Solar Energy News  
THE STANS
Petraeus: 'Fight hard' in Afghanistan but 'be a good guest'

US senators want to vet long-term Afghan role
Any agreement setting up a long-term US military presence in Afghanistan should go to the US Senate for ratification, two senators urged President Barack Obama in a letter released Wednesday. "Any such agreements carry the weight of a treaty and should be submitted to the Senate for its advice and consent in keeping with constitutional requirements," wrote Democratic Senators Russ Feingold and Jim Webb. The lawmakers noted that a US-Iraq accord setting up a long-term strategic relationship did not go to the Senate, which is constitutionally charged with ratifying formal treaties negotiated by the president. "This set a damaging precedent that should not be repeated in Afghanistan," they warned. Obama has set a July 2011 date for starting a withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, but has not set an endpoint for the pull-out and is expected to seek some sort of accord allowing US forces to operate there for years. "We do not believe that a long-term, open-ended presence of US military forces in Afghanistan serves our national interest," the senators wrote. "Most importantly, we believe that any consideration of such a prospect must be taken with the full advice and consent of the Senate." Feingold has called on Obama -- who supported a similar push for the Senate to sign off on a so-called status of forces agreement with Iraq -- to set a flexible timetable for withdrawal.
by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) July 28, 2010
A new set of Afghan counterinsurgency guidelines issued by General David Petraeus includes the instruction to "be a good guest" but urges troops to "fight hard" and get tough on corruption.

The three-page manifesto, dated July 27 and issued in Kabul, is a blueprint for the behavior of members of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, led by Petraeus.

Excerpts of the 24-point document include:

"Secure and serve the population. Only by providing them security and earning their trust... can the Afghan government and ISAF prevail.

"Live with the people: Position joint bases and combat posts as close to those we're seeking to secure as is feasible.

"Confront the culture of impunity: The Taliban are not the only enemy of the people. The people are also threatened by inadequate governance, corruption and abuse of power -- the Taliban's best recruiters.

"Fight hard and fight with discipline: Hunt the enemy aggressively but use only the firepower needed to win a fight. We... cannot kill or capture our way to victory. Moreover, if we kill civilians or damage their property in the course of our operations, we will create more enemies than our operations eliminate. That's exactly what the Taliban want. Don't fall into their trap.

"Identify and confront corrupt officials. President (Hamid) Karzai has said, 'My government is committed to fighting corruption with all means possible.' Help the government achieve that aim.

"Be a good guest. Treat the Afghan people and their property with respect."

Petraeus took over command of more than 140,000 US and NATO troops in Afghanistan on July 4 from General Stanley McChrystal.

McChrystal was removed last month after he and his aides showed disdain for administration officials -- and President Barack Obama -- in a Rolling Stone magazine profile.

Obama has said he wants to begin drawing down troops in mid-2011, creating a timetable for the Afghan security forces to be able to take responsibility from the foreign forces.



Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
News From Across The Stans



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


THE STANS
Two Italian soldiers killed in Afghanistan bomb attack
Kabul (AFP) July 28, 2010
Two Italian soldiers were killed in a bomb attack Wednesday in the west of Afghanistan, the NATO-led force said. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement the two were killed by an improvised explosive device, the Taliban's weapon of choice, but did not give the location of the attack. "I can confirm they were Italian soldiers," an ISAF spokesman told AFP. ... read more







THE STANS
US Ethanol Production And Corn Demand Will Grow

Research Seeks To Improve Sensors That Monitor Diesel Fuel Quality

Zhuhai Oil Energy Plant Now Operational

New Hydrolysis Model Promising Tool In Cellulosic Biofuel Studies

THE STANS
U.S. robot sets 14-mile 'walking' record

New Zealand inventors produce bionic legs for paraplegics

Turning Robots Into Personal Assistants

Iran unveils human-like robot: report

THE STANS
Study Shows Stability And Utility Of Floating Wind Turbines

Leading French Wind Farm Developer Says Yes To Triton

Floating ocean wind turbines proposed

China to dominate wind power

THE STANS
Nissan to offer breathable Vitamin C in new cars

Australia PM offers 'cash for clunkers' climate policy

Honda says strike at China parts supplier over

Germany's RWE launches electric car scheme

THE STANS
BP suffers major loss as oil spill costs hit 32.2 bln dlrs

BP's Hayward ignites fresh US anger as he exits

China pipeline blast leaves 12 dead, over 300 hurt: reports

Joggers T-Shirts May Someday Power Their Cell Phones

THE STANS
German power plant testing CO2-scrubbing algae

Carbon trading used as money-laundering front: experts

Europe must up CO2 cuts to 30 percent: EU's big three

Australia's Outback an emissions 'bank'

THE STANS
US Republicans assail trimmed Democratic energy plan

Bangladesh and India sign electricity deal

New Climate And Energy Policies Could Create 2.5 Million Jobs

Remote Ship Loading Trial Starts In Pilbara

THE STANS
Activists vow to stop planned road into Romania forest

Illegal logging of tropical forests in decline: study

SLeone lifts ban on timber exports: government

Ferns And Fog On The Forest Floor


The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2010 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement