SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Just last May, President Obama announced his plan to end the US combat role in Afghanistan by the end of 2014. (Screenshot via MSNBC)
Endless War: Obama Secretly Extends US War on Afghanistan
Obama allowed the military to dictate the terms of the endgame in Afghanistan
Nov 22, 2014
Last May 27, in an announcement in the White House Rose Garden, President Obama said:
"2014, therefore, is a pivotal year. Together with our allies and the Afghan government, we have agreed that this is the year we will conclude our combat mission in Afghanistan... America's combat mission will be over by the end of this year. Starting next year, Afghans will be fully responsible for securing their country. American personnel will be in an advisory role. We will no longer patrol Afghan cities or towns, mountains or valleys. That is a task for the Afghan people."
Never mind.
The president has now quietly authorized an expanded role for the U.S. military in Afghanistan.
The New York Timesreported last night that Obama's decision is the result of "a lengthy and heated debate" between the promise Mr. Obama made to end the war in Afghanistan, versus the demands of the Pentagon.
The Pentagon won. An official told the Times that "the military pretty much got what it wanted."
Obama has also given the war in Afghanistan a new name: Operation Resolute Support.
Obama's secret decision will keep American troops on the ground and fighting for at least another year and the US will continue using F-16 fighter jets, Predator and Reaper drones, and B-1 bombers.
\u201cWhy does Obama keep saying "no combat" when he means "Yes, combat"??? Now it's Afghanistan at least another year. WTF?https://t.co/wE5kDGh5bu\u201d— Medea Benjamin (@Medea Benjamin) 1416683333
\u201cVery disturbing - Prez should explain rationale: Obama Quietly Broadens Mission In Afghanistan https://t.co/IIIe47FSpc\u201d— Karen Finney (@Karen Finney) 1416676080
\u201cUnending end of US in Afghanistan. Nobel Peace Prize President keeping dogs of wars in secret. Mission unaccomplished https://t.co/VhyEZa2hb9\u201d— Thomas Drake (@Thomas Drake) 1416642444
Opposite of public statements, Obama secretly extends US combat mission in Afghanistan through 2015 https://t.co/fRMm4Vyp2V
-- Peter Van Buren (@WeMeantWell) November 22, 2014
\u201cNixon redux: Obama\u2019s \u201csecret war\u201d against Afghanistan as he lied to the American people. https://t.co/aaIdOy09Wu #impeachthefucker\u201d— Ted Rall, the Actual Political Cartoonist & Pundit (@Ted Rall, the Actual Political Cartoonist & Pundit) 1416686426
\u201cObama officially enters the "Fuck It" phase of his presidency \u2014 In a Shift, Obama Extends U.S. Role in Afghan Combat https://t.co/KEpMlYTflK\u201d— Lydia Dallett (@Lydia Dallett) 1416685607
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Last May 27, in an announcement in the White House Rose Garden, President Obama said:
"2014, therefore, is a pivotal year. Together with our allies and the Afghan government, we have agreed that this is the year we will conclude our combat mission in Afghanistan... America's combat mission will be over by the end of this year. Starting next year, Afghans will be fully responsible for securing their country. American personnel will be in an advisory role. We will no longer patrol Afghan cities or towns, mountains or valleys. That is a task for the Afghan people."
Never mind.
The president has now quietly authorized an expanded role for the U.S. military in Afghanistan.
The New York Timesreported last night that Obama's decision is the result of "a lengthy and heated debate" between the promise Mr. Obama made to end the war in Afghanistan, versus the demands of the Pentagon.
The Pentagon won. An official told the Times that "the military pretty much got what it wanted."
Obama has also given the war in Afghanistan a new name: Operation Resolute Support.
Obama's secret decision will keep American troops on the ground and fighting for at least another year and the US will continue using F-16 fighter jets, Predator and Reaper drones, and B-1 bombers.
