U.S. may start Afghan transition before July 2011

[HopeOverFear]

WASHINGTON, Dec 10 (Reuters) - The gradual U.S. handover of security to Afghan forces may begin before the July 2011 start date set by President Barack Obama, if conditions allow, the top U.S. military officer said on Thursday.


"I believe we will transition as soon as they are in a position to take the lead," Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at the Pentagon. "And I think by and large, it will be district-by-district"

Critics have called Obama's timeline for the Afghan mission arbitrary, taking aim at his plans to start withdrawing U.S. forces and transferring the lead on security to Afghan forces in July 2011, just as he deploys 30,000 more U.S. troops there.

Mullen said any decision on bringing forward the transition would fall upon General Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan.

"We are by no means with this approach waiting until July 2011. But that is a very strict date the president has set and one with which we will very strictly comply," Mullen said.

[unhappycamper]

1. Bullshit from warmongers to deflect critisim about the Afghanistan occupation. n/t

[Buzz Clik]

2. And here come the calls that this is bullshit.

Some people are never happy.

[HopeOverFear]

3. Yep. I've already put #1 on ignore.

I suspect I'll be putting some more on before the day is done.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HopeOverFear]

5. lol

[Clio the Leo]

6. Assessment would begin in December of next year....

.... with the first troops leaving the less-contested areas first (the things you learn on CSPAN!)

I wonder what changes yesterday's drone strike will bring?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34368206/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

[Arctic Dave]

7. More double speak. We will hand over areas but we aren't leaving.

[vaberella]

8. Where does it say what you suggest in the article?! Hmmm?!

No where.

[vaberella]

9. Thanks HOF! Very informative. n/t

[chill_wind]

10. Admiral Mike must have missed all the Sunday Show Talking Points

from the rest of the cabinet. When no more than 2-3 of them at a time are ever the same page for more than a single day, it's tough to take any of it as creditable.