On AlterNet: surge

Stories, blog posts, and videos tagged as "surge"

WikiLeaks Bombshell Docs Paint Afghan War as Utter Disaster -- Will We Finally Stop Throwing Money and Lives at This Catastrophe?

Ray McGovern, Consortium News. July 26, 2010.

There's clear proof the war in Afghanistan is a complete failure -- we must demand an immediate exit.

Secret Military Files Reveal Shocking Details About Failed War in Afghanistan

Nick Davies, David Leigh, The Guardian. July 25, 2010.

The documents show that coalition forces have killed hundreds of civilians, Taliban attacks have soared and Nato commanders fear Pakistan and Iran are fueling the insurgency.

Mercenaries, Robot Planes and the CIA Produce Lethal Mix for Secret Afghan War

Tom Engelhardt, Nick Turse, TomDispatch.com. January 11, 2010.

In Afghanistan, a militarized mix of CIA operatives and ex-military mercenaries as well as native recruits and robot aircraft is fighting a war in the shadows.

Afghanistan War: The Soviet Lessons Not Learned

Staff, Brave New Films. December 30, 2009.

It's time to rethink Afghanistan.

Christmas Eve Marks the 3,000th Day of the War in Afghanistan, the 30th Anniversary of the Soviet Invasion

Zaid Jilani, ThinkProgress. December 24, 2009.

We need a drawdown of our forces across the country.

Stunning Statistics About the War in Afghanistan Every American Should Know

Jeremy Scahill, Rebel Reports. December 21, 2009.

Contrary to popular belief, the U.S. actually has 189,000 personnel on the ground in Afghanistan right now -- and that number is quickly rising.

The 9 Surges of Obama's War

Tom Engelhardt, TomDispatch.com. December 14, 2009.

The troop surge is only one part of the escalation of the Afghanistan war. Here are 8 more signs of how fully the President has committed us.

The Real Reason Obama Is Escalating In Afghanistan

Christian Parenti, The Nation. December 8, 2009.

The real purpose of these 30,000 soldiers is to make Obama look tough as he heads toward the next U.S. presidential election.

Troops Stole Boxes of Iraq Reconstruction Cash ... Literally ... But There's a Lot More to the Story

Liliana Segura, AlterNet. April 13, 2009.

A wave of prosecutions and some 25 "theft probes" are underway, but it's the inevitable result of a Pentagon policy that has bred rampant corruption.

If David Brooks Thinks He Knows So Much About Afghanistan, He Should Debate Robert Greenwald

ZP Heller, Brave New Films. April 2, 2009.

Is the NY Times columnist trying to downplay the crisis in Afghanistan?

An Afghan Surge. . . in Civilian Casualties

Siun, Firedoglake. March 16, 2009.

Military escalation has led to a sharp rise in civilian deaths.

The Afghan Surge: Proof the U.S. Has Not Learned From Its Debacle in Iraq

Patrick Cockburn, Independent UK. February 27, 2009.

More U.S. troops in Afghanistan will spark a backlash in which religion combines with nationalism to oppose foreign intervention.

Why Are We "Surging" into Afghanistan?

Jim Hightower, Creators Syndicate. February 27, 2009.

Not for nothing is that country called "the burial ground of empires," "a guerilla's paradise" and "the theme park of problems."

Iraq From an Armored BMW: Where U.S. 'Reconstruction' Funds Are Really Going

Dahr Jamail, TomDispatch.com. February 14, 2009.

Fallujah remains devastated, even as the U.S. military delivers shrink-wrapped bricks of $100 bills to the sheiks in charge.

Maliki Leads in Iraqi Election: Voters See Party as 'Most Expedient Way to End the Occupation'

Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!. February 3, 2009.

The U.S. likes to cast elections as proof of the legitimacy of the occupation, but many Iraqis saw their votes as a way to end it.

Does Obama See the U.S. as Long-Term Guarantor of Iraqi Stability? If So, For How Long -- And Why?

Robert Dreyfuss, The Nation. January 16, 2009.

When it comes to Iraq, Obama is in full control. But drawing down combat forces is only half the story.

No More Mistaken Fire

Jodie Evans, PINKtank. December 12, 2008.

Civilian deaths in Afghanistan will only increase if the U.S. commits more troops.

Rumsfeld's Attempts to Rewrite Himself on the Right Side of History Are Laughable

Gary Brecher, AlterNet. November 26, 2008.

The failed defense secretary pens a historical cover-up on Iraq and reveals more wild stupidity with his advice on Afghanistan.

Robert Gates Is Pandering to Obama to Keep His Pentagon Gig

Ray McGovern, Consortium News. November 24, 2008.

Obama needs a defense secretary with the courage to speak out and halt the lunacy of more war, not a yes-man Bush holdover.

Back from Afghanistan, Journalist Nir Rosen Says Taliban Takeover Looks "Irreversible"

Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!. October 16, 2008.

Rosen: "People no longer trust the government. People fear the police at least as much as they fear the Taliban."

Obama Talks Tough About Afghanistan; Here's What He's Really in For

Anand Gopal, TomDispatch.com. October 10, 2008.

Afghanistan is filled with poor, jobless people who have seen their families blown up by Americans. And they're itching to get revenge.

Commercial Media Let McCain Get Away with Claims that the "Surge" has Worked

Robert Parry, Consortium News. September 10, 2008.

McCain is falsely clinging to his support of more troops in Iraq as the reason for decreasing violence. And the media is buying it.

Petraeus to Hand Over Iraq Command Sept 16

Middle East OnlineSeptember 9, 2008.

General Davis Petraeus starts as chief of Central Command in October, at a time when the administration is refocusing on Afghanistan.

Spinning Iraq for a GOP Victory

Patrick Cockburn, Independent UK. September 3, 2008.

With an eye on the presidential election, the White House is working to create the impression that the war is ripe for U.S. victory.

How Much "Meddling" Is Iran Actually Doing in Iraq?

Omid Memarian, IPS News. August 14, 2008.

As the U.S keeps accusing Iran of arming Shiite militias, Iraqi officials are ignoring its claims in favor of diplomacy with neighboring governments.