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The President’s speech last night is difficult to internalize. The reason may be that it had something for everyone, domestically. It had everything from the recognition of America’s role in providing global security for security conservatives to an exit date for miscreant liberals. It had a reminder to Congress that their approval for use of force was still in place. It had rhetoric about agriculture? It had a reminder of “my” policies regarding torture and Gitmo. It had concerns about cost; no matter who you are there was something to hang a glimmer of ideology on.
For those in the region there was only one message July, 2011.
Pakistanis will view this as “typically American”, the exit date will support their worst fears. The significant portion of the Pakistani power structure that views American support as fickle and lacking long term vision will take the ascendency. The Urdu equivalent of “see I told you so” will be, likely, oft repeated in the Pakistani halls of power. The motivation for Pakistani’s to hedge their political and military bets regarding the border regions will be renewed by last night’s statement of American policy. Pakistanis are not, fundamentally, pro-American and they never have been; we’ve not won Pak loyalty, at best we’ve been able to rent it on a short term lease.
For The Afghan government the idea that an exit date creates pressure to perform to American standards is belied by the stated commitment that we will essentially go around the Afghan government. The commitment to work more directly with regional and provincial authorities cannot serve to strengthen the central government. It could be one or the other but not both. That is not to say that working with regional leaders is a bad idea, it is not; in fact it is a critical part of a counterinsurgency effort. But to imply that we motivate President Karzi by doing so is chimera.
Most importantly for the Taliban, Al Qaeda and the variety of Jihadist forces in Afghanistan the July 2011 exit date is a godsend. They now know exactly what they have to do and how long they have to do it for.
The Taliban / Jihadi forces have demonstrated a number of capabilities; patience, absolute ruthlessness, strategic vision and tactical competence. They are seasoned fighters and know well the dynamics of insurgent operations. It is well within their capabilities to produce the illusion of American progress within the construct of the announced time line. By simply generating a planned progressive reduction in their operations over the 18 month period in question they could create the illusion of American progress in fighting the insurgency.
By creating this illusion they would essentially execute military Jiu Jitsu using American policy against American policy. The desire for the definition of a limited engagement by the President could create the strategic conditions which would defeat that very idea and illuminate the path to Taliban resurgence in the longer run.
The Taliban and their compatriot leadership structures are fully and keenly aware of American political conditions. They, no doubt, realize that this President is much more politically motivated than the prior President. They may come to the perception that Maxine Waters has illuminated; that being that the President’s strategy is a result of campaign promises and not a full blown security commitment to Afghanistan. It is ironic that it could very well be the Taliban that provides the political cover for an exit strategy as they marshal themselves for the post U.S. Afghanistan.
There is a reason why George Bush, despite unrelenting pressure, refused to place a time line on the Iraqi surge. That lesson is, unfortunately, lost on this administration as are the potential rerecussions.
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You can not fight someone else’s war. Either the US adopts imperialism and we take over afgan and other “rogue” nations or take the approach of fighting fires when they spring up in those places.
However, floating between is the worse answer.
After 10 years the US can not succeed in Afganistan than, I agree, pull out. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting the same results.
Obama’s speech was lacking one important element:
Victory!
He doesn’t seem concerned with victory, only “ending” the war for political reasons. He’s a disgrace of a commander-in-chief.
This is extremely sad for the men and women who have already died in that theater, where is their justice? If Obama won’t follow through and win, what did they fight for? We have a family member who was killed there who believed in the mission more than Obama ever will. It is sad.
I am disgusted with his tone on this issue considering the lives of our soldiers hang in the balance. He wants to play politics with troops on the ground and it is sickening.
Bush didn’t fold on Iraq and look at it now, the news is good coming from Iraq which is why you never heard about it.
I pray that the generals on the ground can work miracles for our security despite Obama’s tepid interest in fighting the war on terror (or overseas contingency operation as his administration now calls it).
Jd
“You can not fight someone else’s war. Either the US adopts imperialism and we take over afgan and other “rogue” nations or take the approach of fighting fires when they spring up in those places.”
According to obama this is our war.
JD, What Countries did we take over and become a imperialist Country ?
Didn’t obama say we went into Iraq with UN blessing in his latest speech ? Are we not welcomed into Afgan ? Where does imperialism creep into this ? America does not go around “fighting fires”, did you not see obama stay ‘closed mouthed’ to human rights injustice in Iran and China ?
