Gates: 2-4 years of big Afghan role for forces

Gates: 2-4 years of big Afghan role for forces
The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Dec 6, 2009 10:13:48 EST

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates says Americans should expect a significant U.S. military presence in Afghanistan for two years to four years more.

Just as in Iraq, the U.S. eventually will turn over provinces to local security forces, allowing the United States to bring the number of troops down steadily, according to Gates, who appeared on three Sunday talk shows with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to discuss President Barack Obama’s new Afghan war plan.

That plan includes an increase of 30,000 U.S. troops, followed by a scheduled transition to a greater role for Afghan forces that would start in July 2011. Obama’s plan would increase to 100,000 the number of U.S. troops there, marking the largest expansion of the war since it began eight years ago.

Gates acknowledged that the additional U.S. forces will mean more casualties at first. He also said he’s happy with the results of an offensive in Helmand province.

“I think one of the reasons that our military leaders are pretty confident is that they have already begun to see changes where the Marines are present in southern Helmand,” Gates said.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/12/ap_gates_afghanistan_120609/



unhappycamper comment: Swell. Another $200 billion to $400 billion down the Afghanistan toilet. At some point the House is gonna get their head out of their collective asses and stop this occupation. No bucks = no occupation.

obama`s war on the shadows will be as long as the civil,wwi,and ww2 combined. it could be as long or longer as the vietnam war.

that sounds ominous.

but the 60-1 time line would be more accurate. but who knows, it could be that long.

I also know Truman footed at least 60% of the French occupation costs.