Top US commander in Afghanistan Gen. Stanley McChrystal says that some debate is ‘warranted’ over his request for a massive escalation of the war in Afghanistan, conceding that “at the end of the day, we’re putting young people in harm’s way.”
Yet the general cautioned that the administration shouldn’t take too long to settle on his recommendation, which is the addition of another 45,000 US troops to the 68,000 already committed during Obama’s last escalation.
Gen. McChrystal dismissed suggestions that his pressure for such a massive number of additional troops just months after Obama had already committed so many had caused a rift with the administration, and denied rumors that he had threatened to resign if he didn’t get the troops.
It is generally assumed that President Obama will ultimately capitulate and send the additional troops, as escalation in Afghanistan has previously been a centerpiece of his foreign policy. But for the time being he seems content to delay any final decision, hoping perhaps for a more opportune time.
General McChrystal has no business making demands like these. If Obama had any sense, he'd add McChrystal to the MacArthur Club of Generals Dismissed for Attempting to Dictate to the President.
hey ive got a great compromise for atheist and people who still want separation of church and state.
lets change the pledge of allegiance to
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation SIR! YES SIR!, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
McChrystal wanna be the wonda boy and do what Alexander, the British empire and the USSR
could not……… tame the Pushtun tribes on THEIR somewhat VERTICAL …..tribal lands… Now that the U.S. has given in to the vice of paying the "enemy" not to fight…..the word is out….COWARDS……..
In this conflict we will see the will of the voters who must ultimately pay to sponsor these would be conquering heroz against an ancient ethos [Pashtunwali] and warier culture in some of the most unforgiving frozen nothingness……. There is a good reason that this place is so tough to occupy and control………
It just is NOT WORTH the effort…. There is no oil no gold no port no nothing to justify the costs of perpetuating hostilities with the Pastun….and….eventually….the occupiers learn this truth……….
usually after thousands of their own dead and billions wasted………..