"Three $100 million air base expansions in Southern and Northern Afghanistan illustrate Pentagon plans to continue building multimillion-dollar facilities in that country to support increased US military operations well into the future.... many of the installations being built in Afghanistan have extended time horizons.... [and] reflect the expectation of continued combat operations"
It only ends when your country collapses America -- unless you stop it.
Was nice knowing you.
"Afghan force readiness a year off; Trainer’s estimate hints of problem for US exit plans" by Anne Flaherty, Associated Press | August 24, 2010
Imagine my shock.
WASHINGTON — A senior US commander said yesterday that he could not predict when Afghanistan might take control of its own security and warned that NATO needs at least another year to recruit and train enough soldiers and police officers.
I heard longer.
Related: Four More Years in Afghanistan
Imho, we are never leaving.
The AmeriKan government is just like a kid playing the video game when you ask him to do something.
Ok, just a second.... I'm almost finished.... just let me.... one more thing.... just let me finish.... on the last thing.... know what I mean?
The assessment by Lieutenant General Bill Caldwell, the head of NATO’s training mission in Afghanistan, further dims US hopes that the planned US withdrawal next year will be significant in size....
I never expected it would be.
In a Pentagon briefing, Caldwell told reporters that Afghan army and police forces won’t reach sufficient numbers until Oct. 31, 2011, three months after Obama’s deadline to start US withdrawals.
NATO has set the goal of creating an Afghan military and police force of 305,600 personnel: 171,600 army and 134,000 police. There are currently 249,500 personnel: 134,000 army and 115,500 police.
Related: Afghanistan's Invisible Army
Hey, what's one more lie from the military these days?
But Caldwell predicted that desertion and injury rates are so high among Afghan forces that NATO will have to recruit and train 141,000 people to ensure it has the 56,000 additional personnel needed next fall....
Because Afghanistan is still scrambling to recruit and train its security forces, Caldwell said, there is no accurate estimate on when Kabul might take control of even the more peaceful parts of the country....
What peaceful parts?
Caldwell also said it is likely the United States and international community will have to pay for that force for some time, even after NATO troops leave. “The US has made an enduring commitment to be supportive,’’ he said.
As was the case in Iraq, the training and equipping of Afghan security forces is considered the linchpin in the US exit strategy. However, the effort has been particularly difficult in Afghanistan, where illiteracy rates are high, corruption is rampant, and there is little banking infrastructure to ensure troops get paid....
Caldwell said that notable gains have been made in the past nine months. For example, he said that the size of the Afghan army and police has more than doubled from levels in previous years.
I'm so sick of being lied to.
Caldwell said that recruiting and retention have been aided by pay increases, particularly for Afghan police, as well as a “new sense of urgency’’ by the Afghan government to boost recruitment.
Isn't it NICE that Afghan police are getting U.S. TAXPAYER-FUNDED RAISES as you LAY OFF COPS, America?
The United States also has sent more police and military trainers to Afghanistan, mostly fixing a severe shortfall that dominated NATO meetings last fall, Caldwell said....
Just getting IN DEEPER, aren't we?
And if it's not the police it is the projects!
"Projects signal long stay in Afghanistan" by Walter Pincus, Washington Post | August 24, 2010
It ALREADY HAS BEEN!
WASHINGTON — Three $100 million air base expansions in Southern and Northern Afghanistan illustrate Pentagon plans to continue building multimillion-dollar facilities in that country to support increased US military operations well into the future.
Yeah, they sure seem like PERMANENT BASES (even thought the MSM never refers to those plans anymore)!!
Good thing you have PLENTY OF MONEY for MILLION-DOLLAR MILITARY BASES, America!
Despite growing public unhappiness with the Afghan war....
Try OUTRIGHT HATE, WaPo!!
many of the installations being built in Afghanistan have extended time horizons.
None of the three projects in Southern and Northern Afghanistan is expected to be completed until the latter half of 2011. All of them are for use by US forces rather than their Afghan counterparts.
Overall, requests for $1.3 billion in additional fiscal 2011 funds for multiyear construction of military facilities in Afghanistan are pending before Congress. The House has approved the money, as has the Senate Appropriations Committee. The full Senate has yet to vote.
Yeah, we are leaving next year, blah, blah, blah.
In addition, the United States has already allocated some $5.3 billion to construct facilities for the Afghan army and the national police, with most of the “enduring facilities . . . scheduled for construction over the next three to four years,’’ according to a Pentagon news release this month.
As your roads, bridges, and country collapse and cops are laid off here, America.
Is it all worth it?
Were the lies worth it?
For example, a $30 million contract was recently awarded to build a regional military training center in Mazar-e Sharif, said Colonel Mike Wehr, engineering director of the combined NATO training mission....
The three bases being expanded for US use after 2011 reflect the expectation of continued combat operations, but they are just part of a broader expansion of US facilities across the country.
North of Kabul, the Pentagon is planning to build a $100 million area at Shindand Air Base for Special Operations helicopters and unmanned intelligence and surveillance aircraft along with office, ground, and maintenance facilities, plus barracks for 60 new personnel, according to a notice posted last week....
Yeah, the WAR is planned for EXPANSION, folks!!
It's OVER FOR YOU, Americans!!
Pentagon material sent to Congress to justify the expense notes that roughly 800,000 gallons of jet fuel are needed to be stored “in near proximity to planned US air operations at the base.’’
Related: The $9 Billion Dollar Fuel Bill
Talk about the PRICE at the PUMP, taxpayers!
And ABOUT that GLOBAL WARMING.... !!!!!!!!
The cost for constructing the temporary storage facility for that fuel and facilities for parking and operation of 14 refueling vehicles is put at $2.5 million.
Another $100 million project is planned for the airfield at Camp Dwyer, a Marine base in Helmand Province, where expansion is needed to accommodate fixed-wing and helicopter aircraft.
Dwyer’s airfield is described as “a key hub’’ to support Special Operations Forces operations in Southern Afghanistan, according to the congressional presentation....
Contractor proposals were also due last week for a third $100 million project, this one at Mazar-e Sharif, where increased operations and incoming supplies for Northern Afghanistan require more taxiways and parking space for both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft plus three or more maintenance hangars....
All because we are leaving next year.
--more--"
