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Subscribe to RSSChuck Hagel arrived in Afghanistan for his first trip abroad as U.S. defense secretary. On the flight over he told the press that he was traveling there to better understand "where we are in Afghanistan."
Chuck Hagel arrived in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Friday for his first trip there as the secretary of defense, saying, "We're still at war."
On the flight over, Hagel gave a short press briefing to set up the visit, saying that he was traveling to Afghanistan to thank the troops serving there and to better understand "where we are in Afghanistan."
Hagel would not talk specifics about the pace of U.S. troop drawdown through the end of 2014, saying that the president has not made his decision yet.
Asked whether he's concerned that the U.S. has forgotten about the war in Afghanistan, Hagel said, "I can't speak for the American people, or where we are on attention spans, but I would tell you now as the secretary of defense who has some responsibility for assuring that this transition be conducted responsibly, that we're still at war."
"We're still at war in Afghanistan," he later reiterated.
Then Hagel gave a somewhat convoluted reason for why the U.S. is at war there, saying the U.S. sought "to give the Afghan people an opportunity for their country, their people, to be free of terrorists and a government that was very hostile to what was going on in the neighborhood, and certainly as an effect of what happened September 11, 2001." He added that "I think we need to follow through the reasons we first went there, what we have tried to do."
Hagel said that it "was never the intention of the United States to stay in Afghanistan indefinitely," but then added that the U.S. still has "troops in a different capacity in South Korea, troops in Europe, Okinawa."
Asked whether the war is reminiscent of Vietnam, Hagel said, "The only thing I would say is the world we live in today is so complicated. And we have to factor that into our policies and everything that we do. And I think that, that speaks for itself, that complicated world that we live in."
Finally, asked about the recent North Korean threats, Hagel said that "the United States of America and our allies are prepared to deal with any threat, and any reality that occurs in the world."
He added, "We are aware of what's going on. We have partnerships in that part of the world that are important, and I think that -- that that reality is --- is clear, and that's what we will -- will continue to do."
Jason Reed / AFP - Getty Images
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (C) steps off his helicopter with Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, commander of the international security force, near Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Friday.
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Was there ever any doubt???
Yes. Beginning in March 2003.
Based on the look on his face this is a revelation.
Looks like he always just left a bar.
Well thank you so much for those beautiful words. They were surely an inspiration to our troops.
"We are still at war" - I'm sure this comes as a HUGE shock to those service men and women overseas and their families.
It amuses me when government officials comment or answer questions and because they are so afraid to be politically incorrect or say something that someone may take them to task on - they sound like complete fools.
I think it would be nice to get back to politically incorrect and tell it like it is. So sick of the B.S.
Did the Senate really confirm this man ?
Maybe not spoken...but what it probably thought in many of our politicians minds!
"As long as their is OPIUM that we can steal, we will continue this war god damn it!!!! Sure your children will die on the front lines (not mine)....but as long as we can profit (Not you)...who cares about some kids who probably wouldnt have amounted to much!!!!"
Its all BS!
Is it just me, or does Hagel sound like a high school kid trying to talk about something he knows very little about?
"Um, freedom for everybody, and stuff. And because of terrorists who don't...you know? September 11th and...yeah."
Another stellar pick by Obama !
"which way did he go ralph" "which way did he go"
This guy wouldn't know a terrorists if he was standing next to him ! this guy is dangerous !
Boy, what a choice! This guy really gets it.
The Oblama legacy continues.
Bill,
"Looks like he always just left a bar."
He probably did. He's a former military enlisted man, and I don't think the military's "de-glamorization of alcohol" program has been all that effective. A lot of former military are pretty heavy drinkers. When they have been to war, who can blame them? Anyway, he doesn't seem to be very effective in dealing with the news media. Maybe he is still just getting his feet wet.
mike-2598123
You are showing your age with that remark.... LOL (Problem is, is I remember that too...)
