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Gates: Afghan Failure Means 'Civil War'

Troop surge is necessary to transition to humanitarian role

By the Associated Press

Posted Dec 2, 2009 2:12 PM CST
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(AP) – Defense chief Robert Gates and other members of the Obama administration took to Capitol Hill today to sell President Obama's plan to send 30,000 additional troops. "Failure in Afghanistan would mean a Taliban takeover of much, if not most, of the country and likely a renewed civil war," Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee. "Taliban-ruled areas could in short order become, once again, a sanctuary for al-Qaeda."

A skeptical Chairman Carl Levin said the surge "will put more US Marines on street corners in Afghan villages, with too few Afghan partners." And John McCain objected to Obama's emphasis on getting out in 3 years. Said Hillary Clinton: "I do not believe we have locked ourselves into leaving. But what we have done ... is to signal very clearly to all audiences that the United States is not interested in occupying Afghanistan."

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, prepare to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, prepare to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington.   (AP Photo)
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, right, waits to take his seat on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, right, waits to take his seat on Capitol Hill in Washington.   (AP Photo)
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, prepare to testify on Capitol Hill.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, prepare to testify on Capitol Hill.   (AP Photo)
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, right, wait to take their seats on Capitol Hill today.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, right, wait to take their seats on Capitol Hill today.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 16 comments
Shannonals
Dec 4, 2009 2:34 AM CST
cedarkey that is the most ignorant thing you've ever posted on newser. Neo-Nazis and skinheads would love you for your number one choice, of course they would be sure to include us as in addition to the shipping roster. Have you even served in the military? All this talk about bombing countries and rushing off to war with another country if they attack Isreal...have you thought of the cost of American lives, or does that not matter because your past the drafting age?
bewilderbeast
Dec 3, 2009 11:24 AM CST
Sadly, deezy, they don't think that. They just think: We need to fire off more bullets. Pity some soldiers will die, but hey, we'll make a profit flying their bodies back and burying them, too. Thassall. It's just business. There's no real goal.
bewilderbeast
Dec 3, 2009 11:23 AM CST
there, there cedarkey. Lie down a while. Breathe evenly. We need American BRAINS at this time, and that's not your department.

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Politics • US • World

 
Taliban • Robert Gates • Carl Levin • al-Qaeda • Senate Armed Services Committee • Afghanistan war • Obama administration • Afghanistan troop surge

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