Obama Surrenders Afghanistan

Yup, looks like the ‘useful fools’ have elected themselves a useless tool.

…and the shame goes on.

If I was a parent of a child in the military, I’d tell them to get out now. Not only will Afghanistan be a complete loss, but who knows what other stupid disasters these fools will step into through their appeasement.

This will be looked at by future historians as the real “domino theory” in action. Karzai and His people will be subjugated by the Taliban with Pakistan falling next in rapid succession with grave implications for current world security. Following will be the complete collapse of Iraq right after Coalition abandonment. The remaining areas of influence will be forced into Tehran’s “security umbrella” as Iran will be the only Military power left in the complete vacuum left by U.S. abandonment. Many wars and conflagrations will be the inevitable result of such irresponsible actions. Unfortunate but true. This nightmare scenario cannot be undone once the ball gets rolling.

syntax much, rahm?

was there an actual sentence somewhere in rahm’s logorrhea? and they thought palin was bad: “Uh…first of all what president Karzai must do…uh…and you know what i uh and the process there is a credible and legitimate election or result more imprortantly…”

and i thought he and the one were supposed to be the new cicero.

in the end he basically just said our military hasn’t done shit for eight years. he said it as a bushbashing mechanism to score political points. but he just ended up insulting the work of our military. nice one, a$$. i wonder when our troops begin to mutiny?

What did Nixon say?
“A pitiful helpless giant.”
With Obozo, and his adoloscent advisors in charge, you can take out the “giant” part.
Hey, all you Clintonistas:
What happened?
Your girl is going into history as an Obozo groupy.
“Guilt by association” DOES exist.

My heart is weeping for all those women and girls who will suffer under the Taliban because we really don’t care about human rights. It was our chance to be the Americans we used to be.

It seems to me that if we were to send troops it would send a powerful signal to pro-Democracy forces within Afghanistan. By witholding troops it says: we’re weak, and we probably won’t support you, so why would you bother putting your necks on the line?

My neighbor has two sons in the military.
One scheduled to go into Afghanistan in February.

Fuck you, Obama. Aren’t you the guy who claimed that YOU would get Osama Bin Laden? Right, tough-guy-pansy.

You are piece of chicken shit, Obama!
I hope you die: from choking on your own bullshit!

I agree, I think the decision has been made. John Kerry has been out saying it would irresponsible for Obama to escalate the war in Afghanistan. Joe Biden has been vocal in his skepticism of investing anymore blood or treasure. Add that to Rahm’s recent comments and I think it’s all over but for the official announcement.

I’ve never supported either war: Iraq or Afghanistan. But I do not understand the sudden 180 degree turn. I mean in March or April, Barack Obama said this was a war we could not afford to lose. Now it’s a different story. I’d be tearing my hair out if I had a kid in theater. Or lost one. For what?

The one thing we don’t need in the WH is a President who appears weak and indecisive. This does not bode well for anyone.

This is amazing. Today’s NYT has front page story by David Rhodes who was a journalist held by the Taliban for 7 months. This is from his story today:

Over those months, I came to a simple realization. After seven years of reporting in the region, I did not fully understand how extreme many of the Taliban had become. Before the kidnapping, I viewed the organization as a form of “Al Qaeda lite,” a religiously motivated movement primarily focused on controlling Afghanistan.

Living side by side with the Haqqanis’ followers, I learned that the goal of the hard-line Taliban was far more ambitious. Contact with foreign militants in the tribal areas appeared to have deeply affected many young Taliban fighters. They wanted to create a fundamentalist Islamic emirate with Al Qaeda that spanned the Muslim world.

I don’t see what we can “win” in Afghanistan where no western country has succeeded, but I don’t see how we can surrender to these people who were more than brutal to their own people before they were toppled.

No wonder Jimmy Carter loves BO–they are the same, making the USA look weak and pathetic.

No kidding.
For a President who “cares” he doesn’t give a shit about women.

My post hit the spammy hopper, again. Sending an email now.

Making the US look weak and Pathetic? It’s more than that. It’s self-hatred and a hatred of Jews.

Both men are imbiciles lifted to positions they never should have won.

And people think that BUSH was a moron? At least he stood up for our country!

“This is not a war of choice,” Barack Obama told the Veterans of Foreign Wars on Aug. 17. “This is a war of necessity. Those who attacked America on 9-11 are plotting to do so again. If left unchecked, the Taliban insurgency will mean an even larger safe haven from which al-Qaida would plot to kill more Americans. So this is not only a war worth fighting. This is fundamental to the defense of our people.”