"And, Mr. Hagel continued, we must keep the American public in constant fear of the boogeyman, err, Taliban, as their level of danger and sophistication has now elevated from wiping with the use of their hand, to using newspaper, which by the way, is probably a better usage of the corporate controlled media, and they have now increased communication capabilities through the use of VCRs, upgrading from the ever popular eight tracks.
Whether they like it or not, we are confident the American people understand we must remove their rights and freedoms in order to provide them with a safer world to live in. If they can't trust the government to know what's best for them, who can they trust?"
Well, Duh! Exactly when has America NOT in war?
Revolutionary War, War of 1812, numerous wars with Native Americans, Spanish-American War, continuous wars with Muslims in N. Africa (Barbary Coast), Mexican-American War, Civil War. WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, conflict interventions such as in Dominican Republic, Cuba Conflict, Iraq I, Iraq II, Afghanistan, and the biggest scam of all, The Cold War.
Secretaries of War and Sec of Defense have been very busy men.
Debi,
"And, Mr. Hagel continued, we must keep the American public in constant fear of the boogeyman, err, Taliban, as their level of danger and sophistication has now elevated from wiping with the use of their hand"
Actually, the proper way of wiping one's butt for Muslim's according to the Prophet Muhammad is with the use of three pebbles. It's in the Hadith (Sahih Muslim).
Didn't you know that was reinterpreted from "three pebbles" to read "three fingers"? Lol
Those of us that know what is happening here (told to shut up by the politicians), this War is Lost.
Ever since 2009 President Obama's Failed Foreign Policies resulted in:: US And US Allies Loss of Strategic Resources Worldwide required for the current US Standard of Living and Future Alternative Energy; US And US Allies Loss of Strategic Locations Worldwide; US And US Allies Loss of Key and Strategic US Allies Worldwide.
Here at Afghanistan the Failed President Obama Foreign Policies resulted in the US Loss of Strategic US Military Logistics Support Bases at Pakistan REQUIRED to support the United Nation's Mission at LANDLOCKED US Ally Afghanistan. The Unsupportable UN, US, NATO Military Forces MUST withdraw by 2014. A maximum of 30,000 including International Aid Workers can only be supported without the US Military Logistics Support Bases at Pakistan. This situation is NOT new as the British during their British Empire Era knew that the Pakistanis Sea Ports, British Logistics Bases, Khyber Pass, etc. were essential for any "British Adventures" at LANDLOCKED Afghanistan.
EVERYTHING we did at great sacrifice (lives) was done in vain.
We had won Afghanistan, October 2001, being a United Nation's Mission, NATO screwed up and appointed Gentleman British General McColl as the Commander ISAF, he did nothing to stop the Taliban, Al Quada, Islamic Jihadists from returning thru Iran to Afghanistan from Northern Iraq, or from returning from Pakistan; while we were at Northern Iraq conducting 2001 Operation Viking Hammer attempting to eliminate the Taliban, Al Quada, Islamic Jihadists combined with the Kurdistanis PKK, HPG, KGK becoming Ansar Al Islam.
In October 2001, 200 US Army Special Forces, Redacted CIA's SAD/SOG, 100 other US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces (USAF STTs, USMC MARSOC, USN SEALs, etc.) go into Afghanistan; today their are less than a couple of dozen alive. We Won, by Overthrowing the Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban, Al Quada, and Islamic Jihadists that sponsored the 9/11 2001 Attacks. We even chased them out of Afghanistan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxKhJIjIiY
Horse Soldiers of 9/11. Since most of you were not participants, the "Angel of Death" was a US Military woman doing precision airstrikes against the Taliban, Al Quada, Islamic Jihadists. You can deny all you want Vice President Biden knew the truth (dedication of the Horse Soldiers Memorial at Ground Zero).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmiyyLNogaY
The rest of the truth:
President Obama demanded spending of $2.1 Trillion that was not previously Budgeted For, so now to pay for the $2.1 Trillion all previously Budget For Programs Chopped as President Obama demanded in July 2011.
