For U.S. Troops In Afghanistan The Politics Of Sequestration Seem Remote

A coalition force member communicates on his radio while maintaining security during a movement to establish a temporary patrol base with Afghan special forces in Herat province, Afghanistan, Feb. 17, 2013. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau

For Troops in Afghanistan, Sequester Seems Far Away -- Wall Street Journal

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — While Washington braces for across-the-board spending cuts to kick in, it’s business as usual for troops serving in Afghanistan — and in Helmand province, the politics of sequestration seem remote.

Here in southwestern Afghanistan, the big task is “surge recovery,” military-speak for the steady withdrawal of forces. Helmand province, Afghanistan’s opium-growing heartland, was once the focal point of an intense counterinsurgency campaign: At the height of the war in late 2011, more than 21,000 Marines were operating here.

Today, only 7,000 Marines have boots on the ground in Helmand. Since last March, the Marines have closed a total of about 145 bases, from small combat outposts to airfields. Some have been handed over to Afghan forces, and others simply been bulldozed to the ground.

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My Comment: I live in Canada .... so I am also fortunate to see sequestration from a "remote location". Unfortunately .... the reality is that what happens in the U.S. will impact the world, and America's financial and debt mess is impacting everyone.