Uh… never mind. Unbelievable.

I want to make a correction to my story about the NYT reporter — his name is Rohde, not Rhodes; I misspelled it.

Wasn’t Obama head of some committee dealing with Afganistan? Wasn’t it the good war? How can he do this to the Afghan people? Oh right, he ignored the Iranian people when they need us most.

pumasf, if i am not mistaken obummer never even called a committee meeting.

what a pathetic bunch of self involved, arrogant, pathetic whimps these so called dimocrats are. i remember 9/11 and they don’t.

After this impending debacle I never want to hear another American disparage the French as “surrender monkeys.”

If French President thinks you’re a total puss, you’re pretty much screwed.

Here’s an exercise for your liberal “friends”. Show them the address by Sarkozy to the US Congress a few years ago and then show them anything from Chairman Obama’s Hate America Tour and ask them which one is proud of America.

With both of our children probably going to Afghanistan next year, there really isn’t much I can add; other than I am sick to my stomach this morning.

Right,you are. He was too busy campaigning to be bothered doing the job he was elected to do.And some things never change!

Yes, that would be the oversight committee on which he never held one meeting–too bush running for POTUS.

While I never supported the invasion of Iraq, I have always been a proponent of the war in Afghanistan. They harbored the Neanderthals who attacked this country and bragged about it. Indeed, the invasion was morally justified. The war was poorly managed for many years and perhaps that is why the hard decisions must be made now. But that is not the point. The point is that we cannot allow the Taliban to retake the country and not because of some “Domino Theory”, which is the same worn out fallacious argument Nixon used to maintain troops in Vietnam. We must stay in Afghanistan because the members of Al Qaeda must be brought to the bar of justice.

Obambi can bitch and whine like the five-year old he is about how he inherited a mess. Well, if that is the case, then he should have stayed in Chicago thereby limiting the damage caused by his promises, none of which he never had any intention of fulfilling in the first place.

And what the hell is a political advisor flapping his jib on TV about an issue that is military?

I read McChrystal’s report and found it to be well thought out and perhaps our only chance at correcting mistakes made in the past. Dodging the issue, running for cover, just plain blinking, or cowering is this administration’s answer.

Thank god the women of Afganistan will still be able to cover their bodies in the hajib. Obama did promise the menfolk we wouldn’t interfere with that. this way,we don’t have to see the acid scars or even if they are crying under all that beautiful fabric.

Our military is becoming welfare plus–a program for those who want more than standard welfare payments. Obama will never use it to win any international conflict.

He may use it if our borders are attacked directly, unless the attackers declare themselfs illegal immigrants. Then he will welcome those illegals and give them free health care.

Obama is turning out even worse than I thought…

Two thoughts:

1. Hillary, learn everthing you can about foreign affairs and resign in 2010, a year to the date you started the SOS gig. Then tell everything you know.

2. Sarah, you were right about USA energy independence is USA energy security. Keep on speaking up for us everday Americans.

As for our fighting men and women all over the Middle East and the world–prayers and good wishes and a huge thank you to you all.

I’m really looking forward to seeing Air Force One land on an aircraft carrier and Obama unfurling the “Mission Accomplished” banner.

I keep reading that Obama is still very pro-war in Afghanistan but Biden and Emanuel disagree. That’s why the Huffington Post wants Biden to resign. I’m glad Rahm is finally becoming anti-war. He was my congressman for years and he was very hawkish, like more so than some Republicans. I sent him a lot emails about the war, I’m glad he is finally listening even though it will probably take forever to leave anyway. I read the other day a Dem. consultant said escalating the war there had no foreign policy basis at all and it was just to make Kerry and the Dems look tough. Yeah, I think it is time to reassess our goals there.

are u braindead?

Do you have any skin invested in the war?

Our military is becoming welfare plus–a program for those who want more than standard welfare payments.

No one goes into the military with an eye towards “more than standard welfare payments”. That is about as crass a statement as I’ve ever seen. I suggest you don a uniform and go stand between our troops and the adversary. In fact, please do so.

Sara:

Not only is it worse than you think, but it is more than likely worse than you can possibly imagine. This is not good–not good at all.

After this impending debacle I never want to hear another American disparage the French as “surrender monkeys.” Why? Because we are on our way to becoming the simpering simian we love to diss.

