WASHINGTON, July 3, 2008
Pentagon Extends Afghanistan Tours
Defense Department Extends Combat Tours For 2,200 Marines By 30 Days After Promising For Months To Bring Them Home On Time
-
Photo
The Pentagon has extended combat tours for 2,200 Marines in Afghanistan by 30 days. (CBS)
-
Play CBS Video
Video
A Look At Afghanistan And Pakistan
CBS News Foreign Affairs Analyst Pam Falk discusses the latest from Afghanistan and Pakistan, including the resurgence of al-Qaeda.
-
Video
Al Qaeda Strong In Afghanistan
U.S. coalition forces reportedly killed more than thirty al Qaeda militants along the Afghan border with Pakistan, but are struggling to combat the growing threat there. Lara Logan reports.
-
Video
Hunting Al Qaeda
The Pentagon is being criticized for failing to dismantle Taliban and al Qaeda holdouts in Afghanistan's frontier regions, raising fears of another terrorist attack on U.S. soil. David Martin reports.
-
Special Report
War On Terror
Complete coverage of the military's battle against terrorism.
-
Fast Facts
Afghanistan
Learn about the people, economy and history.
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is doing combat operations in the volatile southern region, will stay an extra 30 days and come home in early November rather than October, Marine Col. David Lapan confirmed Thursday.
Military leaders as recently as Wednesday stressed the need for additional troops in Afghanistan. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has praised the work repeatedly of the 24th MEU in fighting Taliban militants in Helmand Province.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, however, has said repeatedly he did not intend to extend or replace the U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, calling their deployment there an extraordinary, one-time effort to help tamp down the increasing violence in the south.
Asked about the possibility of an extension in early May, Gates said he would "be loath to do that." He added that "no one has suggested even the possibility of extending that rotation."
Lapan said Thursday that commanders in Afghanistan asked that the Marines stay longer.
Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said the longer tour does not open the door to an extension beyond the 30 days, nor to the possibility of replacing them with other U.S. troops when they come out in November. "This is a slight addition to this tour and nothing more," he said.
He added that commanders in Afghanistan "asked for 30 more days to milk the fighting season to the bitter end and cement the gains they have made in the south."
The Pentagon announced in January that the Marine Expeditionary Unit was being ordered to Afghanistan, largely because efforts to press other NATO nations to increase their troop levels at the time had failed.
At the same time, about 1,000 members of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, was ordered to deploy also. That unit has been used to train Afghan security forces. As a result of the MEU's extended deployment, Marines from both units are now expected to return home at about the same time.
The Pentagon announced in January that the MEU was being ordered to Afghanistan, largely because efforts to press other NATO nations to increase their troop levels at the time had failed.
Commanders faced with increasing violence have said they need at least 7,500 more troops in Afghanistan. And President George W. Bush and defense officials have said they hope to identify additional units by the end of the year that could go to Afghanistan early next year.
"The Taliban and their supporters have, without question, grown more effective and more aggressive in recent weeks ..., as the casualty figures clearly demonstrate," Mullen told a Pentagon press conference Wednesday.
He added, "It's a very complex problem, and it's tied to the drug trade, a faltering economy and, as I've said many times, the porous border region with Pakistan. There's no easy solution, and there will be no quick fix."
There are 32,000 U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan, 14,000 serving with the NATO-led coalition and 18,000 conducting training and counterinsurgency.
The NATO force includes more than 52,000 troops from as many as 40 countries.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Video and Galleries from World
-
Video
Music In The Air
-
Video
U.S. Troops In Need
-
Video
Obama's Message To Africa
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 67 CommentsSurprised?
More than a year and half before 911 the CIA Special Activities Division was conducting operations in Afghanistan, trying to topple the Taliban regime for the Caspian Sea Oil & Gas Pipelines...........We now call such activities terror.
February 12, 1998 John J. Maresca vp of UNOCAL oil appeared before a House sub committee. The purpose of the meeting was to gain support for exploitation of oil & natural gas resources, for the rights purchased by BIG OIL in the Caspian Sea area.
In his testimony he stated, "The key question is how the energy resources of Central Asia can be made available to nearby Asian markets ". The exploitation option stated : "One obvious route south would cross Iran, but this is foreclosed by American companies because of U.S. sanctions (with Iran ) . The only other possible route is across Afghanistan, which of course has it''''''''s own unique challenges. " He continued saying, " the pipeline we have proposed across Afghanistan could not begin until a recognized government is in place that has the confidence of governments,lenders (world monitary fund & world bank ) ,and our company "......"
UNOCAL and other American companies are prepared to undertake the job ".
The few...
The Proud...
The incarcerated...
