An Inauspicious Anniversary
By Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy on October 7, 2009 at 10:45 AM in Afghanistan, Armed Services Committee, Commander in Chief, Congress (House & Senate), Current Affairs, Flip Flopping, Foreign Affairs, John McCain, President Barack Obama
Wednesday, October 7, 2009, marks the 8th Anniversary of the US War in Afghanistan. And, at this point, President Obama is trying to decide how he wants to go forward in Afghanistan:
On the eighth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama is gathering his national security team for another strategy session.Obama, who inherited the war when he took office last January, is examining how to proceed with a worsening combat situation that has claimed nearly 800 U.S. lives and sapped American patience. Launched after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to defeat the Taliban and rid Al Qaeda of a home base, the war has lasted longer than ever envisioned.
House and Senate leaders of both parties emerged Tuesday from a nearly 90-minute conversation with Obama with praise for his candor and interest in listening. But politically speaking, all sides appeared to exit where they entered, with Republicans pushing Obama to follow his military commanders and Democrats saying he should not be rushed.
Obama said the war would not be reduced to a narrowly defined counterterrorism effort, with the withdrawal of many U.S. forces and an emphasis on special operations forces that target terrorists in the dangerous border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Two senior administration officials say such a scenario has been inaccurately characterized and linked to Vice President Joe Biden, and that Obama wanted to make clear he is considering no such plan.
The president did not show his hand on troop increases. His top commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, has bluntly warned that more troops are needed to right the war, perhaps up to 40,000 more. Obama has already added 21,000 troops this year, raising the total to 68,000.
I understand the importance of trying to proceed with the best plan possible, but at some point, especially when one is talking about a war in which action can move quickly, it seems one would want to make a decision sooner rather than later:
Obama also gave no timetable for a decision, which prompted at least one pointed exchange.Inside the State Dining Room, where the meeting was held, Obama’s Republican opponent in last year’s presidential race, Sen. John McCain, told Obama that he should not move at a “leisurely pace,” according to people in the room.
That comment later drew a sharp response from Obama, they said. Obama said no one felt more urgency than he did about the war, and there would not be nothing leisurely about it.
Well, then, make a decision already!! Ahem. So, what is Obama considering:
Obama may be considering a more modest building of troops — closer to 10,000 than 40,000 — according to Republican and Democratic congressional aides. But White House aides said no such decision has been made.The president insisted that he will make a decision on troops after settling on the strategy ahead. He told lawmakers he will be deliberate yet show urgency.
“We do recognize that he has a tough decision, and he wants ample time to make a good decision,” said House Republican leader John Boehner. “Frankly, I support that, but we need to remember that every day that goes by, the troops that we do have there are in greater danger.”
What’s clear is that the mission in Afghanistan is not changing. Obama said his focus is to keep Al Qaeda terrorists from having a base from which to launch attacks on the U.S or its allies. He heard from 18 lawmakers and said he would keep seeking such input even knowing his final decision would not please them all.
That’s politics. That being said, there are LITERALLY lives at stake here. So far this month, there have been 17 US Casualties. Time is of the essence, I would think. But I’m not the Decider:
Obama’s emphasis on building a strong strategy did not mean he shed much light on what it would be. He did, though, seek to “dispense with the more extreme options on either side of the debate,” as one administration official put it. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the closed-door meeting.The president made clear he would not “double down” in Afghanistan and build up U.S forces into the hundreds of thousands, just as he ruled out withdrawing forces and focusing on a narrow counterterrorism strategy.
“Half-measures is what I worry about,” McCain, R-Ariz., told reporters. He said Obama should follow recommendations from those in uniform and dispatch thousands of more troops to the country — similar to what President George W. Bush did during the 2008 troop “surge” in Iraq.
Public support for the war in Afghanistan is dropping. It stands at 40 percent, down from 44 percent in July, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll. A total of 69 percent of self-described Republicans in the poll favor sending more troops, while 57 percent of self-described Democrats oppose it.
The White House said Obama won’t base his decisions on the mood on Capitol Hill or eroding public support for the war.
“The president is going to make a decision — popular or unpopular — based on what he thinks is in the best interests of the country,” press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters.
Okay…So, WHEN???
Here is what Senator John McCain had to say after the meeting mentioned above:
Hopefully, the meeting President Obama has planned for this anniversary day with his War Council will help prompt him to make a decision, a good decision, the BEST decision sooner rather than later.