The US Military taking in the arse ever since President Obama as Commander In Chief Ordered US Military Budget Cuts starting April 2009 to now* while at Two Wars (Iraq and Afghanistan) and President Obama's Secret Wars,
*Resulting in the US Military loss of Funding for Maintenance Funds for Aircraft, Ships, Submarines, Vehicles, Facilities, etc.; US Military loss of Sustainment Funds for Ammunition, Fuel, Food, Water, etc. with US Military Families sending "Care Packages" of Body Armor, ammunition magazines for M-16s and M-4s, canned food, underware, uniforms, boots, socks, boot laces, etc.; US Military loss of Funding for Training; etc..
Reduction In Forces of 90,000 US Military thrown on Unemployment further straining Veteran's Affairs, Unemployment of 108,000 US DOD Civilians meaning more deployments and longer tours as to why Secretary of Defense Gates Resigned.
Next the US Military Mission change from Two Wars and Contingency Missions (including United Nations's Missions) Simulataneously to One War or a Contingency Mission (the US Military Chopped in Half, 50% thrown on Unemploymnent) reason why Secretary of Defense Penetta resigned "to go work on his (Walnut) Farm with a different kind of Nut".
"We're still at war" - Secretary of Defense Hagel.
That would be only be you Secretary of Defense Hagel. You don't know when you were beaten by your own President and US Politicians do you. Just like Vietnam the US Military won the Battles, the US Politicians lost the War.
Your boss is doing the same things that lead up to the 9/11 2001 Attacks; identical to President Clinton (42). President Clinton's Belief that the "Cold War Era" US Defense, US Intelligence, US Military were no longer needed.
So President Clinton chopped the US Defense (including the Funding for the US Army Corps of Engineers Infrastructure Projects within the US, result the Levees at New Orleans not Funded before Hurricane Katrina, US Congressional Katrina Hearings).
President Clinton Gutted the US Intelligence Agencies that were previously built up by the Director of the CIA Bush (President #41); leaving the US Blind and Deaf to the Events leading up to the 9/11 2001 Attacks. Bipartisan US Congressional 9/11 Commission Investigations, Findings, and Recommendations, former President Clinton saying, "I'm a so sorry".
President Clinton Cut to the Bone Reduction In Forces of the US Military, so it took from 2001 to 2003 for President Bush to rebuild the US Military to accomplish President Clinton's US Policy Overthrow of President Hussein in accordance with President Clinton's US Law, H.R.4655 "Iraqis Liberation Act of 1998" Section 3 US Policy Overthrow of President Hussein, Section 2 Findings (Justifications) Weapons of Mass Destruction.
President Clinton as Commander In Chief Orders his 1998 Operation Desert Fox, resulting in the deaths of many of the innocent Poor of Islam at the crowded urban areas of Baghdad; this resulted in the over 1.5 Billion Islamic Believers of the Islamic World to Condemn the US as the Great Satan. In retaliation Fundamentalist Islamic Believer Osama Bin Laden starts planning his 9/11 2001 Attacks against the Great Satan (US). This is just like President Obama's Reelection "Osama Bin Laden is Dead, GM is Alive" resulting in the Islamic World saying "Obama Declared War Against Muslims (Islam)", "Obama, Obama, We Are All Osama", then attacking the US Consulate Benghazi, US Embassy Cairo Egypt, Violent Anti US Protests, etc..
"Stup!d is as Stup!d Does" - Forrest Gump.
We previously told everyone what you were going to do next, based on what President Clinton did before:
Army suspends popular tuition assistance program because of sequester, in blow to soldiers
http://nbclatino.com/2013/03/08/army-suspends-popular-tuition-assistance-program-because-of-sequester-in-blow-to-soldiers/
And stop playing the Political Blame Game, this is all on you President Obama; NOT the Repugnants, with your demanded "Across the Board Budget Cuts" (Automatic Sequestration), July 2011.
