Troops will be in Afghanistan for next 20 years, says commander

[ECH1969]

The commander of the British forces returning from Helmand said that his forces were having to make up for the time lost by the decision of the US and UK to invade Iraq instead of concentrating on post-Taliban Afghanistan.

"We could have carried on in 2002 in the same way we have gone about business now," said Brigadier Ed Butler. "Have the interim four years made a difference? I think realistically they have. It doesn't mean that we will not achieve what we set out to do."

Stressing that he was speaking from a strictly UK perspective, and not for the international community, Brigadier Butler added: "So have we slipped back? I don't think we have slipped back, we may have marked time and I think we are starting to make up for that time."

Opium cultivation rose by 59 per cent this year, according to the UN's figures, to an all-time record of 165,000 hectares.

http://egyptelection.com/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=623&Itemid=38&pop=1&page=0

[classysassy]

1. The Russians thought

they would be there for years,now our beloved country with morons in charge think the same thing.Remember Douglas McArthur's warning to America,"never get involved in a land war in Asia"The Russians learned the hard way are we going to follow their headless,heartless plans,well with morons in charge we proberly will?.

[geniph]

2. My cousin is being sent there

He's finished two tours in Iraq, and just got word he's being redeployed to Afghanistan, probably shortly before Thanksgiving. I already have another cousin over there. I suppose my nephew who is also serving in Iraq is going to end up there, too.

This shit has to end before they freaking kill us all off.

[landdaddy]

3. I think he has it about right

Read this article. It gives a little more insight into the region and why we are there.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=NAZ20061017&articleId=3516

[mike_c]

4. right-- that's what the soviets said....

The mujahadeen thought otherwise....