Gates: Report details highs, lows of Afghan fight

[Zomby Woof]

Source: AP

FORT WORTH, Texas – The United States and NATO need a new strategy to defeat the Taliban, the top commander in Afghanistan said Monday as he delivered a classified assessment that is widely seen as the groundwork for a fresh request to add more American forces next year.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal said the nearly 8-year-old war is winnable, but his report is expected to be a blunt appraisal of the Taliban's increasing tactical prowess and diminishing popular support in Afghanistan for both the foreign-led war effort and the fragile, corruption-riddled central government.

"The situation in Afghanistan is serious," McChrystal said, and success "demands a revised implementation strategy, commitment and resolve, and increased unity of effort."

McChrystal did not ask for more troops but is expected to do so in a separate request in a couple weeks, two NATO officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter. NATO nations have repeatedly declined U.S. requests to send larger numbers of new troops or to lift restrictions on many of those now fighting in Afghanistan.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090901/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_us_afghanistan_9

[wroberts189]

1. Did they not learn from Rambo... ?

In order to conquer it they will have to destroy it.



Why are we still there again? Terrorists in our rose gardens?

[babylonsister]

2. Sigh. I'm sick of hearing about dead people. If we leave, and

can't deter another attack, we know who will be blamed. But leaving might be the best thing.

It's a decision not made easily.