General’s D.C. Trip Put Off as Strategy Talks Drag On

The Washington Post
The White House has told the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan to delay a planned trip here Friday to brief President Obama and his senior advisers on his recommendation for a major troop increase.
Officials had hoped to have Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal and what national security adviser James L. Jones called “all the key players” speak to Obama in person by the end of this week, leading to final deliberations over a forward strategy.
But “we’re not finished,” Jones said Thursday, and meetings may extend beyond next week. When the White House is ready, he said, McChrystal — along with the U.S. ambassadors to Afghanistan and Pakistan — will fly to Washington so that the three “can meet with the president before a decision is made.”
~ Snipet ~
Senior Republican lawmakers who support McChrystal’s request for more troops began demanding weeks ago that Obama bring the commander back to testify before Congress — as Petraeus did in explaining why President George W. Bush’s decision to “surge” thousands more troops into Iraq was the right one.

McChrystal initially planned to arrive in Washington in time for the meeting, “but he was told it would be best if he stayed in Afghanistan” for the time being, a senior military official in Kabul said. The message, which originated with Jones, was conveyed by Gates.

Although officials in Washington insisted that the decision to delay the trip reflected only the timing of White House deliberations, this military official said that it was equally a reflection of the desire of both Gates and Mullen to take the lead military role in the discussions. Gates, he said, has worked hard to forge a close relationship with Obama and believes he can effectively represent the Pentagon’s positions.
Mullen is determined to fulfill his responsibility to represent the views of all the service chiefs in a way he believes was circumvented under Bush, a Pentagon official said. “Our perspective,” he said, “is that [Obama] prefers to use the chain of command and that he wants to hear what the chiefs think.”

Here is video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the Charlie Rose Show slamming Gen. Stanley McChrystal “with all due respect.” Pelosi praised the proposed strategy for Afghanistan being put forward by Vice-President Joe Biden as one that “has currency” among the American people and members of Congress.
She then said Gen. McChrystal should be giving advice to the President “through the chain of command,” not “in press conferences.” She was slamming comments made by McChrystal during a Q & A session in London following a speech he gave there last week. McChrystal never mentioned Biden’s name, but was asked by a participant if he favored a strategy that would use fewer boots on the ground in Afghanistan, but concentrate efforts only on attacking Al-Qaeda. This strategy would essentially allow the Taliban to retake control of the country.

Olilie North with our troops in Afghanistan to show support and let them know how much we love them all and support them back home.

American troops in Afghanistan losing heart, say army chaplains
American soldiers serving in Afghanistan are depressed and deeply disillusioned, according to the chaplains of two US battalions that have spent nine months on the front line in the war against the Taleban.
Many feel that they are risking their lives — and that colleagues have died — for a futile mission and an Afghan population that does nothing to help them, the chaplains told The Times in their makeshift chapel on this fortress-like base in a dusty, brown valley southwest of Kabul.

“The many soldiers who come to see us have a sense of futility and anger about being here. They are really in a state of depression and despair and just want to get back to their families,” said Captain Jeff Masengale, of the 10th Mountain Division’s 2-87 Infantry Battalion.

“They feel they are risking their lives for progress that’s hard to discern,” said Captain Sam Rico, of the Division’s 4-25 Field Artillery Battalion. “They are tired, strained, confused and just want to get through.” The chaplains said that they were speaking out because the men could not.

The base is not, it has to be said, obviously downcast, and many troops do not share the chaplains’ assessment. The soldiers are, by nature and training, upbeat, driven by a strong sense of duty, and they do their jobs as best they can. Re-enlistment rates are surprisingly good for the 2-87, though poor for the 4-25. Several men approached by The Times, however, readily admitted that their morale had slumped.

“We’re lost — that’s how I feel. I’m not exactly sure why we’re here,” said Specialist Raquime Mercer, 20, whose closest friend was shot dead by a renegade Afghan policeman last Friday. “I need a clear-cut purpose if I’m going to get hurt out here or if I’m going to die.”

Sergeant Christopher Hughes, 37, from Detroit, has lost six colleagues and survived two roadside bombs. Asked if

the mission was worthwhile, he replied: “If I knew exactly what the mission was, probably so, but I don’t.”

The only soldiers who thought it was going well “work in an office, not on the ground”. In his opinion “the whole country is going to s***”.

The battalion’s 1,500 soldiers are nine months in to a year-long deployment that has proved extraordinarily tough. Their goal was to secure the mountainous Wardak province and then to win the people’s allegiance through development and good governance. They have, instead, found themselves locked in an increasingly vicious battle with the Taleban.
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Wild Thing’s comment………
Obama appointed General McChrystal’s and he can’t stand to be in his presence. He doesn’t even really want input from him, that is so obvious.
Regarding what Obama is doing to our troops , I shake from anger when I am typing this I am so angry.
Praying hard for our troops!!! And DAMN Obama to the worst place in HELL whatever that would be.

….Thank you Mark for sending this to me.
Mark
3rd Mar.Div. 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment
1/9 Marines aka The Walking Dead
VN 66-67