“After 10 years the US can not succeed in Afganistan than, I agree, pull out. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting the same results.”
But why not pull out now ? Consider how long Russia fought there. I don’t think you got the definition of insanity right. Insanity is setting a pull out date. Setting a date was to satisfy certain Congressional members at the depliment of our men’s lives and those that died before them.
Obama is partial following the wishes of the Generals. Obama was against surge in Iraq and we know how that turned out. Bush backed his Generals & fighting men and we have a better world for it. Obama’s partial measures, who knows. Terrorist wait it out. They love obama. Pull out date and coming New York trial.
Though Kissinger said recently that in Iraq after surge more loss of solders lives occurred. If history repeats itself, I see obama running with his tail between his legs. Should make you proud JD. We’d be out quicker.
……….
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A terrible scandal may be developing. ‘Rules of engagement’. If what said on Fox news is true, 4 th fastest president to drop under 50% approval rating since WW 2, may be 1st not to recover to 50 % approval rating.
Shame of obama.
Our men and women should have right to refuse to fight in this war. President kicked out of office.
These are not the only bad policies placed upon our men. Because of obama we have attempt to supersede 2 rules:
Rule one: Innocent people die in war.
Rule 2: You can’t change rule one.
Below ROE obama is hindering the cuss word ‘Victory’ and killing our men.
This is near Treason, at least murdering our troupes.
2009
“Battling the Rules of Engagement in Afghanistan”
BY Herschel Smith
?2 weeks, 2 days ago
From The Washington Times:
[ ... ]
“The Times compiled an informal list of the new rules from interviews with U.S. forces. Among them:”
• “No night or surprise searches.”
• “Villagers have to be warned prior to searches.”
• “ANA or ANP must accompany U.S. units on searches.”
• “U.S. soldiers may not fire at the enemy unless the enemy is preparing to fire first.”
• “U.S. forces cannot engage the enemy if civilians are present.”
• “Only women can search women.”
• “Troops can fire at an insurgent if they catch him placing an IED but not if insurgents are walking away from an area where explosives have been laid.”
http://www.captainsjourna.....ghanistan/
I used a source other than Fox news on purpose. Can’t blame Fox for this.
What obama said to the cadets may not be plagiarism, but basically is same plan Russia had. Did not work.
Russia fought for 10 years there. They also planned to build up the Countries troupes.
I believe I heard the correct method to success. The tribal leaders. Not the Government. I wish I could remember the person name who said that. Heard on Fox of course.
I didn’t notice, did Landreaux mention Pakistan has nuclear war heads on rockets ? If anybody thinks that’s important ! You don’t think Pakistan would sell us out to terrorist by providing, oh I don’t know, nuclear waste.
With date of withdraw know, if I was Pakistan I’d be friendlier to the Terrorist. We are leaving and everybody knows it. Seems dumb to me. But hey I am a Conservative.
All that money we gave to Pakistan we can use here. Right JD.
Matthews Calls West Point, Site of Obama Speech ‘The Enemy Camp,’ ‘Strange Venue”’
By Jeff Poor
December 1, 2009 – 21:28 ET
.
“Matthews referred to a scene from “Gone with the Wind” about the American Civil War as an example of “excitement” going into a war. He said that was lacking in the room during Obama’s speech“.
“However, Matthews also said he saw a lot of skepticism among some of the older audience members at West Point, which he called “the enemy camp” and “a strange venue.” (emphasis added)”
“It seems like in this case, there isn’t a lot of excitement,” Matthews said. “I watched the cadets, they were young kids – men and women who were committed to serving their country professionally it must be said, as officers. And, I didn’t see much excitement. But among the older people there, I saw, if not resentment, skepticism. I didn’t see a lot of warmth in that crowd out there. The president chose to address tonight and I thought it was interesting. He went to maybe the enemy camp tonight to make his case. I mean, that’s where Paul Wolfowitz used to write speeches for, back in the old Bush days. That’s where he went to rabble rouse the “we’re going to democratize the world” campaign back in ‘02. So, I thought it was a strange venue.”
