Key battle coming in Afghanistan, senators say

[unhappycamper]

Key battle coming in Afghanistan, senators say
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jul 13, 2010 16:57:46 EDT

A looming campaign against Taliban forces in Kandahar and the surrounding area of Afghanistan could become a key stepping stone to the ultimate withdrawal of U.S. combat troops, the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman said Tuesday.

Returning from a three-day visit to the region, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., predicted that an Afghan-led battle to “clear the Taliban from Taliban-land,” expected to start in late July or early August, could step up respect for the Afghan National Army. The success of such an operation “will not be lost on the Taliban,” Levin said.

Levin and Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., an armed services committee member who also went on the trip, said the Kandahar operation would be designed to remove Taliban forces, and leave Afghan and coalition police behind to provide security, with the goal being a more stable environment to strengthen local government.

Within the city, U.S. combat forces would be involved in reduced numbers. Outside the city, U.S. forces would be in charge with Afghan units assisting, the senators said.

The senators didn’t downplay the risk of casualties but said this will be the largest Afghan-planned and -led operation since the U.S. began military operations there in 2001.


unhappycamper comment: So now the battle for Kandahar will "become a key stepping stone to the ultimate withdrawal of U.S. combat troops"?

Better fire up the troopships, boys. This is gonna be Saigon all over again.

[Angry Dragon]

1. kick it for you

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. Oh, joy! The "Light at the end of the tunnel" again...and, again.

To be proclaimed as a glorious victory followed by the usual plea for more troops, more time, and more money. And, ultimately, a pretty memorial for the dead.

[tiny elvis]

6. saturday night live, november 2001

Partygoer #6: Everyone! Turn off the music! Everyone! Please!

< music is turned off >

Partygoer #2: What is it, Pete?

Partygoer #7: The Northern Alliance! They've taken Kandahar!

< crowd cheers >

Partygoer #2: Wait! This is amazing! What about Tarin Kowt and Lashkar Gah?

Partygoer #6: No report. But who cares? Kandahar is taken!

Partygoer #5: Oh, I knew it! I just knew it! The Northern Alliance is made up of rough-fighting newsmen and tax chiefs! I mean, they've got them on the run now!

Partygoer #7: Kandahar!

Partygoer #5: Kandahar!

Partygoer #2: Kandahar!

Partygoer #2: < singing >
"Gee, golly wow
Boy, we've got 'em now
Kandahar!"

Crowd: "Kandahar!"

Partygoer #7: < singing >
"Say, Taliban
Move your minivans
Kandahar!"

Crowd: "Kandahar!"

Partygoer #4: < singing >
"That's happy news
No more bearded dudes
Kandahar!"

Crowd: "Kandahar!"

Partygoer #5: < singing >
"I'm telling you
That's no pretty suit
Kandahar!"

Crowd: "Kandahar!"

Partygoer #5: Take a solo, Chet!

< Chet gives a trumpet solo >

Partygoer #7: < singing >
"Forget my bike
I'm gonna ride a trike
Kandahar!"

Crowd: "Kandahar!"

Partygoer #1: < singing >
"Who needs a suit
I'm skinny dipping in
Kandahar!"

Crowd: "Kandahar!"

Partygoer #8: < singing >
"I've got a date
With my future mate
Kandahar!"

Crowd: "Kandahar!"

< Black Man rushes into room, alarmed by the noise >

Black Man: Guys, guys! Cool it! What's going on here?

Partygoer #3: Didn't you hear? We got Kandahar.

Black Man: Kandahar? Huh? < music pots up, lights go low > What's that? A bag of beans. An old sock. Sand.. sifting through our hands. Oh, you foolish people, when will you learn? You cannot temper hot steel with lilacs and lilies. For you, the flames of war are but a magpie of sullen tar. But nay.. this war.. this festering agon which threatens the ages will not be won in Afghan cities. But in the very bosom of all man's all too fettered being. So, rejoice not. 'Tis but a pauper's doorknob. This Kandahar.

< music stops, lights go up >

Partygoer #2: Wow. Wow. Hey, guys, I've gotta tell you, even though a lot of the words this wise man used are not real, he's right. Just because some cities have been taken in Afghanistan, it doesn't mean the war on terrorism is over. We can't forget now is not the time to celebrate. We've got to show some patience.

Partygoer #6: < rushes back in > They've taken Jalalabad!

< crowd cheers >

Partygoer #2: < singing >
"It's over now
I'm gonna have a cow
Jalalabad!"

Crowd: "Jalalabad!"

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/01/01fwarparty.phtml

[gratuitous]

3. Dear Sen. Levin

I have a great deal of respect for you and your career. But on this point, you sound like an ignoramus. If the Afghan National Army actually has its shit together enough to pose a threat to the Taliban, the Taliban will melt away while the ANA struts around and shoots stuff up. As soon as they get bored, the Taliban will return in greater force, and take the ANA's measure at a time and place of their choosing, not the ANA's. They do not and will not respect the puppet military of the occupying oppressor (that's us, in case I have to spell it out).

But we will surely have a lot of dead bodies to show for our efforts, not to mention all the money wasted. Bravo.

[Erose999]

7. The thing about a war like AFGN

is that the decisive battle is always yet to come. The victory is always within reach.

They were saying the same thing in 1967 about Vietnam. All that was left to do was for the ARVN to mop up the last pockets of resistance and then it would be all mint juleps and "I told you so's".

[asdjrocky]

4. It ain't me...

I ain't no Senators Son.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. Levin is a supporter of the bigot survey

and as such, he is clearly without any form of ethics or decency. Here, he speaks in poetry about his beloved war machine. Yesterday, he was demanding that my people endure that which he would not do to his own people. Rationalizing intolerance and slanders.
He does this for a high salary, lots of perks and a sense of personal power. Thank God I do not have to consider voting for him.

[w8liftinglady]

8. OK-read this if you dare-Afghan should do GREAT!

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/2010/sigar-audit-10-11.pdf