U.S. eyes 'surge' of over 20,000 for Afghanistan [View All]

[slipslidingaway]

http://wiredispatch.com/news/?id=462772

"The Pentagon is considering a plan to send more than 20,000 troops to Afghanistan over the next 12 to 18 months to help safeguard elections and quell rising Taliban violence, officials said Friday.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he and top commanders had discussed sending five brigades to Afghanistan, including four brigades of combat ground forces as well as an aviation brigade, which a defense official said would consist mainly of support troops. An Army combat brigade has about 3,500 soldiers.

Gates said much of the infusion could take place before Afghanistan holds elections by next autumn.

"I think it's important that we have a surge of forces before the election," said Gates, who stressed no decision on troop deployments had been taken..."


http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/3/1649-surge-and-destroy-or-the-dangling-participle-of-presidential-power.html

"...And how are Aghan women enjoying the fruits of their liberation? The Guardian reports on the treatment meted out to Afghan women's rights champion, MP Shukria Barakzai -- by members of the liberated government installed by the liberators themselves:

The Afghan MP Shukria Barakzai receives regular death threats for speaking out on women's issues....Barakzai receives frequent but cryptic warnings about planned suicide attacks on her car, but no help from the government. Officials advise her to stay at home and not go to work, but offer nothing in the way of security assistance, despite her requests. She said warlords in parliament who received similar threats were immediately provided with armoured vehicles, armed guards and a safe house by the government.

"Our parliament is a collection of lords," said Barakzai. "Warlords, drug lords, crime lords."

....According to Afghan commentators, President Hamid Karzai, desperate to win next year's elections, has been bringing former mujahideen commanders into parliament in the hope they will support him at election time. Most of these former jihadi commanders share the Taliban's ideas about women and are expected to support legislation that will once again limit women's freedom..."