http://www.juancole.com/2010/02/haqqani-son-killed-in-drone-attack-2.html Thoughts on the Middle East, History and Religion Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:17:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.juancole.com/2010/02/haqqani-son-killed-in-drone-attack-2.html#comment-2203 MonsieurGonzo Sun, 21 Feb 2010 05:48:43 +0000 http://www.juancole.com/?p=4987#comment-2203 <i>NYTimes</i> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/world/asia/21afghan.html?pagewanted=1&hp" rel="nofollow">Marines Do Heavy Lifting as Afghan Army Lags in Battle</a> : "That fact raises questions about President Obama’s declared goal of beginning to withdraw American forces in July 2011 and turning over security to the Afghan military <i>and the even more troubled police forces</i>." imho, It is a bit unfair to criticize the Afghan Army too harshly in this regard because their NATO-American training is rudimentary, and it would be absurd to expect (or compare) them to our own, crack <i>assault troops</i>. otoh, It is the newly-trained Afghan Police that will prove to be the Acid Test for Generals Petraeus and McChrystal's strategy<b>: it is these police forces who are expected to perform the role of paramilitary <i>occupation troops</i>, to replace NATO-American forces.</b> iow, forget "the assault," we will not lose this 'battle', but <i>regardez l'occupation, mes amis</i> ~ that, is the real 'war'. NYTimes Marines Do Heavy Lifting as Afghan Army Lags in Battle : "That fact raises questions about President Obama’s declared goal of beginning to withdraw American forces in July 2011 and turning over security to the Afghan military and the even more troubled police forces." imho, It is a bit unfair to criticize the Afghan Army too harshly in this regard because their NATO-American training is rudimentary, and it would be absurd to expect (or compare) them to our own, crack assault troops. otoh, It is the newly-trained Afghan Police that will prove to be the Acid Test for Generals Petraeus and McChrystal's strategy: it is these police forces who are expected to perform the role of paramilitary occupation troops, to replace NATO-American forces. iow, forget "the assault," we will not lose this 'battle', but regardez l'occupation, mes amis ~ that, is the real 'war'.

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