US to send 1,400 additional marines to Afghanistan

[EnglishLady]

BBC News Jan 6

The US is to send an additional 1,400 marines to southern Afghanistan in an effort to counter a Taliban offensive, a Pentagon official has said.

The marines are now being notified of the deployment and are scheduled to leave within several weeks, the defence department said.

The US hopes to "apply pressure on the enemy during the winter", a department spokesman said.

The US plans to begin withdrawing troops from the country in July.

Defence secretary Robert Gates had "approved additional marine forces to southern Afghanistan to exploit and consolidate gains already achieved and apply pressure on the enemy during the winter campaign", Defence Department spokesman Col Dave Lapan said.

The contingent could start arriving within weeks and is expected to be on the ground for a short mission of about 90 days.

'Fragile and reversible'

President Barack Obama approved a troop surge of 30,000 troops roughly one year ago. But the president gave Mr Gates leeway to add an extra 3,000 forces, if necessary.

There are currently about 97,000 US troops in Afghanistan, along with 45,000 forces from other countries, and officials said the new marines would not put the total number of US forces above the limit of 100,000 authorized by President Obama.

Following the publication of the US annual strategy review last month, Mr Obama said the US was "on track" to achieve its goals in Afghanistan.

The review stated that the US had made enough progress to start a "responsible reduction" of forces in July 2011.

But it says the gains made against the Taliban by a US troop surge remain "fragile and reversible".

The US plans to end combat operations in 2014 and transfer responsibility for the country's affairs to Afghans

 

[aristotle]

Sue... my son's Marine unit just returned from deployment in Afghanistan. He and many of his fellow Marines believe it will take a generation, or twenty years, to effect real change. While the military efforts of the US and her allies are generally successful, achieving governmental or political progress in Afghanistan is impeded by the native population which does not aspire to embrace Western values. That is their chioce, of course.
The United States isn't going to make a 20 year commitment to chase the Taliban. The US military is handcuffed by the imposition of political correctness, thanks to the liberal sewing cirlce found in Washington,DC. Given the rules of engagement our troops are saddled with, and given the weak leadership coming from the White House, a prolonged quagmire seems likely. The Obama administration needs to prosecute this war for all-out victory. Half-measures only lead to further conflict somewhere down the road.

 

[greg334]

I know a couple who spent time there with the military and the one thing that they tell me is that the attitudes are very slow to change over there.

Isn't the US military handcuffed by Nato and their rules?

 

[EnglishLady]

Sue... my son's Marine unit just returned from deployment in Afghanistan. He and many of his fellow Marines believe it will take a generation, or twenty years, to effect real change. While the military efforts of the US and her allies are generally successful, achieving governmental or political progress in Afghanistan is impeded by the native population which does not aspire to embrace Western values. That is their chioce, of course.
The United States isn't going to make a 20 year commitment to chase the Taliban. The US military is handcuffed by the imposition of political correctness, thanks to the liberal sewing cirlce found in Washington,DC. Given the rules of engagement our troops are saddled with, and given the weak leadership coming from the White House, a prolonged quagmire seems likely. The Obama administration needs to prosecute this war for all-out victory. Half-measures only lead to further conflict somewhere down the road.

A big thank you to your son, his unit and to all the many nations military personnel serving in Afganistan

 

[aristotle]

I know a couple who spent time there with the military and the one thing that they tell me is that the attitudes are very slow to change over there.

Isn't the US military handcuffed by Nato and their rules?

Primitive tribalism is all they have known. While tribalism is their traditional way of life... the average Afghani, I suspect, really wants the Taliban gone. Still, they will cling to their centuries' old customs and traditions. And why not? We have nothing to fear from Islamic fundamentalism, right? Until it becomes a leading export.

The average Afghani most likely wants to live in peace. They want the US and the Taliban out. America has no territorial ambitions in Afghanistan or any Muslim nation. Yet, we are literally fighting a religious/cultural war against a nationless enemy on Afghani soil. The sooner we can talk about this in its truest form, the better.