Hear General Stanley McChrystal's speech in full
The American General in charge of NATO troops in Afghanistan - Stanley McChrystal - gave an important speech in London today about the coalition's strategy in Afghanistan. During the speech General McChrystal posed seven questions which he then attempted to answer:-
1) What is the right approach to use in Afghanistan?
2) What is the environment we're operating in?
3) What is the current situation?
4) Who's winning?
5) It's been 8 years, why isn't it better?
6) Can we succeed?
7) Why bother?
We bought some of that speech to you live on the programme this morning, but, helpfully , we lost our connection to the speech just as he was answering his second question. Lots of you got in contact with us wanting to hear the entire speech and you can do so below:
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Where is the link? Another cock-up?
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Can you email me when you have sorted out the access problem. I want to hear this speech urgently. There is currently no link shown.
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So where is it then? I dont normally feel the need to download stuff but he was a magnificent speaker
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Thanks Vikki
Very interesting, started orf very strong m but felt it finished weak
Yours Pete
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vicky kept on stating that this was a very important speech, but never explained why it was a very important speech.
what is clear it was a speech to the pro war neo conservative supporting iiss, it was also a speech where mcchrystal asks the questions and then proceeds to answer them. i suspect that means an hundred percent pass rate.
so he sets the agenda, sets his vision and his interpretation and like all good politicians provides the spin all in the mix.
so no mention that if the invading forces need to win the hearts and minds of afghans the war is already lost , and we are just seeking the occupation rights becasue we have the military force.
by the way the war is illegal, it has never been sanctioned by the united nations security council.
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"So where is it then? I dont normally feel the need to download stuff but he was a magnificent speaker"
certainly a politician making suspect political points .
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I was impressed with his speech today - it was measured, highlighted the complexities of the situation to a degree which I have not heard from politicians of any party in the UK or USA, and I felt showed someone who showed a high degree of integrity in what he said. I do not say that he doesn't have an agenda; he clearly wants more troops to be sent, as most military people do, but I feel he spelled out the potential options in a clear way - for good or ill - and certainly made me think.
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Nowhere on the 5 live blogs to discuss the Labour Party Conf. !!!!
Can we have the 5 Live News Messageboard back so that we can have sensible discussion on real topics.
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"by the way the [Afghan] war is illegal, it has never been sanctioned by the united nations security council."
In late 2001, the Security Council authorized the United States to overthrow the Taliban government, as an offensive against the terrorist al-Qaeda organization, said to be based in the country. The Council also authorized the US and its NATO allies to set up the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to provide military support for a newly-established pro-Western government (the United States also continued to run a separate anti-terrorist military operation).
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security-council/index-of-countries-on-the-security-council-agenda/afghanistan.html
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