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Subscribe to RSSIn response to President Obama's announcement that he will begin removing U.S. troops from Afghanistan next month, Afghan President Hamid Karzai expressed gratitude to the troops today, just days after accusing the coalition forces of having ulterior motives and of negotiating with the Taliban.
"The transition of the security and the withdrawal of the foreign troops from Afghanistan means the Afghan forces must be strengthened," Karzai said, embracing Obama’s plan to remove 33,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year. Karzai also said he considers the withdrawals as “a good measure.”
But Karzai’s previous accusations did not go unnoticed at the White House.
According to White House Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough, President Obama spoke with President Karzai about his critical comments yesterday.
"President Karzai suggested that perhaps he was misquoted,” McDonough said today on MSNBC’s "Andrea Mitchell Reports." McDonough also noted that Karzai’s remarks today were “a much more positive expression of appreciation to our troops and their families” and “more in line with the kind of sacrifice our troops have made.”
The Taliban also responded to the withdrawal announcement, promising to increase violence against all foreign soldiers as long as troops remain in Afghanistan. But McDonough insists that U.S. forces will continue to keep the heat on the Taliban in order to further demolish its influence in the region.
“Even at the end of this drawdown, Andrea, you’re still talking about 68,000 of the world’s finest fighting force maintaining that pressure on the Taliban,” McDonough said. “So, we don’t think they’re going to wait this out. And the longer they wait out, the more Afghan national security forces we can train and then it’ll be the Afghan’s fight to take to them.”
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Does anyone actually pay attention to this knucklhead these days?
If our real interest in Afghanistan is keeping tabs on its neighbors (Pakistan and Iran) then Karzai better get used to a few American boots on his turf.
I think Rachel Maddow summed it up best in her 30 second commercial about the TRUE relationship between us, Afghanistan & Pakistan!
Sometime short & sweet works the most effectively!
I would hope that if any President, present or future, dem or repub, announces a permanent presence in Afghanistan similar to that of South Korea, the resulting political suicide would be quick and very painful.
Indy, not to long ago the iraqi leader expressed a strong desire that the US be totally gone by the 1st of the year as planned then he left the door open for the US to possibly stay longer. My comment was "how much was it going to cost the US?". You're right, if we stay in iraq we are the fools. It is time for iraq to sink or swim on their own dime, nation building or not.
If we are helping these idiots ... why the hell aren't we getting paid to do all this ! How did we get stuck paying /borrowing from CHINA ..for all this..
welcome to the land of handouts with no questions asked.
US Navy Disabled Veteran - Retired (Jun 18, 9:05 AM)
They try to get my attention when I remind them that the New GOP/TP Party is taking over a failed Social/Political Agenda of 1930-1940's Europe. The facts are they are a mirror image of many of the ideas of the old fascists, Nazi's, Despots and Oligarch's of days gone by. They cannot deny it even though they try.The only thing they have not gotten to yet is the Ovens and the Gas Chambers, but they are getting close in denying Millions of Americans affordable Health Care and denying Women simple basic Health Care tests like PAP Smears etc. This will cause people to die, period. This is true from the simple fact some American Citizens will not have proper health care, tests to stop a problem before it kills, etc. You get my drift. These DRACONIAN ideas including pulling back on Medical Research, Food and Product Safety etc are the new GOP/TP "Ovens and Gas Chambers" of Nazi Germany in the 40's. The effect is the same, the method a little more hideous and painfully slow.
You have to remember that US Navy has never had an original thought. He is merely a propogandist, and not a very good one at that.
John, the poor and middle class aren't the GOP constituencey. We don't matter to them.
John, your comments PROVE the drone like ignorance of people like you.
Why don't you take a look at history instead of throwing out stupdity?
If you WOULD look at history, you'd find that it was the National Socialist Party that built the ovens and gas chambers. You know, the party that decided that GOVERNMENT was the answer to all their problems.
Kind of like the Democrats are doing now. They've decided that Americans are too "uneducated" to take care of themselves so GOVERNMENT must step in to make things right.
And if you check on the FACTS about ObamaCare, you'll find that when costs reach a certain level, YOUR care will be either cut or denied completely. Services that YOU will need will be cut as "too expensive", especially for someone YOUR age. And if you check further, you'll find that ObamaCare STOLE a half Trillion dollars of MediCare money, which also means that MediCare will be in the exact SAME shape as ObamaCare, only faster.
And as for your implied reference to "Planned Parenthood" and what wonderful care they provide, they are assembly line abortion factories. You might support their LIES about how they give such wonderful "care" to women, but they are about condoms, IUD's, diaphragms, the pill, and abortions. They don't give a crap about a woman's "health", they care about giving out abortions and putting money in their pockets. And thanks so much for supporting the killing of millions of babies just because they haven't been born yet so they really aren't "human".
Tell us all about the Republicans as you actually believe that ObamaCare is so damn wonderful, right up until the time that they DENY YOU care and you DIE because of it.
A real woman doesn't talk like this about other women. Whether you're really "female" or not.
kirby in idaho
'You have to remember that US Navy has never had an original thought. He is merely a propogandist, and not a very good one at that.'
....Kirby said, as he propagandized a post about a fellow poster.
"Planned Parenthood" and what wonderful care they provide, they are assembly line abortion factories"
This is total bullsh!t, and you KNOW it- so why even try to perpetuate this crap? Not good for your cred, Cheryl.
Condoms, IUD,s Birth Contorl pills are all BAD? Really? I thought maybe they helped PREVENT abortions?
Just what the hell are you peddling, here?
Off topic but very exciting. Ron Paul and Barney Frank have introduced legislation to legalize marijuana nationwide! Now that's bipartisanship.
Oops, forgot the link:
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/22/frank_paul_weed/index.html
Hey, why not? I think most of our congress people are already smoking, chewing, making brownies with it anyway. Might explain a lot about Barney. And Ron Paul has been a libertarian for years so he, of course, would be.
Forget weed. We need to have access to the same LSD that Palin and Bachmann must be ingesting.