And on this anniversary, here is but a glimpse of one area in which our military is working in Afghanistan:
And to all of the families and friends who have lost loved ones in this war, my heart goes out to you. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Your sacrifice is our sacrifice, and it is a debt we can never fully repay, but one which mandates that as keep our nation strong by upholding the Constitution of the United States so that your loss, our loss, is not made in vain…
(Release: November 13)
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Did obassole give them all army helmets to wear at the
photo-opmeeting yesterday???IMHO… The only way to deal with taliban etc is to show a STRONG RESOLUTE MAJOR all out efforrt… stop ‘tickling the sand’ with your toe (and sacrificing many brave souls).
obassole is frantically searching for that “present” button and has the phone off the hook…
Absolutely clueless, inept COWARD.
I would not have put that past him one bit, sjc-tx. Then he could pretend they all supported whatever he said just like he did the doctors the other day…
something else I would like to know… How the hell can we get rid of nancy plasticosi????
…everytime I see her and all her nitwits standing around ‘the one’, the great Aretha Franklin song comes to mind… * Cha, cha, chain… chain of Fools!*
8 years of this…
8 years of this…
Gods help us and forgive us.
-TW-
Amen, Torchwood. It is ‘t just our soldiers being lost, but there have been many civilian casualties in Afghanistan as well. I don’t pretend to know the answer, or the best course of action, but if we are going to be there, engaged in battle, it seems to me we should pay close attention to what those who are in theater say, as opposed to those who are just theorizing…
Well said, RRA. Why is it that he can pass billions of dollars of stimulus money without batting an eye (or reading the bill???) but when it comes to saving lives, he dithers. It boggles the mind…
“Public support for the war in Afghanistan is dropping.”
Is it that easy to put Americans to sleep — just wait us out for 8 years?
If you graduate from high school and your goal is to become a doctor, it takes 8 years to achieve that goal. When do you start planning to pay for your kid’s college — 8-10 years before? Al Queada’s goal is to attack America. They attack, go underground for 8 years while we go back to sleep — then attack again.
whoframedrudy:
But Americans have better things to worry about. I mean, what’s going to happen to Jon and Kate? Who is going to triumph on Dancing With the Stars?
I’m disgusted by my fellow Americans. They don’t think past “what’s for dinner?”.
Obama WANTS our men/women in Afghanistan to get killed, otherwise he would do something about it.
I despise Obama, and I hope the military turns on him.
Thanks to Ferd, I came across the following on a veterans’ web site. I’m dedicating it to all those armchair (Liberal) critics who dare complain of battle fatigue while forgetting who actually fights our battles and to what end.
IT IS THE VETERAN
IT IS THE VETERAN, NOT THE PREACHER,
WHO HAS GIVEN US FREEDOM OF RELIGION
IT IS THE VETERAN, NOT THE REPORTER,
WHO HAS GIVEN US FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
IT IS THE VETERAN, NOT THE POET,
WHO HAS GIVEN US FREEDOM OF SPEECH
IT IS THE VETERAN, NOT THE CAMPUS ORGANIZER,
WHO HAS GIVEN US THE RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE
IT IS THE VETERAN, NOT THE LAWYER,
WHO HAS GIVEN US THE RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL
IT IS THE VETERAN, NOT THE POLITICIAN,
WHO HAS GIVEN US THE RIGHT TO VOTE
IT IS THE VETERAN WHO SALUTES THE FLAG
LEST WE FORGET
(Rpt. from http://www.wildfleckenheroes.org)
Amen.
Freedom Isn’t Free
Someone might remind others of that. NOONE wants/likes/approves of war and killing… But in the real world there IS evil and if we do not stand up and defend ourselves from evil… Evil will prevail.
As some of us ask God in our Lord’s Prayer, …”defend us from evil”…
Thanks you, witzend. You inspired me to go check out where Ferd hung his military cap, too Very interesting.
And thank you again. Well said.
That is an excellent website. Thousands upon thousands of American soldiers served in Wildflecken, guarding the Fulda Gap from 1946 until it was returned to German control in 1994.
One of the quotes on the website:
“Lieber den Arsch voller Zecken als ein Tag in Wildflecken !”
(It’s better to have an ass full of ticks than to spend one day at Wildflecken!)
It is the veteran, the American soldier, who saved my family’s lives in the South Pacific by entering WWII. It is the veteran, the American soldier, who saved my family’s lives in The Netherlands from the Nazi occupation. I never forget the sacrifices given by the veteran of our wonderful nation. I wish That One understood the greatness of our country but I believe that wish is futile.