Posted by underdogus01 at 09:53 PM : Jul 03, 2008,,,
If the Draft does return I would prefer if it were administered by an outside neutral agency and not DOD, with a process every American would be comfortable with, the rich, powerful and influential may manipulate the Draft System and if that happens it will be unfair and not produce the desired results!!
Gov''t extends financial commitments into the Iraq and Afghan wars into $4 trillion, after saying they wouldn''t.
It''s tempting to say that war is the ''slippery slope'', but by now that would be beside the point.
This is just one more fine example of how Bush and the RepubliCONS mistreat, abuse, and dishonor American military members who defend this government''s misguided policies! Shame on you, Bush and company! You stink!
More than a year and half before 911 the CIA Special Activities Division was conducting operations in Afghanistan, trying to topple the Taliban regime for the Caspian Sea Oil & Gas Pipelines...........We now call such activities terror.
February 12, 1998 John J. Maresca vp of UNOCAL oil appeared before a House sub committee. The purpose of the meeting was to gain support for exploitation of oil & natural gas resources, for the rights purchased by BIG OIL in the Caspian Sea area.
In his testimony he stated, "The key question is how the energy resources of Central Asia can be made available to nearby Asian markets ". The exploitation option stated : "One obvious route south would cross Iran, but this is foreclosed by American companies because of U.S. sanctions (with Iran ) . The only other possible route is across Afghanistan, which of course has it''''''''''''''''s own unique challenges. " He continued saying, " the pipeline we have proposed across Afghanistan could not begin until a recognized government is in place that has the confidence of governments,lenders (world monitary fund & world bank ) ,and our company "......"
UNOCAL and other American companies are prepared to undertake the job ".
Posted by underdogus01 at 09:53 PM : Jul 03, 2008
-------------
Its time for you to volunteer and fight your own Christian Jihad against Evil Islam poised to destroy Jesus. Sheesh.
Posted by whiskyrocker at 07:10 AM : Jul 04, 2008
+ report abuse
Oh YES! They are after all, United States Marines. The Question is why should we allow Criminals who LIED to put them into this position, CRIMINALS who commit acts of FRAUD... CRIMINALS who ARE responsible for their sacrifice being necessary. Why should those Criminals be allowed to just go on about their business in THIS nation? The FRAUD that IS Iraq is the REASON this is NECESSARY and there are TWO Criminals that MUST be brought to JUSTICE for what is happening or we as a nation can NEVER really be the same again.... SIEG HEIL BUSH!!
This administration has done more to hurt the moral of the American Military then any US President in History.
Yes - Bush and Cheney are single handedly making America the most hated country on the planet.
At least we are first in something - Eh?
Also, I hear all this talk about the Left and the Right - that the Left is Bad and the Right is Good - well lets look at this a moment.
The left side of the human body is controlled by the right side of the brain and the Right side of the body is controlled by the left side of the Brain - So, one has to conclude that "Left is RIGHT and Right is WRONG"
So Republicanism is WRONG!
At this point, anyone still believing anything from Bush''s government has only themselves to blame.
Condi Rice is a former board member of Chevron Oil and mouthpiece for the administrations energy policy. Part of that policy is the The Caspian Sea pipeline
which will go through Turkmenistan, Afghanistan,Pakistan, to the gulf of Oman and on to India & Nepal.It will be cheaper to construct if they can go through Iran, but regime change is necessary first.
The Caspian sea area holds one third of the world''s oil and south asian oil markets are their target market. This pipeline was also the reason for the Afghanistan invasion.
Cheney''s energy policy is the root of all these middle east wars, a federal court judge sealed all documents associated with it for the administration, and the national media are not allowed to discuss or comment on it.
More troops are needed in Afghanistan to protect the contractors building the pipeline. Iran stands in the way of total control of global oil now with sales of oil to China''s Sinopec Oil,deal signed Dec.10,2007. Months ago China said there would be dire consequences if the US interfered with there direct oil contracts with Iran.
Both parties in the Congress should be very concerned with China''s growing war machine and need for oil. They are the real threat & the administration doesn''t care they are in control ! All that matters to them is BIG OIL and their corporate stock portfolios
More than a year and half before 911 the CIA Special Activities Division was conducting operations in Afghanistan, trying to topple the Taliban regime for the Caspian Sea Oil & Gas Pipelines...........We now call such activities terror.
February 12, 1998 John J. Maresca vp of UNOCAL oil appeared before a House sub committee. The purpose of the meeting was to gain support for exploitation of oil & natural gas resources, for the rights purchased by BIG OIL in the Caspian Sea area.
