Archive for June 2010
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot-6-30-10-Wed.
Gen. Petraeus went before the Senate Armed Forces Committee yesterday and they approved his demotion from head of Cent-Com to be in charge only of Afghanistan. He was asked about the restricted rules of engagement and if he would change them? Pres. Obama said that the policy of COIN (counterinsurgency, or nation-building) would continue and that Gen. McChrystal faithfully carried out his policies. Links:
1.) Gen. Petraeus before the Senate Armed Services Committee-questioned on restricted rules of engagement. Maybe they should pass a law which stated that parents who sign the papers for their sons and daughters to join the military Delayed Entry at age 17, would also have to sign an affidavit that their son or daughter may not receive needed air support, artillery, or be able to shoot back due to restricted rules of engagement? Petraeus gave the following quote concerning parents:
“I want to assure the mothers and fathers of those fighting in Afghanistan that I see it as a moral imperative to bring all assets to bear to protect our men and women in uniform,” General Petraeus said. “Those on the ground must have all the support they need when they are in a tough situation.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/world/asia/30petraeus.html?src=mv
2.) Reports state that Afghan forces woefully unprepared. God bless US troops on the ground as they begin the holiday season for another 4th of July in a hot and dusty Afghanistan.
Photo of American flag waving high in Jacksonville, North Carolina-home to Camp Lejeune:
American flag flies over Jacksonville, NC-home of Camp Lejeune
Camp Lejeune photo:
Camp Lejeune-Home of Expeditionary Forces in Readiness. There is also a sign not photographed here which rightly states: COME TO FIGHT, COME TO WIN.
Story about how Afghan troops are not prepared to fight after about 10 years of training:
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot-Tue. 6-29-10
News came out now that Gen. McChrystal will retire. Meanwhile, American troops are still dying and being maimed in Afghanistan. What will it take to secure victory in Afghanistan? God bless our American troops who must face restricted rules of engagement which are getting them maimed and killed. Links:
1.) Gen. McChrystal is reported to have put in for retirement Link:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/06/28/gen-mcchrystal-tells-army-retire/
Afghanistan Today-the GWOT Hotspot-Mon. 6-28-10
The situation in Afghanistan remains intense to say the least. Our troops are being maimed and dying, while the deck chairs are being rearranged on the Titantic so to speak. Will the nation-bulding (COIN-counterinsurgency) be dropped until the war is won? The restricted rules of engagement prevent the U.S. troops from achieving victory and endanger their lives and limbs. God bless our American troops, links from around the GWOT:
1.) Washington Post reports on the corruption in Afghanistan. It is so mind boggling it is hard to follow! But, read it through and contact your elected officials and demand accountability with your tax dollars. Link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/27/AR2010062703645.html?hpid=topnews
2.) CIA does not think Taliban want to reconcile:
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot-6-27-10-Sun.
God bless American troops and say a prayer for victory as we pray this Sunday, so they can come home soon. British writer discusses leaving Afghanistan in article at #1, some very good comments.
1.) British story about leaving Afghanistan, has some good comments:
2.) From the front page of Sat. Kansas City Star, 6-26-10; “Islamic Charity Unmasked”. Link:
http://www.kansascity.com/2010/06/25/2045452/missouri-islamic-charity-unmasked.html
3.) This story should be read again: U.S. troops upset with McChrystal’s restricted rules of engagement, which apparently Obama ordered him to enforce:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/23/world/asia/23troops.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot-Sat. 6-26-10
Another weekend in Afghanistan for American troops, still under restricted rules of engagement. President Obama said that while the general in charge has changed, the strategy will remain the same.
This strategy of COIN (counterinsurgency) is what is causing America to lose the war as once again our troops are sent to war with their hands tied.
Besides the restricted ROE, they are now fighting the dust, which the story at #1 describes: illnesses from the sand and dust exposure. God bless our troops and may they soon be led by a general, and officers, who have a culture of victory that they can instill in the troops they lead. Links:
1.) American troops face illnesses from toxic sand and dust:
A dusty, sandy scene from a war zone-this sand may be endangering our troops's health. God bless America and God bless our troops and may they secure victory and surrender of the enemy soon so they can come home.
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/06/25/toxic-sand-another-enemy-in-afghanistan/
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot-Fri. 6-25-10
Now Gen. Stanley McChrystal has been relieved of command in Afghanistan, his COIN (counterinsurgency) experiment remains and Pres. Obama, the Commander-in-Chief said that there would be no change in strategy.