It has been a long 8 years for just our family. Everyday I wonder how the military families will make it. There is so much to this war that is unseen. I hated the war prior to this administration and I still hate it; but I damned well love our soldiers; for which they have and will always have my support. From holidays past where our house was wall to wall soldiers brought home by my son. Their laughter, card games and the regular silliness of any young twenty somethings; I will always recall. The calls late at night back and forth between worried parents during deployments.Mailing kevlar vests when it was legal, and helping to pay for a weapon damaged while our soldier was under attack(yes it had to be paid for). Deciding which packages were more important when mail was being cut off in the early days to our troops, when they had one meal a day for awhile; do I send food or medical supplies? Trying to figure out how to send a Christmas tree and get away with it, trying to find non pork meat products that would hold and make it. finding ways to help keep them cool and protected in 130 plus degrees. Wondering what they would be like when they came home from the deployment, shocked when they went back on the second deployment, and numb by the third. Learning to hide the fear in my eyes, because I am the Mom, and he looks to me also for strength, but in my heart, I am terrified. Looking at my grand babies and knowing their Daddy will once again be deployed, and looking at this brave young couple who have gone from high school sweethearts to getting close to thirty, all in one war, and quite wise beyond their years by learning to live at the poverty level while protecting and serving. I am proud, I am supportive, I am exhausted, but more than anything I am fucking pissed off. It is a sick irony to have lived through the vietnam era and what happened to our soldiers to see once again nothing but chicken shits come home to roost again in washington. I think these so called political types should have to spend a month with a military family while their soldier is deployed, that will build some character in them. Otherwise they are just a bunch of spineless cowards who don’t care about and don’t consider the fact pour soldiers are human beings. Meanwhile, I work to help also provide for my military family, as their wage is low, and if you think life is hard for the regular public, it is just a tough for those who are on the fixed income the military personnel are held to; and yet they continue to serve. I better stop, I am babbling as I usually do when I reach this point. Sorry.
Katmoon, you are not babbling at all. Thank you for that heartfelt rant on behalf of our soldiers, and their families. You moved me to tears…
And Amen, Sister!
Katmoon, NEVER apologize for articulating your feelings, which are utterly foreign to anyone who’s not sent a child to war. My best friend spent 3 weeks sleeping on the living room sofa for fear her pacing would wake her husband. And my sister would look in to each of her childrens’ rooms at night longing for the day when she could go to sleep knowing each was tucked safely into his/her bed. There’s nothing rational about your situation just as there’s no right or wrong way to cope with it. This nation owes you its gratitude; you owe us nothing.
Thank you Rev Amy, you know sometimes that ranting rage is my only way to cope for a moment, at these times, prayers fail me it seems; but I do try. I felt that hug and I thank you.
Witzend, I appreciate your kind words. I understand that longing and feeling you shared about your best friend and sister. It is a lonely and strange path, and you are right there is no correct way to cope with it. You have to know we have been called unpatriotic because in the past we didn’t want to see our soldiers sent to war, and now we are being called unpatriotic because we want our soldiers supported, as needed in their engagement . Typical government psychosis.
As an aside Ferd’s,(my husband) blog battles may make more sense, when you consider, both of our children are soldiers. Neither of us do helpless very well.
How’s this for “unpatriotic”? When my brothers were drafted, my mother was tempted to shoot them in the foot. And, when the first of my nephews was, I extended the same offer to my sister. OK, we didn’t go through with it, but, at the end of the day, no matter how old or how big they get, they’re still the little boys whose diapers you changed only yesterday.
((((Katmoon)))))) sending strength your way!
I totally understand this. These are not bizarre thoughts, they are a controlled and understood injury versus the imagined and known horrors for loss of life and limb in war.
Katmoon,
your post moved me to tears as well. You and Ferd and your family are in my prayers. Thank you both and your children for your sacrifices.
~~JustMe~~ and Senneth- thank you, and that strength is greatly appreciated. Please, no tears, and I did not mean to cause that upset. We (Ferd and I) thank you for your prayers and kind thoughts. The best advice I can give in how to be supportive; the next time you see a soldier, buy him/her dinner, a soda, or coffee or simply go up, introduce yourself and just say thank you. I have never known a soldier to turn down respect or appreciation. If their family is with them, they will literally beam because you noticed their soldier.
If you are adventuresome, and have the time, there are many projects and groups across the nation, mostly military family driven, to show support. Some of the coolest things I have seen done were by local media who were willing to give up the satellite time for face to face for the soldiers and families.
A thank you and a prayer, and please don’t forget them.
Katmoon - For once you (and Ferd) have left me speechless. I can’t imagine what you must go through, every day.
Sending you a NQ group hug!
Thank you.
