Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Afghanistan War News Updates -- December 1, 2009



U.S. Opts For Limited Surge -- Wall Street Journal

Large Buildup of Troops for Afghan Mission, but Curbs Sought on Budget, Duration

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama has ordered a revamped war plan for Afghanistan that appears to endorse the military strategy of his top generals but will set limits on U.S. involvement in terms of duration, manpower and money, White House officials said Monday.

After a three-month review, the president delivers a televised prime-time address at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Tuesday to publicly define his plan for the war. He is widely expected to announce he's committing around 30,000 new troops to fighting the Taliban. Eight U.S. allies also have committed to sending additional troops, which could total some 5,000, according to European and U.S. officials.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

Obama Called for Fast Troop Deployment to Afghanistan -- New York Times
Marines to be first wave in new Afghanistan plan -- Yahoo News/AP
Obama to lay out long-awaited Afghan plan -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Obama to unveil new Afghan strategy -- Yahoo News/AFP
Obama Plans to Send 30,000 to 35,000 More Troops to Afghanistan -- L.A. Times
Obama Issues Order for More Troops in Afghanistan -- New York Times
Obama Launches Afghanistan War Strategy Ahead of National Address -- Voice of America
Barack Obama to Order 34,000 Troops to Afghanistan -- Times Online
34,000 Troops Will be Sent to Afghanistan -- Washington Post
A Test for the Blocks Needed to Rebuild a Nation -- Washington Post
Obama Set to Sell Afghan War Strategy -- Washington Times
Obama taking reins of Afghan war -- CNN

The State of the War in Afghanistan -- New York Times

Obama, Karzai hold videoconference, talk strategy -- Yahoo News/AP
NATO announces change to Canadian area of responsibility in Kandahar -- Canadian Press
Added forces will be concentrated in southern Afghanistan -- L.A. Times
Kandahar: Taliban’s birthplace, Afghanistan’s crucible -- Stars And Stripes
Army Researchers Warn Against Tribal War in Afghanistan -- The Danger Room
Body of second missing soldier found in Afghanistan -- Reuters
Body of missing Virginia paratrooper found in Afghanistan -- Washington Post
US Military Deaths in Afghanistan Region at 849 -- New York Times/AP

Commentaries And Analysis

5 things to listen for in Obama's Afghanistan speech -- L.A. Times
A Tragic Mistake -- Bob Herbert, New York Times
John Kerry's Tora Bora Campaign -- Wall Street Journal editorial
What the US Can Achieve in Afghanistan, Despite Karzai -- Mark Moyar, Los Angeles Times
Paying for War -- Washington Post editorial.
Clear, Hold and Duct Tape -- David Brooks, New York Times

World News Briefs -- December 1, 2009


Obama Launches Afghanistan War Strategy Ahead of National Address -- Voice of America

President Obama is to announce the strategy in a national address Tuesday night. He is expected to send about 30,000 additional American troops to fight in Afghanistan

President Barack Obama has initiated a new U.S. strategy for Afghanistan ahead of a Tuesday night speech to the nation on the future of U.S. efforts in the strife-torn nation.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Hezbollah to continue arming to fight Israel.

Israel: EU stance on Jerusalem harms peace talks.

Palestinians to ask UN for 1967 borders.

Oil companies look to the future in Iraq.

Iran says may take serious action against Britons.

ASIA

Suspect in Philippine massacre charged with murder.

South Korea knocks down rumor North leader dead.

600 militants killed in S Waziristan operation.

Pakistan's Zardari holds off his political foes, for now.

AFRICA

CAR military recapture rebel-held town.

Pirates seize oil tanker, U.S.-bound, Off Somalia.

South Africa vows to treat all babies with HIV.

EUROPE

EU Lisbon Treaty comes into force.

UN court to hear Kosovo independence case. Despite its troubles, Kosovo Offers model for nation-builders.

Karadzic rejects legitimacy of Hague tribunal.

AMERICAS

New Honduran leader calls election clean. . US and some allies at odds over Honduras Presidential election.

Caracas shuts banks, sealing insider's fall.

Sheriff's spokesman: Police fatally shoot suspect.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Authority to spy on Americans unclear as Patriot Act expires.

4 from Guantanamo are sent to Europe.

