Afghanistan withdrawal date moved back 3 years to 2014

[devil21]

Seems they were able to pull this off very, very quietly. Afghan withdrawal timetable is now 2014, not 2011.

http://wildcat.arizona.edu/news/obama-moves-withdrawl-date-for-aghanistan-to-2014-1.1767752



WASHINGTON - The Obama administration has decided to begin publicly walking away from what it once touted as key deadlines in the war in Afghanistan in an effort to de-emphasize President Barack Obama's pledge that he'd begin withdrawing U.S. forces in July 2011, administration and military officials have told McClatchy Newspapers.

The new policy will be on display next week during a conference of NATO countries in Lisbon, Portugal, where the administration hopes to introduce a timeline that calls for the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan by 2014, the year when Afghan President Hamid Karzai once said Afghan troops could provide their own security, three senior officials told McClatchy, along with others speaking anonymously as a matter of policy.

The Pentagon also has decided not to announce specific dates for handing security responsibility for several Afghan provinces to local officials and instead intends to work out a more vague definition of transition when it meets with its NATO allies.

What a year ago had been touted as an extensive December review of the strategy now also will be less expansive and will offer no major changes in strategy, the officials said. So far, the U.S. Central Command, the military division that oversees Afghanistan operations, hasn't submitted any kind of withdrawal order for forces for the July deadline, two of those officials said.

The shift already has begun privately and came in part because U.S. officials realized that conditions in Afghanistan were unlikely to allow a speedy withdrawal.

"During our assessments, we looked at if we continue to move forward at this pace, how long before we can fully transition to the Afghans? Of course, we are not going to fully transition to the Afghans by July 2011," said one senior administration official. "Right now, we think we can start in 2011 and fully transition sometime in 2014."

Another official said the administration also realized in contacts with Pakistani officials that the Pakistanis had concluded wrongly that July 2011 would mark the beginning of the end of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan.

That perception, one Pentagon adviser said, has convinced Pakistan's military - which is key to preventing Taliban sympathizers from infiltrating Afghanistan - to continue to press for a political settlement instead of military action.

"This administration now understands that it cannot shift Pakistani approaches to safeguarding its interests in Afghanistan with this date being perceived as a walk-away date," the adviser said.

Last week's midterm elections also have eased pressure on the Obama administration to begin an early withdrawal. Earlier this year, some Democrats in Congress pressed to cut off funding for Afghanistan operations. With Republicans in control of the House of Representatives beginning in January, however, there will be less push for a drawdown. The incoming House Armed Services chairman, Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., told Reuters last week that he opposed setting the date.

On Tuesday, a White House official said the administration might withdraw some troops next July and may hand some communities over to Afghan authorities. But he said a withdrawal from Afghanistan could take "years," depending on the capability of the Afghan national security forces.

[Fox McCloud]

So much for being the "peace candidate".

[acptulsa]

Can't have victory, that would mean the end. So, just keep moving those goalposts...

[LibertyPhanatic]

The silver lining in this is that Ron will be the only anti-war candidate running for President in 2012.

[freshjiva]

Ron Paul called this BS on Obama almost a year ago:

YouTube - Ron Paul : Obama Preparing for Perpetual War! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtlME2Ef_vA)

[Elwar]

At least Ron Paul will be able to campaign against Obama on ending the war.

[Bruno]

The silver lining in this is that Ron will be the only anti-war candidate running for President in 2012.

you make an excellent point

[oyarde]

Perpetual war are the exact words used by Obama Army Secratary .

[Brooklyn Red Leg]

Bet the pigfuckers at DailyKos, Democratic Underground and Moveon.org don't say shit.

[acptulsa]

Bet the pigfuckers at DailyKos, Democratic Underground and Moveon.org don't say shit.

God save us from team players. They know not what they do.

[freshjiva]

Here is an even better video.

Ron Paul is either a Jedi or he's just seen far too much Washington politics to be able to sniff BS from miles away.

YouTube - Ron Paul Correctly Predicts Obama Lie! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ2GWW5bitM&feature=related)

[cswake]

Quite a coincidence that the Debt Commission released a draft of their report several weeks early and delivered it the day he breaks a major promise.

[devil21]

Quite a coincidence that the Debt Commission released a draft of their report several weeks early and delivered it the day he breaks a major promise.

There's a lot of distractions going on right now. That Cali missile thing is running pretty good cover too.

[sevin]

And in 2013 they'll push it to 2017, and in 2016 they'll push it to 2020, and people will tell their kids, "We have always been at war."

