Gates disfavours fresh US military engagement
From Fazle Rashid | Monday, 28 February 2011
From Fazle Rashid
NEW YORK, Feb 27: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates addressing the cadets at the West Point, America's world famous military academy, said it would be imprudent for the country (America) to ever fight a war like in Iraq and Afghanistan and added that chances of such involvement to bring about regime change is also very dim. He point blank said, "any future defence secretary who advises the President to again send a big American land army into Asia, Middle-East or Africa should have his head examined". He said the size of the infantry has to be drastically reduced since "potential conflicts" are more likely to be fought with air and sea power rather than conventional ground forces. He said chances of another head-on clash is very remote. Army will be increasingly challenged to justify its number, the New York Times quoted the defence secretary as saying in a recent report. He urged the administration to look for alternatives that can prevent festering problems growing into a fullblown crisis which requires expensive and controversial large scale American military intervention. Gates who was made defence secretary by Junior Bush succeeding controversial Donald Rumsfield was retained by President Barack Obama intends to step down at the end of the year. He said Iraq and Afghanistan had become known as the "captains wars" because officers of lower ranks were put in position of making complex decision making process. Meanwhile, Raymond Davis case in Pakistan is becoming more complicated and confounding with US putting more pressure to free him and Pakistan government fearing a severe backlash is reluctant to concede to American demand. Washington recently agreed that Raymond Davis who shot dead two civilians in Lahore, Pakistan is a CIA sleuth. The general view in Pakistan is that many such CIA sleuths are operating in Pakistan under the cover of diplomats to destabilise the country. As the Obama administration seeks to build bridges with Pakistan to support some of its most pressing security goals, the Davis case has added a sensational chapter to the country's favourite narrative, the US as a master of super power duplicity, wrote an indignant analyst. At stake is badly needed Pakistani support for West's campaign in Afghanistan and greater help with counterterrorism. Pakistan's ISI has demanded a full account of all CIA operatives in the country. The ISI has expressed resentment against US employing CIA sleuths without its knowledge. Top American and Pakistani military leaders including Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Pakistani army chief Gen. Ashfaq Qayani are in constant touch with each other. The two met in Oman this week to discuss Raymond Davis issue. In another sign of two spy agencies trying to patch up difference CIA director Leon Panetta and ISI chief Lt. Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha talked about the issue. Obama administration insists that Rymond Davis is a diplomat and enjoys immunity, a claim stubbornly rejected by Pakistan. The behaviour of people like Davis is deeply embarrassing to the ISI, said one official. In Khutbas during Jumma Prayers in Pakistan incendiary anti-American speeches were made.
NEW YORK, Feb 27: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates addressing the cadets at the West Point, America's world famous military academy, said it would be imprudent for the country (America) to ever fight a war like in Iraq and Afghanistan and added that chances of such involvement to bring about regime change is also very dim. He point blank said, "any future defence secretary who advises the President to again send a big American land army into Asia, Middle-East or Africa should have his head examined". He said the size of the infantry has to be drastically reduced since "potential conflicts" are more likely to be fought with air and sea power rather than conventional ground forces. He said chances of another head-on clash is very remote. Army will be increasingly challenged to justify its number, the New York Times quoted the defence secretary as saying in a recent report. He urged the administration to look for alternatives that can prevent festering problems growing into a fullblown crisis which requires expensive and controversial large scale American military intervention. Gates who was made defence secretary by Junior Bush succeeding controversial Donald Rumsfield was retained by President Barack Obama intends to step down at the end of the year. He said Iraq and Afghanistan had become known as the "captains wars" because officers of lower ranks were put in position of making complex decision making process. Meanwhile, Raymond Davis case in Pakistan is becoming more complicated and confounding with US putting more pressure to free him and Pakistan government fearing a severe backlash is reluctant to concede to American demand. Washington recently agreed that Raymond Davis who shot dead two civilians in Lahore, Pakistan is a CIA sleuth. The general view in Pakistan is that many such CIA sleuths are operating in Pakistan under the cover of diplomats to destabilise the country. As the Obama administration seeks to build bridges with Pakistan to support some of its most pressing security goals, the Davis case has added a sensational chapter to the country's favourite narrative, the US as a master of super power duplicity, wrote an indignant analyst. At stake is badly needed Pakistani support for West's campaign in Afghanistan and greater help with counterterrorism. Pakistan's ISI has demanded a full account of all CIA operatives in the country. The ISI has expressed resentment against US employing CIA sleuths without its knowledge. Top American and Pakistani military leaders including Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Pakistani army chief Gen. Ashfaq Qayani are in constant touch with each other. The two met in Oman this week to discuss Raymond Davis issue. In another sign of two spy agencies trying to patch up difference CIA director Leon Panetta and ISI chief Lt. Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha talked about the issue. Obama administration insists that Rymond Davis is a diplomat and enjoys immunity, a claim stubbornly rejected by Pakistan. The behaviour of people like Davis is deeply embarrassing to the ISI, said one official. In Khutbas during Jumma Prayers in Pakistan incendiary anti-American speeches were made.