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Former U.S. military chief wants U.S. to stay the course in Afghanistan
Macau News.Net
Friday 16th October, 2009
A former U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has backed moves for the United States to extend and reinforce its commitment to Afghanistan.
Retired General Richard Myers says the U.S. should recommit to a broad, troop-intensive counterinsurgency campaign in Afghanistan. It is doesn't the U.S. risks sparking regional instability, and a rise of global extremism, he says.
General Myers oversaw counterinsurgency campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq and spent many hundreds of hours with Pentagon and White House officials weighing up the various campaigns, and indeed the invasions, initiated in ecah country.
"My experience has been that the president would be eager to hear from lots of different voices in this argument so that he can build conviction on what the United States ought to do," he said Friday.
"The field commander has said 'I need a lot more troops.' And I think it's more than most people, at least in their calculus in the back of their minds, imprecise as that probably was, it was a larger number than they were prepared for," he said.
"This threat from violent extremism, not just in Afghanistan, not just in Pakistan, but globally, is a real existential threat to freedom-loving countries. And so Pakistan and Afghanistan today, that's where we need to work. So I think we need to devote the resources to try to be successful," General Myers added.
"They've shown that they want a choice in their lives. And I don't think the international community, not just the United States but the international community, can turn their backs on them," he said.  Email this story to a friend
Comments on this story
Sammy
10-17-09, 02:51 AM |
Myers pushes case for extended involvement in Afghanistan
It is very convinient to give opinions from an armchair.
But the facts, speak for themselves, many innocent people are being killed daily.
If he would not be sitting on his armchair, and would be in the front lines, his tune would surely be different.
Force, only calls for more force. And the strange thing is, that no one has ever thought to bring this conflict to be discussed at a peace table, and arrive at the meeting of the minds, and to a peaceful stlement.
But then all military minds are alike, they promote force to settle disputes, where we need diplomacy an no military agressive opinions.
But it seems that this new administration is still following the bush war policies, which are to the benefit of the war related corporations, where Mr. Obama was elected to put a stop to this conflict, but on the contrary he has and is sending more troops instead, thus expanding rather than diminuating.
Sammy, a free international thinker
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S Hussain
10-17-09, 08:50 AM |
A call from both side = start of another drama
It means still try to harm more and try as much as possible to harm humanity.
Our culture is different from your western. You can only bring more powers (countires for co operation)and try but this will only give negative feelings to us. If not to whole ASIAN countries then atleast to Muslim countries. The last sentence shows that you are calling your allies to co operate so that you can start another drama. Power can win soul,culture and feelings but it can only destroy.
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S Hussain
10-17-09, 08:54 AM |
correction to ---> A Call from both side = start ......!
Correction to my previous message.
Power can’t win soul,culture and feelings but it can only destroy
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S Hussain
10-17-09, 08:55 AM |
correction to ---> A Call from both side = start ......!
Correction to my previous message.
Power can’t win soul,culture and feelings but it can only destroy
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Sammy
10-17-09, 09:47 AM |
I believe that you are correct S Hussain
S Hussain
10-17-09, 08:50 AM
No one can force people to change their culture.
And democracy cannot be imposed through force.
But human rights must be respected by all cultures, as well for people to choose, and having a free choice, to adopt another culture if they wish, without being punished, or banned by the prevailing culture.
And I believe that this is what this conflict is all about. To give people their freedom of choice within their own culture. Without being, harassed, banned or killed for accepting to change.
Sammy
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