[HOLLYWOOD]

Here's a better article... How do you like the Propaganda of the US to get their paid/compensated NATO Hacks to help in the war scam. Ha Ha...

Same Old Bullshit of the Imperial Globalists that run Washington DC. It will be December 2014... SO it's

4 More Years!

http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-08-04-19-29

http://www.stripes.com/img/common/logo.gif

Nov 8, 6:31 AM EST


Pentagon chiefs: Afghans can manage by 2014
By ANNE GEARAN and MATTHEW LEE
Associated Press

http://ap.stripes.com/photos/F/fe4f9a01-b7ff-45d2-bae6-66be552e78fd-small.jpg (http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/files/photos/F/fe4f9a01-b7ff-45d2-bae6-66be552e78fd.html?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT)

http://te.ap.org/tte/blank.gif?0.7126323867014283&snippet_version=1.3.a&referrer=&page=http%3A//ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN%3FSITE%3DDCSAS%26SECTION%3DHOME% 26TEMPLATE%3DDEFAULT%26CTIME%3D2010-11-08-04-19-29&timezone=480&var_SECTION=INTERNATIONAL%3B%20ASIA Latest News
Afghanistan: 10 killed, including 3 NATO troops (http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-10-13-24-13) US lawmakers voice concern about Afghan corruption (http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_AFGHAN_US_CONGRESS?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-10-13-02-55)
Afghan security companies to disband in stages (http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_AFGHAN_SECURITY_CONTRACTORS?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-10-12-42-42)
US takes on violent Afghan valley that bled Brits (http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_AFGHANISTAN_VIOLENT_VALLEY?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-09-12-17-01)
Poll: Majority of Afghans back talks with Taliban (http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_AFGHAN_SURVEY?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-09-11-22-28)

Interactives
(http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-08-04-19-29#) Afghanistan: Shining a light on the dark (http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-08-04-19-29#)
(http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-08-04-19-29#) Efforts to rebuild Afghanistan (http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-08-04-19-29#) Afghanistan War's 1,000 U.S. Troop Casualties (http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-08-04-19-29#)
(http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-08-04-19-29#) AP Photographer Caught in GunFire (http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-08-04-19-29#)
(http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-08-04-19-29#) WIlling to fight, unable to read (http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-08-04-19-29#)
(http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-08-04-19-29#) AP journalists wounded in Afghanistan (http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-08-04-19-29#)
(http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-08-04-19-29#) U.S. troops under attack (http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-08-04-19-29#)
(http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_documents/hero_hoax_charges.pdf) Marine allegedly faked injuries to get freebies (http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_documents/hero_hoax_charges.pdf)


(http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-08-04-19-29#) US troops spending Christmas (http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-11-08-04-19-29#) http://analytics.apnewsregistry.com/analytics/v2/image.svc/AP/RWS/hosted.ap.org/MAI/V5577-2010-11-08T0631Z/E/prod/AT/A


MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Afghanistan should be ready to handle its own security by the year 2014, the top U.S. defense chiefs said Monday.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen said NATO should endorse the 2014 timeline proposed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai when the alliance holds its annual summit later this month.
"As a target at this point that makes sense, so I am comfortable with it," Mullen said.

The 2014 date would give a symbolic deadline for ending the war and bringing most combat forces home. The war is already in its 10th year and unpopular in the U.S. and Europe.

The U.S. plans to begin withdrawing some of its 100,000 troops next summer, but has never said exactly how long some forces would remain. The top NATO civilian in Afghanistan, Mark Sedwill, has said the 2014 deadline is feasible for all but a residual allied force including special forces and trainers.
U.S. responsibility will extend for years, Gates said Monday.
President Barack Obama and other NATO allies will consider plans for transition of security control at the November 19-20 summit in Lisbon, Portugal. Although Gates had once said he hoped a few districts could be transferred this year, NATO is now looking at beginning the process in the spring.
"You'll see a thinning of the foreign forces in a particular district or province so there's a safety net under the Afghans ... as they take charge," Gates told reporters following two days of meetings with Australian defense and diplomatic chiefs that also included U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
"This is a tough fight that we're in but we're convinced that starting next year there will be parts of Afghanistan that will be under control of the Afghan government and its security forces," Clinton said at a press conference with Gates on Monday.

