MMC
05-20-2012, 07:37 PM
http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/394AqYzjhefFQvRI7YnHkg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9MzI2NDtjcj0xO2N3PTQ4OTY7ZHg9MD tkeT0wO2ZpPXVsY3JvcDtoPTEyNztxPTg1O3c9MTkw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/74c35d6ff72139090c0f6a706700dcec.jpg
The commander of NATO-led forces in Afghanistan bluntly warned Sunday that American soldiers will face combat in that war-torn country right up to the time they leave, December 31, 2014. General John Allen told reporters not to buy into a "narrative" that the handover of security responsibilities to Afghan forces next year means US troops will be out of harm's way.
"Combat operations will continue in the country throughout the period of the remainder of the ISAF mission, which will conclude on the 31 st of December, 2014," Allen, who leads NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), said at a briefing on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Chicago (http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/afghanistan-karzai-thanks-obama-taxpayers-money-182925141.html).
While Afghans will take the lead gradually, "it doesn't mean that we won't be fighting, it doesn't mean there won't be combat. And that's important because there is a narrative out there that combat operations for the US stops at milestone 2013. That is not, in fact, correct," the general said.
The general also played down the impact of Pakistan's decision to close ground supply lines for NATO forces last November in the aftermath of a NATO strike on Pakistani territory that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
"It has not in fact negatively affected my -- our -- prosecution of the campaign," he said. And Allen cited "some very positive indications of late" in negotiations with Pakistan that they will reopen those supply lines.
Asked about reports of tension between the White House and the Pentagon over the troop withdrawal plan, Allen replied: "There is no daylight between the commander on the ground in Afghanistan and the commander in chief.".....snip~
http://news.yahoo.com/americans-afghanistan-fight-2014-top-commander-says-223800652.html
ABC OTUS News – 1 hr 37 mins ago<<<<<
Wonder what he means by prosecution of the campaign? Also what negotiations is he talking about with the Pakis. Since there really hasnt been any dialogue going on.
Of course he did bring up the French and if they should pull out. How we have contingency plans in place to pick up that slack. Short time span on Ops to engage with the enemy.
The commander of NATO-led forces in Afghanistan bluntly warned Sunday that American soldiers will face combat in that war-torn country right up to the time they leave, December 31, 2014. General John Allen told reporters not to buy into a "narrative" that the handover of security responsibilities to Afghan forces next year means US troops will be out of harm's way.
"Combat operations will continue in the country throughout the period of the remainder of the ISAF mission, which will conclude on the 31 st of December, 2014," Allen, who leads NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), said at a briefing on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Chicago (http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/afghanistan-karzai-thanks-obama-taxpayers-money-182925141.html).
While Afghans will take the lead gradually, "it doesn't mean that we won't be fighting, it doesn't mean there won't be combat. And that's important because there is a narrative out there that combat operations for the US stops at milestone 2013. That is not, in fact, correct," the general said.
The general also played down the impact of Pakistan's decision to close ground supply lines for NATO forces last November in the aftermath of a NATO strike on Pakistani territory that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
"It has not in fact negatively affected my -- our -- prosecution of the campaign," he said. And Allen cited "some very positive indications of late" in negotiations with Pakistan that they will reopen those supply lines.
Asked about reports of tension between the White House and the Pentagon over the troop withdrawal plan, Allen replied: "There is no daylight between the commander on the ground in Afghanistan and the commander in chief.".....snip~
http://news.yahoo.com/americans-afghanistan-fight-2014-top-commander-says-223800652.html
ABC OTUS News – 1 hr 37 mins ago<<<<<
Wonder what he means by prosecution of the campaign? Also what negotiations is he talking about with the Pakis. Since there really hasnt been any dialogue going on.
Of course he did bring up the French and if they should pull out. How we have contingency plans in place to pick up that slack. Short time span on Ops to engage with the enemy.