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Al Qaeda 'cannot be defeated while Bin Laden is free'
Ed Harris9 Dec 2009
The senior US commander in Afghanistan warned today that al Qaeda would not be defeated unless Osama bin Laden was captured or killed.
General Stanley McChrystal told a congressional hearing in Washington that the terror movement's leader had become an "iconic figure".
He said that Barack Obama's deployment of 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan meant success was possible. But he said that the mission was "undeniably difficult" and the next 18 months would be crucial.
"I don't think that we can finally defeat al Qaeda until he's captured or killed," said General McChrystal.
He added that his "survival emboldens al Qaeda as a franchising organisation across the world". Bin Laden is believed to be living in the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The US ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, who questioned the troop build-up during White House deliberations last month, endorsed the new surge as "the best path to stabilise Afghanistan".
Mr Eikenberry also agreed that Bin Laden was vital. He said it was "important to the American people, indeed, the people of the world, that one day Osama bin Laden is brought to justice".
Reader views (1)
Perpetual warfare, based on the LIE - yes, another one - from the USG and military that bl is still alive.
As bush said in March 2002: 'I truly am not that concerned about him.' And a typical bushism: 'Deep in my heart I know the man is on the run, if he's alive at all.'
That's bush's subconcious coming through, since by then bl was DEAD, and bush KNEW it.
And contradicting McChrystal:' Terror is bigger than one person. And he's just -- he's a person who's
now been marginalized. His network, his host government has been destroyed.' But hey, warfare is good for profits, read War is a Racket by US Marine Major General Smedley Butler, who wrote that way back in 1935 already.
- Ralph, London, 09/12/2009 16:45
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