SECDEF: LATimes vs. BoGlo

For a change, the LA Times focuses on the SECDEF as we know him, saying important things and kicking a few EUocrats in the nuts; they nolikie.

In an unusual public criticism, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he believes NATO forces currently deployed in southern Afghanistan do not know how to combat a guerrilla insurgency, a deficiency that could be contributing to the rising violence in the fight against the Taliban.

"I'm worried we're deploying [military advisors] that are not properly trained and I'm worried we have some military forces that don't know how to do counterinsurgency operations," Gates said in an interview.

YIKES! Truth!! (well, kind of - at least they are fighting in the South). Anyway, the BoGlo, however, just can't get past knee-jerk BDS and RDS,

Gates's influence has brought the president's foreign policy more in line with that of the elder Bush, steering the administration toward a more traditional model of coalition-building and advocating military force as a last resort, they said.

How 2006 BoGlo. Maybe it is a WestCoast, EastCoast thingy. I'm sure the comments made in the LA Times may cause some of your Continental allies to perhaps say something else (like the Dutch calling in the US Ambassador linked above) ... like this understatement,

"Everyone is grateful for the Americans . . . but this kind of constant denigration of what other people are doing isn't helpful," the official said. "It also makes the situation look worse than it is."

On not unrelated news, know who the next Commander in ISAF will be?

Gen. David D. McKiernan is expected to be appointed as the next commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, American military officials said Monday.
...
General McKiernan oversaw the allied ground attack that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. He has held a variety of senior posts and is the commander of American Army forces in Europe. He is likely to assume his new command in June and is to replace Gen. Dan K. McNeill.

A few things to consider. He knows based on his invasion of Iraq experience that you need numbers - and he isn't shy about asking for them. No mistake the Marines are on the way, methinks.

The hints are getting stronger - Daddy is thinking about taking back the keys.