Spot on Larry. That One is a Vichy. So where’s our Charles de Gaulle?

I completely agree with your analysis. But Obama must understand that such a series of events would doom any chance he has of re-election and of governing.

If your scenario did come to pass, then Israel would be left to fend for itself in a far more hostile environment and without the support of Obama and the U.S.

What would be interesting would be if another country would fill the void left by the U.S. such as Germany or even Russia.

Ditto.

But you forget that with the election of the first African American POTUS, the world would hold hands and sing. Immediately, the world would love us. Just as the past 2 years, Obama can do no wrong and he has fixed everything with the wave of his magic wand, while riding his rainbow unicorn into the White House!

Do I have to say snark? I never know. Sometimes sarcasm is met with a bot attack.

I am not a bot.

Ditto again.

Isn’t there a saying that cowards and old men send young men (and women) to die?
Our troops are not fighting for Karzai or Abdullah. They are in combat with those who made a direct hit on the heart of America!
With success, Afghanistan could benefit, but my concern is leaving the Taliban and their Al-Queda network operational.
Biden is “biding” his time, and gambling on no more major attacks on his watch.
I will decline to give my real opinion about BO’s brother Rahm!

Well, now that he’s slamming Fox News as “not being a real news organization” I doubt he’ll get re-elected anyway–unless he can pull a Karl Rove and rig a few states.

I refuse to listen to or look at Rahm “The Weinee” Emanuel.

Bush should have focused on Afghanistan and stayed out of Iraq. Now they’re both unstable.

If this administration put 1/10th the energy into our real wars abroad that it does with its war on Fox News, maybe our troops wouldn’t be dying as frequently as they are now.

Katmoon— my heart goes out to you! It seems unreal to hear that now the “right war” is being reconsidered as if thinking about it will fix everything. I’m just gutted by this waffling and prevaricating by the man who is supposed to be Commander in Chief. I actually found myself momentarily wishing for a military coup. What have we come to in the US when our President can’t decide whether or not to support our troops? How on earth does he even pick a tie in the morning?

Katmoon: My heart goes out to you. My neighbor down the street is beside herself about her son going to Afghanistan.
She said to me, “I am terrified that this President is just sending my son over there to die. Where is the plan to win?”

Hang in there, Katmoon. We’re all thinking of you and your brave children!

just imagine if they put a fraction of the effort they’ve spent trying to ram health reform down our throats. If they used a tenth of the energy that was used to defeat tea parties; if they took the money they’ve spent on date nights and salsa parties; if they used the time spent deciding on a puppy; if they cared as much as bringing the Olympics here…

Katmoon, Heather is a peace-loving moonbat who doesn’t like the site of blood.

She hasn’t invested skin in anything other than getting her nails done.

She doesn’t understand that your children are sacrificing to keep us all safe, and she never will.

I think not only are we ceding to the Taliban, Also we are sacrificing soldiers to make an eventual defeat palatable. America isn’t going to tolerate defeat if we are successful. But, let the body count Bush body count rise and with the help of the media Barack can cause a sentiment that we need to hurry up and lose and leave. This will be his legacy… America the weak, America what used to be. Unfortunately, our legacy as a nation is now in part married to his own. Reality bites.

Iraq unstable? You better read more than the NYTimes.
My husband flies in and out of Iraq every week.

There are still occasional bombings, but Iraqis can now walk the streets in most Provinces. It’s more stable than it’s been since the war began.
Get your facts straight.

Afghanistan? Now THAT is unstable.

In Obama’s world we no longer have an adversary unless you consider it Fox News. I agree with your statement pre-Obama.

Thank you Tammy, I appreciate it. Here is a little video, of the real faces, these are some of the soldiers, our children. My son’s group, doing the Currahee run this year, which is the 101st-only air assault unit for the Army.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb1jeJSK-14

Real people, real faces, real families. I am proud and I will do everything I can to support them, we families have the courage even if the president does not, or congress, or anyone for that matter, we have to. The 101st Airborne Division — the “Screaming Eagles”—
They come in at about the last 30 seconds.

Historically, the screaming Eagles are The 101st Airborne Division — the “Screaming Eagles”— is a U.S. Army modular infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for action during the Normandy Landings and in the Battle of the Bulge. During the Vietnam War, the 101st Airborne Division was redesignated first an airmobile division, then later as an air assault division. For historical reasons, it retains the “Airborne” tab identifier, yet does not conduct parachute operations at a division level. Many modern members of the 101st are graduates of the U.S. Army Air Assault School, and wear the Air Assault Badge, but it is not prerequisite for assignment to the division. The division’s headquarters are at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is the only U.S. Army division with two aviation brigades. It is one of the most decorated divisions in the U.S. Army.

