Petraeus Supports July 2011 Timetable, Sends Faint Signal On Strategy Change

GENERAL PETRAEUS: It is important that July 2011 be seen for what it is - The date when a process begins, based on conditions. Not the date when the US heads for the exits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TfSesefM0o”



The real story in Michael Hastings' RollingStone article was that American troops were being called upon to do a counter-intuitive task: Not respond to their training as killing machines, not react as soldiers in a war zone. They're being required to restrain their training & instincts as warriors, & be instead police officers-slash-community organizers. That's not what the USmilitary is trained for.



When the story became about an insubordinate general, Hastings' more important message got lost. With McChrystal gone, the troops in Afghanistan are rejoicing and that can only be because they believe Petraeus will unleash them to do what they've been trained to be: Killing machines with little or no regard for civilians.



But COIN and "restraint" was Petraeus's invention, so unless Petraeus changes the policy that Obama has instituted, it's just more of the same frustration (& casualties) for the troops.



If Petraeus does change the policy, it means a bloodbath for civilians & every civilian killed means 10 recruits for Al Qaeda.



That means 'Long War', unending, because they know We the People have the power in a democracy to choose our leaders, choose the policies which are affecting their lives. They target us because it is us who is putting these corporate t00Is into power.
About Afghanistan
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost