Petraeus Predicts 'A Hard Year' of War in Afghanistan

[tekisui]

Source: The Charlotte Observer

America is about to embark on the longest campaign in its longest war, the commander of the U.S. forces in the Middle East told a Charlotte audience Tuesday.

Gen. David Petraeus, head of the U.S. Central Command, told a crowd of more than 550 at the Westin Charlotte that a civil and military counterinsurgency campaign in Afghanistan, now revving up, will take about 12-18 months.

"This is going to be a hard year," he said.

Petraeus, armed with slides and laser pointer, took questions for about an hour at a luncheon hosted by the World Affairs Council of Charlotte. Most of the conversation centered on the war in Afghanistan, which began in 2001 and will pass the Vietnam War this month as the longest war abroad in American history, many historians say.

more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/03/03/1284817/petraeus-predicts-a-hard-year.html

[zipplewrath]

1. He ignores the Afghans

If he thinks it's going to be a hard year for America, imagine what it will be like for the Afghans. How many innocent civilians will die in this "hard year"?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. There's that Light at the End of the Tunnel flickering again..and again.

[unhappycamper]

4. That light you see is the headlamp of an oncoming train. n/t

[robdogbucky]

3. Does this mean Friedman

will start writing columns predicting that the next 18 months will be a critical turning point in this "conflict," ala the multiple predictions of "the next six months," turning points he opined about Iraqnam?


Just askin' cause that's what he did for several years.

BTW, isn't the 7th anniversary of Iraqnam coming up soon?

Prolly will be like last year, no one will notice.

Eternal War!

USA! USA! USA!




Just my dos centavos


robdogbucky

[Vinnie From Indy]

5. An American tragedy

A. What the fuck is Patraeus doing spending time in Charlotte NC lecturing the World Affairs Council of Charlotte? One would think the General would have better things tod o with his time.

B. Why do Americans simply accept that our country should be fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan?

As the economy continues to go up in flames, one can only hope that enormous pressure will build to end these wars.