In his testimony he stated, "The key question is how the energy resources of Central Asia can be made available to nearby Asian markets ". The exploitation option stated : "One obvious route south would cross Iran, but this is foreclosed by American companies because of U.S. sanctions (with Iran ) . The only other possible route is across Afghanistan, which of course has it''s own unique challenges. " He continued saying, " the pipeline we have proposed across Afghanistan could not begin until a recognized government is in place that has the confidence of governments,lenders (world monitary fund & world bank ) ,and our company "......"
UNOCAL and other American companies are prepared to undertake the job ".
To "At this point..." etc.:
Welcome to the UNITED States of America, where we elect our leaders and stand behind them even if my vote was overturned by the majority of my peers, that is unless you are a sore loser and don''t believe in unity. Then you have two choices, become a leader and actually do something or you can be an armchair quarterback and sit around and *** about everything everyone else is doing. If you are professional enough at ******** you can be the Press. I''m glad someone besides you guys are in charge and that''s why you will never be elected!
The fact that their leadership wants to "wipe Isreal off of the map" and their citizens favorite chant is "Death to America!" is a pretty convincing ''smokescreen''....
Quit being an idiot posing as an intellectual...
The actual story are the proposed oil pipelines that will be built down the coast from Turkey to Israel. Condi Rice is trying to broker this deal. BP oil, US oil interests and the Saudis all have a stake in that pipeline. Domonique Strauss- Khan managing director of the International Monetary Fund and Robert Zoellick president of the World Bank were in attendance. Big money won''t finance the venture without stability in the region.
In the Daily telegraph, July 22, 2007 Condoleeza Rice stated her main objective in the middle east was not to push a ceasefire in Lebanon, but to cause an isolation of Syria and Iran.
The strategic objective is all tied to oil and oil pipelines. In April of 2007Israel & Turkey made their announcement which included four pipelines which will bypass Syria & Lebanon. The source of the oil is the BTC pipeline from the Caspian Sea Region. Shareholders in the BTC pipeline are: British Petroleum, AzBTC, Chevron, Statoil, TPAO, ENI, Total, Itochu, INPEX, Conoco-Phillips & Amerada Hess.
Another very important factor on the war with Lebanon is that Israel will have a strategic role in protecting the pipeline and transportation corridor out of Ceyhan Turkey. The strategy will weaken Russian oil''s role in central asia and also isolate Iran.
REMEMBER THE BIN LADEN FAMILY ARE FRIENDS OF THE BUSH FAMILY!
Jamesm 1234 are you a cyber war employee ? Don''t you like the truth. Maybe YOU can''t handle the truth !
More than a year and half before 911 the CIA Special Activities Division was conducting operations in Afghanistan, trying to topple the Taliban regime for the Caspian Sea Oil & Gas Pipelines...........We now call such activities terror.
February 12, 1998 John J. Maresca vp of UNOCAL oil appeared before a House sub committee. The purpose of the meeting was to gain support for exploitation of oil & natural gas resources, for the rights purchased by BIG OIL in the Caspian Sea area.
In his testimony he stated, "The key question is how the energy resources of Central Asia can be made available to nearby Asian markets ". The exploitation option stated : "One obvious route south would cross Iran, but this is foreclosed by American companies because of U.S. sanctions (with Iran ) . The only other possible route is across Afghanistan, which of course has it''s own unique challenges. " He continued saying, " the pipeline we have proposed across Afghanistan could not begin until a recognized government is in place that has the confidence of governments,lenders (world monitary fund & world bank ) ,and our company "......"
UNOCAL and other American companies are prepared to undertake the job ".
Posted by jamesm12341 at 08:51 AM : Jul 04, 2008
Good to see a smile on your face.
Condi Rice is a former board member of Chevron Oil and mouthpiece for the administrations energy policy. Part of that policy is the The Caspian Sea pipeline
which will go through Turkmenistan, Afghanistan,Pakistan, to the gulf of Oman and on to India & Nepal.It will be cheaper to construct if they can go through Iran, but regime change is necessary first.
The Caspian sea area holds one third of the world''''s oil and south asian oil markets are their target market. This pipeline was also the reason for the Afghanistan invasion.
Cheney''s energy policy is the root of all these middle east wars, a federal court judge sealed all documents associated with it for the administration, and the national media are not allowed to discuss or comment on it.
More troops are needed in Afghanistan to protect the contractors building the pipeline. Iran stands in the way of total control of global oil now with sales of oil to China''s Sinopec Oil,deal signed Dec.10,2007. Months ago China said there would be dire consequences if the US interfered with there direct oil contracts with Iran.