Your Christmas tree comment brought tears to my eyes. You are a good mom.
How cute, I love your graphics. Don’t have tears, it is ok, and I thank god for NQ, and being able to blow off that steam. We are fine and you know we are both scrappers, yes there are tough times; but honestly staying strong for our soldiers works just like it does when we supported them in college. You love your kids you support them. The hardest part is getting people to understand, that there is this looming heaviness, not only because they are in “known” harms way, but because, it is not talked about openly and support is few and far between. Yet, as I mentioned, we have a good support system here in TN, and the southerners are amazing at their courage and faith and help for military families.
As complex as war is, none of us want to lose our child and all of us know the risk. We can oppose the war and support our troops both, which is good common sense for most humans, yet hard to get others to understand, when there is no skin in the game. I have to wonder what will happen now, when more troops are needed. I have said before I think a draft isn’t far off, and part of me would hate to see this, and the other part would say it is about time for a shared sacrifice. Difficult problems and even more difficult solutions. Here at NQ people realize this, yet as of this morning while reading Huffpoo(because I insist on knowing what they are up to), all I see is ridiculous remarks made for cleverness sake, with no real thought or feeling to the heart of what matters; that is what drives me nuts, the cavalier attitude of those who will never miss a nights sleep worrying over a soldier.
I did ship an artificial tree each deployment, already decorated! At one point the unit had 12.
There are many ways people can help and be supportive and I think there is a caution as most folks don’t know how to approach military families or what to do. An example is a token of respect for the lost soldiers recently, to the families who lost them. Most people know you cannot get information about those families,(which is correct for their privacy sake). however a letter of condolence can be sent to the specific branch of services casualty section with a cover letter explaining you would like it forwarded to the family, place both in an unsealed envelope, then place that in the sealed envelope you are sending to the casualty office. The reason for the unsealed envelope is to allow for the letter to be read in advance, a precaution, as trust me there are many nuts out there who would say vile things. To check for the names of the fallen soldiers you can go to either of this link from the DOD
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=13028
or the very well maintained site:
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/
For the ARMY
The Casualty Office is:
Director, Casualty/Memorial Affairs Operation Center
US Total Army Personnel Command
ATTN: TAPC-PED
2641 Eisenhower Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22331
phone: 703-325-7960
On a higher note, here is another site, which is produced by the AFN, with some of the coolest videos of the troops on a weekly basis sending messages home.
http://www.afneurope.net/Home/ArticleDisplayDD/tabid/649/Default.aspx?aid=9567
Hopefully these two links help a bit and do not depress, but keep the human face on our soldiers.
Rev. Amy - Just took a look at your blog (nice to connect a face to the “voice”). Thanks to the “Ruse and By-blows Committee,” I, too, ceased being a Democrat on 5-31-08, and I’ve often wondered how many of us mailed in our change of registration the following Monday.
Thanks, Witzend! Yep - pretty much what I look like, though I usually have on my regular glasses!
Unfortunately, SC doesn’t give one the satisfaction of mailing in one’s change of registration. Dangit. I was looking forward to that, I’ll tell you. Welcome to the club of former Democrats! (I joke, but it was a painful, painful decision after being a lifelong, left-leaning Dem. But I sure didn’t recognize what this party had become, and I sure wasn’t going to support a party that was democratic in name only…)
And Katmoon, I didn’t realize that both of yours and Ferd’s children were soldiers. I knew he had been one. That must be so, so hard for you. I am glad you feel the love, and I hope you feel the support and pride, too, for the sacrifices you and your family make on our behalf…
Thanks Amy, and Yes I do feel the support, in an amazing way and should express that more often, instead of letting the few get to me. This site and all of you save my sanity on a regular basis. Our daughter enlisted recently,(could have knocked us both over with a feather) both of the kids decided to do it at the end of college. Often people pick on the southern states, but I will say hands down, the people here in TN, KY, and the Carolina’s that I have experienced (and I need to add Maine as well) are outwardly supportive of the military. We have had people approach our son at dinner when in uniform, airports, all kinds of places, and shake his hand or thank him; that is when he gets teared up. He is always amazed when someone thanks him, and simply will tell them he is just doing his job and is proud to serve. The little things mean so much, and can really touch someone’s life.
I missed this part of your earlier comment. WOW! That’s a coincidence. I’m sure Ferd mentioned we’ve had a couple of interesting exchanges. And you certainly don’t need me to tell you you’ve got yourself a good man there.