I was a complete neocon until my second daughter was born in 2006 and I voted for Bush twice. I used to be very prowar but at some point you have realize that war for the sake of war does not benefit anyone. The war in Afghanistan and the number of children and civilians who have been killed there breaks my heart.

Thank you Portia, our family appreciates your kind thoughts. I am feeling lost today.

Not that anyone ever said I was, but to be clear;I have never been a neo-con and was a very vocal opponent to the war, however, I support my soldiers,and I don’t want anyone’s children dying civilian or military, period. Supporting our military does not mean support of a war, however, you do not sit and pretend as CIC, allowing your military to be abandoned and forgotten about. Anyone who has been killed because of Al Qaeda breaks my heart.

perhaps he is trying to appease his base (the far loony left)

or maybe they’ve actually GOT something on him and have threatened to USE it if he sends more troops

although I’m surprised they didn’t do it sooner

when I was stationed in S. Korea the President was shot – for quite some time we were so sure it was an attack from the North when in truth it turned out to be HIS OWN body guard (disgruntled)!

don’t piss off your base (or your body guards, I guess) lol

It was a hodgepodge of words, 33% of which were “um” “credible” “process” and “legitimate”. No wonder The Obama blathers on incoherently. Look at his people.

Can you imagine being a fly on the wall in the oval office during a meeting?

Lets discuss, um, a process that, um, is credible and legitimate.

Let me be clear, we, um, need a legitimate and, um, credible process soon-ish.

The legitimate process is producing clarity with our, um, partners in this, um, context.

The die was cast when Bush invaded Afghanistan. We can’t turn back the clock or engage in wishy-washy hand-wringing at this point. Those who elected Bush in the first place have no room to complain and those who voted for That One don’t either. That the war was mismanaged from jump-street doesn’t relieve us of our obligation today and is entirely irrelevant. There is a plan that McChrystal authored and that is the approach we should take.

That One and his poliltical advisorsmiscreants have no business testing the political wind or catering to their base when real soldiers are out there on the battlefield. Those cowards make my skin crawl–they’d rather win reelection than do the right thing. They are human excrement that I hope will be flushed in 2012.

As for the civilian lives lost, perhaps you should place the blame where it lies–on the cowardly terrorists who use civilians as cover. They are the low-life scumbuckets that deserve the criticism.

Just curious as to where some of the posters equate the Taliban with 9/11. I was under the impression that this plot supposedly was conceived basically in Germany and Florida and possibly Arizona by a group comprised of men from Saudi Arabia. There are many, many countries that harbor Al Queda terrorists; are we to invade them all? For starters, maybe we should knock off Florida, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Arizona.

Furthermore, it’s been proven that our presence in Afghanistan has been the major reason the numbers of “troops” joining the Taliban has been increasing dramatically. I don’t know what the answer is, but I think 8 years in an “endless” war is more than enough; we spent only 4 years to settle WWII, which was on a much, much, more massive scale.

At some point our “power” over the rest of the world bought at the point of a sword has be be re-thought. You don’t gain respect and security by killing your neighbors.

I believe he’s thinking of his receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. How hypocritical will it look for him to send tens of thousands of troops to war after getting and award for peace.

Again, just thinking of himself.

Isn’t that the truth?

ohhhh right

I keep trying to FORGET about that NO-WAY er NORWAY travesty

ralphing

Why would That One care. All he would do is say, “I work in mysterious ways”. And while the rest of us would be nauseous, the bots would genuflect and swoon.

I understand that tar and feathers can actually be dangerous to the object of the gesture….

But, what about that rail-out-of-town thing? Is that rail still around?

Might be time to dust it off.

Shit or get off the pot, If ya cannot make up your mind then you cannot Lead, If you won’t listen to your Military Co’s then you cannot follow, If your dead set on everything you say being right and everyone else wrong the you are in the way and won’t get out.
I would advise any young man or woman to steer clear of any Military involvement until a more wiser administration comes into power. These that are there in DC now will just fumble around and get you killed, maimed for nothing.
EXAMPLE: Sailors died on the USS Cole when it was attacked in port, while the POTUS then was getting his winkie waxed.

