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Born at the Crest of the Empire

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Gates goes after NATO allies in Afghanistan

Unbelievable. After four years of disaster in Iraq, and six years in Afghanistan.
"I'm worried we have some military forces that don't know how to do counter-insurgency operations," Gates told the Los Angeles Times. "Most of the European forces, NATO forces, are not trained in counter-insurgency.".....

Gates told the LA Times that in eastern Afghanistan, troops led by General David Rodriguez, commander of US forces there, "are doing a terrific job."

"They've got the (counterinsurgency) thing down pat. But I think our allies over there, this is not something they have any experience with," the defense secretary said.

The Canadians and British are fighting the hottest battles in the country in and around Helmand suffering casualty rates higher than the US in either Iraq or Afghanistan, and Robert Gates has the balls to criticize them?

6 Comments:

  • Frickin' foreigners. Why don't they just do what the hell we tell 'em to. Don't they know who's boss?

    By Blogger -epm, at 8:58 AM  

  • It's just unbelievable to me. It's not like Gates isn't aware of the pressure those governments are under for their contributions.

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 10:54 AM  

  • Seems Mr. Gates is backtracking today after getting a few complaints from Canada and Old Europe.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:56 PM  

  • Gates has been a Jekyll and Hyde of sorts with regard to his public statements. There are times when he's the perfect statesman and reasoned diplomat, and then there's times he's singing the refrain form "Political Science" as if he's just come out of one of the administration's "attitude adjustment" sessions.

    Hard man to figure, but I'd like to believe he's a decent, intelligent and reasonable man.

    By Blogger -epm, at 1:18 PM  

  • Anon, I saw that, too. Personal apology to the Candian defense minister.

    ....

    EPM, Gates is an enigma to me. I think he's caught in the bargain he took.He has to support this president.

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 1:34 PM  

  • I think you've got it right. You take the job; you become their bitch.

    By Blogger -epm, at 2:13 PM  

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