Fact: We did not voluntarily leave Iraq. It was due to President Obama's 2009 Failed Foreign Policies that got the US KICKED OUT OF IRAQ. The Islamic Shia Government of Iraq, No More Negotiations with President Obama nor SOS Clinton, absolutely NO Status of Forces Agreement. Resulting in the Allies of the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran, the Chinese and Russian Federation, getting the Iraqis Oil that could have paid for the US And US Allies Liberation of Iraq with Decades to Centuries of Iraqis Oil.
Before any of you start your name-calling, you give the short title and the date (I already spoonfed you the year) of the President Obama Foreign Policy.
Next time politicians send out invitations to participate in a war of convenience, no one should RSVP.
Maybe not spoken...but what it probably thought in many of our politicians minds!
"As long as their is OPIUM that we can steal, we will continue this war god damn it!!!! Sure your children will die on the front lines (not mine)....but as long as we can profit (Not you)...who cares about some kids who probably wouldnt have amounted to much!!!!"
Its all BS!
Hi david. Much thanks to you for spelling it out for us, as unhappy as the news may be.
Actions speak louder than words.
Let's see if he will stand up and be counted for the military.
Karzi is a Taliban in disguise and should hung from a bridge. This is a giant S Hole so flush it and get us out.
He will be; right after we leave the country...
Do you mean under a bridge, with his feet in the water at high tide? That's a mason action, but then again,
who cares.
I hope this man thinks a little more clearly than he speaks - otherwise we're in big trouble.
I'm voting for the latter option in your post.
It's a yes or no question, Hagel. And let me help you with that; the answer is YES.
We've accomplished what we set out to do; find and kill Osama Bin Laden. That was the original goal, remember? Stop tap-dancing, stop funneling our American tax dollars into that corrupt and festering hell-hole beyond replacing what we've knocked down, and bring our troops home. One would almost think war has become too lucrative for special interests to want to end.
[sarcasm] Nah, that couldn't be it. [/sarcasm]
Everything he knows he credits to Joseph 'Puddinghead' Biden.
Of course we're still at war. You can't win a war when you can't define what constitutes a win.
Nope. Original Goal as Documented Fact, not President Obama nor Democratic Party Reguritated Propaganda:
1. Overthrow the Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban Government, Eliminate the Al Quada and Islamic Jihadists that Sponsored the 9/11 2001 Attacks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxKhJIjIiY
2. Since 2001, United Nation's Mission, Nation Building.
History:
The stated Mission as by Standing Executive Order of President Bush (43) as Presidentially Authorized and Delegated to the Director of the CIA, Commander US Military Special Operation Command, Commander US Military Joint Special Operation Command, was to Locate and Capture Osama Bin Laden, to gain his thought processes and planning processes imprinted on his Al Quada Leadership for the US to preemptively interdict all Al Quada Activities Worldwide.
In 2006 President Bush (43) by Executive Order Amended the US No Amended the US No Assassination Policy. As by Standing Executive Order Authorizing the Termination of Osama Bin Laden failing his Capture (termination was considered a Mission Failure).
Harvard International Review Article, May 6 2006, "US No Assassination Policy On The Offensive".
http://hir.harvard.edu/leadership/on-the-offensive
Don't let the Documented Historical Facts interfere with the President Obama and Democratic Party Propaganda.
The rest of the Facts (Definition Fact: Experience or Observation) at post#1.17, and not your Opinions (Defintion Opinion: a personal view, attitude, or appraisal without knowledge, thought, or reason.).
Those voting for your post, Boreal Belle, being proof that most people at the US are Low or No Information, Low or No Education. Or too lazy to even research the Facts.
http://money.msn.com/investing/11-things-wrong-with-congress
David/numbers, #4.5:
First of all you're assuming that I'm [a.] a Democrat, and [b.] that I pay any attention to Obama's double-speak at all. Allow me to inform you that you're wrong on both counts. You don't know me. You don't know anything about me.
