No solution to Afghan war without Pakistan- Mullen

30 Sep 2011 16:23Source: reuters // Reuters

WASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The top uniformed U.S. military officer said on Friday the U.S. relationship with Pakistan is "vexing and yet vital" but there can be no solution to the conflict in the region without Islamabad.
Admiral Mike Mullen, who has publicly criticized Pakistan in recent days for ties to Islamic extremist groups, made the comments in a speech marking the end of his tenure as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.


Mullen said he told his successor, General Martin Dempsey, that the war in Afghanistan would be his toughest challenge but that he should remember the importance of Pakistan and "try and do a better job than I did with that vexing and yet vital relationship."


"I continue to believe that there is no solution in the region without Pakistan, and no stable future in the region without a partnership," said Mullen, who sometimes referred to himself as Pakistan's best friend in the U.S. military.


The conciliatory remarks came a week after he told a U.S. Senate committee that the Taliban-linked Haqqani network was a "veritable arm" of Pakistan's military intelligence agency. The remark sparked a flare-up in tensions with Pakistan.

All this is so simple it goes "woosh" over the heads of the military because without a war, why do we need them? End the war, it costs too much and we are getting nowhere. No one through history ever defeated those in Afghanistan. It is also next door to a nation of nuts who take our foreign aid (payoff money) and then hate us for it. The budget for the military has slowly increased because they are scaring the nation...the boogey-man is coming. Bring all troops home and protect our shores and while you're at it, seal the southern border and guard it with marines.

coolwalker said:

No one through history ever defeated those in Afghanistan.

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Except for the ones who did.

There may not be a solution to the conflicts in the region without Pakistan but there most certainly is a solution to the war without them.

coolwalker said:

why do we need them? End the war, it costs too much and we are getting nowhere. No one through history ever defeated those in Afghanistan.

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yes leave the region and end war, that is what whole Pakistan want from U.S

and this is a very wrong perception, Pakistan do not need anything(aid) from U.S, the only thing they want is to leave the region

Pakistan suffered alot for this war, now "no more"

and yes Afghanistan defeated 3 super powers in 50 years, they are almost unbeatable

Simon W. Moon said:

Except for the ones who did.

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Those that did, go into the region, pick a leader from the region and get out. Providing some support to the leader they choose. None have stayed and tried to dominate the region using their own soldiers

The Mughals and Temurids being the best example. Nominal control over the region, but not direct leadership

there is one potential solution to the war. end it.

janbazali said:

30 Sep 2011 16:23Source: reuters // Reuters

WASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The top uniformed U.S. military officer said on Friday the U.S. relationship with Pakistan is "vexing and yet vital" but there can be no solution to the conflict in the region without Islamabad.
Admiral Mike Mullen, who has publicly criticized Pakistan in recent days for ties to Islamic extremist groups, made the comments in a speech marking the end of his tenure as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.


Mullen said he told his successor, General Martin Dempsey, that the war in Afghanistan would be his toughest challenge but that he should remember the importance of Pakistan and "try and do a better job than I did with that vexing and yet vital relationship."


"I continue to believe that there is no solution in the region without Pakistan, and no stable future in the region without a partnership," said Mullen, who sometimes referred to himself as Pakistan's best friend in the U.S. military.


The conciliatory remarks came a week after he told a U.S. Senate committee that the Taliban-linked Haqqani network was a "veritable arm" of Pakistan's military intelligence agency. The remark sparked a flare-up in tensions with Pakistan.

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ok
we know that pakistan is needed to resolve the conflict in the region
but by what measure will we know when that conflict has been resolved?

justabubba said:

ok
we know that pakistan is needed to resolve the conflict in the region
but by what measure will we know when that conflict has been resolved?

Click to expand...

well it is totaly dependent on the will of U.S. Pakistan could help them in withdrwal of troops

U.S public should pressurise their Govt to end the war in Afghanistan, and to end the war they need political solution