I haven’t seen ONE comment about the fact that Pakistan has nuclear weapons that are likely to fall into the hands of the taliban/al quaida.

When that happens, we’ll see a very large scale 9/11 at multiple locations. We’re not going to lose Afghanistan and Pakistan, we’re going to lose American cities.

Duck and cover.

There are some in the Obama Administration and also throughout the media who miss the days when our troops came home and were derided and spat upon by U.S. citizens. They want to demoralize and emasculate our armed forces to the point that no-one will want to volunteer for service in our armed forces. they want to see collapse and chaos around the world from the Vacuum left in our absence. They well then turn with full vengeance on U.S. business interests world wide as the new “enemy”. (the old “enemy” of the world being the U.S. military) American businesses will be at fault for the chaos spreading worldwide for not redistributing our wealth and forexploiting the third world. Khadafi said it perfectly;”We will destroy America from within”

I suspect the same strategy — withdrawl as a reaction to increased military casualties, instead of a surge. But unfortunately it won’t be a clean and quick withdrawl since this POTUS is the Ditherer in Chief.

How quickly we forget. If war is waged, wage it wholeheartedly with the intention to win. My heart goes out to those with family serving in Afghanistan. They are sitting ducks as long as this POTUS equivocates. Ferd and Katmoon — your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

This Still-Voting-Present/Wants-It-Both-Ways POTUS isn’t ready for Prime Time. He’s a minor league player. He’s no deeper than the cardboard cutout of his image. He’s not fixing anything at home or abroad. The next POTUS will have to clean up an even bigger mess than this one’s whining about.

The one thing we don’t need in the WH is a President who appears weak and indecisive. This does not bode well for anyone.

Maybe we need to start reshowing all the graphic images of 9/11… Then you can whine for all the Afghan women and children… WE are NOT the enemy… http://www.frugalsites.net/911/attack/

And BTW… -> Freedom isn’t FREE!

yeah. i can’t tell you how many times i have heard obama preface some opaque, jargon-addled nuspeak effusion with “let me be clear”…

it’s so annoying.

At some point our “power” over the rest of the world bought at the point of a sword has be be re-thought. You don’t gain respect and security by killing your neighbors.

You don’t get it from bending over and taking it up the a&&& either…

but will Iraq stay stablised if all the countries around it are under taliban control ? And do the administration have ideas about these wars or economy or anything else, that they take a firm stand on? Hell, we are worried about our country just think what others nations we involved with think about their survival after we dither around.

what has OB stayed true to his “promises or plans”, since he became president?

war for the sake of war does not benefit anyone.

Heather, This not just for the frakin fun out it.
This country was attacked. You honestly think that? Yikes.

Emanuel had to go Uh…Uh…UH because he isn’t allowed to use his normal gutter language on national TV.

This a$$ministration lost the armed forces over the weekend. I spent last night from 9 PM on reading military blogs, and “shame, shame” on our government seemed to be the universal theme there.

Pakistan, will most likely put on a sham show for a week or 2 in South Warizstan province. Then the army will take our US Billions and pad their own pockets.

AQ Khan is running loose, and has an ego and narcissistic problem equal to or greater than Obama. Third world countries with nuclear bombs ought to really justify Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize.

I am so disgusted/disheartened, I am fantasizing about a solar system with relatively sane people, and wondering how long it will take before we can relocate.

equate the Taliban with 9/11.

The Taliban were invited to Houston and shown the carret and stick. Hand over OBL and you get a piece of the pipeline. They refused.

Next.

Who are harboring Al Qaeda, Buster? Answer that and you’ll get it. If you don’t know the answer, then you have no business posting here.

This goes far beyond “doing a Rumsfield”.

Thes IGITS give new meaning to “on the cheap”.

I thought the Generals “report” was about as clear as one can make it regarding the situation in Afghanistan. Afghans will vote with their feet first and purple thumbs second.

I’m really looking forward to seeing Air Force One land on an aircraft carrier

AF-1 is a bit *too* large to land on an aircraft carrier. If That One can pull it off, then he’s got some pull in some very high places. Trust me, he doesn’t.

How quickly we forget. If war is waged, wage it wholeheartedly with the intention to win.

Indeed. We should have turned Afghanistan into a parking lot in 2001. Had the military been allowed to perform their mission without interference (e.g., Rumsfeld), we might have been done well before now. That’s where the Bush, the Elder got it right and Bush, the Dumber got it wrong.

Totally agree.

