Mission creep - US bombing consolidates in AFPAK with O'Bomber's new plan - with no end in sight

President Obama gave a speech this morning outlining his new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, (AFPAK) as a taster for a (slightly) more detailed white paper [PDF].

The plan outlined what O'Bomber cals "realistic and achievable objectives."

• Disrupting terrorist networks in Afghanistan and especially Pakistan to degrade any ability they have to plan and launch international terrorist attacks.

• Promoting a more capable, accountable, and effective government in Afghanistan that serves the Afghan people and can eventually function, especially regarding internal security, with limited international support.

• Developing increasingly self-reliant Afghan security forces that can lead the counterinsurgency and counterterrorism fight with reduced U.S. assistance.

• Assisting efforts to enhance civilian control and stable constitutional government in Pakistan and a vibrant economy that provides opportunity for the people of Pakistan.

• Involving the international community to actively assist in addressing these objectives for Afghanistan and Pakistan, with an important leadership role for the UN.

Which begs a lot of questions - questions that remain unanswered - meanwhile bombs coninue to rain down on Iraq (yes they still do - Coalition aircraft flew 24 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. March 26th) , Afghanistan (In total, 68 close-air-support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces,) and the Hell fire misiles go popping off in Pakistan territories. See recent posts