War Glance
As he leaves Iraq this week, the outgoing US commander, General David Petraeus, is sounding far less optimistic than the Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, about the American situation in Iraq. General Petraeus says that it remains "fragile", recent security gains are "not irreversible" and "this is not the sort of struggle where you take a hill, plant the flag and go home to a victory parade... it's not a war with a simple slogan."
Compare this with Sarah Palin's belief that "victory in Iraq is wholly in sight" and her criticism of Barack Obama for not using the word "victory". The Republican contenders have made these claims of success for the "surge" – the American reinforcements sent last year – although they are demonstrably contradicted by the fact that the US has to keep more troops, some 138,000, in Iraq today than beforehand.
Iraq: Violence is down – but not because of America's 'surge'
While Bush Announces 8,000 Troop Withdrawal, Leaked Draft Agreement Calls for Indefinite Occupation
Again, what Nouri al-Maliki is saying is that all U.S. combat troops will leave, but there will be exceptions that will stay in Iraq indefinitely. Now, this view that Mr. al-Maliki is representing in Iraq is completely rejected. Iraqis do not support the idea of half-withdrawal and leaving U.S. troops on the long run. In fact, the full agreement, that can be viewed on my organization's website now, on afsc.org, can show you in details how the U.S. will stay on the long run and who gets to decide the troops level and the troop tasks. It's neither the Iraqi nor the U.S. elected officials.
US can't kill its way to Afghan victory: Pentagon boss
The top military officer at the Pentagon has told a Congressional committee that US and international forces are not winning the war in Afghanistan.
Admiral Mike Mullens, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says victory in Afghanistan cannot be achieved solely by the military.
"We cannot kill our way to victory," he told the Armed Services Committee.
Admiral Mullens said he was not convinced US and international forces were winning, but he said he believed they could eventually.
"Frankly we're running out of time," he warned.
US death in Afghanistan makes 2008 deadliest year
Thursday's death brings to 112 the number of troops who have died in Afghanistan this year, surpassing last year's record toll of 111.
No victory in Iraq, says Petraeus
The outgoing commander of US troops in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, has said that he will never declare victory there.
In a BBC interview, Gen Petraeus said that recent security gains were "not irreversible" and that the US still faced a "long struggle".
TVNL Comment: Has anyone defined 'victory' in Iraq? Is it when we've depleted the country of all its oil, or when there are no more billion dollar contracts to distribute? Another hundred years? Probably...
Bush Said to Give Orders Allowing Raids in Pakistan
President Bush secretly approved orders in July that for the first time allow American Special Operations forces to carry out ground assaults inside Pakistan without the prior approval of the Pakistani government, according to senior American officials.
TVNL Comment: And the American people are concerned about who said what about pigs with lipstick. We deserve what we get.
US 'not winning' in Afghanistan
The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff has said the US is "not winning" in Afghanistan and needs a new strategy which includes Pakistan's border area.
Adm Mullen said he was already looking at a new strategy covering both sides of the Afghan-Pakistani border. But Pakistan insists it will not allow foreign forces on to its territory.
TVNL Comment: No nation that has tried to do so, has managed to 'win' in Afghanistan....not the British, not the Russians, and now, not the US and its NATO accomplices. The US needs the pipelines in Afganistan and wil violate Pakistani sovereignty to try to 'win' them.
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