Thursday, November 12, 2009

Gorbachev Says Obama Should Start Afghan Withdrawal

(Bloomberg) -- Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, drawing on his experience of military failure in Afghanistan in the 1980s, said the U.S. can’t win the conflict there and should begin pulling out its soldiers.
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6 comments:

  1. r.s.November 12, 2009 at 1:51 AM

    Meet the Talibans - Exclusive

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_F29PxYTck

    ReplyDelete
  2. ananNovember 12, 2009 at 7:06 AM

    Can anyone explain to me why the Afghan National Army cannot defeat the Taliban as long as they get international help.

    -The vast majority of Afghans strongly detest the Taliban in every public opinion poll taken since 2001
    -The vast majority of Afghans strongly love the ANA in every public opinion poll taken since 2001
    -The ANA has been far the most popular institution among Afghans in every public opinion poll taken since 2001
    -The ANA is more highly motivated, more professional, and better lead than the Taliban.
    -The ANA has so far accepted only a small fraction of applicants because of a funding shortage.

    I challenge anyone to prove the above is incorrect. Why does anyone think the ANA cannot defeat the Taliban? It might take the ANA many years and a lot of blood to win.

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  3. thankgodimatheistNovember 12, 2009 at 4:35 PM

    Hmm...Because it's not the point?<span>Can anyone explain to me why the Afghan National Army cannot defeat the Taliban as long as they get international help. </span>
    ----------
    Hmm...Because it's not the point?<span></span>

    ReplyDelete
  4. ananNovember 12, 2009 at 5:21 PM

    It is absolutely the point. The primary mission for the international forces and ISAF is to train, equip, fund, mentor and support the Afghan Nation Army and Afghan National Police. Why do you think ISAF is in Afghanistan?

    The heart of the McChrystal strategy is to develop the ANSF. this has caused many problems. The Pakistanis and Arabs in particular fear a highly capable Afghan National Army and are trying to oppose McChrystal's plan to train them.

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  5. r.s.November 13, 2009 at 7:08 AM

    And, what is strange, Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal proposed to President Obama the adoption of a Soviet Strategy of building bases and troop build-up for Afgahnistan. With friends like this, Barack Obama needs no enemies.

    http://news.antiwar.com/2009/08/10/us-commander-sees-economic-improvement-as-key-to-afghan-victory/

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  6. ananNovember 13, 2009 at 7:21 AM

    The ANA and ANP need many large new bases so that they can train more troops at any given time.

    One key to the McChrystal strategy is partnered ISAF units with ANSF where they are co located in the same area and share the same situational awareness and mission.

    ReplyDelete

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