Posted on 11/09/2006 3:51:52 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
Robert Gates, who is expected to substitute resigned US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, contributed to withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, US President George Bush stated describing merits of his nominee for post of the Pentagons chief. The President is going to submit the candidature to Senate for approval.
Also, he assured that US defense secretarys substitution does not mean US policys change in Iraq. Donald Rumsfeld was not present at the press conference of Bush; although, it is unusually for event of such kind. Rumsfeld was key ideologists and strategist of war in Iraq; major part of criticism was leveled against him because of failures in Iraq.
Rumsfelds resignation was reaction to the Republican Partys defeat at the recent Congressional elections, RSN stresses. Bush said that he was disappointed with voting outcomes, and that he assumed considerable part of responsibility for them.
"CIA had important successes in covert action. Perhaps the most consequential of all was Afghanistan where CIA, with its management, funnelled billions of dollars in supplies and weapons to the mujahideen, and the resistance was thus able to fight the vaunted Soviet army to a standoff and eventually force a political decision to withdraw." - LINK
troopsâ <== what is this, and why is this showing like this???
Well, he was one of those who Hillary stole the FBI file on.
Huh????..What does that mean?
How come Bush did not appoint Ted Kennedy as SecDef. Ted seems to have all the answers.
foreign keyboard
What a gloater. I seriously question how much he really had to do with it. Reagan started the program before he was on board. I associate him more with Carter via his friendship with Brezinski.
Good call.
"Engagement could encourage Iran to adopt a more clear, positive attitude toward the new governments in Afghanistan and in Iraq, and it could also create opportunities for greater interaction between Iranians and the rest of the world. In all candor, the history of the last 25 years does not offer much encouragement that any part of this will be successful. However, a serious attempt could result in greater international support, should the failure of diplomacy necessitate reliance on other means."
On the impact of the U.S. invasion of Iraq: "My personal opinion is that it has probably strengthened our position vis-a-vis Iran. After all, we've _ we now have military presence on both sides of Iran. We have 140,000 troops next door. Clearly the Iranians have to look at that and see that the strategic situation in their neighborhood has changed in a significant way."
How long will those troops be there if he is forced by the politicians to cut and run?
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