With the situation in Afghanistan continuing to deteriorate, the massive escalation of the war by President Obama, which is being continued in spite of polls suggesting that a majority of Americans oppose the war, is no longer enough for many top commanders in Afghanistan, they want more and they want it now.
The commanders say that with the growing power of the Taliban, which officials have said is higher than at any time since the 2001 invasion, they no longer have enough troops to fight the war, even though 17,000 had just arrived to provide protection for the election.
In addition, the military has recently shifted a dramatic number of additional spy planes and drones to the Afghan theater. Even this, it seems, has not been enough to stem the tide of resurgent Taliban.
Some of the generals also reportedly criticized Pakistan’s military for its “limited response” to the cross border traffic. This comes at a time when Pakistan is fighting several wars along its vast border with Afghanistan, largely at the behest of the US, and those wars are destroying the local economy and driving millions from their homes.
The final push for additional troops will likely come in the form of Gen. McChrystal’s long-delayed assessment, though officials insist the general will not lay out any specific numbers. The war’s unpopularity in the US and increasing international disquiet over the disputed election are likely to make further escalation a tough sell, though President Obama seems intent on making a massive landwar in Central Asia the centerpiece of his foreign policy.
Americans hate this endless bid for war. We want the troops home now. How much more clear can we be? McChrystal is certifiable and in need of therapy, Demanding more troops, when there is no credible mission, no hope of victory and the war itself unnecessary and immoral, is lunacy.
I DEMAND that Gen. Stan the mad bomber man shut the freak up! I DEMAND that the Obama pull the boots out NOW and bring them home! Enough is enough is enough. The "commanders" demand, yeah whatever.
Would the ghosts of Westmoreland and McNamara please rise and take the stage.
This is so absurdly typical. They never have enough men. They never have enough equipment. They never have enough time. Gee. Gosh…. Maybe they shouldn't be there at all. And I'm sure the dusty bones of Bin Laden would agree if anyone cared to look for them.
And since this was all staged right from 9-11, there all running in circles over there without a goal. When the government is looking for a drug lord they go in and take him out, they don't need to stage a full scale invasion that last for eight years. The CIA made Bin Laden.
So true, but when the drug lords work for you then, well, all that running around has to look good or else how would they make their quota. Gotta keep production humming along.