Gates: US Troops to Likely Stay in Afghanistan Past 2014
Denies Plan for 'Permanent' Bases But Declines to Set End Date
Despite insisting that the US has “no interest in permanent bases,” Secretary of Defense Robert Gates today predicted that the US would remain in Afghanistan long past 2014 and that the idea of permanent bases was something to consider “if Afghans want it.”
Of course it was confirmed last month by Afghan President Hamid Karzai that the US has long been seeking permanent military bases in Afghanistan, and had been in secret talks with his government to formalize the continuation.
Likewise, Gates’ claim of “if Afghans want it” seems to fly in the face of public protests against the permanent bases that came in the wake of Karzai’s admission. The plan has been moving forward largely in spite of Afghan hopes that the occupation will eventually end.
And Gates’ comments on keeping troops there beyond 2014, nominally because Afghan officials want it, suggest that the groundwork is already being laid for yet another disavowal of an end date, and no new date is in sight.
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JLS
March 7th, 2011 at 10:00 pm
Ok bleed out in Afghanistan just like the Soviet empire did.
BruceM
March 8th, 2011 at 8:01 am
Robert, you have no exit strategy? I'll give you one in five words:
There's the plane, move out.
Hillary, you have no successful foreign policy? I'll g1ve you one that will solve 90% of our foreign relations problems in five words"
Israel, you're on your own.
Hillary, want the rest of your problems solved? Five more words:
We're not the global police.
But if these policies were implemented, you and the military wouldn't have as much prestige, and to the state prestige is second only to power.
Pity!
thedissenter
March 8th, 2011 at 8:09 am
Hey, Gates, is the Taliban okay with that new deadline? How much is that little extension going to us taxpayers? We know what you know, Gates, that you're only there because they want you to be and are letting them because you're paying them with our money. So, go ahead, lay off more teachers and close more school so you can give more money to the Taliban to allow you to stay there longer. In the interim, you can start recruiting child soldiers now since they don't have teachers or schools, what else is an Amerikan child to do but fight wars for oil?
thedissenter
March 8th, 2011 at 8:10 am
Oh, they're so done it's not even funny. Check this out and this is just the R-rated version:
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011…
FedUp
March 8th, 2011 at 8:33 am
Gates, Why dont YOU stay there till 2014?
andy
March 8th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
America has no intention of leaving Afghanistan. Or Iraq. Or Japan. Or South Korea. Or Germany. Or….
rbe1
March 8th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Hey republican war lovers: be ready to ramp up funding for the artificial limbs support for VA.
Jamal
March 8th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
1- First Questions.., how is it possible that the Libyan National council within few days declaring themselves as Libyan only legitimate representative.. was there any elections held that rest of the world didn’t know about, nor anyone been informed about such election..? I don’t want to speculate but looking into facts presented thus far something is wrong here, I think US and EU governments are well aware of their situation steering the problem looking for a new Iraq and Afghanistan war. That is because of two factor, one both government have problem getting their military budget approved at home, two the economy situation both in US and EU is getting worse. Otherwise and without wars how would they be able to improve the US and EU economy for a short term and ask for a new military budget…, there are rebels in Libya and for sure in Iran and elsewhere and other nations whom are against US and EU foreign policies in Middle East.
Jamal
March 8th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
2- Here the question number 2 is: if rebels are for democracy, independent and self governing movement and implementation of a new constitution based on peoples democratic rights in Libya.., then why they have rejected Muammar Gaddafi offer in resigning..; furthermore, why would they reject Hugo Chavez offer for mediation. All that doesn’t make any sense, Look: people in Egypt and Tunisia they ousted their dictatorial regimes – leaders by a way of demonstrating, to certain point a peaceful one, here in Libya over a few days they (Libyan National council ) call themselves the ”One and Only” and arm themselves fighting Muammar Gaddafi regime, and all of the sudden US and EU is involved advising all kind of measures which is leading toward a military invasion and occupation of Libya…, those this make any sense to you…?