The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
August 25, 2010

Top US Marine: Withdrawal Deadline Boosting Taliban Morale
----------------------------------------------------------



The top US Marine is questioning the Obama administration’s non-binding
timetable for beginning a US withdrawal from Afghanistan next year. On
Tuesday, General James Conway said the July 2011 target date is boosting
the morale of Taliban fighters.

Gen. James Conway: "In terms of the July '11 issue, you know, I think if
you—if you follow it closely, and of course we all do, we know the
President was talking to several audiences at the same time when he made
his comments on July 2011. In some ways, we think, right now, it's
probably giving our enemy sustenance. We think that he may be saying to
himself—in fact we’ve intercepted communications that say, 'Hey,
you know, we only have to hold out for so long.'"

Conway went on to say he thinks the withdrawal will be pushed back at
least "a few years" because Afghan troops won’t be ready to assume full
control.



.