Gates: Military Should Remain Involved in Afghanistan (Beyond 2014)

[tekisui]

Source: MSNBC

KABUL — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Monday that both the U.S. and Afghan governments agree the American military should remain involved in Afghanistan after the planned 2014 end of combat operations to help train and advise Afghan forces.

"Obviously it would be a small fraction of the presence that we have today, but I think we're willing to do that," Gates told a group of U.S. troops at Bagram air field, which is headquarters for U.S. and NATO forces in eastern Afghanistan. "My sense is, they (Afghan officials) are interested in having us do that."

A soldier asked Gates about a long-term military presence, and Gates noted that Washington and Kabul have recently begun negotiating a security partnership. He mentioned no details. He was to meet later in the day with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

On Sunday, the Afghan National Security Council discussed the matter of a long-term security accord with the U.S., according to a statement issued by Karzai's office. The statement said Karzai told the council that the U.S. wants the deal worked out as soon as possible. And he said that on the Afghan side it was matter not just for the government but for the Afghan people to decide.

more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41943313/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/

[rfranklin]

1. Permanent outpost of the empire...

Just like they planned it before 9/11.

[tekisui]

2. So another 3-4 years of combat and then Iraq style hanging around?

[bluethruandthru]

3. Translation: We have to stay until we can figure out some other way to

spend massive amounts of taxpayer money. Otherwise all the contractors might be forced to take smaller bonuses.

[DrDan]

5. or until we decide the next country to be invaded

[MadHound]

4. Fighting an illegal, immoral war so that a few can profit,

While the rest of us suffer.

[Bragi]

6. A novel idea

It would be okay for the U.S military to stay in wars even after the U.S government pulls out, provided the military finds some way of self-financing its wars.

For example, the military could keep a war going by selling off the treasures of countries that have agreed to become "willing war hosts" for U.S military operations.

Lots of potential here.

[Hubert Flottz]

7. How about if we let EXXON and BP pay for their own shit?

WE pay them back enough at the pumps, so why should we also pay to guard their property abroad?

[spanone]

8. be gone gates