Low Morale in Afghanistan

Chaplain says troops are losing faith in the war:

American soldiers serving in Afghanistan are depressed and deeply disillusioned, according to the chaplains of two US battalions that have spent nine months on the front line in the war against the Taleban.

Many feel that they are risking their lives — and that colleagues have died — for a futile mission and an Afghan population that does nothing to help them, the chaplains told The Times in their makeshift chapel on this fortress-like base in a dusty, brown valley southwest of Kabul.

“The many soldiers who come to see us have a sense of futility and anger about being here. They are really in a state of depression and despair and just want to get back to their families,” said Captain Jeff Masengale, of the 10th Mountain Division’s 2-87 Infantry Battalion.

“They feel they are risking their lives for progress that’s hard to discern,” said Captain Sam Rico, of the Division’s 4-25 Field Artillery Battalion. “They are tired, strained, confused and just want to get through.” The chaplains said that they were speaking out because the men could not.

U.S. Commander of Afghanistan only talked to Obama once

Apparently, Gen. McChrystal is not aware that President Obama has 6 very important press conferences to give and is busy trying to get Chicago the 2012 Olympics. He really can't be bothered right now.

The military general credited for capturing Saddam Hussein and killing the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq says he has only spoken to President Obama once since taking command of Afghanistan.

“I’ve talked to the president, since I’ve been here, once on a VTC [video teleconference],” General Stanley McChrystal told CBS reporter David Martin in a television interview that aired Sunday.

“You’ve talked to him once in 70 days?” Mr. Martin followed up.

“That is correct,” the general replied.

This revelation comes amid the explosive publication of an classified report written by the general that said the war in Afghanistan “will likely result in failure” if more troops are not added next year. Yet, the debate over health care reform continues to dominate Washington’s political discussions and other issues. On Monday morning the White House announced President Obama will travel to Denmark on Thursday to lobby the Intternational Olympic Committee to select his hometown of Chicago for the 2016 summer games.

McChrystal to Resign if Obama Doesn't Give Him More Troops

McChrystal has sent a letter to President Obama outlining the issues in Afghanistan and said that if he doesn't receive additional troops, we will fail there. There is talk that he will resign if he doesn't get the President's support.

In Kabul, some members of McChrystal's staff said they don't understand why Obama called Afghanistan a "war of necessity" but still hasn't given them the resources they need to turn things around quickly.

Three officers at the Pentagon and in Kabul told McClatchy that the McChrystal they know would resign before he'd stand behind a faltering policy that he thought would endanger his forces or the strategy.

"Yes, he'll be a good soldier, but he will only go so far," a senior official in Kabul said. "He'll hold his ground. He's not going to bend to political pressure."

On Thursday, Gates danced around the question of when the administration would be ready to receive McChrystal's request, which was completed in late August. "We're working through the process by which we want that submitted," he said。

There is also speculation as to who leaked the information and why.

h/t: Ace of Spades

Military vs. Obama

Uh oh! A serious frustration:

The key quote from the Washington Post coverage of the McChrystal memo today comes at the end of this story:

But Obama's deliberative pace — he has held only one meeting of his top national security advisers to discuss McChrystal's report so far — is a source of growing consternation within the military. "Either accept the assessment or correct it, or let's have a discussion," one Pentagon official said. "Will you read it and tell us what you think?" Within the military, this official said, "there is a frustration. A significant frustration. A serious frustration."

Baitullah Mehsud Killed

Baitullah Mehsud, leader of the Taliban in Pakistan, was killed by a CIA strike. He is a diabetic and was receiving medical care at his father-in-law's house when the drone hit the home and killed him.

The American government made killing or capturing Mr. Mehsud one of its top priorities this year, and Pakistan considered him its No. 1 enemy because of the widespread violence he unleashed across the country. His death would provide a boost for forces battling a resurgent Taliban at a time when President Obama is trying to marshal support for a coordinated antiterrorism strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

With all the criticism Obama threw at Bush over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I am glad to see he is continuing the Bush policies of using unmanned drones.

Amazing Photo

The moment a U.S. Marine ran to safety as an explosion killed two of his comrades in Afghanistan was caught on camera.

Soldier captured in Afghanistan

Pray for his safe return.