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Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway predicted today that significant number of U.S. Marines and combat forces will be in Afghanistan "hammering" the enemy well past the July 2011 deadline to begin withdrawal of American forces.
In a Pentagon briefing, Conway claimed President Obama's timeline to begin withdrawal is "giving the enemy sustenance," telling the insurgent forces all they have to do is wait for the Americans to leave to takeover control of Afghanistan. But Conway said in some respect the deadline could work in favor of U.S. forces. Conway explained the Marines will be there well after July 2011, and what will the enemy leadership say then "when we're still there hammering them."
"President Obama was speaking to several audiences at the same time," Conway said.
Conway also acknowledged that Americans are "growing tired of the war" in Afghanistan. Pointing out that 60% of Americans polled recently are against the war, Conway said America's "leadership has to do a better job of explaining the last chapter" of the war, and the consequences should the U.S. abruptly pull out of Afghanistan.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
On "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Conway suggested that if the law is repealed, the Marines may consider allowing Marines not to share quarters with gay servicemembers.
Conway said the Marines may make such arrangements "voluntary" to accommodate any "moral concerns." The general noted many Marines are "very religious," he said, and because of their moral concerns "don't want to room" with gay servicemembers.
But Conway stressed that if the law is repealed, the Marines would take the lead in implementing it. "We cannot be seen as dragging our feet," Conway said. "We've got two wars to fight. We'll implement it and move on."
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Only little lefties, the overwhelming majority of whom have never served in the military, can be so gung ho for open service by gays in the military. TM0802 is absolutely correct in comparing the issue of men showering with women to gays showering with men as an example of why it is not a good idea and if any lefty can come up with an explanation of how these differ please let us know. Also by now everyone but the die hard lefties know that BHO screwed up royally by setting an early date for US withdrawal from Af'stan. It is simple common sense you do not advertise a withdrawal date to your enemy while trying to win a war. Typical Obama splitting the baby logic and trying to mollify his strongest supporters (the left) while trying to put off those that support the war . He pissed off everybody and looks like the bozo he is to boot! However what really bothers war supporters the most is how the democrat party has so quickly reversed itself on support for the Af'stan war! Less than a year after they were hammering Bush for not pursuing the "good war" (Dems own term for Af'stan) dems decide they wanted to bail out. This hypocrisy is so disgusting it makes one sick and demonstrates how this country will never be able to depend on most dems to defend the country again (except against right to life invaders). Vietnam was the event that turned that party and its supporters and current members against any type of war including one to eliminate the forces of Al Qeida who attacked us and killed 3000 of our countrymen.
Osama Bin Laden had the dems in mind when he told his supporters that Americans do not have the fortitude to pursue a war to the end and therefore if they held out they would be defacto victors and then could resume attacks against our homeland with even greater resources. UnfortunatelyOsama knew our own countrymen better than we did and Obama is bringing his predictions to fruition.
Really? Then how do you explain the success of our military, which has always had gays as members? And are you delusional enough to believe that the only people who serve in the military are Republicans?
NDD,
downwith Bolsheviks is a homophobe and if he's against it this strongly,...he's probably harboring some 'inner' Ted Haggert - that is just MY opinion. I could be wrong. but I don't really think I am.
newday, gays served while keeping their preference to themselves, big difference. No one doubts these people served well and bravely. The issue is this if gays serve openly in the armed forces will this not lead to uncomfortable situations in quarters, field execises, bivouacs, etc. and if gays serve openly should men be allowed to shower with women if gays can shower with men? Will all these accumulated "situations" have an effect on morale, unit cohesion? We need a real world answer not an academic, utopian answer2) I said most dems not all preferred not to serve in military. Answer this one. Why did dems turn around so rapidly RE" supporting the Afgan war? And this one. Was Obama wrong in declaring a withdrawal date while trying (supposedly) to win the so called "good war"? Another, are dems simply opposed to any war regardless of cause, goals? If so doesn't this make Osama Bin Laden correct about america's reliability and committment? and finally what will the dems do when Bin Laden sets off a nuclear bomb in the US? Blame Bush?