Rumsfeld Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to Afghanistan (troop reductions)

[norml]

Rumsfeld Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to Afghanistan
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2005 – Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to helping Afghanistan continue its road toward security and freedom during a joint news conference today with President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, Afghanistan.


Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld shakes hands with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, after a joint news conference, Dec. 21. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, USN (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Rumsfeld, who made a surprise visit to Afghanistan today after touring hurricane-devastated areas of Pakistan, told Karzai the United States will continue to stand by Afghanistan, even while making slight troop cuts there.

The visit came two days after the Defense Department announced plans to reduce number of troops serving in Afghanistan, currently at 19,000, by about 2,500 during the next year.

That announcement coincided with a major milestone for Afghanistan: the seating of its democratically elected National Assembly.

"I congratulate the Afghan people and government on this occasion," reporters quoted Rumsfeld as saying in Kabul.


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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2005/20051221_3721.html

[cliss]

1. Solidarity? I wonder.

Take another look at Hamid Karzai. Notice, he's not looking at RumsFailed. He's reaching out his hand, but he's facing in another direction. Now look at the "smile".

It's not a smile. It's a very, very slight grimace, just enough to make it seem like he's happy. He's not.

Karzai has been shaking the bushes lately. He's expressed outrage that the Americans have been killing Afghanis indiscriminately. US troops burned some corpses, a VERY BIG no-no in Afghanistan.

As if that wasn't enough, muslim troops complained that US prison guards flushed the Holy Koran down the toilet at Guantanamo. This caused riots in Afghanistan last year.

Karzai, unfortunately, is up Shit Creek. He can't do a damn thing, and he knows it. He's RumsFailed's puppet. The U.S. is going to wipe its ass on Karzai's hat, and he's unable to stop them.

[norml]

2. I noticed that both of them were looking away from each other in the photo

as though they couldn't stand each other, but were forced to shake hands.

[cliss]

3. Yes, you're right. I see they're both looking away

from each other.

I think there's stuff just boiling under the surface, ready to blow.