Both parties in the Congress should be very concerned with China''s growing war machine and need for oil. They are the real threat & the administration doesn''t care they are in control ! All that matters to them is BIG OIL and their corporate stock portfolios
Thousands died when both the commercial and the administrative capitals of the Hegemon were attacked (A.J. 6715, 23 Lo:os) and now Dumas could play the conquering hero. Ibn Shaitan had hid in the Ghaznavid territories, a guest of the government of Omar who offended the decency of mankind by his oppressions. Thus the subjugation of that country could be effected with some semblance of justice. However, sacrificing his pride to the vain hope of survival, Omar offered to deliver the person of ibn Shaitan. As this would set in train the ruin of Dumus, he spurned the offer and erased all public record of it. Dumus launched an aerial assault that quickly overwhelmed Omar with an indiscriminate slaughter. Of necessity, Dumus pretended to hunt for ibn Shaitan. But as the ring of encirclement was about to close, Vulturinus entrusted the mouth of the trap to known adherents of Omar who escorted ibn Shaitan safely to the mountains of Kafiristan. Success seemed complete: While seeming to pursue him, Dumus had avoided the capture of ibn Shaitan and his escape could be plausibly explained; Hegemon troops garrisoned the country and a route of attack was opened on Persia to the west. However, the Ghaznavids soon compared the effete brutality of the Hegemon to the rough virtues of their countrymen. The puppet government in Kabul reigned there and nowhere else. The fanatic followers of Omar nursed their wounds and recruited their strength.
The resources of the entire Oikoumene were open to plunder, and it was the first care of Vulturinus to host a convocation of the energy extraction Oligarchs in order to agree upon the division of spoils. A signally important measure of the efficiency of an energy extraction enterprise and an essential prop to its reputation was the ratio of known reserves to annual production. The energy supply oligarchs presided over an enterprise based upon an ever depleting resource. They could never resist the temptation to profess a reserves-to-production ratio far in excess of reality. When the actual ratios were disclosed, the entire energy extraction industry was discovered to rest upon a most precarious foundation. Readily accessible supplies were rapidly disappearing; and strenuous efforts must be made by the Hegemon to acquire control over new sources. To avoid premature collapse of the energy enterprises, all information concerning the deliberations of the convocation was withheld from the populace and a long-cherished scheme of the oligarchy was revived. Realization of their dream of an imperial demesne extending from the banks of the Indus to the confines of Syria would have excited the envy of the son of Philip. But above all, when combined with the resources of the House of Saaud, such a conquest would furnish the Oligarchs with most of the fossil fuel supplies of the globe.
More than a year and half before 911 the CIA Special Activities Division was conducting operations in Afghanistan, trying to topple the Taliban regime for the Caspian Sea Oil & Gas Pipelines...........We now call such activities terror.
February 12, 1998 John J. Maresca vp of UNOCAL oil appeared before a House sub committee. The purpose of the meeting was to gain support for exploitation of oil & natural gas resources, for the rights purchased by BIG OIL in the Caspian Sea area.
In his testimony he stated, "The key question is how the energy resources of Central Asia can be made available to nearby Asian markets ". The exploitation option stated : "One obvious route south would cross Iran, but this is foreclosed by American companies because of U.S. sanctions (with Iran ) . The only other possible route is across Afghanistan, which of course has it''s own unique challenges. " He continued saying, " the pipeline we have proposed across Afghanistan could not begin until a recognized government is in place that has the confidence of governments,lenders (world monitary fund & world bank ) ,and our company "......"
UNOCAL and other American companies are prepared to undertake the job ".
get
the
Bu$h
Oil
Pipeline
built...
During a so called town hall meeting, Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff make clear to soldiers at Fort Stewart, Ga., things would get worse before they would get better. Number of troops held under STOP LOSS policies currently over 12,000. When respectfully confronted on how long Army STOP LOSS policies would continue the answer was. We see a slight growth in the next couple of years based on predictions right now; it could drag on beyond three years.
STOP LOSS, In Lieu of Taskings (ILO), 8 year minimum service obligations for advertised 2,3,4,6, enlistment options, Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) call ups, Army recruiting 17-41 years olds, and felony waivers all contribute to hazy smoke screen sham, a US government shanghai subterfuge to maintain war fighting troop numbers.
Why do citizens allow government manipulation to legally abuse loopholes to press gang those already serving in a supposed All Volunteer Force to serve at perpetual pleasure of Commander in Chief?
Why does American public allow President as Commander in Chief backed by Congress to shamefully get away with a read the fine print, covert war conscription, and unofficial backdoor draft by stealth?
Sign up to serve your country to do your fair share, get indentured to serve in overseas war indefinitely or until wounded and death which ever comes first.
America, home of the brave!
Land of the free?
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 67 Comments