US commanders give upbeat war effort reviews

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_AFGHAN_WAR_OUTLOOK?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-12-15-03-28-48


FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2012, photo, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta poses for a photo with troops at Kabul International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. U.S. commanders are offering glowing reviews of their 2012 Afghanistan war campaign. And the upbeat assessments that could be interpreted as leeway for President Barack Obama to order another round of troop withdrawals next summer. Panetta has not yet recommended to Obama a specific pace of withdrawals for 2013. But during the Pentagon chief’s two-day visit to the war zone last week, commanders suggested that things are going better than is generally believed by an American public weary of war after 11 years. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- U.S. commanders are offering glowing reviews of their 2012 war campaign, upbeat assessments that could be interpreted as leeway for President Barack Obama to order another round of troop withdrawals next summer.

Obama faces a tension between calls by Democrats and even some Republicans to wind down the war more quickly and the military's desire to avoid a too-fast pullout that might squander hard-won sacrifices.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has not yet recommended to Obama a specific pace of withdrawals for 2013. But during the Pentagon chief's two-day visit to the war zone this past week, commanders suggested that things are going better than is generally believed by an American public weary of war after 11 years.

Maj. Gen. Robert Abrams, for example, cited "astounding" progress in the Zaray district of Kandahar province, where the Taliban once held sway. He said Afghan forces are now "dominating" in that district. Abrams is the top coalition commander in southern Afghanistan.


***i'm sure they do

[KG]

1. they always do.

[unhappycamper]

2. Ask MG Abrams how things are going in Marjah.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11791938

The assessment Nicholson offered, however, is far rosier than the one that U.S. officials have provided recently. They have been citing the resilience of the Taliban and the shortcomings of the Afghan government and military.

Just one of 23 Afghan army brigades is able to operate on its own without air or other military support from the United States or NATO, according to a Pentagon report to Congress that was released Monday.

I know the keeping the occupation going is all about money. It will fail as did the Vietnam adventure.

[xchrom]

3. Money is God. nt