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Richard · 11-14-2010, 05:54

Give the night back to the Tali?

Time to redeploy.

Richard

Karzai: U.S. Should Draw Down Military Operations
USAToday, 13 Nov 2010

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai said the United States must reduce the visibility and intensity of its military operations in Afghanistan.

Karzai also said in an interview Saturday with The Washington Post the U.S. should end the increased Special Operations forces night raids that aggravate Afghans and could strengthen the Taliban insurgency.

He said he wants American troops off the roads and out of Afghan homes and that the long-term presence of so many foreign soldiers would only make the war worse. U.S. commander Gen. David Petraeus claims the 30,000 new troops have made substantial progress in beating back the insurgency.

"The time has come to reduce military operations," Karzai said. "The time has come to reduce the presence of, you know, boots in Afghanistan. .. to reduce the intrusiveness into the daily Afghan life."

President Barack Obama has set July 2011 as a target to begin drawing down U.S. troops but American officials expect troops to be in Afghanistan for some time after that. Karzai said his forces are ready to take more responsibility for their own security.

Karzai said in the interview that he was speaking out not to criticize the United States but in the belief that candor could improve what he called a "grudging" relationship between the countries. Karzai has repeatedly criticized civilian casualties caused by raids involving U.S. and NATO troops.

White House officials had no immediate comment early Sunday.

Insurgents wearing suicide vests on Saturday stormed a major NATO base in eastern Afghanistan, with six of them dying in a hail of gunfire before they could penetrate the defenses. Ten people died in a separate bombing in the north.

The attacks — in Jalalabad in the east and Kunduz province in the north — show the insurgents' fighting spirit has not been broken despite a surge of U.S. troops and firepower.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/a...hooModule_News

11-14-2010, 05:54	#1
Richard Quiet Professional Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: NorCal Posts: 15,370	Karzai: U.S. Should Draw Down Military Operations Give the night back to the Tali? Time to redeploy. Richard Karzai: U.S. Should Draw Down Military Operations USAToday, 13 Nov 2010 Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai said the United States must reduce the visibility and intensity of its military operations in Afghanistan. Karzai also said in an interview Saturday with The Washington Post the U.S. should end the increased Special Operations forces night raids that aggravate Afghans and could strengthen the Taliban insurgency. He said he wants American troops off the roads and out of Afghan homes and that the long-term presence of so many foreign soldiers would only make the war worse. U.S. commander Gen. David Petraeus claims the 30,000 new troops have made substantial progress in beating back the insurgency. "The time has come to reduce military operations," Karzai said. "The time has come to reduce the presence of, you know, boots in Afghanistan. .. to reduce the intrusiveness into the daily Afghan life." President Barack Obama has set July 2011 as a target to begin drawing down U.S. troops but American officials expect troops to be in Afghanistan for some time after that. Karzai said his forces are ready to take more responsibility for their own security. Karzai said in the interview that he was speaking out not to criticize the United States but in the belief that candor could improve what he called a "grudging" relationship between the countries. Karzai has repeatedly criticized civilian casualties caused by raids involving U.S. and NATO troops. White House officials had no immediate comment early Sunday. Insurgents wearing suicide vests on Saturday stormed a major NATO base in eastern Afghanistan, with six of them dying in a hail of gunfire before they could penetrate the defenses. Ten people died in a separate bombing in the north. The attacks — in Jalalabad in the east and Kunduz province in the north — show the insurgents' fighting spirit has not been broken despite a surge of U.S. troops and firepower. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/a...hooModule_News __________________ “Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)… There are just some kind of men who – who’re so busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.” - To Kill A Mockingbird (Atticus Finch) “Almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.” - Robert Heinlein
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