Hot Topic (9/16): Sending more soldiers to Afghanistan

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

WASHINGTON — The nation’s top military officer pushed back Tuesday against Democrats who oppose sending additional combat troops to Afghanistan, telling Congress that success would probably require more fighting forces, and certainly much more time.

That assessment by the officer, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stopped short of an explicit request for more troops. But it signals that the military intends to have a public voice in the evolving debate as many Democrats express reluctance to expand the war and President Obama weighs options.

Admiral Mullen, called before the Senate Armed Services Committee to testify for his nomination to serve a second term as chairman, said that no specific request for more troops had yet been received from Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the senior American and NATO commander in Afghanistan.

“But I do believe that — having heard his views and having great confidence in his leadership — a properly resourced counterinsurgency probably means more forces, and, without question, more time and more commitment to the protection of the Afghan people and to the development of good governance,” Admiral Mullen said.

Admiral Mullen’s comments were his most specific to date in a public setting on whether more troops would have to be sent to Afghanistan.

The debate will probably be affected by the mounting political uncertainty in Afghanistan. Election officials said one out of every seven ballots cast in the presidential election last month would be examined as part of a huge recount and fraud audit.

A range of officials have said that the White House hopes to have at least several weeks before having to deal with any request for more forces for Afghanistan — and the political implications of such a request here at home. But Tuesday’s debate on Capitol Hill, which framed the arguments for how to shape the mission, indicates that the sweeping public discussion is already under way.

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Do you support increasing troop levels in Afghanistan?

Are you in favor of U.S. military action in that country?

[MrsRStewart]

I thought this was the "good war", the one we should be focusing on?  What is the problem with sending more troops?

[mamaof2angles]

Other than the fact of how many we lost in Iraq, im not sure you are correct this is the one we are "suppsoed" to be focusing on.

Quoting MrsRStewart:

I thought this was the "good war", the one we should be focusing on?  What is the problem with sending more troops?

[luckcharm]

I think if you aren't going to bring all of the soldiers home and end their involvement in that area then you should give the military the troops they feel they need to do what it is you want them to do there.

 

[mamadixon]

Exactly.

Quoting luckcharm:

I think if you aren't going to bring all of the soldiers home and end their involvement in that area then you should give the military the troops they feel they need to do what it is you want them to do there.

[unisus33]

I don't think that we should not send anymore troops to Afghanistan. I think that we have enough and some that have not been home at all should come home and keep them home.

[stormcris]

The deal was decided back in April(?) I think when Obama had the trilateral meeting with Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was also decided we will be putting troups into Pakistan and increasing war spending. It seems to me those concessions make it clear that nothing has to go through congress and the debates are really just more of a formality than anything else. It was reported on the Council for Foreign Affairs website back when the meeting took place as fact.

[mamadixon]

I don't like this...not one little bit.

Quoting stormcris:

The deal was decided back in April(?) I think when Obama had the trilateral meeting with Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was also decided we will be putting troups into Pakistan and increasing war spending. It seems to me those concessions make it clear that nothing has to go through congress and the debates are really just more of a formality than anything else. It was reported on the Council for Foreign Affairs website back when the meeting took place as fact.

[Grannygoli]

There in NO good war!!!

Military actions does not help anybody.  It only kills innocent people.  People who agree with military action are callous.

[AdkArmyMom]

Quoting luckcharm:

I think if you aren't going to bring all of the soldiers home and end their involvement in that area then you should give the military the troops they feel they need to do what it is you want them to do there.

 

Can't say it any better than that!  Get fully involved or fully removed. 

[Lizardannie1966]

There are several military "hot spots" right now, but Afghanistan seems to be one. Something that was never finished. I'm very concerned as one of our nephew's leaves for Basic October 5th. He's supposed to be doing additional medic training in Texas shortly there after once he gets done with Basic. But I'm not sure from there where he'll be.