In October of 2001 [shortly after we were attacked on 9/11/2001], Operation Enduring Freedom was launched, with the express purpose of rooting out and killing Bin Laden. What it turned into beyond that, well... I voted for Bush the first time. My bad. I did it because I was so very disgusted with Clinton-era policies and Willy's attempt to shrink our military. I'm the wife of a veteran, bud. As for Obama... don't even get me started. The line of corruption in the past few administrations especially is very, very long. Current Republican and Democratic politicians are just two sides of one corrupt, double-headed [and forked-tongued] coin now. I'm a true Libertarian; not a moderate Republican [an endangered species] in rehab trying to distance myself from the freak show that has become the GOP, nor a tax-it-if-it-moves-and-spend-like-there's-no-tomorrow Democrat who wants to control every element of life. Get your own facts straight.
Aside from that fact, what part of my post came across as anything but my own opinion? I have the right to express one, others have the right to agree with it, and you have the right to disagree with it. I don't care what you say about me, because you're just a stranger on the Web. But calling others names? You do yourself and your cause no favors with that.
I do truly believe that there are far too many "pet" contractors and officials [both in the US as well as in the Middle East] feeding at the war trough, and doing so at the expense of our troops. I don't like that, and I have a right not to like it. I am paying for it, as all taxpayers are. I also believe this has now turned into Vietnam 2.0. Problem for you? Sweetie, I could not possibly care any less what you think.
I'm not wading through your post at #1.17; I have a life. You're not a novelist, I'm not a publisher, and if you can't say it in more than a few paragraphs I don't have time for you. Oh, and speaking of rights... you do have the right to be a jingoistic, sabre-rattling RWNJ Bush apologist, also. [The "Repugnants" thing in #1.17 was a nice red herring, but you aren't fooling a soul with that.] I also have the right to dismiss you as one. Toodles.
I thought the war was over? At least this is what my President told me during the election cycle. What happened? He would never flip/flop on anything would he?
No just ask him, it's the republicans fault again.
well, hagel IS a republican. I bet obama steps on some toes and says otherwise and gets us out of there on time. Seeing as he is the least corrupt man in washington I've seen in 30 years.
Wow Patrick93, was that sarcasm? Otherwise, what flavor is the Kool-aid?
I thought the war was over?
Hey jacksonholeidiot, where'd you get that idea? Your thinking of your last president, "Mission Accomplished". Yeah that's it. And BTW how much do you think we've spent on Bush's war? Fox said in Iraq alone was $787 billion, yet were still there! How much did Bush borrow from China for Afghanistan?
And then you idiots wonder why the deficit is so high? Really?!?!?!?!?!?
That would depend...are you talking about Obama running as the Anti-Bush candidate, or are you talking about the same as Bush Obama, as soon as he was sworn in?
Why are lefts always ignoring Obama's policies that are the same or worse than Bush's? (before you have a panic attack.....yes the right does it too!!!)
It like saying:
"John killed Lisa!!!
"So...Why are you picking on John? Remember, Chris also killed someone once!!! You are such a John hater?!!!
They both are murderers!
mqira
I understand what ya wrote and I agree with it.
mqira,
Nice simile ...... and accurate, too. Choosing between Democrats and Republicans is like trying to figure out how to pick up a dog turd by the clean end.
Terri-2006096
Bush has been out of office for over 4 years let him retire and put the blame now where it belongs.
If you think the political statute of limitations on blame is 4 years, you are a moron.