"I can't stand here today and tell you when or on what timetable," Clinton said. "We'll be making those assessments based on conditions as they occur."
U.S. officials say the war is beginning to turn around after two years of stalemate. Although eager to underscore that claim of progress by handing over some security control, military officials are worried about backsliding. The first districts to move under Afghan police and Army control will probably be in safer areas far from front line fighting in Helmand and Kandahar provinces.
Gates also said that although he welcomes preliminary talks between the Taliban and the U.S.-backed Afghan government, the insurgency isn't likely to cut a deal unless it is weakened further.

"The Taliban need to clearly see that the prospects for success have diminished dramatically, and in fact that they may well lose," before senior leaders would be ready to negotiate a lasting political settlement, Gates said.
That tipping point would be difficult to foresee at least until next spring, Gates added.

The Taliban deny they are being beaten down.

[cswake]

There's a lot of distractions going on right now.The "anti-war" left new sources are all over the cuts:

http://i51.tinypic.com/1251idc.jpghttp://i54.tinypic.com/153b56w.jpg

[dean.engelhardt]

Will this cost Obama in 2012? What will the 2012 alternative be if it does?

[dean.engelhardt]

Here is an even better video.

Ron Paul is either a Jedi or he's just seen far too much Washington politics to be able to sniff BS from miles away.

YouTube - Ron Paul Correctly Predicts Obama Lie! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ2GWW5bitM&feature=related)

This post is full of win. Rep added:)

[Heimdallr]

Yeah, but Ron Paul will be president by then, silly!

[aGameOfThrones]

They have to raise the withdrawal date, like they have to raise the Debt (invisible)ceiling.

[oyarde]

The "anti-war" left new sources are all over the cuts:

http://i51.tinypic.com/1251idc.jpghttp://i54.tinypic.com/153b56w.jpg

Yep

[cswake]

And just for completeness, since there are no mainstream other mainstream news sources that will give it coverage, Antiwar.com has had the article up since last night:
http://news.antiwar.com/2010/11/09/obama-to-downplay-afghanistans-2011-transition/

Huffingtonpost has an article on the issue buried here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/derrick-crowe/delaying-an-afghanistan-d_b_781596.html

[Bruno]

This will really infuriate the Democrats!!!

[Lucille]

O.M.G.

The American people are sick of these insane wars. Yet another example that Washington doesn't GAF what the people say.

[oyarde]

This will really infuriate the Democrats!!!

I thought it was the dems idea .

[Bruno]

I thought it was the dems idea .

I was joking. It will infuriate very few, unfortunately.

[tropicangela]

Truthout comments on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=168622919823208&id=83865976093

[oyarde]

I was joking. It will infuriate very few, unfortunately.

I know , by now they are probably getting on board with how to make money off of it .

[devil21]

bump

This is important, particularly looking forward to the 2012 race.

[Brooklyn Red Leg]

Truthout comments on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=168622919823208&id=83865976093

Need more responses to defend Dr. Paul. He's starting to get smeared as, of all things, a Warmonger.

[oyarde]

Need more responses to defend Dr. Paul. He's starting to get smeared as, of all things, a Warmonger.

How could someone smear him as a warmonger ?

[Brooklyn Red Leg]

How could someone smear him as a warmonger ?

You tell me:


Ron Paul...is a fucking "nut" period..he doesn't mind though when his supporters stomp on a womans head..and he's a Republican which means he and his ilk are war mongers....they like to start wars so the Country's attention will be deflected while they STEAL THIS COUNTRY BLIND !!!!!

[silentshout]

The silver lining in this is that Ron will be the only anti-war candidate running for President in 2012.

So true. This latest news made me sad.

[oyarde]

You tell me:

Well that is obviously written by a person with no knowledge . Call them out to find something to back it up with . Politely ask for some facts .

[oyarde]

Can someone explain to me the wisdom of announcing withdrawal dates please ? I am not getting that , I see negatives and no positives ....

[speciallyblend]

if anyone believes that?? they are suckers we will be there for generations to come, hell we are still in korea and vietnam and occupied 130 plus countries before i was born!!

We have a policy to occupy until they bow to our tryranny!! the american way!!

[speciallyblend]

Can someone explain to me the wisdom of announcing withdrawal dates please ? I am not getting that , I see negatives and no positives ....

i am thinking please explain one country we have occupied and left?? we never leave so don't worry about positive or negative!!

can anyone name one country we occupied that we still do not occupy?? i cannot think of one country we have occupied that we have left!!

iran comes to mind! technically cia though!

