once Nato troops start to be drawn down later this year – an anxiety that has become acute since the death of Osama bin Laden – and the potential effect this may have on US policy. The US has been bankrolling the effort with up to $100bn (£61bn) a year and is negotiating a new strategic partnership with President Hamid Karzai.

One diplomatic source, who asked not to be named, said: "Afghanistan has been the centre of the world for the past 10 years. It isn't anymore and the purse strings from donors will soon tighten. The international military drawdown will begin. There will then be a limited period where there is some money available for non-military efforts.

more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/10/afghanistan-taliban-handover-2014

[markpkessinger]

1. The Generals continued . . .

". . . because a lot of us are looking forward to retiring from the military and getting rich from new jobs with the private defense contracting industry, and we need to ensure our cash cow is still in existence!"

[Old and In the Way]

9. exactly.

We need to reform government-to-lobby revolving doors...it's killing this country financially.

[msongs]

2. that brit has forgotten his rudyard kipling and his nation's history there nt

[Knight Hawk]

8. Kipling wrote in 1896................

"No proposition Euclid wrote,No formulae the text books know,Will turn the bullet from your coat,Or ward the swordsman's downward blow.Strike hard who cares-shoot straight who can-The odds are on the cheaper man..............The English got ran out of Afghanistan TWICE...................leave ASAP

[sakabatou]

3. Oh for fuck's sake...

"Now is not the time to blink." That's the same line that half-assed Palin used. We're getting the hell out of there. Hopefully.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Forkboy]

5. It's a good war now. We have a "D" in front of it.

[hobbit709]

6. Then let the generals stay, everyone else go home.

solves two problems. the troops come home and we get rid of superfluous brass.

[JaneQPublic]

7. Let them pay for it as well.

If they can't beat them in 13 years, it's not likey to happen in 20.

[Enthusiast]

10. The longest war in U.S. history needs to end

this moment.