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Military growing impatient with Obama on Afghanistan
Miami Herald ^ | 9/18/2009 | NANCY A. YOUSSEF

Posted on 09/18/2009 7:48:21 PM PDT by markomalley

Six months after it announced its strategy for Afghanistan, the Obama administration is sending mixed signals about its objectives there and how many troops are needed to achieve them.

The conflicting messages are drawing increasing ire from U.S. commanders in Afghanistan and frustrating military leaders, who are trying to figure out how to demonstrate that they're making progress in the 12-18 months that the administration has given them.

Adding to the frustration, according to officials in Kabul and Washington, are White House and Pentagon directives made over the last six weeks that Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, not submit his request for as many as 45,000 additional troops because the administration isn't ready for it.

In the last two weeks, top administration leaders have suggested that more American troops will be sent to Afghanistan, and then called that suggestion "premature." Earlier this month, Adm. Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that "time is not on our side"; on Thursday, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates urged the public "to take a deep breath."

The White House didn't respond to requests for comment. Officials willing to speak did so only on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly.

In Kabul, some members of McChrystal's staff said they don't understand why Obama called Afghanistan a "war of necessity" but still hasn't given them the resources they need to turn things around quickly.

Three officers at the Pentagon and in Kabul told McClatchy Newspapers that the McChrystal they know would resign before he would stand behind a faltering policy that he thought would endanger his forces or the strategy.

(Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; bho44; bhodod; cicobama; healthcare; islam; jointchiefs; mcchrystal; mhmmdnsm09182009; military; mullen; nationalsecurity; nsp; nspnationalsecurity; nss; obama; obamacare; palin; third100days; veterans
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1 posted on 09/18/2009 7:48:21 PM PDT by markomalley
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To: Nachum

I concur.


2 posted on 09/18/2009 7:49:19 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar (A mob of one.)
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To: Cindy

Ping.


3 posted on 09/18/2009 7:49:54 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar (A mob of one.)
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To: markomalley

Pull the troops out, or commit to victory.


4 posted on 09/18/2009 7:50:41 PM PDT by doc1019 (Obama should resign out of guilt for what he is doing to this once great country.)
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To: markomalley

If they think they’re frustrated now, wait till AG Eric Holder starts prosecuting them for war crimes. Its coming.


5 posted on 09/18/2009 7:50:59 PM PDT by rbg81 (DRAIN THE SWAMP!!)
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To: markomalley

I’d have the FBI at my door in 3 minutes if I said what I’m thinking.


6 posted on 09/18/2009 7:51:38 PM PDT by unkus
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To: markomalley

The White Hut is filled with Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood sympathesizers and possibly moles. This is fact and was known during the 2008 campaign.

They may be leaking intel back to the Taliban and Al Qeada.


7 posted on 09/18/2009 7:52:18 PM PDT by Frantzie (Do we want ACORN running America's healthcare?)
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To: markomalley

What good is punishing America if you can’t punish the troops.


8 posted on 09/18/2009 7:52:40 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
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To: Frantzie

Seven Days In May.


9 posted on 09/18/2009 7:53:31 PM PDT by buccaneer81 (ECOMCON)
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To: unkus

I need to look up just what the penalty is. It might be worth it.


10 posted on 09/18/2009 7:53:44 PM PDT by TheZMan (White male, short hair, armed Patriot. Keep pushing.)
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Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: Jet Jaguar

Thanks for the ping Jet Jaguar.

OPINION:

To run a war efficiently and effectively the COMMANDER IN CHIEF must:

1. love his country.
2. want to win.
3. keep politics out if it.
4. have a plan with continuous options
for situations which may arise.
5. be a leader.


12 posted on 09/18/2009 7:55:08 PM PDT by Cindy
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To: markomalley

“commander zero” put new ROE in effect in June and the American death rate shot to the highest in the war in July. He has never shot a Daisy BB gun. He hates our Military. He loves muslims and hates White Christians and he has no intention of “winning” the war against islam.


13 posted on 09/18/2009 7:55:59 PM PDT by Eagles6 ( Typical White Guy: Christian, Constitutionalist, Heterosexual, Redneck. (Let them eat arugula!))
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To: Frantzie

I’m so disgusted with Obama. Either sh*t or get off the pot.


14 posted on 09/18/2009 7:56:07 PM PDT by doc1019 (Obama should resign out of guilt for what he is doing to this once great country.)
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To: cripplecreek
We already had marines killed this week because the commanders followed his policy of protecting civilians while our troops get hammered. Now he's delaying the decision to provide more help. How many will die because of the delay?

OB what's your exit strategy?

Where are the peace demonstrators in all the major cities?

When will Code Punk call for impeachment?

15 posted on 09/18/2009 7:56:09 PM PDT by nufsed (Release the birth certificate, passport, and school records.)
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To: markomalley

“McChrystal they know”

hmmm.. in tough times character is really tested..


16 posted on 09/18/2009 7:56:35 PM PDT by outlawjake
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To: Cindy

Obozo is batting .000 according to that list.


17 posted on 09/18/2009 7:56:58 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
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To: doc1019
Muslim usurper in a war in a tribal muslim nation that has been fighting for 1000 + years? Hussein has changed the ROE so our trrops cannot fight back. If anyone who thinks that is going to work out is dreaming. Afghan has never had a normal society where alliances shift by the moment.

The usurper Admin is filled with Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood sympathesizers and possibly operatives. I woul dbet intel is getting back to the Taliban and Al Qeada to kill our troops. Judge Carter - our troops need the truth. Marines are dying for Islam.

18 posted on 09/18/2009 7:57:13 PM PDT by Frantzie (Do we want ACORN running America's healthcare?)
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To: markomalley

I’m afraid we are 12 months out from a coup.


19 posted on 09/18/2009 7:57:33 PM PDT by Dead Dog (Hope is Dope)
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To: markomalley

20 posted on 09/18/2009 7:58:11 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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