Photo: General John F. Campbell. Wikipedia
US General Sees Only 'Good News' In Afghanistan As Senators Voice Concerns -- The Guardian
Incredulous senators question General John Campbell over optimism for country wrought by election and Taliban crises
Afghanistan's presidential election may be taking the country to the brink, but the US army general nominated to helm the terminal phase of America's longest war sees nothing but "good news".
"Everything I see, sir, is good news, and that we're on a good road, but we just have to get through this kind of 50-meter target and get through the election, identify the president," General John "JC" Campbell, the army's vice-chief of staff, told the Senate armed services committee on Thursday.
That as yet unresolved presidential election, marred by allegations of fraud, threatens to upend the entirety of post-Taliban Afghanistan, undermining a fragile governance system built and maintained by the US over 13 years, at the cost of hundreds of billions of dollars and the lives of 2,200 troops.
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Update: Campbell: ISAF ‘Brought Hope’ to Afghan People -- US Department of Defense
My Comment: Every year there is a new general .... and they all say the same thing .... they see success, progress, and a bright future. But what I see is the exact opposite .... the situation is getting worse, the fighting is escalating, and the corruption still exists. So who is right?
3 comments:
"Every year there is a new general .... and they all say the same thing .... they see success, progress, and a bright future."
There is an easy explanation. There are 10 officer grades in the U.S. military not counting warrant officers. They are from O1 to O10. I am not trying to insult your intelligence. Stick with me.
Around O5 but definitely at 06 officers become political. The may not want to play the game, but the higher up the ladder they go the more political they become. That is life. the question is how many keep their technical skills and do not allow their professional acumen to be overruled by political concerns.
Some officer may not realize this upon ascension, but after talking to O4 and O5s even the slowest (guilty) catch on.
I read that it is important to have heroes or someone to look up to, but they will inevitably disappoint you.
I am very, very disappointed. The list is long.
General John Campbell was not a hero of mine. I don't know him.
But Petraeus looked good. I even think he is competent. Then the shoe dropped.
I now expect most generals to disappoint.
http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-4-worst-things-that-happen-when-you-meet-your-heroes/
Aizino you're right about the political dimension of promotion into higher ranks. What happened to Patreaus was a warning to the others.
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