Afghanistan Today, a GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 9/9/4 Tue. (114 days to go)

114 days to go for US troops in Afghanistan as they complete retrograde operations, packing equipment and closing bases as the troops in the story at link #1.

Links from around the GWOT:

1.) US troops home after retrograde mission in Afghanistan:

http://www.hibbingmn.com/news/local/soldiers-scheduled-to-return/article_1b5e5272-37c7-11e4-be6c-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=jqm

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 8/2/14 Sat. (151 days to go)

Another month in session for US troops in Afghanistan with 151 days to go until all US troops leave 31 December 2014.

Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Americans polled say time to leave wars behind:

http://www.stripes.com/news/us/americans-want-to-move-on-from-2-wars-poll-reveals-1.296586

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 6-7-14-Sat. (207 days to go)

207 days to go until all US troops leave Afghanistan. And let’s hope that Congress will put a stop to President Obama’s plan to keep US troops there two years past the deadline to leave, which has already been set for 31 December 2014.

Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Flooding causes death and destruction in Afghanistan. Link:

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2014/06/07/at-least-70-die-in-floods-after-downpours-in-north-afghanistan/

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 4-24-14-Th. (251 days to go)

251 days to go for US troops in Afghanistan, and it can’t pass fast enough. I would hope today after 3 US civilian doctors were murdered, and other Americans injured after being shot by an Afghan guard who was supposed to be protecting them, President Obama would make an announcement that he is ordering the US State Department to issue a travel ban to Afghanistan by all US civilians. Then, he should encourage US troops to speed up the withdrawal with enhanced retrograde operations to close bases and pack up equipment, and get us out of there before 31 December 2014, and our money with us. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Afghanistan: Three US doctors murdered by Afghan guard hired to protect them, other Americans reported to be injured: Afghan officer kills 3 U.S. doctors” this LA Times story headline reads:

http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-afghan-guard-kills-us-doctors-20140424,0,822039.story#axzz2zpMvx3zo

2.) Report on another civilian death: Diplomat death: murdered in Afghanistan delivering books, reports details poor planning:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-04-23/news/chi-report-details-poor-planning-that-led-to-river-forest-womans-death-in-afghanistan-20140423_1_state-department-smedinghoff-river-forest

 

Afghanistan Today the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 4-20-14-Sun. (255 days to go)

255 days to go for US troops in Afghanistan as they celebrate their last Easter in this land. Retrograde operations continue in this still dangerous country, keep American troops in your thoughts and prayers this Easter.

Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Description of retrograde operations in Afghanistan, as US troops tear down bases, pack equipment, and ship supplies home. Link:

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/war/afghanistan-war/140416/afghanistan-troop-withdrawal-retrograde-operation

Afghanistan Today (The GWOT Hotspot?) 4-15-14-Tue. (260 days to go)

260 days to go or thereabouts for US troops in Afghanistan.

Another tax day finds US troops still in Afghanistan, but if it’s any comfort, it is their last tax day there as all US troops are set to withdrawal by 31 December 2014. God bless American troops still in Afghanistan and may they complete retrograde operations, closing bases and packing equipment and return home before 31 December 2014 if they have it all packed up.

In the meantime, it seems, fallout from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue, with various books and movies coming out. I had to question one report of Brad Pitt playing Gen. Stan McChrystal in a movie? Is this a joke or a Duffel Blog story? If he was a winning general, one who won the war in Afghanistan that might be one thing, but pursuing a failed COIN (counter-insurgency, nation building) theory which did not lead to victory, not sure I want to see that movie.

Links from around the GWOT:

1.) A blog I ran across which has several posts and links to Afghanistan war stories, Gen. McChryCOINstal, etc. Link:

http://feralfirefighter.blogspot.com

2.) Brad Pitt to play Gen. Stan McChrystal in a movie, at least that is what this report says. Surely this is a joke or a Duffel Blog story?

http://www.eonline.com/news/531976/brad-pitt-to-star-as-general-stanley-mcchrystal-in-afghanistan-war-film-the-operators#thyme_comment

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 4-6-14-Sun. (269 days to go)

God bless American troops still in Afghanistan completing retrograde operations closing bases and packing equipment so they can be out of that country by the deadline of 31 December 2014.

Yesterday was election day in Afghanistan, for a replacement for Hamid Karzai.

Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Bati Kot, Afghanistan “packed with Taliban” according to tribal leader there. Voting was light in such areas. Read story at this link for complete details:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/06/world/asia/apathy-and-fear-of-taliban-combine-to-keep-rural-voters-away-from-the-polls.html?_r=0

 

 

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 3/26/14-Wed. (280 days to go)

280 days to go for US troops in retrograde operations in Afghanistan, packing equipment and closing US bases. It is still a dangerous place for American troops to be, so keep them in your prayers.

In the meantime, within about two weeks, the Afghans have another election for president, with mostly Afghan forces running the show, protecting polling places, etc. from what I understand.

Links from around the GWOT:

1.)  Taliban launch attacks in run-up to election in Afghanistan:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/25/taliban-launch-deadly-attacks-runup-afghanistan-elections

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal?) 3-7-14-Fri. (299 days to go)

299 days to go in a war that can’t end soon enough in Afghanistan. It would be great if the retrograde operations, packing equipment and closing bases could be done faster and completed in advance of the 31 December 2014 deadline, so US troops can leave earlier from this still dangerous country.

Links from around the GWOT:

1.) American amputees from the war in Afghanistan: a sobering cost of war:

http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/amputee-soldiers-sobering-cost-war-n46586

2.) Army 1st Lt., Nurse Jennifer Moreno killed in the blast which took the legs of a Ranger featured in the story at link #1. NEVER FORGET this October 2013 attack which killed 4 Americans and injured 30 US troops. Link:

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/10/08/2827421/army-nurse-from-jblm-killed-with.html

Afghanistan Today, the GWOT Hotspot (The Afghanistan Scandal) 3-3-14-Mon. (303 days to go)

303 days to go for US troops in Afghanistan as they complete retrograde operations to close US bases and pack equipment so all American troops can be gone by 31 December 2014. Pray for their safety in this still dangerous country.

Afghan President Karzai expresses anger at the US government but appreciation for the US taxpayers who have funded his country and military the last 13 years.

It is now time for Karzai and his government and military to stand up as the “Vietnam Plan for Afghanistan” takes place and his soldiers will be responsible for places like Bati Kot, Ganjgal,  and Sangin, places where American soldiers and Marines, MARSOC Marines, Navy SEALs and Army Rangers fought, died, suffered amputations, and gave their blood for his country and sacrificed so much mentally and physically for Afghanistan and American national security.

Links from around the GWOT:

1.) Afghan President Karzai appreciates the taxpayers of the United States who have funded his military the last 13 years, but is angry at the US government. Well, as I see it, with cuts to US troop and veteran budgets, the US taxpayers can no longer fund his military. He and his successor are going to have to use their mineral, gas, coal, and oil riches to fund their own military and their own government. The United States taxpayer has done it for 13 years and can’t afford it anymore. Link:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/03/afghanistan-war-interests-president-hamid-karzai