nato

This could prove interesting for the U.S.:

Large-scale protests appear to have overthrown the government of Kyrgyzstan, an important American ally in Central Asia, after violence between riot police officers and opposition demonstrators on Thursday killed at least 17 people.

The country’s president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, fled the capital, Bishkek, on his plane, and the opposition declared that it was forming its own government.

Earlier in the day, the police used bullets, tear gas and stun grenades against a crowd of thousands massing in front of the presidential office in Bishkek, according to witness accounts. At least 17 people were killed and others were wounded, officials said.

Opposition leaders said the toll was as high as 100 people, but that figure could not be confirmed.

The upheaval raised questions about the future of an important American air base that operates in Kyrgyzstan in support of the NATO mission in nearby Afghanistan. American officials said that as of Wednesday evening the base was functioning normally.

The Obama administration has sought to cultivate ties with Mr. Bakiyev, angering the opposition, after he vowed to close the American base on the outskirts of Bishkek last year. He reversed his decision after the American side agreed to concessions, including higher rent.

“The 30,000 additional troops that I am announcing tonight will deploy in the first part of 2010 – the fastest pace possible – so that they can target the insurgency and secure key population centers. They will increase our ability to train competent Afghan Security Forces, and to partner with them so that more Afghans can get into the fight. And they will help create the conditions for the United States to transfer responsibility to the Afghans.” 

“Because this is an international effort, I have asked that our commitment be joined by contributions from our allies. Some have already provided additional troops, and we are confident that there will be further contributions in the days and weeks ahead. Our friends have fought and bled and died alongside us in Afghanistan. Now, we must come together to end this war successfully. For what’s at stake is not simply a test of NATO’s credibility – what’s at stake is the security of our Allies, and the common security of the world.”

“Taken together, these additional American and international troops will allow us to accelerate handing over responsibility to Afghan forces, and allow us to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011. Just as we have done in Iraq, we will execute this transition responsibly, taking into account conditions on the ground. We will continue to advise and assist Afghanistan’s Security Forces to ensure that they can succeed over the long haul. But it will be clear to the Afghan government – and, more importantly, to the Afghan people – that they will ultimately be responsible for their own country.”

source

The people in Georgia wonder why the U.S. and NATO isn't there helping them fight Russia:

As a Russian jet bombed fields around his village, Djimali Avago, a Georgian farmer, asked me: “Why won’t America and Nato help us? If they won’t help us now, why did we help them in Iraq?”

A similar sense of betrayal coursed through the conversations of many Georgians here yesterday as their troops retreated under shellfire and the Russian Army pressed forward to take full control of South Ossetia.

If the U.S. gets involved militarily in this conflict, it means we are at war with Russia. If we go to war with Russia, we can expect that war to include us against China. Is this something our stretched out military can really handle now?

That is something that George Bush has to be reminded about time and time again. So you think the Democrats would get it - right? Not if you are Hillary Clinton. Last week she said she would nuke Iran if they attacked Israel, or a number of other Middle East countries. Last night she again stated this position on Keith Olbermann.

Sorry Senator Clinton, but you first need Congress to declare war against Iran, , even if they did attack Israel (and nuking them would be a declaration of war). This isn't like NATO - we don't have treaties with these nations (and that also requires the approval of Congress). Do you really think sounding like George Bush will help your chances of beating Obama?

Yesterday our defense secretary, Robert Gates, blamed NATO for the problems in Afghanistan. Needless to say they didn't take to kindly to that criticism and now Gates is trying to save face:

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that sending U.S. Marines to Afghanistan will keep pressure on the Taliban and doesn't "reflect dissatisfaction" with NATO countries' performance.

He was trying to smooth over comments a day earlier that sparked an international furor. The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday that Gates said U.S. forces in eastern Afghanistan are doing a terrific job but that he is concerned that NATO allies are not well-trained in counterinsurgency operations.

"Allied forces ... have stepped up to the plate and are playing a significant and powerful role in Afghanistan," Gates told a Defense Department news conference, which officials said had purposely been rescheduled for earlier in the day Thursday to meet European news deadlines.

This is a perfect example of how you create more terrorists:

A U.S.-led raid Sunday on a suspected insurgent cell in the eastern province of Nangahar left as many as six Afghans dead, including a woman and a teenage girl, and sparked protests by hundreds of angry Afghans chanting, "Death to Bush!"

U.S. officials said four insurgents were among the dead, but it was the civilian deaths that infuriated the protesters, who carried five bodies to a main highway and blocked traffic with felled trees. The bodies of the woman and girl were entirely covered by sheets, while the men's faces were exposed.

So we kill their families and they are supposed to love us for it? Amazing how this was a U.S. led raid also - as opposed to a NATO one.

Wow - here is another great pick by the Bush White House:

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Gen. Bantz Craddock, the chief of U.S. Southern Command who oversees the controversial Guantanamo prison, is to succeed Gen. James Jones as NATO's top commander of operations, the alliance said on Friday.

Craddock will replace Jones as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) at a date yet to be determined, NATO said in a statement released in Brussels after President George W. Bush proposed Craddock for the post.

"The NATO Defense Planning Committee, which takes this decision, agreed but also expressed to General Jones, in the name of NATO governments, their gratitude for his distinguished service," it said.

Jones, a U.S. Marine, became SACEUR based in Mons, southern Belgium, in 2003 and had been widely expected to end his tour by the end of the year.

Yeah - he can help get all the other countries to support torture and maybe do away with that pesky Geneva Convention. It should be interesting to hear Wesley Clarke talk about this.