They do not want a large increase in troops and I have to agree with their reasoning. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said the United States must fully share its plans for Afghanistan with Pakistan so that it can contribute to them. He warned of our closing posts near the border and I agree we should increase our presence there. Pakistan's Gilani warns Obama over US Afghan troop plan
I agree with Pakistan that we should put Karzai to the test and concentrate our efforts on securing the Afghanistan Pakistan border to contain militants in Pakistan so Pakistan can eradicate them if possible and keep them from migrating into Afghanistan to complicate our efforts. Border security is key to the success of both Pakistan and Afghanistan and should be a prime concern and the effort of Afghan forces can be spent training up and killing the militants that are already in country!
I agree with what should be the final option on the table, dubbed the "hybrid" option, it would involve a surge of around 20,000 troops to reinforce major population areas coupled with a renewed counter-terrorist effort against al-Qaeda and Taliban targets in lawless tribal areas along the border with Pakistan coupled with the major emphasis being training up Afghans to take over their security so we can go home.
We will find out in a few days and I am gratified with much of what I am hearing about Obama's plan but dismayed that he wants to add some 34,000 troops. Head of Management and Budget Peter Orzak had a ring side seat because of the costs involved. At a cost of $1 million per year per soldier and a possible “temporary” increase of some 34,000 soldiers we are not talking peanuts here and have heard rumors of a war tax, pay as you fight! US Will Be Out Of Afghanistan By 2017: White House
With the U.S. deficit hitting $1.4 trillion and fueling Americans' concerns about high government spending, sending more troops to Afghanistan will be a politically risky move for Obama. Republicans of course want the troop increase but will use the deficit to make sure that this is Obama’s Waterloo.
As you know, concerns at home are the smallest part of this. This is very complicated thanks to Bush’s ineptitude. Pakistan is blaming militants regrouping outside Waziristan on the US but it is due to their success. Counter to their belief, I think a surge hurts us but will in fact help them. I guess once again we will have to find out the hard way. I remember Obama saying he wanted to be out before his time was up knowing that meant two terms. Now we hear 2017. We can only hope that is etched in stone! Pakistan Taliban regrouping outside Waziristan
James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
www.anaveragepatriot.com