In addition to loss of trust in the US government, we have also made it extremely more dangerous, if not impossible, for our intelligence forces to have any credibility in other countris, or for armed services special forces to do their jobs.

We are now a de facto third world country! Was that this administrations hidden goal after all??

Larry, it appears that the US is losing the Great Game without hardly trying.

Double Ditto!

Katmoon,

I truly feel so bad for you. Isn’t their some way for them NOT TO GO, by saying to the effect, they don’t have a Commander In Chief who knows how to lead, or some variation thereof?

Dodging the issue, running for cover, just plain blinking, or cowering is this administration’s answer.

Perpetually it seems on EVERY issue!

The women and children will continue to be killed there when we leave. They will have acid thrown in their faces for minor offenses. They will be suject to “honor” killings. They will have no rights. Their very souls will wither and die.

Until we fight wars FOR women and children, we will never have peace. The Taliban are evil, and not because they are Muslim. They are as evil as the witch burners in the Dark Ages and early Middle Ages. They harbored the people who created 9/ll. Because Bush didn’t focus on Afghanistan, as he should have, and created the debacle that became the Iraq War is a different situation.

Obami has the opportunity of doing something right, but he is Mr. Waffle/Waffle. Wasn’t that the characteristic that caused so much trouble for Kerry?

Up is down, right is left, in is out, black is white. I have to learn a whole knew way of thinking and talking.

Heather,

I sincerely hope you have some very very close friends and relatives over in AFPAK theater right now.

Do your empty brain a favor, and actually READ about the atrocities suffered by the Russian soldiers. I have no doubt you can find something comprehensible written at the 7th grade level so you do not become overwhelmed.

And the word from Michael Yon: This war CAN be won.

He should know. He’s been an inbed over in Iraq and Afghanistan since these wars began, and he doesn’t work for any “news”(cough) agency.

Obama is a coward.
Michael Yon and our soldiers are heroes.

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MjI1NjRiNDc1OGRmZjBjYTMwMGY1ZDU0NTVhNGU3NzU=

Doc,

Sadly, I believe you are right! And just a month before the holiday season starts. My heart breaks for Katmoon, and all those with loved one there.

And the atrocities coming against the Afgan woman are going to be horrible.

It doesn’t have to be an either/or situation, which seems to be beyond a lot of people’s comprehension.

Do your own damn homework, Buster – or would that be too much to ask? IF you don’t, then you have no business posting here – although you seem to think you own the place.

I wrote a comment about that above.

Unfortunately, I think you are right.

Teak,

As usual right on. What really frightens me, is that Afgans now realize we are leaving.

The ones in the villages have seen this reality show before, and I do not think they are going to treat our troops very well from this point on.

I think it’s a part of the administration’s policy of Hide Under the Bed and Hope It Goes Away. I hope they’ve at least considered the implications of ignoring the ticking doomsday clock.

I would wish so also, However the Narcissistic ego lives in LA LA land and I somehow how doubt thinking things thru is a skill these clowns have.

They tell us ad nauseum on a daily basis that THEY already know all the answers. The rest of us peasants are supposed to just shut up and follow along.

Out of curiosity, I googled Al Qaeda bases and found the following:
“Taliban and Al Qaeda seem to have quietly expanded their recruiting base from South and Central Asia to European nations like Germany, UK and France and even to the US, with many of the new recruits traveling to Pakistan and Afghanistan for terror training.”

Also they have bases or groups in Pakistan, of course, Indonesia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Mali, Syria, and many of the “Stans.” Not to mention Algeria, Somalia, and many other African nations. To spend all our time chasing Taliban in Afghanistan seems futile. What is needed is strong international police work bolstered, when necessary, by the military, but to conduct “military campaigns” like the old days is, IMHO, never going to work against a group like this. It worked so well in Viet Nam, didn’t it? It worked in Iraq against a more conventional, but vastly weaker Iraqi army, but not so good when the campaign turned in fighting “insurgents,” whatever that is. But we never seem to learn.

We play right into the military-industrial complex’s hands.

yes yes yes

BTW, it wasn’t Obama who surrendered Afghanistan; it was GW CHIMPY, when he pulled out troops to illegally invade Iraq.

he should just pull out all the troops, wait for the taliban and alquada to come back, set up camp, and then bomb the hell out of them! oh wait..then he may have to return that phony nobel peace prize.

dont be surprised to hear soon that now that we no longer have a war to finance, oops, they just found the money to pay for govt. healthcare. how convenient.

