Rock the Taliban, train the, Afghan police force, and army

President Obama's address on Afghanistan was a very good speech expressing a very good strategy.

The strategy is neither an open commitment nor a walk-away, fitting the best interests of the U.S. We cannot afford to pay for or get bogged down in a nation-building exercise that all experts say would take 10 years or more, if ever. It is enough to make a serious attempt to rock the Taliban, give enough space to the trainers to develop an Afghan police force and army and assist Pakistan with the border areas. If it succeeds, great. If not, there's Plan B. Depending on conditions, it would entail a slow withdrawal mixed with the Biden strategy of letting the Afghans govern themselves on condition that the U.S., NATO and the United Nations can intervene to the extent necessary to kill or capture any Al- Qaeda-like elements that our intelligence can identify, together with an independent Pakistan strategy that is probably being worked on.

This is not World War II, when the boys came home after the Germans and Japanese were defeated. The use of dates a) puts the pressure on the Afghans who don't want us to occupy their country and are as opposed as we to the intolerance of the Taliban, to unite against them, and b) resembles the deadlines in Iraq (demanded by the Iraqis and acquiesced to by George Bush). Of course, that won't stop the Republicans from screaming about the deadlines.

Mr. Obama spoke to the country non-condescendingly, mentioning the cost and limits of power as well as the lofty goals of America, here and historically. He avoided the sort of simplistic, full-throated cry for an undefined and unobtainable "victory," which Dick Cheney still uses to rouse the radical right. It reminded me once again that we have an adult in the White House.

BRUCE MCALLISTER

Palm Beach

Victory needed in war, not lengthy operations

To quote Sun Tzu in The Art of War, "What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations." This is pretty old stuff (sixth-century B.C.) for so many presidents and generals to have ignored or forgotten this sensible advice.

DAVID SPIELBERG

Palm Beach Gardens

Integrate long-term care with home care

A recent letter writer mentioned House Concurrent Resolution 59, co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton. It supports the goals and ideals for senior caregiving and affordability. It passed the House 387-0. Congress must take this important first step to address the looming age-wave crisis that could jeopardize the independence of millions of seniors.

I would also like to bring attention to House Resolution 791. The bill would express the House of Representatives' commitment to: (1) integrating long-term care, particularly as it relates to home care and community services, into a comprehensive health care reform agenda; and (2) aiding relevant parties in composing, executing, and enforcing a well-informed national strategy for long-term care that will address geographic and economic disparities that limit access to care, expand long-term health services, and streamline quality measures.

It also would recognize the need to: (1) collaborate with local, state, and federal health care entities to improve working conditions and training for home health aides; and (2) adequately fund and support existing technologies, entities, and initiatives that assist informal caregivers and help maintain and improve long-term health services for the disabled and elderly.

JEWEL LITTENBERG

Atlantis

Soft schedule cheats Gator players and fans

The article about the University of Florida's football recruiting class of 2006 omits a rather significant fact: These athletes have been cheated of the challenge to see how good they really could have been because UF scheduled soft nonconference opposition and because of mediocre conference foes, and its fans are cheated as well.

The University of Florida's penchant for scheduling cream puffs is a tradition. UF has never wanted to play the best. It last played Texas in 1940 (one touchdown in three games, shut out the last two) and has played the other top five winningest programs only in bowl games, never voluntarily in the regular season. The NCAA basketball tournament selection process requires teams to play rigorous schedules. The BCS process in football encourages them not to.

JAY MARGOLIS

Boynton Beach

Source:palmbeachpost.com/

British general's warning to rebels: We'll hit Taliban 'till their eyes bleed

Barack Obama's pledge to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan ignited a ferocious war of words yesterday between allied military chiefs and Taliban warlords.

British Lieutenant General Sir Graeme Lamb said the new surge into the battle-worn country will crush the insurgents.

Using fiery language, he added: "We are continuing to strike the Taliban, and have to, till their eyeballs bleed."

But defiant rebel leaders warned the fresh deployment will foster a new determination among the fighters to repel the Western troops and result in more allied deaths. One said: "Obama will witness lots of coffins heading to America from Afghanistan.

"Their hope to control Afghanistan by military means will not become reality. The extra 30,000 troops that will come to Afghanistan will provoke stronger resistance and fighting."

Another warlord warned: "I want to say to mothers of foreign soldiers: if you love your sons, then keep them at home. Obama is sending more troops to Afghanistan and that means more Americans will die."

Us Defence Secretary Robert Gates responded by saying: "Failure in Afghanistan would mean a Taliban takeover of much of the country and likely a renewed civil war.

"Taliban-ruled areas could in short order become, once again, a sanctuary for al-Qaeda as well as a staging area for militant groups on the offensive in Pakistan."

Mr Obama outlined plans to start bringing US troops home by 2011. But Gordon Brown yesterday dashed hopes of an early withdrawal by British forces, insisting: "We will stay until the job is done."

Mr Obama said: "After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home.

"These are the resources that we need to seize the initiative, while building the Afghan capacity that can allow for a responsible transition of our forces out of Afghanistan. I am convinced our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"This is the epicentre of the violent extremism practised by al-Qaeda. It is from here that we were attacked on 9/11, and it is from here that new attacks are being plotted as I speak.

"This is no idle danger, no hypothetical threat."

Mr Brown refused to put a timetable on the withdrawal of Britain's 9,500 soldiers.

He said: "There was no question of us withdrawing until the point that we were sure the Afghans could take over security control themselves. We will stay and do the job that is necessary."

Advertisement - article continues below »


The PM urged Nato countries to contribute more troops to defeat the Taliban.

He said: "I call on all our allies to unite behind President Obama's strategy." Mr Obama has signalled he wants Nato allies to provide as many as 10,000 more men. But he faces resistance from France and Germany.

Lt Gen Lamb said SAS and SBS operations in Afghanistan have increased five-fold. Both crack units have been operating deep behind enemy lines trying to find enemy commanders and take out bombing teams.

But Taliban chiefs insist they will fight to the end and pointed to failed historical efforts by the British and Russians to secure Afghanistan. Since the Taliban were toppled in 2001, 237 British troops have died.

Britain's Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, said he was "delighted" with Mr Obama's strategy.

He added: "It's what all of us who have been involved in the operation in Afghanistan have assessed is required if we are to resource a plan to deliver the strategy which we have been holding to for some time now."

Us commander in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal, who had asked for 40,000 extra troops, welcomed Mr Obama's move. He said he had been given "a clear military mission" and the necessary resources.

Mr Gates revealed the first of the new US troops could be in Afghanistan in two to three weeks.

FAREWELL, SAM

The funeral of rookie Rifleman Sam Bassett closed a city centre yesterday.

Sam, right, was killed by a bomb blast days after telling his family: "I'm having the time of my life." He was 20 and had been in Afghanistan for just a a month serving in 4th Battalion, The Rifles.

Rev Nick McKinnel told the congregation in St Andrew's church, Plymouth: "Whatever we think about the war, they are fighting on our behalf."

His dad Simon said: "I am so proud."

Special forces assassination squads will be deployed to pick off Taliban leaders

600 British Special Boat Service, SAS and Special Reconnaissance Regiment troops sent to track down key al-Qaeda cells along southern border badlands

50 miles

Source: mirror.co.uk/