Gordon Brown announces timetable for Helmand handover to Afghan control

telegeraph ^ | 11.29/09 | Andrew Porter

[Flavius]

The countdown to handing back Helmand province to Afghan control began yesterday when Gordon Brown announced a detailed exit timetable.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Security handback = Saigon, 21st century? Just asking.

[mylife]

Ceding control even as we increase troops?

[DoughtyOne]

Administration sources have told Mr Gelb that Mr Obama "will signal his willingness" to deploy the extra 10,000 troops in 12 months time if General Stanley McChrystal, Nato commander in Afghanistan, can demonstrate he needs more forces then.

Anotherwords, Obama wants to undershoot so we can see more of our troops die before he sends the adequate amount.

This guy is a real James Bond level gambler, when it isn't his pathetic ass on the line.

Thanks Democrats. Thanks Independents.

[DoughtyOne]

Administration sources have told Mr Gelb that Mr Obama "will signal his willingness" to deploy the extra 10,000 troops in 12 months time if General Stanley McChrystal, Nato commander in Afghanistan, can demonstrate he needs more forces then.

Anotherwords, Obama wants to undershoot so we can see more of our troops die before he sends the adequate amount.

This guy is a real James Bond level gambler, when it isn't his pathetic ass on the line.

Thanks Democrats. Thanks Independents.

[Recon Dad]

How can you hand over someplace when you are going to send 9,000 more Marines in to the area?

[FBD]

-and thanks, John McCain,
(for a lackluster campaign)

[Pearls Before Swine]

How can you hand over someplace when you are going to send 9,000 more Marines in to the area?

Well, in that case, the British are just handing it to the US. Problem solved.

[DoughtyOne]

Exactly.

It’s kinda tough to run a good campaign when you’re continually having to clean stuff off your face from kissing the rear of the guy you’re running against.

This guy didn’t want to win. He’s a part of the problem, not the fix.

If you can mingle with entities like George Soros, Teressa Heinz Kerry, and the Tides Foundation, you’re just not public office material at any level.

[Recon Dad]

The Brits have been there for a long time and did the best they could with their limited resources. My son was with in Helmand in 2007 with his MarSoc team and it was a tough area. He said the taliban were heavy. Now we have a big presence of Marines and as Marines tend to do they are looking to fight.

[khenrich]

Ceding control even as we increase troops?

I suspect the British have decided Obama's denigration of British - American relations has consequences, and that with the increase of American troops, the U.S. can more than handle the situation, since Obama has not bothered to share his strategy, or to include the British in developing a strategy. Can't say I blame them.

[Pearls Before Swine]

I wasn’t trying to be too cute about it... just a little. If we leave now, it falls after “a decent interval,” like Saigon. I can understand the Brits reaching the end of their political and military resources. But, I’m cynical that decisions made by our current Pres and CIC will have a strong political component to them, and I think the political calculation will be based on what he hopes is best for him electorally rather than what is best for US. We’ll see a bit more on Tuesday.

Since you didn’t say otherwise, I assume your son is OK. Please thank him for his service.

[Recon Dad]

I did not take your reply as cynical at all. The son's fine and presently doing his 3rd deployment to Afghanistan.

I have no faith in the current CIC and the sooner he's gone the better.

[taxesareforever]

Can’t blame any country for not supporting obamameister on the war on terror. Obamameister doesn’t have a clue except the war just gets in the way of his parties and outtings.