Obama secretly extends us role in Afghanistan with classified executive order...Democracy Now

[xiamiam]

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/11/24/after_vowing_to_end_combat_mission

snip-
President Obama has secretly extended the U.S. role in Afghanistan despite earlier promises to wind down America’s longest war. According to the New York Times, Obama has signed a classified order that ensures U.S. troops will have a direct role in fighting. In addition, the order reportedly enables American jets, bombers and drones to bolster Afghan troops on combat missions. And, under certain circumstances, it would apparently authorize U.S. air-strikes to support Afghan military operations throughout the country. The decision contradicts Obama’s earlier announcement that the U.S. military would have no combat role in Afghanistan next year. Afghanistan’s new president Ashraf Ghani has also backed an expanded U.S. military role. Ghani, who took office in September, has also reportedly lifted limits on U.S. airstrikes and joint raids that his predecessor Hamid Karzai had put in place. We go to Kabul to speak with Dr. Hakim, a peace activist and physician who has provided humanitarian relief in Afghanistan for the last decade. We are also joined by Kathy Kelly of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, who has just returned from Afghanistan.

[stone space]

1. Executive orders should be public.

Otherwise, there is no accountability.

President Obama acted correctly when he made his executive order on immigration public.

That would be an excellent example to follow here.

[zipplewrath]

2. Same in Iraq

And we will see the same in Iraq as soon as the Sec Def can make a case that they need to do this for "force protection" and "confronting terrorism."

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe

Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity. Lord Acton

[xiamiam]

4. k..

[jwirr]

5. If we are reporting on it now - what is secret?