TYPICAL LOW INFORMATION, NO EDUCATION POST Terri-2006096:
Read the whole thing, not your uninformed Demoncrap one liner twit.
http://articles.cnn.com/2003-05-01/us/bush.transcript_1_general-franks-major-combat-allies?_s=PM:US
Was not (President) Bush's War. Was President Clinton's War, as President Clinton's US Policy Overthrow of President Hussein in accordance with President Clinton's 1998 State of the Union Address, and President Clinton's US Law, H.R. 4655 "Iraqis Liberation Act of 1998" Section 3 US Policy Overthrow of President Hussein, Section 2 Findings (Justifications) Weapons of Mass Destruction.
President Clinton's 1998 State of the Union Address, US Policy Overthrow of President Hussein, US Support of Holy Warriors of Islam at Bosnia, etc.
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/01/27/sotu/transcripts/clinton/
President Clinton's US Law, H.R.4655 "Iraqis Liberation Act of 1998" that became 2003 Operation Iraqis Freedom.
http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1057063/posts
FYI stating as US Policy the Overthrow of a Sovereign Nation's Government is a Declaration of War, just as if the Chinese and or Russian Federation made it their Policies to Overthrow President Obama. International Court of Law, Hague.
Typical name-calling without even bothering to do the research. What "Deficit" the Democratic Party has refused to pass a Budget (even those proposed by President Obama) for over Four Years, to hide the fact that President Obama previously demanded the spending of $2.1 Trillion that was not previously Budgeted for.
You need to have a Passed into US Law a US Budget before you can have a Budget Deficit. If you are talking about the National Debt:
Interest on the National Debt:
President Clinton, $18.9 Billion
President Bush, $16.6 Billion.
As far as the "Fiscal Cliff", "Debt Ceiling", "Across the Board Budget Cuts", etc. that is all on President Obama and the Democrats (previous control of both the US House of Representatives, and previous and current control of the US Senate). President Obama demanded the spending of $2.1 Trillion (Update: $2.5 Trillion) that was not previously Budgeted for, the Democratic Party Controlled US Congress gladly agreed, to hide this cost from the US Citizens (that would pay in some form or another as Taxes or decreased Benefits and Entitlements), the Democratic Party Controlled US Congress refused to pass a US Budget and kept passing Continuing Resolutions (CRs).
The Waitress arrived with the Bill of $2.5 Trillion for the meal that President Obama ate, President Obama looks around for everyone else to pay.
President Obama demands in a 2011 President's Proposal* to US Congress the "Automatic Budget Cuts" of all previously Budgeted for Programs (like Medicare, Social Security,etc. that are actually NOT President Obama's "Entitlements", but US Citizens involuntary Contributory Funds), Projects (like the US Army Corps of Engineer Infrastructure Projects within the US like Dams, Levees, Sea Walls, Bridges, Interstates, etc.), Agencies (like FEMA, Department of Education, Veteran's Affairs, etc.), including chopping the Benefits and Entitlements of the "47%" (2012 actual 49%, 2013 update 51%).
* A President's Proposal becomes a Demand, when it states that the US President will not sign anything from US Congress regardless of what it is, if US Congress refuses to do as the President Demands.
Again, the Low or No Information Uneducated Voters that voted for your post Terri-2006096.
How about this Terri-2006096, you "Follow the Money" as to what the $2.5 Trillion was spent on as Demanded by President Obama, then let's have an Adult Discussion of Newsvine's "Get Smarter Here".
ok we're still at war i get that. what i want to know is what is his plan to WIN this war and bring our troops home
Anyone who still believes this conflict can be won must be living in Cloud Cuckoo Land. That festering hellhole has been at war since who knows when and will no doubt continue to be so into the foreseeable and unforeseeable future. It's about time those in Washington who enjoy being profligate with both lives and taxpayer dollars (yes, it is not Government money!) had the intestinal fortitude to tell Karzai and his buffoons that our men and women will be out of that cesspit (as will our funding) by Christmas and that their country's future security and economy is all in their own hands!
How can you win a false war? A war on "terror" is like a war on "jealousy". Its not intended to be won! Its intended to last a really long time!