Reality seems beyond your comprehension…

Gosh!!! You best let all our Generals in theater know that you can GOOGLE all the facts!!! F! And to think you actually have to be there??!!

You’re an idiot donjo…

GIVE IT A REST!!! Barky is responsible now…

You’re the one who asked the stupid question.–and you got the answer you deserved, Chester. The Taliban harbored Al Qaeda. If you think that means they’re innocent, then you’re as bad as any obamabot I’ve ever seen.

Donjo is terminally obtuse.

Michel Wier made this point in a piece for CNN.

From all the Afghans he spoke with, he indicated the majority of them were “fence sitting”, unwilling to commit to US overtures, unless it was followed with a long term commitment.

The Army Captain he was shadowing said he had the same interactions with “the local”.

They ask him “How long is the US going to stay?”
The captain could not make any promises beyond 18 months.
With Afghanistan being subjected to 30+ years of war, 18 months is nothing. I seriously doubt BO understands that his decision to bail means that women will be once again shot in public executions. If BO and his supporters want that blood on their hands, they can go to hell for it.

Why is it Nellie, that BO Industries Inc. can’t focus on the devestating past that was the Taliban? Have they forgotten? Do they not get that Freedom once experienced dies a horrible death at the hands of a Tyrant?

This is one more example of the indifference that is BO. He is given clear and convincing ways to a path of a chance of success, and he blows it off.

Next they are going to to do a Biden “Iraq” plan and partition Afghanistan.

I think “monkey” attribute is far to kind. They are chickenshit cowards, who will not think twice about the selling out the blood of Afghans, nor American or NATO personnel. If the lesson that the Jihadist learn is that we cut and run and all they are required to do is wait us out with roadside bombs and the like, the country is screwed and we WILL be attacked sooner than letter.
Here is a question for anyone; While Pakistan fights the Taliban on it’s side of the border are we doing anything to bottle them up in a co-ordinated manner with tha Pakistanis? I have not read anything that would indicate this.
(Don’t mean to rant, but BO is a very dangerous fool.)

I actually found myself momentarily wishing for a military coup.

Portia, I did too. I trust our US military (not the 0zer0 national police) before the current administration…actually before any of the politicians in office now. Let’s hope it can be a bloodless coup through the ballot box. Last year, the military was behind McCain to around 68%; let’s hope this next election will be 100% against 0zer0 and take the majority out of their hands. It’s too dangerous for one party to control all three bodies plus the press.

donjo, it is BO CHIMPY now.

mmm mmm mmm. Two girls? Are their burkas ready?

Chimpy is no longer POTUS–Your dingbat is. You own him, the wars, and the repercussions that will come when he proves to be the failure I predict he will be.

Katmoon: My uncle was with the 101st Airborne during WWII and wounded during the Battle of the Bulge. He was forever proud of his participation and after the war, built and raced Hydroplanes, at one time breaking the world’s record for his class. All of his boats were named “The Screamin’ Eagle”. After becoming a father at 40, he stopped racing but continued designing and building boats. He passed away a couple of years ago…lived a great life.

This goes far beyond “doing a Rumsfield”.

Not really. Had Rummy done what needed to be done in Afghanistan in the first place, i.e., ignoring that buffoon Dickweed Cheney and counseling the President to fight one war at a time and go big, we’d be doing something else now besides discussing a war that should have been over long ago. The previous administration took their eye completely off the prize, even going as far to say that bin Laden had been “marginalized”.

I will quickly add that this isn’t to say our current resident buffoon in the WH is doing any better–he isn’t. By the end of That One’s only term, we will have been led for 12 years by incompetent m o r o n s who never should have been elected in the first place.

You rock, sjc-tx!

Thanks, that was kind. It seems responses that try to be at least somewhat informative are to be typically met with scorn or smart-ass remarks. Sort of like a junior Daily Kos.

I’m not here to call people names – especially someone I don’t even know and, frankly, don’t care to know. At least offer me the same courtesy.

Thanks for the info. However, I don’t think even this present douche-bag-in-chief can be held responsible for creating this mess.

what needed to be done in Afghanistan.
Thats like counting stars. A lOT.

Rumsfield managing the conflict in that country was done remotely, from great distance, with a “screwdriver”. BO is just leaving out the “driver” part.

