In an interview Sunday on ABC, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley predicted that US troops would stay in Afghanistan “for several more years,” the first such estimate offered since President Trump scrapped a peace plan that was ready to be finalized.
Milley defended the idea of years more Afghan War, already at nearly two decades, by arguing that the mission was to make sure Afghanistan would have sustainable internal security to protect the US, and “that mission is not yet complete.”
Of course, 18 years deep, it isn’t as though the Afghan government is any closer to being self-sufficient now than they were in 2002. That makes it difficult to say how long it will take to “complete” this mission, or indeed if it ever will be.
Though officials have suggest that the US troop level in Afghanistan may drop going forward, the whole decision to scrap a negotiated peace plan and exit strategy really means what will happen from here on out is purely up to the administration, as it is a pure war of choice.
Can’t pull the troops out with all that heroin not being shipped out yet – not to mention the profits to the military-industrial complex – and then there’s that Iran war we’re planning for where the US will need air bases to help with the air campaign.
Squatting the resource again, except Afghanistan is worth some three trillion U.S. dollars in minerals alone, in addition to the billion dollar opium trade.
Probably some not-so-discreet pillaging going on, too.
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/18/trumps-afghanistan-strategy-may-unlock-3-trillion-in-natural-resources.html
The “mission” is to feed greedy contractors & Pentagon vultures.
I think the “Generals” should just STFU!
We are now in the phase of endless promises to end the endless wars.
I agree with all five of you, Afghanistan’s worth some $3 trillion in minerals alone, in addition to the billion dollar opium trade and probably not-so-discreet pillaging going on as well.
Dieter, indeed, we’re now in the phase of endless promises to end these endless wars .. And, yes, richardstevenhack, we can’t withdraw the troops out with all that heroin not being shipped out just yet – not to mention the profits of the military-industrial comples – and there’s that Iran war we’re planning for where the US will need air bases to help with the air campaign.
Yes, Jay Hall, I, too, think the “Generals” should just STFU .. And, longlance, I agree that the “mission” is to feed greedy contractors and Pentagon vultures.