A war on something specific, like a war with a governent (who actually declared war against you) can be fought and won or lost. But this war on terror is not supposed to be won! This way we can continue a long and endless war..always chasing a ghost (terrorist), who just happens to pop up in poor countries with oil, or some other natural resource!
mqira... "or some other natural resource!" Do you mean, like... Opium Poppies?
"Man cannot give freedom. He can only take it away." Jacques-Yves Cousteau
"People get the government they deserve." Alexis de Tocqueville
@lilbear68
"Plans? We ain't got no plans. We don't need no plans. I don't have to show you any stinking plans "
Apologies to Alphonso Bedoya. More apologies to B. Traven.
Yep. Dumber than an ashtray.
Speak for yourself, Secretary Hagel.
I'm not at "war" with anyone. I also do not appreciate the appearance of a lawfully valid war to intentionally place our young soldiers into when we asserted that we would never cause a circumstance like Vietnam, ever again.
This is reestablishing that same situation, and it is wrong.
From now on, I hope that we never engage in combat against with any nation for the long term without fully committing and declaring war.
That is lawful, but also, declaring war will help to not deplete a nation of its resources, as this result has cost American taxpayers almost all of our valuable assets in funding.
Justis4U...
"What experience and history teach is this: that people and governments have never learned anything from history." Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
"Whenever you hear a man speak of his love for his country, it is a sign that he expects to be paid for it." H.L. Menken
"It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder." Albert Einstein
Everyone who's served there who actually is a veteran and not still on active duty and can speak freely, tells us they knew it was a lost cause within months. It simply didn't fit with the political agendas when they realized it. The Karzai Drug Cartel is very very happy.
All we are doing is trying to prevent the Taliban from taking over again. It's inevitable they will.
This is Chuck Hagel's fifth trip to Afghanistan- the first as Secretary of Defense. Read his speech to ISAF/NATO- it was professional, clarifying etc. Go to http://www.isaf.nato.int/article/bonn-conference/us-secretary-of-defense-arrives-in-afghanistan.html You will also learn that a US military member in Afghanistan died in non-combat.
As did a contractor (non-combatant) who died in combat from an insider attack in the Tagab District.
Mimi:
The link goes to an empty page... Must be something they did not want the Public to Know.
Way to aggregate all that information and boil it to the top, SECDEF...
You are hereby promoted to Captain of the Obvious.
THIS JUST IN:
We're still at war.
And, therewasmuchrejoice.
And, thecrowdsaidyay.
"YAY."
:-\
Prior to 1949, we had a Secretary of War. Now, it's called Secretary of Defense. As if we were done with wars and only have a defensive posture. How's that worked out for us? Vietnam, Korea, Granada, Panama, Kosovo, Laos, Cambodia, Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan. (the ones we know about). I suppose if he were to think like a Sec. of War rather than 'defense', he'd have a plan. Sounds like to me, there is no plan to win. Just a plan to serve a political agenda.
If we're still at war, WHY are using small arms & getting our people killed. WHERE is all this Modern American firepower we see & here about ? WHERE'S the bombs ? BETTER yet WHERE'S the GUTS/BALLS to use them?
Larry
Sure....lets just nuke everyone! it doesnt matter if there are innocent people living there! I mean, they arent American, so who ares...they have no value! We are the supreme beings and should just start killing everyone until there is no one left, and once that is done we can start killing ourselves too! When do we begin?
mqita:
Larry DID NOT say anything about nukes... Why are you are you like that?????
We have a so-called "War" against terrorism. So, we call anyone working with Al-Qaeda an "enemy combatant." So, if an American is training in an Al-Qaeda camp, or working for Al-Qaeda, we can zap him with a drone. But, if someone (some Muslim mountain monkey in Afghanistan) is a high ranking member of Al-Qaeda, we fly him to New York for a civil trial and afford him all the protection under our Constitution.
and to better understand "where we are in Afghanistan." Shouldn't the U.S. Defense Secretary know exactly where we are... even if it is his first trip to Afghanistan?