http://newsbusters.org/bl.....ange-venue
“Matthews Apologizes for West Point ‘Enemy Camp’ Slur, Then Interviews Marine-Slandering Murtha”
By Geoffrey Dickens
December 2, 2009 – 18:12 ET
“Talk about taking one step forward and two steps back. Chris Matthews, on Wednesday’s Hardball, opened the show by offering an apology to members of the military and their families for his infamous West Point is the “enemy camp,” quote made during coverage of Obama’s Afghanistan speech, as caught by the MRC’s Jeff Poor, but immediately after that went to an interview with John Murtha, who himself got in trouble with servicemen and women for falsely accusing Marines of killing innocent civilians in Iraq.”
http://newsbusters.org/bl.....rivews-mar
You know I agree with Matthews . Those kids and staff aren’t taught to lie. They’re well informed. Obama needs to stick with his planted audience. Go to UCLA
Ignore the polls too.
When you get your future earned peace prize AWARD. Stay there. Lassie’s owner is not calling you home
Could they pass a bill because it is a good bill, without buying votes. If the pork is so good why piggyback it at midnight into bill?
If rules of engagement are good make it public.
“The Truth Hurts”
October 22, 2009
“To President Obama and all 535 voting members of the Legislature,”
“It is now official….Stop taking care of yourselves and start taking care of the citizens. You think you helping by giving us our own money back that you took in taxes. Your not fooling anybody. Political parties, Democrats and Republicans alike, are taking care of themselves first and us last. Who do you think you are fooling?”
“The U.S. Post Service was established in 1775. You have had 234 years to get it right and it is broke.”
“Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 74 years to get it right and it is broke.”
“Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 71 years to get it right and it is broke.”
“War on Poverty started in 1964. You have had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to “the poor” and they are still poor.
Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. You have had 44 years to get it right and they are broke.”
“Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You have had 39 years to get it right and it is broke.”
“The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than ever before.. You had 32 years to get it right and it is an abysmal failure.”
“You have FAILED in every “government service” you have shoved down our throats while overspending our tax dollars AND YOU WANT AMERICANS TO BELIEVE YOU CAN BE TRUSTED WITH A GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM??”
http://www.russgibbatrand.....0-22/1097/
How many more men and women need to die for justice? We can’t keep throwing bodies at the problem if after a decade we are no better than we were before.
If our top generals can’t finish what was started in the next 2 years than it is time to pull out and stop putting our soldier lives in the crosshairs for a country that would never do the same in return.
Personally, I say pull out now… It has been 8 years in Afgan and you mean to tell me the job isn’t done? Give me a break.
JD,
I think the larger issue is the future threat of terrorism. 9/11 was hatched in Afghanistan from al-Qaeda, can we allow it to deteriorate further and give them another safe haven?
I heard Dennis Miller say something last night that made a lot of sense. He said that Obama is going weak now which may end up hurting is tremendously in the long run. He is going weak sending a minimal amount of reinforcements in the hope he can squeak by and please his base. However, if he fails, he has set us up for a far worse situation in the future.
Why not send overwhelming force, seriously finish the job and commit to victory?
At this point, can we just pull out and ignore terrorism, allow Afghanistan to fall back into Taliban control and essentially give Bin Laden a victory?
“If our top generals can’t finish what was started in the next 2 years than it is time to pull out and stop putting our soldier lives in the crosshairs for a country that would never do the same in return.”
This isn’t about what that country would do in return, this is about our country’s safety. We are not in Afghanistan as a humanitarian mission, it is in our best interest to see it develop into some form of a democratic ally.
I don’t think we can afford to pull out and hope it goes away as I fear we will have another 9/11-style attack which will be worse. Maybe not a few years in the future, maybe 10 years in the future, who knows.
Are you willing to take that risk?
Before the surge many wanted to leave Iraq. That area is more secure now that it would have been had America followed the wishes of Senator obama.
I have absolutely no faith in obama. Especially after I posted new rules of engagements.
The challenge facing us there is much more than Afgan. Safety of nuclear weapons a stone throw away is at stake.
American resolve may mean nothing to you JD. But our enemies and friends do take note.
John Wayne in a movie said “never apologies, is a sign of weakness.”
In real life, inability to stay the course is weakness. Will be noted by the terrorist. Has been noted in recent speech.
It is more National Security than “justice“.
obama has ordered no village searches unless they are advised first we are coming. Not to fire unless terrorist threaten to shot. Maybe JD you don’t understand these Rules of Engagement are not safe for our men or conducive to winning the war. Can’t fire if civilians are near by.
