Mullen Says Afghanistan is no Vietnam

[unhappycamper]

Mullen Says Afghanistan is no Vietnam
February 03, 2009
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. military officer cautioned Monday against comparing the Pentagon's renewed focus on Afghanistan to the Vietnam War, citing terrorism and a nonoccupation strategy as "dramatic differences" between the two conflicts.

"Afghanistan is much more complex," said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

He added: "I certainly recognize - and having been in Vietnam myself - that there are those who make comparisons. I would be pretty careful about that though, for lots of reasons."

Mullen's comments came as the Pentagon prepares to deploy an additional 15,000 Army and Marine troops to Afghanistan this spring and summer in the Obama administration's military campaign to shut down the Taliban and al-Qaida.

Ultimately, an estimated 60,000 U.S. troops could be in Afghanistan over the next year as Obama starts ordering soldiers from Iraq. About 32,000 American troops already are in Afghanistan.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/February-2009/mullen-says-afghanistan-is-no-vietnam.html?col=1186032310810



uhc comment: WFT is a 'nonoccupation strategy'? Does this mean we bomb them from the air? Or do we just declare 'We're not occupying your country'? Come on Mullen - give it up. We've been in Afghanistan for eight years and we have completely fucked up this occupation also. Time to bring them home.

[liberal N proud]

1. There are no jungles in Afghanistan

[WildClarySage]

2. Yeah! It's not even *in* Southeast Asia!

Duh!

[izzie]

3. Few things ARE the same. Am. will die and pay for it plus

we do not have the right to just take over other countries even if we do not like how the treat their people. :banghead: