“Our commitment to Afghanistan is long term, and you cannot wait us out”
America’s war on al-Qaida is taking a new direction, moving beyond declared combat zones like Afghanistan while countering the terrorist network’s search for new sanctuaries, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Tuesday.
Panetta said the evolving campaign will feature the use of small U.S. strike forces; more partnering with foreign commandos; and more training and other forms of assistance that enable partner nations to combat terrorism on their own. …
“All this sends a very simple and very powerful message to al-Qaida, to the Taliban, and to the violent extremist groups who want to regain a safe haven in Afghanistan: We are not going anywhere; our commitment to Afghanistan is long term, and you cannot wait us out,” Panetta said in a speech to the Center for a New American Security, a think tank.
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Um, what happened to 2014?
Mixed signals.
davidk on November 21, 2012 at 8:27 AM
I don’t think they are buying it Leon.
forest on November 21, 2012 at 8:27 AM
Please don’t leave behind an ambassador with 3 local ‘security guards’.
forest on November 21, 2012 at 8:29 AM
Ugh this seems straight out of 1984. They say one thing, do another and then say we are the crazy ones for pointing out the difference. I’d rather just have rats eat my face and be done with it.
dernst2 on November 21, 2012 at 8:30 AM
Truth is for suckers. Apparently.
ElectricPhase on November 21, 2012 at 8:31 AM
Apparently I’m not the only one not getting his chocolate ration.
itsacookbook on November 21, 2012 at 8:48 AM
We are going to show our unwavering will to beat AQ by claiming they’ve actually left for somewhere over there *points at random muslim country*.
CorporatePiggy on November 21, 2012 at 8:51 AM
Demonrats always say that. They rarely ever mean it.
Odysseus on November 21, 2012 at 8:54 AM
What happened to the “date certain” to make sure the Afghans “stepped up”? I thought we “decimated” Al Qaeda. Now they’re everywhere (except Iraq where they were only there because we were there)? Hahaha More lies for the rubes.
rhombus on November 21, 2012 at 9:00 AM
The empire will fall, they always do. We are too stupid to learn from Alexander the Great, the British Empire, or the Soviets. We’ve killed the majority of those that were responsible for 9/11, we should not be training anyone, we should not be building schools or giving them the hard earned cash of American citizens. This debacle no longer has anything to do with our national defense.
MoreLiberty on November 21, 2012 at 9:10 AM
…yes because the partnering of “foreign commandos” worked out so well for our Consulate in Libya and is a freaking smashing success in Afghanistan where “our partners” are killing more Soldiers than IEDs.
…yes…they are shaking in the Turbins listening to Obama constantly talk about exit dates…oversee ROEs that give our enemies an advantage over our Soldiers on the battlefield……and we turn our military decision making over to the Taliban sympathizers in Karzi’s administration (like night raids).
This is literally like watching Baghdad Bob declare that “the Americans are not here” as Sherman tanks roll right behind him.
Only brain dead Obama supporters believe this drivel.
Baxter Greene on November 21, 2012 at 9:34 AM
Pretty sure we use Abrams. For certain we don’t use Shermans anymore.
makattak on November 21, 2012 at 9:39 AM
Panetta is aware that the official position of the Obama White House is “The Taliban is not our Enemy”……
…..would be just like Chruchill declaring “The Nazi’s are not our enemy”….
Yea…there is no doubt that the jihadist have nothing but fear for us when they hear this.
So tell us Panetta…..rebuild any more Mosques for our enemies lately????
Baxter Greene on November 21, 2012 at 9:43 AM
Shit!!…my fault.
Been watching to many war documentaries lately from a time when we actually fought wars to win…thanks for the upgrade.
Baxter Greene on November 21, 2012 at 9:45 AM
All we needed to do was bomb from afar.
No nation building.
No boots on the ground.
Just punish our enemies with lethal ordnance from
the air.
Cruise missiles, drones, B-2′s, whatever kills the most jihadis and endangers the fewest of our forces.
Getting entangled in these Islamic pestholes is folly.
Their faith is to hate us.
Until that changes, nothing changes.
Bomb From Afar.
profitsbeard on November 21, 2012 at 11:05 AM