The States Of Iraq And Afghanistan

Click the Image to Enlarge

From The New York Times:

SINCE the first anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, we have compiled charts on the state of the country for the Op-Ed page every three months. Now, on the sixth anniversary of the invasion, it seems appropriate to include data from the conflict in Afghanistan as well.

As President Obama looks to reduce the number of troops in Iraq — and the Baghdad government has achieved 7 of the 11 “Iraq index” benchmarks we have laid out, which include steps like establishing provincial election laws and enacting pension and amnesty laws — the situation in Afghanistan is increasingly cloudy. Many security indicators are clearly unfavorable, though some economic, educational and health care trends are at least heading in the right direction.

Read more ....

My Comment: A good Op-Chart

Has The U.S. Created A Bynch Of Saddam Husseins In Iraq?

Tom Ricks: We've Created A Bunch Of Saddams
In Iraq --Foreign Policy Blog

Tom Ricks was on Meet the Press this morning talking about his new book, The Gamble: General Petaeus and the American Military Adventure in Iraq, 2006-2008 (excerpts here; profile of commanding Gen. Ray Odierno here).

Here's what he said about Iraq. It will raise the hair on the back of your neck:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

And here's Ricks on Afghanistan:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Read more ....

Chairman Of the U.S. Joint Chiefs Of Staff Discusses Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia

MEETING AT SEA - U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, left front, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander, Multinational Force Iraq, observe flight operations from the flagbridge during a visit to USS Abraham Lincoln, in the North Arabian Sea, Aug. 27, 2008. The USS Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom as well as Maritime Security Operations. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class James R. Evans

Chairman Discusses Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia -- U.S. Department Of Defense

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2008 – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff addressed the security situation in Iraq, the need for more U.S. troops in Afghanistan and the Georgia challenge during a Pentagon news conference today.
Navy Adm. Mike Mullen – fresh from a mid-ocean meeting aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln with the Pakistani army’s chief of staff and key U.S. military leaders – told reporters he expects to deliver his assessment on the situation in Iraq to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and President Bush soon.

The situation in Iraq has been complicated by the loss of 2,000 Georgian troops who were called home, and changes in the “Sons of Iraq” citizen security program, the chairman said, adding that he, acting U.S Central Command chief Army Lt. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey and Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, Multinational Force Iraq commander, are continually assessing the situation in Iraq with an eye to what follows.

The last of the U.S. surge brigades left Iraq in July, and American military leaders are examining the trends in the nation with an eye toward further troop reductions. Mullen said there is no specific date for any announcement.

Read more ....

My Comment: The region is entirely interwoven. What happens in Iraq will affect Afghanistan, and vice versa.