Gates in Afghanistan, says US must stay longer
Published: 07 March, 2011, 20:43
US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (Image from articles.nydailynews.com)
TAGS: Conflict, Military, NATO, Politics, Afghanistan, USA
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Afghanistan to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai following a rise in civilian deaths and just ahead of a major transition to more Afghan authority.
Recent NATO airstrikes and roadside bombs have overwhelming target civilian areas, killing a number of women, children and local farmers with no militant ties. NATO commander Gen. David Petraeus issued an apology, but Karzai said it simply was not enough. Karzai wants to see changes that will ensure civilian casualties do not return.
Karzai has repeatedly said civilian deaths by coalition forces are the main reason tensions between Afghans and the United States continue to grow and that further incidents would by “unacceptable.”
Gates’ arrival marks an effort to reduce these tensions and to discuss the approaching July benchmark, when coalition troops are set to turn over more responsibility to Afghan forces. Karzai hopes his forces will assume full responsibility over all military operations by 2014.
Gates said recently however that both the US and Afghan governments have agreed the US military should remain involved in Afghanistan even after the planned 2014 end of combat operations to continue to train and advise Afghan forces.
Washington has continually insisted progress is ongoing and that Afghan forces are improving in their abilities to take control. But, British and European partners disagree, saying the training of Afghan police is simply failing.
07.03, 20:41
5 comments
Not so kosher: Activist attempts to ban male circumcisionJewish groups and others are rallying against a proposal which could ban male circumcision in San Francisco through a ballot measure. |
Oil prices rise as Arab unrest intensifiesCrude oil futures continued to rise toward $107 a barrel as unrest in Libya continues and growing fear unrest could spread to other oil-producing states grew deeper. Arab world protests |
"Washington has continually insisted progress is ongoing"
Yeah, sure, progress is ongoing, because the number of killed Afghan women and children is growing more and more. That is exactly the basic concept of US policy in Afghanistan: ti kill as more Afghans as possible!!
And Hilary, that will be remembered as Billy's wife (who in turn is remembered as Mo Lewinski's superior), now intellectualizes about media war that US is currently loosing? Hilary should know that no campaign can make US winning media war, after so many killings were made all over the world by US soldiers.
Krazai April 17, 2011, 20:36
The question before the people on this board is ?
Was it Gates or was it the defense contractors
who want a better return for investors?
Or is it now that the economy is worse with Obama
the American's cannot leave?
Or is it that Karzai is now in Iran's pocket
and receiving millions in bribes the US has to match this?
Or is it the Poppy crop? What is the real issue Mr. Gates?
Please tell us because obviously you have no idea