Canadian court frees Egyptian terrorist.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Gold hits record near $1,200/oz as dollar slips.

GE, Vivendi in tentative deal for NBC.

Rising debt could derail U.S. Congress on just about everything.

Dubai government will not back debts of troubled investment firm.

How Nervous Are The Democrats With President Obama's Afghan Strategy



Democrats 'Nervous' About Afghanistan Plan -- Politico

Democratic Rep. John Murtha — just back from a fact-finding trip to Afghanistan — said Monday that he never got a clear definition of what constitutes an “achievable victory” for the United States and fears that American commanders are assuming more time for the war effort than voters at home will allow.

“I am still very nervous about this whole thing,” Murtha told POLITICO. “If you had 10 years, it might work; if you had five, you could make a difference. But you don’t have that long.”

Read more ....

My Comment: I am holding my nose on this one .... but Congressman Murtha is right. The U.S. does not have the patience nor interest to stay in Afghanistan for the next 5 years .... let alone 10 .... but even he is now realizing that this is the direction that we are all going to now follow whether we want to or not.

As for the Democrat rank and file, this blogger sums up their thinking nicely.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 1, 2009

Hat Tip: New Wars

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Warplanes: The Long View -- Strategy Page

Q+A: The Mine Ban Treaty - successes and challenges -- Reuters

Northrop VIIRS Ahead, Finally -- DoD Buzz

START Talks to Extend Through December -- Global Security Newswire

Most Awesomely Bad Military Acronyms 7 -- The Danger Room

Tribute to the Dragonfly -- ELP Defens(c)e Blog

Does The Navy Have A Place In McChrystal’s War? -- USNI

China's Subs Getting Quieter -- Defense News

Cyber Arms Control -- Defense Tech

Proposed Legislation Will Help Terror Suspects To Sue Law Enforcement/Military Officers

Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter and President Obama at an appearance.
(Gerald Martineau- TWP)


Terror By Trial Lawyer -- Wall Street Journal

Arlen Specter would make it easier for terrorists to sue.

If you think it's outrageous that Navy SEALs who helped capture one of Iraq's most wanted terrorists now face court-martial on charges they roughed him up, just wait. It may get worse. Tomorrow morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on a bill introduced by Arlen Specter (D., Pa.) that would make it easier for terrorists to sue military and federal law-enforcement officials.

Read more ....

My Comment: Sen. Arlen Specter has a very tough Senate election coming up next year .... he needs all the support and monies that special interest groups can give him .... trial lawyers being one of them. The fact that this legislation may impact National Security has probably not even entered his mind.

As to what the White house may do .... if they are willing to put Khalid Sheikh Mohammed into federal criminal court, they are capable of doing anything .... including supporting this legislation.

Will The Economy Sink The American Empire?

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) makes her way into Pearl Harbor, November 2008. Pearl Harbor was the final port visit of the deployment for Ronald Reagan. (U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Spike Call. )

From The Compass/Real Clear World:

Niall Ferguson thinks its possible:

As interest payments eat into the budget, something has to give—and that something is nearly always defense expenditure. According to the CBO, a significant decline in the relative share of national security in the federal budget is already baked into the cake. On the Pentagon's present plan, defense spending is set to fall from above 4 percent now to 3.2 percent of GDP in 2015 and to 2.6 percent of GDP by 2028.
Read more ....

My Comment: I have been saying the same thing for the past year. Kudos to the Compass for writing a better post that explains why.

Newsweek has a similar article .... it is HERE.

Do Hot, Dry Conditions Cause More African Civil Wars?

From Discover Magazine:

We’ve covered industries and species that climate change will affect, but is more war the next side effect of a warming world? A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ties warmer temperatures to higher incidence of civil wars in Africa. The scientists warn that the continent could see 54 percent more armed conflict—and almost 400,000 more war deaths—by 2030 if climate projections prove true.

Read more ....

My Comment: Warmer temperatures will also mean longer growing periods (definitely in the Northern Hemisphere), and less use of energy to heat one's homes.

Food and its scarcity has always been (justifiably) linked to conflict and war. But in Africa's case, conflict and war has always been the "normal" state of affairs for as long as I can remember. It is easy for governments and their supporters to point to external reasons for their problems (i.e. global warming), but from where I stand, it appears that in Africa's case many of their problems are of their own making.