Mullen: U.S. Will Not Leave Afghanistan

[Purveyor]

Source: Agence France-Presse

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The top US military officer is vowing long-term commitment to Afghanistan, touting progress in the war against the Taliban and its Al-Qaeda allies ahead of an American drawdown.

Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on the "Charlie Rose" television interview show Tuesday that although some troops would be withdrawn, a continued US presence was assured.

"Since I've been out there in the last three and a half, four years, it's still the leading question is, 'You left us before, are you going to leave us again?'" he said.

"A couple years ago I got to the point where they're only going to believe we're going to be there if we're there... and certainly there will be some troops that come out this summer... and yet that isn't a message that we're leaving."

MORE...

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/06/15/mullen-u-s-will-not-leave-afghanistan/

[Alamuti Lotus]

1. With that policy, the Taliban's argument becomes correct

That is to say, the foreign occupyer is never going to leave on its own accord, any kind of negotiation with the permanent local lackeys is useless -- armed resistance becomes the only path left open (as if negotiation was ever really an option before this statement, anyway). And oh yes, savor the CHANGE. Meanwhile back in the Homeland, we are talking to Boener about Weiner's link to pornstars. ...................right, priorities are in order, nothing to see here.

[arcane1]

2. But of course we aren't leaving...

too many natural resources for our hungry corporate appetites!

[Knight Hawk]

6. Exactly and

too many people are making money off the war.They are protecting us in case the Afgans decide to man some ships and head this way.And lots of people having fun killing folks.I am a Vietnam vet.

[bongbong]

3. Let's see...

The first US death in Vietnam "police action" was in 1956, and the last was in 1975 (although the first death could be counted as Col. Dewey in 1945, I'll skip him). Thus, the "police action" ran for 19 years.

Afghanistan is up to 10 years now. If we assume it goes as long as Vietnam, it will be 2020 before we're out of there. Fun times to look forward to!

[OwnedByFerrets]

4. They just LOVE spending our money on hopeless projects

More wars, More money for them. STFU Admiral.

[jwirr]

5. Fine. When is their rummage sale? Oh, that's right it isn't the military

that holds the rummage sales.

[indepat]

7. We're not leaving I'gawd! Now go cut social security and Medicare as much as you want/need, but

leave the frickin' MIC budget alone! :patriot:

[Lasher]

8. Let's not forget, there's still 45,000 soldiers in Iraq.

And our government is doing everything they can to keep them there past the December deadline (AKA forever).

[Jefferson23]

9. War is profitable, peace sucks..do continue. n/t