Petraeus cites Bush-era shortcomings in Afghanistan

[steve2470]

Source: MSNBC

U.S. military leaders inherited a faulty strategy for the war in Afghanistan at the end of the Bush administration and are still working to “refine the concepts,” the U.S. commander said in an interview airing Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

In his first interview since taking over as head of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus told NBC’s David Gregory that when “a lot of us came out of Iraq in late 2008 and started looking intently at Afghanistan, we realized that we did not have the organizations that are required for the conduct and the comprehensive civil/military counterinsurgency campaign.”

In the interview, which was conducted last week in Kabul and aired Sunday, Petraeus did not specifically criticize former President George W. Bush, who promoted him to head of U.S. Central Command in April 2008. But the timetable he described left little doubt that he believed the Bush administration inadequately laid the groundwork for integrating Afghan leaders into the allied military structure.

“Over the last 18 months or so” — Bush left the White House 18 months ago — “what we’ve sought to do in Afghanistan is to get the inputs right for the first time,” Petraeus said. “We needed to refine the concepts — to build, in some cases, concepts that didn’t exist” seven years after the Afghan war began in October 2001.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38698040/ns/meet_the_press-meet_the_press/

[izquierdista]

1. STFU

You obsequious sycophant. Where were you when an informed opinion was needed? Probably polishing up your toadying skills to tell your commander what he wanted to hear. Why don't you take a clue from the Hippocratic oath and "first do no harm"? It's long past time to just go away.

[SpankMe]

7. Obsequious, or shackled by the neo-cons?

I generally agree with your "where was he when..." feeling. But, Bush fired some generals when it looked like they weren't toeing the line. If they went against the Cheney plan and spewed any kind of thoughtful analysis or common sense, then they were out.

This story could be a sign the President Obama is actually listening to his military leaders rather than telling them how to act in support of the hidden, evil agenda.

[tinymontgomery]

2. Way to dump on the former pres

and your former co-workers. I always thought the top man in the military took responsibility for command. Like a captain of a ship, as soon as he says I relieve you thats it, it's all his. I he/she has a collision on the first trip out, oh well it's their fault no matter what.

edit to add;

I do agree it was the former piece of shit's fault.

[msongs]

3. military welfare queen trying to gin up evermore profits for his war contractor friends nt

[DeSwiss]

14. +1000!

Military welfare queen!

;)

[mike r]

4. Petraeus says he will not be bound by 2011 target date

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10980473

The new commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan, Gen David Petraeus, says he will not be bound by a 2011 target date to start withdrawing US troops.

Speaking on NBC television, Gen Petraeus said he reserved the right to tell President Obama whether the pull-out date was too early.

[EFerrari]

5. Thank you, General Prufrock. n/t

[BootinUp]

6. Watching it

I find Petraeus pretty realistic and probably the best man for a most challenging job. Not a popular statement here I assume, but thats the way I see it.

[seattleblue]

10. Yes, winning a unwinable war is very challenging.

[EFerrari]

11. It's pretty neat that he now gets to disagree with himself

and nobody calls him on it.

[Yeahyeah]

8. Bush-era shortcomings? What was that? An unknown known?

Or a known unknown or a known unknown unknown naner naner nee nee na na?

Certainly noone knew of any shortcomings at the time.

[Enrique]

9. the next six months will be crucial n/t

[riderinthestorm]

15. Tom Friedman? Is that you Tom?

Sorry, couldn't resist!! :evilgrin:

In all seriousness, I just can't imagine any scenario whereby Afghanistan is somehow more "winnable" (whatever that means). What does that look like, especially with the Karzai government continuing their unabashed corruption?

[Tutankhamun]

12. Yet another blatantly obvious ploy to justify funneling borrowed money into an

unwinnable war.

That's our new meme: "U.S. military leaders inherited a faulty strategy for the war in Afghanistan..."

The "strategy" was just a slight teency weency little smidgen "faulty."

But now there's a new president who knows how to win so we can't stop now. Must. Keep. Fighting.

[BeFree]

13. Huh? What?

Didn't his CIC say repeatedly that whatever his generals asked for, they got?

Or did bush mean he forgot?

Chicken hawk mofos are in it for the money. Anybody who thinks for one second that they have our best interests at heart needs to remember they started the Iraqi invasion with a pack of lies.

[TomCADem]

16. Petraeus cites Bush-era shortcomings in Afghanistan

Source: MSNBC

U.S. military leaders inherited a faulty strategy for the war in Afghanistan at the end of the Bush administration and are still working to “refine the concepts,” the U.S. commander said in an interview airing Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

In his first interview since taking over as head of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus told NBC’s David Gregory that when “a lot of us came out of Iraq in late 2008 and started looking intently at Afghanistan, we realized that we did not have the organizations that are required for the conduct and the comprehensive civil/military counterinsurgency campaign.”

In the interview, which was conducted last week in Kabul and aired Sunday, Petraeus did not specifically criticize former President George W. Bush, who promoted him to head of U.S. Central Command in April 2008. But the timetable he described left little doubt that he believed the Bush administration inadequately laid the groundwork for integrating Afghan leaders into the allied military structure.

“Over the last 18 months or so” — Bush left the White House 18 months ago — “what we’ve sought to do in Afghanistan is to get the inputs right for the first time,” Petraeus said. “We needed to refine the concepts — to build, in some cases, concepts that didn’t exist” seven years after the Afghan war began in October 2001.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38698040/ns/meet_the_press-meet_the_press/