Secretary of War Robert Gates says in Afghanistan "We are in this thing to win"

[Better Believe It]

Gates: 'We're in this thing to win'
In a surprise visit to Afghanistan, he aims to reassure troops, Karzai
By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
December 8, 2009

KABUL -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in this war-torn country Tuesday morning on an unannounced visit, prepared to offer U.S. troops a message from Washington after President Obama's decision to boost troop levels significantly: "We are in this thing to win."

Gates, the first senior U.S. official to travel to Afghanistan since Obama's announcement, said he will stress to President Hamid Karzai and other Afghan officials that the United States will not abandon them as it did in 1989, when the Soviet Union left in defeat. The United States had backed forces fighting the Soviets, but ended its support after Moscow quit the war, paving the way for Taliban rule.

"We are not going to repeat the experience of 1989," Gates said. As U.S. troops begin to depart in favor of trained Afghan forces, developmental and economic aid will continue to flow, he stressed. "We intend to be their partner for a long time to come," Gates said.

Read the full article at:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/07/AR2009120704573.html

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Gates reassures Afghans over U.S. commitment
In Kabul, defense secretary pledges to be ‘partner for a long time to come’
Associated Press
December 8, 2009


Defense Secretary Robert Gates and President Hamid Karzai speak to journalists during a press conference in Kabul on Tuesday.

Read the article at:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34321672/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia

[DrDan]

1. "even if it takes to 2024 . . ."

[Vinnie From Indy]

2. Again, I ask what in the holy hell is considered "a win" in Afghanistan

Is it that we have "our son of a bitch" dictator in place? Do we simply hope to prop up a corrupt govt. through force of arms?

The grand illusion continues.

[bdamomma]

3. yea, win?????

see how many will die on both sides.

[asjr]

4. Who is in charge of this mess--McChrystal, Gates,

Petraeus, Obama? Each day we hear a different outcome. We will get out in 2014, 15, 16? Karzai must be sitting back and not worrying at all. The longer we stay there the more money he will have to dole out to his buddies. Sounds very familiar. Do they have their own versions of Blackwater, KBR, etc? If we don't leave NOW we will be there for 100 more years.

[ClarkUSA]

5. FYI: before folks hyperventilate, "partner" = "friendship" (New York Times sourced link -->)

If Tuesday night was about President Obama sending a message to the American public that the war in Afghanistan would not be open-ended, then Wednesday in Kabul was about reassuring the Afghans of America’s long-term commitment.

To underscore that, Mr. Eikenberry signed an agreement with the Afghan foreign minister, Rangin Dadfar Spanta, at a ceremony to open the first United States consulate in Afghanistan in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, with another planned in the city of Herat.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=34387&mesg_id=34387">“I want to emphasize that we have a very comprehensive approach and a long-term friendship and partnership with Afghanistan,” Mr. Eikenberry said. President Obama discussed further assistance in energy, water management, mines, agriculture and improvement of the civil service in his video conference call on Tuesday with President Hamid Karzai, he added.

We're not leaving Afghanistan high and dry the way the U.S. abandoned Pakistan in the 80's.

[Moochy]

11. War Rebranding Clinic : "Cut & Run" becomes "Not leaving .. high and dry"

[Rosa Luxemburg]

6. If he doesn't win he will be imprisoned in the tower

[swilton]

7. Great News

From the Grand Politicizer of Intelligence! You have so much credibility Bobby - you have made my day brighter!

:sarcasm:

[Undercurrent]

8. Sky down already.

Secretary of War?

[Better Believe It]

10. "Secretary of War?" Yes. That's more honest than calling him the Secretary of Defense or the ...

Secretary of Peace.

It was called the Department of War until the post World War II Cold War.

It was renamed the Department of Defense after people pointed out that Department of War sounded so war like!

[Undercurrent]

12. I know the history. I lived it.

Doesn't change my original comment.

[Better Believe It]

14. I'm sorry. I didn't understand your original comment.

Your point is Gates should not be called the Secretary of War because he is a man of peace or something else?

[JVS]

9. If he says so

:eyes:

[ShortnFiery]

13. OLD and RICH people sending our YOUTH to kill and die for PROFIT and GEOPOLITICAL

advantages. How VILE. :puke: