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 Greetings! You are reading an article from The Mudville Gazette. To reach the front page, with all the latest news and views, click the logo above or "main" below. Thanks for stopping by! November 20, 2009 The war on corruptionBy GreyhawkThe best answer to the question "can we win in Afghanistan in spite of corruption in the government?" might be another question: which government?
Defense news: Improvements in Afghan Governance Will Take Time, Gates Says. Video here. "Do you think there's any merit, or is there any discussion about asking President Karzai to take steps to clean up corruption," Gates was asked, "and then holding up troops until he does that, as they flow in?" While noting "my personal view is that you do have to exercise what leverage you have," his response did not include a direct answer to the troop flow question. "My view on all of this is that improvements in governance in Afghanistan will be evolutionary, the secretary replied. "We are not going to go from a situation where we have a fair amount of dissatisfaction now to believing that these problems have been solved in two weeks or a month, or on the basis of a single speech."
"We're there to help them" - and one form of that help could be evident in this Spiegel Online report: "the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is now set to support the fight against corruption."
Gates has long favored a more pragmatic approach to tackling the separate (but somewhat related) issues of Afghan corruption and security. In recent months the secretary has offered counterpoint to claims the Afghan people overwhelmingly view their government as illegitimate, accurately (if understatedly) described the security situation there as on a "worrisome trajectory," and signaled his opposition to delaying U.S. troop reinforcements until after good governance issues are resolved. As yesterday's briefing concluded, Gates and Mullen were also asked about a recent USA Today story regarding "at least 158 retired admirals and generals the Pentagon has hired to offer advice under an unusual arrangement." Most of the retired officers, one to four stars in rank, have been paid hundreds of dollars an hour by the military even as they worked for companies seeking Defense Department contracts, a USA TODAY investigation found. That's in addition to pensions of $100,000 to $200,000 a year for officers with 30 or more years of service.That may have caused a bit of discomfort in the Pentagon. Here's the first response:
"Okay, thank you all," Secretary Gates added, and with that the press conference concluded.
Posted by Greyhawk / November 20, 2009 11:08 AM | Permalink TrackBackTrackBack URL: http://www.mudvillegazette.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/16986 2 CommentsLeave a comment |
March 19, 2010Dawn Patrol 03/19/2003 [Greyhawk]
"Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various sources around the world." Mudville was founded in March, 2003. Our efforts to bring the thoughts, words, and deeds of milbloggers to a wider world evolved to become The Dawn Patrol in March, 2005. With today's entry we're going to reset the clock - but not re-write the history - and recreate the world as it was - on a day the world changed...
Updating... more to follow.... MILBOGSAndrew Olmsted, 19 Mar 2003, Stateside: It would appear that the liberation of Iraq has begun. Greyhawk, 18 Mar 2003, Germany: A united world could have, just maybe, brought down Saddam without firing a shot. We will never know. 19 Mar: We'll never know what a united world could have achieved... the UN could not agree on anything, the situation degenerated, and here we are. Status quo was not working. The French were too desperate for oil and trade at any cost. Well-intentioned Americans were led into the streets by Communists (and others) with an agenda. The media distorted the split. Many in America and abroad thought they could manipulate the situation to their personal gain. They miscalculated. The fire is lit. Pontifx ex Machina, 18 Mar, undisclosed location: Rolling out the gate, the guard gets a quick "hook-em, horns" sign as we weave through the barricades. Then we're off, cruising through the desert in a battered-up SUV. On the eve of war, only one thing passes through our minds: is there going to be any appropriate music on the radio? Lt Smash, 19 Mar, undisclosed location: Read the President's speech today. The clock is ticking. Chief Wiggles, 22 Mar, Kuwait: The war started Wednesday morning for us right after the president gave a speech to the American people that lasted about 4 minutes. We were all very anxious for this whole thing to be either over or get it on its way. Will, 22 Mar, en route: I am going to Baghdad to personally shoot that paper hanging son of a bitch! Lt Smash 20 Mar, undisclosed location: Sgt Stryker, 20 Mar, Stateside: Iraq to File U.N. Complaint About Attack Primary Main Objective, 30 Mar, undisclosed location I Dare Kofi to Come Get Me.
BruceR, Flit, 19 Mar, Canada: AND SO IT BEGINS. Godspeed, Yanks. Come home safe and soon. Andrew Olmsted, 20 Mar 2003, Stateside: The most important thing to remember over the next few days is this: the first reports are almost always inaccurate. First reports are generally submitted in the heat of battle before any real analysis can take place. Therefore, they're highly subjective, based on limited information, and rarely hit the mark. So as the first reports of 'surgical strikes' on Iraqi forces come in, it's best to take those reports with a grain of salt... Iraqi BlogsSalam Pax, Baghdad: The bombing aould come and go in waves, nothing too heavy and not yet comparable to what was going on in 91. all radio and TV stations are still on and while the air raid began the Iraqi TV was showing patriotic songs and didn't even bother to inform viewers that we are under attack. at the moment they are re-airing yesterday's interview with the minister of interior affairs. THe sounds of the anti-aircarft artillery is still louder than the booms and bangs which means that they are still far from where we live, but the images we saw on Al Arabia news channel showed a building burning near one of my aunts house... American BlogsGlenn Reynold's has a ton of links. Newpapers
Updating... more to follow.... |
The Mudville Gazette is the on-line voice of an American warrior and his wife who stands by him. They prefer to see peaceful change render force of arms unnecessary. Until that day they stand fast with those who struggle for freedom, strike for reason, and pray for a better tomorrow.
 
 
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Have you guys seen this?
"How do you see Afghanistan?
I hope the United States and the global community will stay involved in Afghanistan. A victory for the Taliban in Afghanistan would have catastrophic consequences for the world, particularly for South Asia, for Central Asia and for the Middle East. Religious fundamentalism in the 1980s was used to defeat the Soviet Union. If this same group of people that defeated the Soviet Union now defeats the other major power, this would embolden them in a manner which could have catastrophic consequences for the world.
We [in India] of course have more immediate concerns. We are victims of terrorism and the extremist ideologies of the type that the Taliban represent. If this is not checked, this could destabilize our country." Prime Minister Singh in the Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/19/AR2009111903666.html
(got to the WP link via NRO)
I hadn't seen that, thanks.
I've also been pondering this "US goofs the Afghan election" story I recently stumbled across. Always good to get a fresh perspective.
Enlisted personnel who "retire" are obligated by law as follows:
Those who "retire" at 20 years of service can be recalled to active duty at the pleasure of the service chief, e.g. Naval personnel can be recalled by the Chief of Naval Operations. Beyond the 30 year mark they can be recalled at the pleasure of the service Secretary. I am not ceratin whether it is until mandatory retirement age or death, but one of the two. This is why it is officially called a retainer, not a retirement. If the rules are the same for officers simply recall them to active duty. Problem solved.