Archive for May 2014
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 5-31-14-Sat. (214 days to go)
The end of another month, and 214 days to go for US troops in Afghanistan until they all leave 31 December 2014. Let’s hope and pray President Obama does not get his way and extend the presence of US troops another two years until 2016.
Links from around the GWOT:
1.) As retrograde operations continue, more US equipment is packed up, troops sent home, and bases closed:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/30/kabuls-bush-bazaar-dwindles-us-troops-withdraw-afghanistan
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 5-30-14-Fri. (215 days to go)
Let’s hope and pray there are only 215 days to go for US troops in Afghanistan and they all leave 12/31/14, and the two extra years President Obama wants to keep US troops there is voted down in Congress.
Links from around the GWOT:
1.) Chinook helicopter reported down, NATO death, injuries. AP reports 15 injured. Other reports say the death is of an American. Not sure what nationality the 15 injured are, or if it will be reported. It makes me wonder if they were Navy Seals, as a helicopter full of them has gone down before. This says that the helicopter hit a communications tower. I can’t imagine two more years of this after 12/31/14 when all US troops are scheduled to leave, 215 days away. Link:
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2014/may/29/helicopter-crash-afghanistan-americans-killed/
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 5-29-14-Th. (216 days to go)
I hope there are only 216 days to go for US troops in Afghanistan and they can all leave by 31 December 2014. President Obama announced today that he would like to extend the mission until 31 December 2016: two more years! I say NO!
Links from around the GWOT:
1.) While wars need to be won, an American soldier is accused of sexually assulting fellow soldiers. This sounds terrible. He was accused of assaults in Afghanistan, and at his US base: Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri. Link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/army-drill-sergeant-accused-of-numerous-sex-assaults-in-afghanistan-and-missouri/2014/05/28/07fbb4c2-e69b-11e3-a86b-362fd5443d19_story.html
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (the Afghanistan Scandal?) 5-28-14-Wed. (217 days to go)
President Obama gives another college speech, this time at the US Military Academy at West Point today, and reports are that he will extend the Afghanistan War two more years. It is my hope he stands by the initial exit date he gave years ago, of 31 December 2014.
Meanwhile, Bati Kot, Afghanistan has not been pacified, and remains a terrorist haven near the Torkm Gate on the Pakistan border. Why? MARSOC Marines were there and thrown out in error after an ‘Incident at Bati Kot’ when they were attacked 4 March 2007. All Marines were exonerated at a 2008 Marine Court of Inquiry. Yet, Bati Kot remains a terrorist haven, and those US Army officers who threw out the first ever deployed Special Operations Marines have yet to be held accountable, or demoted for Bati Kot remaining in terrorist hands.
Links from around the GWOT:
1.) Bati Kot, Afghanistan, still a dangerous terrorist infested village it seems from the evidence presented in this story:
http://www.khaama.com/16-year-old-suicide-bomber-arrested-in-nangarhar-province-8164
2.) Another ‘incident at Bati Kot’: This time a 13 yr old suicide Pakistani suicide bomber is stopped in Bati Kot, Afghanistan:
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/140527/terror-squad-busted-afghanistans-kunduz-police
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 5-27-14-Tue. (218 days to go)
218 days to go for US troops in Afghanistan……or is the American presence going to be extended past the date already determined for US troops to leave, which is 31 December 2014.
Today, it was leaked that President Obama may leave 9,800 American troops in Afghanistan. The President is scheduled to give a speech on the subject today.
I hope all US troops leave on the pre-determined date of 31 December 2014.
Links from around the GWOT:
1.) President Obama wants to leave 9,800 US troops in Afghanistan past the date they are supposed to leave on 31 December 2014. Link:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/05/27/obama-afghanistan-9800-troop-level/9624545/
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 5-26-14 Mon. (219 days to go)
The last Memorial Day for US troops in Afghanistan as they continue retrograde operations to be packed up and out of there by 31 December 2014.
Our fallen heroes have given so much to our country, God bless their families. Thank you heroes for your sacrifice.
Links from around the GWOT:
1.) President Obama makes surprise trip to Afghanistan. I hope all US troops are out of there by 31 December 2014. Link:
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/obama-hopes-limited-military-presence-afghanistan-years-end-n114171
2.) President Obama, visits Afghanistan:
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/president-obama-afghanistan-surprise-visit-memorial-day-107078.html
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 5-25-14-Sun. (220 days to go)
220 days to go as US troops spend another Memorial Day weekend in Afghanistan, their last before they pull out by 31 December 2014. Keep American troops in your prayers in this still dangerous land.
Links from around the GWOT:
1.) How can the US fund a law library in Afghanistan? The story doesn’t explain exactly but if I had to guess, I would say the US taxpayer funded this. What type of law is studied–Sharia? There seems to be plenty of projects the US Army Corps of Engineers could work on in the United States. Link:
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 5-24-14-Sat. (221 days to go)
221 days to go for US troops in Afghanistan.
While they face battles on the field of battle, returning vets are finding a new fight to get their VA benefits.
Links from around the GWOT:
1.) VA medical system problems:
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 5-23-14-Fri. (222 days to go)
222 days to go until all US troops leave Afghanistan 31 December 2014. Keep them in your prayers.
In the meantime, on the home front, VA health care problems continue.
See the link at #1: former Kansas Republican Senator Bob Dole, a wounded WWII Army veteran, criticizes the Tea Party and wants to keep the current head of the VA in his position. All the while, as the headline reads, he calls the VA a “disaster”. What’s going on here? If it is a “disaster” why not call in new leadership?
Links from around the GWOT:
1.) Former Sen. Bob Dole, a wounded WWII veteran, calls for the current head of the VA to keep his job pending an investigation. I don’t think veterans who need health care have time for this. If it is a “disaster” it seems it is time for the head of the VA to go. In addition, Dole criticizes US citizens who believe in the Tea Party concepts. I thought Republicans were supposed to have a “big tent” and be “inclusive”! What happened to those thoughts where Republicans accepted diversity into the GOP? Link:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/207049-bob-dole-va-a-disaster
Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 5-22-14- Th. (223 days to go)
223 days for US troops in Afghanistan until they all leave 12-31-14. God bless them. Keep them safe. Keep them in your prayers.
Meanwhile, on the home front, US veterans face delays and other problems at the VA.
Links from around the GWOT:
1.) I sent this story link to Fox News and other news outlets. Let’s see if they pick it up. This veteran has lost both his legs, a testicle, and faces other injuries such as infertility, deafness in one ear, TBI, etc. His disability claim it says will take over six months with many medical reviews! This disability should be obvious, 100%, and let the doctors reviewing this claim, actually see veterans who are on waiting lists! Link:
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