[JK/SEA]

Can someone explain to me the wisdom of announcing withdrawal dates please ? I am not getting that , I see negatives and no positives ....

I'm pretty sure the withdrawal is ongoing as we speak. Obama promised me that in 2011 we will be out. I believe him, don't you?...:rolleyes:

[wormyguy]

Link no longer works. Got another?

[oyarde]

i am thinking please explain one country we have occupied and left?? we never leave so don't worry about positive or negative!!

can anyone name one country we occupied that we still do not occupy?? i cannot think of one country we have occupied that we have left!!

iran comes to mind! technically cia though!

Somalia , Vietnam , Grenada , Nicaraugua ...........

[speciallyblend]

Somalia , Vietnam , Grenada , Nicaraugua ...........

you think we are not there??? i highly doubt that though, but for our gov records that might be the case,but something tells me we have gov agencies all over those countries still! but who knows we have secret prisons and secret gov agencies enforcing our empire!!


but good list i still thought we had troops in vietnam?? I am pretty sure we have troops still in grenada and nicaraugua under the name drug war!! oo yeah never mind they are called advisors:)

[oyarde]

you think we are not there??? i highly doubt that though, but for our gov records that might be the case,but something tells me we have gov agencies all over those countries still! but who knows we have secret prisons and secret gov agencies enforcing our empire!!


but good list i still thought we have troops in vietnam?? I am pretty sure we have troops still in grenada and nicaraugua under the name drug war!! oo yeah never mind they are called advisors:)

Nah , that is Columbia .

[speciallyblend]

Nah , that is Columbia .

well 4 out of 130 plus i guess makes us the good guys hehe!!

[oyarde]

well 4 out of 130 plus i guess makes us the good guys hehe!!

No , it does not . Roughly 820 installations in 135 countries , mostly Iraq , Afghanistan , Germany , Italy , Okinawa , Phillipines, Africa , Columbia and the UK . 140 people total in former Soviet countries .

[Anti Federalist]

Bet the pigfuckers at DailyKos, Democratic Underground and Moveon.org don't say shit.

Ain't taking that bet.

Fucking hypocrites.

:mad:

[oyarde]

And Korea .

[oyarde]

Ain't taking that bet.

Fucking hypocrites.

:mad:

right. They are the worst , only anti war when not in power . Everybody bashes a neocon , at least they are consistent and will not lie about it .

[freshjiva]

Ain't taking that bet.

Fucking hypocrites.

:mad:

+1.

Seriously, AF, I love every one of your posts.

[speciallyblend]

No , it does not . Roughly 820 installations in 135 countries , mostly Iraq , Afghanistan , Germany , Italy , Okinawa , Phillipines, Africa , Columbia and the UK . 140 people total in former Soviet countries .

i was being sarcastic;)

[Anti Federalist]

+1.

Seriously, AF, I love every one of your posts.

Thank you FJ.

It's appreciated, really, and I'd throw a smiley at you, but this issue always gets me hot under the collar.

[devil21]

Link no longer works. Got another?

Works fine for me. Try again. HOLLYWOOD and others also posted links on this topic in previous pages.

[oyarde]

i was being sarcastic;)

I know .

[cswake]

At least some of DU picked up on it:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4608692&mesg_id=4608692

Thankfully they are seeing this action for what it is.

[georgiaboy]

sigh.

Psalm 5
1 Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. 2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
4 You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell. 5 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence;
you hate all who do wrong. 6 You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the LORD abhors.
7 But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple.
8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies-- make straight your way before me.
9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave;
with their tongue they speak deceit. 10 Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you. 11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

[cswake]

NY Times finally has it, not on the front page, but in the World/Asia Pacific sub-category:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/11/world/asia/11military.html?_r=1&src=twt&twt=nytimespolitics

[PreDeadMan]

The anti-war left..... mostly not so anti-war anymore eh? This goes to show you that people are so obsessed with their FUCKING team that they ignore the REALITY that all they are... ALL they FUCKING are, ARE A BUNCH OF STUPID MOTHER FUCKING SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!

[speciallyblend]

The anti-war left..... mostly not so anti-war anymore eh? This goes to show you that people are so obsessed with their FUCKING team that they ignore the REALITY that all they are... ALL they FUCKING are, ARE A BUNCH OF STUPID MOTHER FUCKING SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!

trying to imagine this post sung by king diamond:)

[oyarde]

Somalia , Vietnam , Grenada , Nicaraugua ...........

China , France , Laos , Cambodia , Honduras , North Korea....