EXCLUSIVE: More Troops a Possibility for Afghanistan
EmailABC's Senior Foreign Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz reports on tonight's World News that seven of the most powerful defense and military officials in the U.S. met in secret to discuss a troop increase in Afghanistan. The meeting was attended by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mike Mullen, Centcom Commander David Petraeus, General Stanley McChrystal, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy, Commander Admiral James Stavridis and Deputy Commander in Afghanistan LTG Dave Rodriguez.
McChrystal was recently put in charge of troops in Afghanistan, and defense sources tell ABC News that his assessment team suggested a dramatic increase in troops — 4 to 6 brigades during 2010. That's equivalent to anywhere from 12,000 to 27,000 additional troops deployed to Afghanistan next year. Those troops would be in addition to the more than 20,000 troops already approved by President Obama.
Violence in Afghanistan is at an all time high — July was the worst month since the war began with 76 troops killed. A U.S. military official tells ABC that for more troops to head to Afghanistan, the drawdown from Iraq would have happen faster than currently planned.
McChrystal is currently doing an assessment of the situation in Afghanistan. Later this month he will present his final assessment to Gates which will include several options.
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but I thought the troups were heading home?
Posted by: Willie | August 3, 2009, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm
Here we go again getting sucked into another occupation that we cannot possibly win. It has only been 8 years and even the generals admit it cannot be won. So, lets spend more billions of dollars we don’t even have and get more American soldiers and innocents killed in a country that does not want us there.
Posted by: dale | August 3, 2009, 9:07 pm 9:07 pm
Obama is still sending troops to Iraq too.
I work with a lady whose brother left for Iraq last week. Obama wants us to think that he is bringing troops home when in fact he continues to send them to war.
Posted by: CW | August 3, 2009, 9:13 pm 9:13 pm
Yeah obama tricked us a little bit, I was outraged to find that not only is he sending troops to Iraq still, He sending up to 27,000 more to afghanistan?! Including my fiance’s troop. I’m not happy about it. I feel like they should handle their own problems they are blowing up each other in their own country not ours. we are already in recession how can we afford to continue going to war?
Posted by: Mia | August 3, 2009, 10:37 pm 10:37 pm
CW – you make it sound like Obama is having his own little Surge in Iraq, when nothing could be further from the truth. That troop who was just sent to Iraq is likely replacing one that is coming home. It’s called “rotation”. In any event, there’s no need to send additional troops to Iraq now. That war was won by Obama’s predecessor, right? Remember Mission Accomplished? Using the same reasoning, the war in Afghanistan has also been won, again by Obama’s predecessor. Why else would we have abandoned it and invaded Iraq?
Posted by: libertyrulz | August 3, 2009, 10:45 pm 10:45 pm
Waste of money and lives and for what? To capture a guy that attacked us for inequality in the Palestinian issues, a ten year bombing campaign in Iraq through the 90s, sanctions on Iraq which took down hundreds of thousands, propping up dictators throughout the Middle East for resource gain, and bases in the Muslim Holy lands. Seems like a change in foreign policy would have been a much easier path than the one of bullying other nations to our bidding and a whole lot cheaper to boot. We, a nation that has used nukes against civilians and who attack someone new about every three years or so, tell Iran, a nation who hasn’t attacked a nation preemptively in 250 years, that they can’t have nukes because they threaten Israel, a nation which continues to push Palestinians into smaller fenced areas for their settlement expansions and water diversion projects using our tax dollars. What a sick mess. Vote Ron Paul in 2012 or be part of the problem. Bring our boys home and practice a foreign policy that is moral, equitable, and with a sane budget.
Posted by: Huh | August 3, 2009, 10:59 pm 10:59 pm
Obama lied to all you that were stupid enought to believe him.
Posted by: irishrose | August 3, 2009, 11:25 pm 11:25 pm
Willie:”but I thought the troups were heading home?”
Obama campaigned hard on putting more forces into Afghansitan to go after Bin Laden, so I’m puzzled why you would think that.