They say there was no atheist in fox hole is big war. I wonder if there are liberals over there in a gun fight?
I just heard prez talk about something I have discussed here. He left a few facts out. Imagine that. Of course when a liberal talks facts are left out or skewed.
He mentioned the bad loans and bundling of different grade loans and sold by big financial institutions..
What prez left out was Democrats pushed for bad loans to unqualified home buyers. That sub-prime loans was only way to get some buyers qualified. Bill Clinton signed the bill into law and good old Frank pushed it. After Bush and McCain warned of problems in 95.
Of course obama took credit and got the clap…
Natural he said bad companies are getting more work from poor workers. Must say I nearly cried. Gee I wonder if I could give reasons why companies aren’t hiring more ? You know, I think I can.
“Obama refused to be photographed with F-22”
posted at 2:55 pm on December 3, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
“How petty can the White House get in setting up Barack Obama’s photo ops? According to Foreign Policy, petty enough to refuse to be photographed with America’s most advanced fighter. The Obama administration successfully killed further production of the F-22, and when visiting Elmendorf AFB in Alaska — where F-22s are the pride of the base — the White House insisted that the Air Force move an F-22 out of the hangar in which Obama gave a speech.”
“Instead of acknowledging Elmendorf’s pride, the White House instead turned it into a political football. Will Obama now only be pictured next to military equipment of which he personally approves? No one would have assumed that before this incident because the choice of equipment for such appearances would have seemed too inconsequential for anyone to notice.”
http://hotair.com/archive.....with-f-22/
Air Force Base very naive or ignorant of obama’s past history.
“Christian symbol covered up during Obama’s Georgetown speech”
posted at 7:45 pm on April 16, 2009 by Allahpundit
“My president is atheist.”
“The monogram IHS, whose letters spell out the name of Jesus, and which normally perches above the stage in Gaston Hall where the president spoke, was covered over with what appeared to be black wood during the address…”
“Decisions made about the backdrop for the speech were made to have a consistent background of American flags, which is standard for many presidential events,” said White House spokesman Shin Inouye in a statement released Thursday…”
“Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, accused the university of “cowardice” for acceding to the White House, and criticized Obama’s team for asking a religious school to “neuter itself” before the president made his address.”
http://hotair.com/archive.....nt-page-1/
What could have been and was:
December 7, 1941 A date which will live in WORLD HISTORY.”
http://www.usnews.com/art.....nfamy.html
FDR takes a ride in Al Capone’s car. Too costly to buy.
http://history.verdeserve.....limousine/
http://www.icis.com/blogs.....learn.html
For all of us who are obamaites and appreciate all those jobs created for $125,000-$250,000 per job by our president, consider these a bargin… New ones go for near $ 3/4 of a million. That’s in Spain. Here should run cool $ million + per job. Remember, they’ll be union..
obama has higher hopes. Who would have thought green jobs would come out of job summit. What a surpise ! I was totally stunned. Flaburgasted. Came out of left field guys. Who would have thunk.
We have learned from obama that other Countries failures has nothing to do with USA. Example health care. Is already SAID IT WON’T SAVE BUT RAISE COST. Surpise, surpise, Surpise. Government health care around the World is a failure.
Here’s to Green:
“The price of green jobs? Learn from Spain”
By Doris De Guzman on April 8, 2009 7:33 PM
“The study calculated that, since 2000, Spain spent $774,000 to create each “green job”, including subsidies of more than $1.3 million per wind industry job. It found that creating those jobs resulted in the destruction of nearly 113,000 jobs elsewhere in the economy, or 2.2 jobs destroyed for every “green job” created. Jobs lost were mostly in the fields of metallurgy, non-metallic mining and food processing, beverage and tobacco.”
“The loss of jobs could be greater if you account for the amount of lost industry that moves out of the country due to higher energy prices,” Calzada said in an interview with Bloomberg News.”
“Western Business Roundtable also noted that the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently calculated that Spain’s annual emissions of carbon dioxide have increased by nearly 50 percent since the launch of the subsidized “green jobs” program.”
“The moral of the study, according to Calzada: Renewable energy stimulus and subsidies are not the answer to solving the current economic crisis.”
SSSSh…Don’t tell obama. University professor is on a role…