\u201cWhy does Obama keep saying "no combat" when he means "Yes, combat"??? Now it's Afghanistan at least another year. WTF?https://t.co/wE5kDGh5bu\u201d— Medea Benjamin (@Medea Benjamin) 1416683333
\u201cVery disturbing - Prez should explain rationale: Obama Quietly Broadens Mission In Afghanistan https://t.co/IIIe47FSpc\u201d— Karen Finney (@Karen Finney) 1416676080
\u201cUnending end of US in Afghanistan. Nobel Peace Prize President keeping dogs of wars in secret. Mission unaccomplished https://t.co/VhyEZa2hb9\u201d— Thomas Drake (@Thomas Drake) 1416642444
Opposite of public statements, Obama secretly extends US combat mission in Afghanistan through 2015 https://t.co/fRMm4Vyp2V
-- Peter Van Buren (@WeMeantWell) November 22, 2014
\u201cNixon redux: Obama\u2019s \u201csecret war\u201d against Afghanistan as he lied to the American people. https://t.co/aaIdOy09Wu #impeachthefucker\u201d— Ted Rall, the Actual Political Cartoonist & Pundit (@Ted Rall, the Actual Political Cartoonist & Pundit) 1416686426
\u201cObama officially enters the "Fuck It" phase of his presidency \u2014 In a Shift, Obama Extends U.S. Role in Afghan Combat https://t.co/KEpMlYTflK\u201d— Lydia Dallett (@Lydia Dallett) 1416685607
Last May 27, in an announcement in the White House Rose Garden, President Obama said:
"2014, therefore, is a pivotal year. Together with our allies and the Afghan government, we have agreed that this is the year we will conclude our combat mission in Afghanistan... America's combat mission will be over by the end of this year. Starting next year, Afghans will be fully responsible for securing their country. American personnel will be in an advisory role. We will no longer patrol Afghan cities or towns, mountains or valleys. That is a task for the Afghan people."
Never mind.
The president has now quietly authorized an expanded role for the U.S. military in Afghanistan.
The New York Timesreported last night that Obama's decision is the result of "a lengthy and heated debate" between the promise Mr. Obama made to end the war in Afghanistan, versus the demands of the Pentagon.
The Pentagon won. An official told the Times that "the military pretty much got what it wanted."
Obama has also given the war in Afghanistan a new name: Operation Resolute Support.
Obama's secret decision will keep American troops on the ground and fighting for at least another year and the US will continue using F-16 fighter jets, Predator and Reaper drones, and B-1 bombers.
\u201cWhy does Obama keep saying "no combat" when he means "Yes, combat"??? Now it's Afghanistan at least another year. WTF?https://t.co/wE5kDGh5bu\u201d— Medea Benjamin (@Medea Benjamin) 1416683333
\u201cVery disturbing - Prez should explain rationale: Obama Quietly Broadens Mission In Afghanistan https://t.co/IIIe47FSpc\u201d— Karen Finney (@Karen Finney) 1416676080
\u201cUnending end of US in Afghanistan. Nobel Peace Prize President keeping dogs of wars in secret. Mission unaccomplished https://t.co/VhyEZa2hb9\u201d— Thomas Drake (@Thomas Drake) 1416642444
Opposite of public statements, Obama secretly extends US combat mission in Afghanistan through 2015 https://t.co/fRMm4Vyp2V
-- Peter Van Buren (@WeMeantWell) November 22, 2014
\u201cNixon redux: Obama\u2019s \u201csecret war\u201d against Afghanistan as he lied to the American people. https://t.co/aaIdOy09Wu #impeachthefucker\u201d— Ted Rall, the Actual Political Cartoonist & Pundit (@Ted Rall, the Actual Political Cartoonist & Pundit) 1416686426
\u201cObama officially enters the "Fuck It" phase of his presidency \u2014 In a Shift, Obama Extends U.S. Role in Afghan Combat https://t.co/KEpMlYTflK\u201d— Lydia Dallett (@Lydia Dallett) 1416685607
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.