Posted by: jhw539 | August 3, 2009, 11:32 pm 11:32 pm
As a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO), I remember Michael Schuer, head of the CIA’s bin Laden unit, say that “It is mathematically impossible to win the war in Afghanistan.” I’m curious as to how readers here think of our chances of winning. Please visit my DECLASSIFIED SECRETS site and voice your opinion in the FORUM in upper right margin: “DO YOU THINK OBAMA’S TRILATERAL STRATEGY IN AFGHANISTAN WILL WORK?”
http://www.declassifiedsecrets.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Robert | August 3, 2009, 11:44 pm 11:44 pm
Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) occupied Afghanistan from 1979-1989 and lost lives and were brought to their knees and put their tail between their legs and returned to a collapsing Soviet Union. NATO led by USA occupied Afghanistan in 2002 and still increasing troops in 2009. Is History repeating itself and is it worth it? Wars should have ended with the end of 2000 but they seem to continue unabated in this century. WHY? Don’t tell me that they are still looking for Osama or his side kick. Don’t tell me we are safer today than ever before. We are more senseless today than ever before.
Posted by: gjkotw01 | August 3, 2009, 11:52 pm 11:52 pm
Robert – Seems to me that goals and objectives have to be crystal clear and feasible to be winnable. Efforts to wipe out their opium crop or to change hearts and minds, etc. is futile because these people don’t want to be emulate us in any way. By the way Michael Scheuer is on video during the presidential campaign saying that only Ron Paul gets what is going on over there among the dem and rep candidates.
Posted by: Huh | August 4, 2009, 12:09 am 12:09 am
Another 20,000 block 12,000 combat troops, 8,000 mentoring and training teams in 2010, depending on your priorities on the ground. I would not advise going above the troop level cap, keep another 20,000 block in reserve. Then in 2011 the final surge block of 20,000 direct combat with the projected ANA/ANP force level for 2011.
Posted by: TCMSOLS | August 4, 2009, 5:52 am 5:52 am
hmmm what can I say ?….Politicians made promises of change just to get in power. The US will return to Iraq period.WE will stay in Afghanistan for a very long time.More lives and more money will be poured in both countries.Those of you who believed in change will see it but for the worse.Good luck and don’t forget the irreparable damage you have caused by electing unqualified people. I know many of you are asking for forgiveness now….
Posted by: Frank | August 4, 2009, 5:56 am 5:56 am
Until Afganistan and Pakistan get serious
about ridding their prospective countries of the Taliban we should not send 1 more solider.
Posted by: hkdakota | August 4, 2009, 6:09 am 6:09 am
Interesting comments.
It seems that the American people of today, baby boomers, pampered since birth, most never serving, sneering at our troops and veterans since the 60s;
and the even more scurrilous, feckless mass of garbage, Generation-X, truly want the Muslins to win.
When the fanatical Islamofacists
work their hate lists and begin skinning people alive, I wonder which cohort will squeal the loudest?
Posted by: Paul Troder | August 4, 2009, 8:01 am 8:01 am
Yes, go ahead and send more troops off as the war mongrels want…send a million+ while such mongrels generals send your sons and daughters to fight a war that the generals want to go on for decades. As long as there are wars…the top brass could not be happier.
Posted by: sabestu | August 4, 2009, 10:25 am 10:25 am
The point of the story is not if we should send more troops to the various countries, but that President Obama could not deliver on his campaign promises. Perhaps he truly believed what he said at that time, but later found out that it was not possible.
I don’t blame Pres. Obama for ‘rotating’ the troops in Iraq or for sending new troops to Afghanistan.
People are now stunned that he could not deliver all of the troops home.
It’s amazing that people are now surprised of what was apparent.
Posted by: ddg | August 4, 2009, 10:26 am 10:26 am
For all of you saying “troop rotation”….no, the troops in Iraq are going directly to Afghanistan without home leave. This is another Vietnam and the only reason that the liberals aren’t protesting and rioting in the streets is because there is no draft and since it doesn’t affect them personally they truly don’t care. Bring them home….we don’t need another Vietnam.