Yes. He gets daily briefings by the Secretarys of the Navy, Army, AirForce, Marines, and yes,,,, even the Coasties. Then, he gets told what to say and has to remember his lines by someone in civvies.
oh great... no hagel! enough world police crap! this is why we are internationally hated!
Not relieved. Not filled with confidence. Not impressed, Mr. SecDef. Sounds like the only plan is no plan. Sounds like the only reasoning is no reasoning.
Legalize/regulate/tax all substances now referred to as illegal drugs. Then the poppy crop in Afghanistan will be more like poppy cock. Billions, er ... trillions, wasted can be diverted toward other resources.
Reduce/eliminate US dependence on foreign energy resources and watch several 3rd world economies collapse.
Pipe dreams the both, but perhaps one day ... a safer world for all.
Soldiers are not Policemen. What we need is another 'Ike' in the White House, and another Patton on the battlefield. Congress has evolved into a state of hopeless lifers who's personal agenda's outweigh any sense of Americanism and no longer uses the military for anything but their political agendas. Our military is used and abused and we keep voting in the same neanderthals. We even have people in Congress stupid enough to think we should leave 10,000 troops behind there in 2014. We left 10,000 in Vietnam in 1973. How'd that work out for us 2 years later on April 3, 1950 ? These idiots in Congress actually think our troops should be left behind to provide the Taliban with a more target-friendly environment ? It's never their ass in the grass. It's always the rest of us.
Typo: Where it says April 3, 1950, should have read April 30, 1975
Thought you were talking about Korea there for a sec lol
instead of wasting our time in this screwed up country why don't we take care of a real threat to us north korea? and another threat to our freedom this so called president in office OBAMA!!!! i think us real americans need to take back our country and remind these so called politictan that they work for us and not we work for them! if not were going to be screwed!!!!!!!!
We can't do a thing about North Korea militarily until they either attack, or they satisfy three elements of a threat. The threat must be imminent, impending, and immediate. Either of the three missing, we can't act. An example being an overt act whereby they begin massing troops at the border and start moving their mobile missiles and other signs, accompanied by the verbal threats. Even then, we'd wait. Probably too long.
Perry:
That's not true... Just as obama... After all he bombed Libya without Congressional approval and Libya was NOT a Threat to the USA at the time... They are Now tho as has been proven by the killing of 4 Americans.
I feel alot safer already...........(sarcasm)
I've sat and chatted with several Congressmen and Sentors over the years, and there is a favorite saying they all have which sort of makes them smile. They joke about it because it is so true. . The saying is, "All we have to do is keep 85% of the peasants out there BS'd and we can have our party any way we want it."
Since the time of Alexander of Macedonia, Afghanistan has been the graveyard of empires. There is no "victory" to be had here, only the constant attrition of resources and soldiers, both of which we can ill afford. Karzai's puppet government has no legitimacy, and once the threat of armed American intervention leaves, Karzai wil flee for whatever European country that will take him, carrying as much of your and my tax dollars as he can. The Taliban will come back down from the hills, and the entire decade of loss and sacrifice will have been for naught.
Just get our troops home safe. That's all the "good" that we can salvage now. Maybe leave behind a few remote-detonated "surprises" in the government buildings, so when the Taliban regains power, we can express our appreciation for their efforts.
I totally agree. It doesn't take Nostradamus to figure out how this is going to work out for us. That punk Karzai probably has over a billion or two in Swiss Bank accounts and accounts in the Cayman Islands, etc, etc.. Opium production has increased tenfold since we got there. Before that, the Taliban would burn the poppy fields. Our government will not tell you that heroin addiction in this country is of epidemic proportions. Afghanistan accounts for 93% of the opium on this planet being exported to the U.S..