Parents of a fallen soldier blame President Obama’s restricted rules of engagement, “flower child leadership” for their son’s death in Afghanistan. Story links below, titled, “Mourning Lake George family attacks Obama administration’s ‘flower child leadership’ and “Fallen soldier’s parents critical of Obama.”
Link:
1.) Parents attack Obama administration over son’s death in Afghanistan. Link with video:
http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S1623848.shtml?cat=300
RIP U.S. Army Spc. Benjamin Osborn, KIA Afghanistan 6-15-10, his parents say his death is due to restricted rules of engagement, Pres. Obama's "flower child leadership" (photo-double rainbow behind American Legion building in Overland Park, Kansas; June 2010)
2.) More on the parents of fallen soldier; Obama’s restricted ROE blamed for the death:
http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S1623848.shtml?cat=300
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot-Th. 6-24-10
The talk is still about the removal of Gen. Stan McChrystal from command in Afghanistan. It seems a lot of the talk is about the comments McChrystal and his staff made about Obama and his staff. But, what I noted in the article was that the troops do not like the restricted rules of engagement because they are getting them killed and maimed. Here are some recent links below:
1.) More hearings and talk of Gen. McChrystal’s removal and possible changes in restricted rules of engagement. President Obama said yesterday that while the general is changing to Petraeus, the strategy of nation-building, COIN, and restricted ROE are not changing. Let’s hope there is a change so our troops are not dying and being maimed in Afghanistan. Link:
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/06/military_gatesmullen_mcchrystal_062410w/
2.) More on the restricted rules of engagement in Afghanistan which were endorsed yesterday by Pres. Obama, making the strategy his own. Marine Corps Times wants to know if restricted ROE should change. Link:
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/06/marine_roe_callout_062410/
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot-Wed. 6-23-10
Today President Obama relieved Gen. McChrystal of command (or he handed in his resignation), but in any case, McChrystal is gone; but Obama says the failing plan now in place, that of nation building, will remain!
Just like that Gen. Petraeus was put in, and he believes in the COIN (counter insurgency or nation building) just like Obama and McChrystal. So, the policy of using our troops as fodder because they are expendable, goes on, which is tragic.
We need to let our troops fight to win, or bring them home.
Link:
1.) Gen. McChrystal is relieved of command in Afghanistan:
From the story:
Obama said he did not accept McChrystal’s resignation based on any disagreement in policy or “out of any sense of personal insult.”
“Stan McChrystal has always showed great courtesy and carried out my orders faithfully,” Obama said.
“I strongly support the president’s strategy in Afghanistan,” McChrystal said.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/06/military_mcchrystal_afghanistan_062310w/
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot 6-22-10-Tue.
General Stanley McChrystal is in all the news, on the news channels, and all over the internet and print media. This story at #1 from MSNBC, their post of the Rolling Stone story explains it all. Link below.
1.) MSNBC link to the Rolling Stone story which may cause Gen. McChrystal to use his job. The part which concerns me is that the troops are dying due to restricted rules of engagement. The troops did speak their mind to McChrystal about this policy which is getting them killed. Link:
Afghanistan Today-The GWOT Hotspot-Mon. 6-21-10
The war in Afghanistan continues on, more articles are coming out with questions as to the leadership in the war and other questions. There are several stories which point out what I have been saying for months: LET THEM FIGHT OR BRING THEM HOME. Links:
1.) ROLLING STONE magazine article about Gen. Stanley McChrystal. It states McChrystal voted for Obama. Link:
http://rr.com/news/topic/article/rr/7392520/14590924/Top_general_in_Afghan_war_US_envoy_betrayed_me
2.) Undisciplined Afghan troops endanger Marjah Marines:
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/06/marine_ana_062110w/
3.) Letter by American defense article states that ALL troops support counterinsurgency, and reveals in print that this policy of “winning hearts and minds” is how Obama plans to disrupt, dismantle and defeat the enemy. I believe the writer should serve time on the front lines and with some NCO’s such as quoted in George Will’s latest article, or in above Marine Corps Times article, see how these plans are working on the battlefield, as they are not working and endanger U.S. troops, and will not “dismantle, disrupt and defeat” the enemy. I have also been writing my representatives and the President, as I keep hearing “The Iraq surge worked,” and asked that our troops who served honorably in Iraq then receive an IRAQ VICTORY MEDAL.
From this letter, COIN revealed:
From the president to our troops and civilians on the ground to all of us in between, we are clear and unified on our goal in Afghanistan: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaeda and its network through a counterinsurgency campaign that will ensure Afghanistan does not again become a haven for violent extremists.
Link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/20/AR2010062003173_pf.html
4.) George Will article with input from NCO on how terrible the policy in Afghanistan is now:
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