Posted by: anothervietnam | August 4, 2009, 10:30 am 10:30 am
My son has been in Afghanistan for one month. Aside from the 120 degree heat he really appreciates the Afghan children throwing rocks and pebbles at them. I’m sure the parents send the children out to test them. I say give the Afghans what they want by pulling all US forces out of Afghanistan and we can contain the Taliban with airstrikes, drones, and special ops missions. No need to try to occupy the whole country.
Posted by: Steve | August 4, 2009, 10:47 am 10:47 am
I am currently serving at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan on my second deployment and have to say, without reservation, that a vast majority of you people have no idea what you are talking about. You just complain because it is your right to do so. I’d ather be over here with my brothers and sisters in uniform than back home listening to you thankless degenerates bitching.
Posted by: Tim | August 4, 2009, 11:14 am 11:14 am
Tim, if you are truly serving then I thank you. Our Marine is currently in the Helmand Province…so we know a little about the situation as well. As to “complaining”…well may argument is the very people who spit on my husband when he returned from Vietnam are the same people who now run this country…and they have gotten us into another questionable situation. One in which they continuously try to intervene with their “expertise” and interfere with the military and their true expertise. My argument is this…if it is going to be another Vietnam I say stop now and bring our troops home. No more of this “police action” Vietnam-like tactics. No more of military bills with 1000 earmarks attached. I’m saying support the military to their fullest…or bring them home. To our troops…God bless and thank you.
Posted by: anothervietnam | August 4, 2009, 11:22 am 11:22 am
Tim – just stating the obvious: Pres. Obama did not know what he was talking about when he said he would ‘bring the troops home’. That was a big campaign promise he made over and over. Reality of the situation has now come home to roost. I’m really not blaming Pres. Obama. It is what it is and he’s dealing with it all via the White House. The real soldiers are dealing with it all via reality.
Two of my nephews are involved. One just came back after two tours over there. The other is going sometime soon. The one that just came back is now drinking a lot. The other is now facing reality very soon.
I remember Viet Nam. That and the present war are not like WWII. The enemy does not have uniforms. It’s a ground war that will just go on and on until – well, I don’t know. However, I can guess.
I pray for my nephews and all of the soldiers facing the cruel reality of it all. Was it or is it necessary?
I waffle back and forth. I just don’t know, and neither does anyone else.
Don’t let them kid you.
Posted by: ddg | August 4, 2009, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
I had another comment. Where is it?
Posted by: ddg | August 4, 2009, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm
Tim – Countries broke. No money to let you guys hike all over the place and get shot at. Maybe you haven’t kept up with the financial situation of this country, but we are having to borrow money from China to facilitate war there.
Posted by: Huh | August 4, 2009, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
Isn’t it wonderful, Tim, that we do indeed have the right to complain.
We have the right and we have the luxury to do so.
May it ever be so.
To Tim and his fellow soldiers:
my hat is off to you.
I’d like to hear from more soldiers.
Posted by: ddg | August 4, 2009, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
Posted by: Tim “”"”"”"”I am currently serving at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan on my second deployment and have to say, without reservation, that a vast majority of you people have no idea what you are talking about. “”"” Thanks for your service. After talking to people on the ground, do you find most want our help over there? I was in Iraq twice and that is what I found out. My nephew is in Afgh now. I retired recently and didn’t get the chance to go to Afgh. Again, thanks for your service and keep safe.
Posted by: lfrichar | August 4, 2009, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
Thanks for your service, Tim. God bless you, and keep you and your “brothers and sisters” safe.
Posted by: sign seeker 17 | August 4, 2009, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm
Tim,
I appreciate very much what all of you are doing. I don’t understand war,
I wish we all lived in a pretty world where everyone got along but the sad truth is we don’t. I support all our troops and pray for you each night.
I have to pray that our government knows what they are doing and they will do right by you and all of us.
You are all so brave and I thank you
for serving our country.
God bless and come home safe with all your brothers and sisters in uniform.
Posted by: Sammy | August 31, 2009, 10:53 pm 10:53 pm