Graham favors permanent Afghan bases

[cal04]

http://parkerspitzer.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/03/graham-favors-permanent-afghan-bases/?hpt=T2

(snip)
Senator Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, said in an interview airing on CNN's Parker Spitzer on Friday night that an enduring military relationship and permanent U.S. installations in Afghanistan would benefit both countries.

"Under the right circumstances I think it would really secure the gains we made to have a U.S. presence in Afghanistan, two airbases that would be beneficial to the Afghan security forces," Graham said in the interview.

(snip)
"Senator, I hear what you are saying and I am actually kind of startled by it," co-host Eliot Spitzer responded, "because my recollection was that this war was about Al-Qaeda and terrorism, not about nation building in Afghanistan."

(snip)
"I am appalled by Senator Graham’s comments," Congresswoman Barbara Lee, (D) California, said in a statement. "Rather than advocating for a permanent extension of the costly and counterproductive military occupation of Afghanistan, it is time to finally end America’s longest war and bring our men and women in uniform home."



Poll and video at link
Do you think the U.S. should keep two bases in Afghanistan in perpetuity?

[Bobbieo]

1. Who is going to mine all of those newly discovered Afghan minerals, etc. - China?

[Angry Dragon]

5. I think that is what the officials are worried about

before that it was Russia getting them first

Wars for this country is about resources .......... follow the money

[tularetom]

2. Aw he's just deranged at the prospect of the end of DADT

Because then somebody might ask and the pressure would be on him to tell.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

3. Ah, the empire spreads it's mighty eagle wings.

[awoke_in_2003]

10. Oh shit...

the John Ashcroft "Let the Eagle Soar" is now running through my head. Thank jeebus it is almost quitting time- I need a beer or 12 :)

[tabatha]

4. The Afghans do not. It is their country.

[soryang]

6. Graham and others need to get a shrink

"Anyone wanting to commit American ground forces to the mainland of Asia should have his head examined." Douglas MacArthur to JFK April 1961.

[Owl]

7. Lindsey sucks.

[bluedigger]

8. I think that is not a good idea, Sen. Graham.

I wonder if he is aware of this?

Snow seeks probe in death of soldier
A week before he died, McLain expressed misgivings about American soldiers training Afghan Border Police.

“He said he didn't think it was right to train these people and give them guns,” Chelsea McLain said Wednesday. In her letter, Snowe said she has been told that “Pvt. McLain sent correspondence before his death expressing his distrust of the very forces that killed him.”

“I am deeply troubled by these reports and urge you to ensure that all necessary resources are committed to a prompt and thorough investigation,” Snowe wrote. “These reports and others also raise a number of concerns regarding the policies and practices governing the training of foreign soldiers and police forces in Afghanistan.”

She then quoted from a New York Times story published about Sunday's ambush, saying it was "at least the fifth time in 13 months that Afghan soldiers or police officers have turned their weapons on their NATO partners.”

[social_critic]

9. NATO partners

I think I figured it out. These suckers think NATO are occupation forces, not partners. When they figure out all the US government wants to do is have them as partners, then they'll settle down. All we got to do is let them build a military base for the Taliban near Washington DC.