OK, “Mom,” since you mentioned your daughter enlisting, I really must share a personal anecdote, which I suspect you’ll appreciate. 27 years ago, with two brothers in uniform, my turn finally came. As the youngest of four, I was never the first to do anything… until that day. I was the first female soldier in our family, and I welcomed it. (Little did I know we’d be at war just 3 months later, or how quickly I’d have to grow up as a result.) At any rate, several years after completing my service, I found out that my mom actually cried on the day I was drafted. I was stunned. She NEVER cried (not even when my brothers were drafted), and, besides, it wasn’t as though she was sending me into combat (in the IDF, we can train the men but we’re kept far from the battlefield in wartime). Her answer was succinct and has stuck with me since: “If you’re ever compelled to entrust the care and welfare of your teenage daughter to total strangers, you’ll cry, too.”
I don’t have a daughter, but, when my niece was drafted last month, I realized that, unlike my mother, I had the advantage of knowing what lay ahead for her. Not knowing would be unbearable.
I SOLUTE ALL OF YOU! GOD BLESS.
God Bless you; what an amazing story. I can see you excited and your Mom just plain overwrought. For our daughter, I’m torn as I know this is what she wants, and therefore I support her. She also has a big brother to help her understand things as best as he can in advance. But the total strangers thing is a scary thought it seems still more for a daughter, in some ways. I am just amazed at your service and that of your family, and also by the similarity of our stories, thank you so much for sharing.
I cry at return from deployment, a grateful wail of pure delight, that I am unable to stop, running nose and all.
My son was afraid to tell me he had enlisted in person, so he told me by video tape(handed under his bedroom door, and did try to stop me from calling the enlisting officer and inviting him over for a “chat”. My son literally hid his face in his shirt when I told the officer I wanted to know who to kill first if anything happened to my son. This officer was gold and smiled a little and said, “son, we don’t mess with military moms”.
Ferd’s mom enlisted in the Australian Army in WWII, his father was a U.S. Calvary Officer, on horseback, one of the last, 1n the 1920’s. My brothers served as well, and I am the lone ranger never having served. So I “serve” as best I can to any military family and all soldiers, when I can. It is the very least I can do.
Wow, IDF, I just can’t get over it. Amazing. I Solute you right back, and your loved ones serving as well.
Katmoon, your son’s story is priceless and your chat with the enlisting officer tells me you’d fit right in with the women in my family (hear us roar). You may not have worn a uniform, but you’re certainly doing more than your share of “service”.
As I told Rev. Amy, the mystique of the IDF tends to be magnified on this side of the Pond. There, everyone from your local greengrocer to the Prime Minister has served; no one (except a tourist perhaps) would walk up to a soldier to thank him/her for serving. And yet, in a matter of speaking, it’s a right of passage we all go through before college. Those who don’t usually regret it.
As to your daughter, the little I know of her parents tells me she’s got the disposition and strength of character to handle herself in any situation. Granted, the military poses a unique set of challenges for women, but those who enter with a clear sense of who they are tend to adjust quickly and do very well.
Katmoon, what a great story abt your son - thanks for the laugh!
As for your daughter, it is clear that she, and your son, get that internal strength of character from their totally awesome parents!
And WOW abt Ferd’s family! A real calvary man, wow! His mom enlisting in Australia! What a fascinating family!
Witzend, your story is fascinating, too. I hear you that where you served it was just what was done by everyone, but you know, it’s not the same here…
I love hearing abt y’all’s lives - thank you for sharing them with us.
Rev. Amy, I’m beginning to realize that, for every FF on this site, there are several engaging people. A nice way to spend my down time, esp. when I’m just too tired to actually talk.
Ferd’s mom enlisted in the Australian Army in WWII.
Yikes.
Katmoon, you are absolutely right about southerners. They value their freedom, and know that a strong defense is essential!
Every veteran’s obituary lists their years of service. It is a life-time source of pride.
From reports I saw, that remote outpost was literally over-run by hordes of barbarians. That is hard to visualize in view of the technology we have today.
America’s leaders should show courage and LEAD!
Katmoon, thank you for writing that. I always wonder if I should say something, or if the soldiers just want a little space or down time. But I won’t hesitate next time. Thank you. And your children sound like amazing people.
And to Sassy, too, that is interesting abt the Southern States (and MN). I guess the states that actually have military basis might be more inclined to be more pro-military. In the state in which I live, we have a US Senator, Lindsey Graham, who is still a Col. in the Air Force. And we have a few military bases here, too…
Glad you feel the love…
We`have NO leaders. There is NO courage… The self serving attitude and entitlement attitude is going to be this countrie’s downfall… We do need a CHANGE.