Gates, Mullen & Clinton argue for new Afghan plan - AP

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

They're trotting out the bogeymen right on schedule. EEEK!!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091202/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_us_afghanistan

WASHINGTON – Failure in Afghanistan would mean a Taliban takeover of the country and "have severe consequences for the United States and the world," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday as the Obama administration set out to sell its new strategy on Capitol Hill.

Lawmakers questioned the exit strategy, a day after Obama announced he was sending an additional 30,000 American troops to the Afghan war and would commence troop withdrawals by the summer of 2011.

"Failure in Afghanistan would mean a Taliban takeover of much, if not most, of the country and likely a renewed civil war," Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee. "Taliban-ruled areas could in short order become, once again, a sanctuary for al-Qaida as well as a staging area for resurgent militant groups on the offensive in Pakistan."

The insurgency already has gained "dominant influence" in 11 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces, said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, who appeared with Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton before the committee.

[Better Today]

1. Okay, color me doubtful, but I imagine that whenever we pull out

the Taliban will re-emerge to their pre-2001 power, perhaps not as tolerant of AQ as they were but it does seem that keeping Taliban's influence out is quite improbable.

[bigjohn16]

2. Exit strategy?

The secretary said he thought the United States would be in a position by December 2010 to determine whether it could begin a withdrawal by July 2011.

Not so much.

[optimator]

3. watching that meeting was painful

I never thought I would see a Democratic Administration try to use fear and lies to promote war.

[Individualist]

4. A Bush holdover, a Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, and a DLCer.

:puke: