The Obama Administration’s top two defense officials issued starkly different comments over the past two days on the Afghan War, with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates desperately struggling to defend the war to the Senate and Admiral Michael Mullen bluntly insisting it will continue on.
Responding to a letter from 27 Senators urging President Obama to change course in Afghanistan, Gates shot back to the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee that Afghanistan is “not a war without end” and insisting that 2014 was the end date.
Which might’ve relieved many, if Admiral Michael Mullen had not offered a completely opposite assessment on the Charlie Rose show, declaring that a continued US presence beyond 2014 was a certainty and that any drawdown in July did not signal the beginning of the end of the decade-long conflict.
After a decade of ever-worsening conditions, it is ironically administration claims of progress, dubious as they are, that has fueled the Senate change in position. The war’s massive costs and the “major gains” the administration are claiming simply don’t add up for many, particularly in a nation beset with massive deficits.
In a democracy, no general or admiral could make such a statement, as in a democracy a general or admiral would understand that the decision to stay at war was not theirs, but instead belonged to the people.
These people hate democracy. This shows every time they speak.
You took the words right out of my mouth. It doesn't matter what the US citizens want and certainly doesn't matter what Afghans want. This is no real democracy at all.
Not only do they loathe democracy in the US, but they undermine it wherever they choose.
I'm sure the Afghanis are prepared to reward Admiral Mullen for his persistence with a Dien Bien Phu sized memorial.
These criminals haven´t learned anything, so the future for the US is bleak and hopeless. Paradoxically, "the brightest and the best" will be to blame for the demise of the US as a hyper power. They call it hubris.
Two asses.
Worst government in the world .Constently geting caught in lies.I'm 100 sure from the way they have made desisions over the past 10 years the last thing they care for is the people.Infact they are going to push China and Russia into WW3.And well they hide like the cowards ts we die.Americans worry about jobs all they worry about is war and murder.Its not conpiracys its fact they can care less about the people.l they do is invade countrys that are in no way a threat and murder people.They want to depopulate tyhe world to 500 million .They have it ingraved in stone for all to see.Iforget were but look for it in you computer and it wont be hard to find.The people America elects republican or democrate it don't matter if they don't want someone in power they wont be.All intelligent Americans would vote for Ron Paul but they will screw the votes up so they don't have to kill him like JFK.The only person that gets in the oval office is a good yes man.We want ware with China (President yes boss whatever you say boss)