I recall Rumsfield whining that it did not make sense to expend a 1k bomb to just disturb a section of rocks and dirt. He was told that they needed real resourses to support Afghanistan, but that he didn’t do nation building. Yet it was DOD that went to considerable effort to keep the State Deptment out of the ground effort. They did this in Iraq as well.
BO is a train wreck and I am not a willing Casey Jones.

No matter who is to blame for the past, the bots elected this incompetent to FIX what was done wrong.

In fact, as we all feared, he has made every issue worse from the military engagements to the economy and healthcare. He has the lowest language skills of any president in memory…”guys”, “mess”, “I’m just gettin’ started”…the Pop President. But then, we didn’t expect much from the middle finger, 99 problems and a bitch ain’t one of them, vulgar neophyte.

I served in the Army under Rummy in the 70s, Teak, and he was an idiot then, trying to run things remotely. And with Al “I’m in Charge Here” Haig as the Commanding General of NATO, we who were just this side of the East German border had our hands full. I even saw Haig once–he was a strutting little bantam rooster. I really liked Gerald Ford but he had a lot of dummies in his Administration.

Lost a comment here. Apparently calling Donald Rumsfeld an i d i o t got the comment placed in purgatory.

donjo, I am always curious at the use of the term “we”, when it is not clear to whom “we” refers to. I didn’t vote for Bush or BO. So who is we?

It is pure BS to say BO “inherited” Bushes war. He knew the gig when he ran for the office. So when the manchild BO, makes excuses like you do and blames Bush, you do a dis-service to those who this country has sent in harms way. To them who serve, it is the same shit on a different day. I see no difference of the soldier who asked Rummy “Dude, Where’s my armor” and having to resort to dumpster diving for armor or the request that the General made for more boots and support.

OWN your liar and quite blaming the last one.

Rumsfield is an IDIOT>. There I said.

Good Lord. What a tool.

Ferd, I tried to say Rummy was an IGIT too and it got the same treatment.

RUMMY is a god

RUMMY is a god

ROFLMAO! He is, he is!

He’s not my liar, as I despise the “man.” However to seriously argue that 0 created this mess pushes the edge of credulity. Do I trust 0 to do the right thing? I guess that depends on your definition of “right.”

When I say “we,” I guess it means the citizens of the United States that allow this b.s. to continue – to the detriment of the foot soldier who suffer and to the benefit of those who enjoy ownership in stock of the companies that comprise the MIC.

Now, did Bush pull troops out of Afghanistan to start his war in Iraq or not?

So, anyone who disagrees with your highness is obtuse? I take that as a complement, coming from you. However, downriver I see a post of yours that I actually agree with. But then what do you expect from someone who is obtuse.

Rahm makes no sense. He says the key question is whether we have an Afghan partner.

I think the key question is: is this war in our vital national security interest? If not, get out! if yes, then our policy can’t depend on Karzai getting his act together — though that obviously would be optimal.

Complaining about Karzai is like complaining about the rough terrain. How does war depend on having optimal conditions? Rahm’s saying ‘Karzai sucks, so the mission is too tough, so pull out.’

I doubt fighting the U.S. military for 8 years has been a walk in the park for the Taliban, yet I don’t see them backing down.

I’m so sorry to hear that, Katmoon. I have sons [of course, daughters go, too, these days]. But if any of my kids were deployed or waiting for deployment, I’d feel just as you do. Heartsick.

I’d love to know what the military brass feels about this decision in the making/unmaking. I tend to think they’re not real happy. And for the families who have lost their own over the last 8 years? I can only imagine the angst, the anger.

This will not end well.

“the Pop President.”

I love it!

“But then, we didn’t expect much from the middle finger, 99 problems and a bitch ain’t one of them, vulgar neophyte.”

Well said.

Ferd, I never had a problem with routing out Osama and his henchmen and hanging them from meat hooks. I don’t care what country we had to invade to catch these suckers. They deserved anything and everything they got

I never supported the U-turn in Iraq. That was Bush’s war for whatever reason. Afghanistan might have been winnable early on but I’ve heard military guys say that it would take a good 15 years to get our arms around the present situation.

I think few Americans are willing to sign on for that. And we’ve lost more lives in the ongoing wars than we did in the original attacks.

Years ago, I remember reading a statement from Osama while he was fighting against the Soviets. He said he and his crew would bankrupt the Soviets; that was their goal.

Well, they succeeded. And look where the US is today after years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. For all practical purposes, we’re also bankrupt.

The question is: who won? And where, oh where is Osama Bin Laden? Wherever he is, he’s probably laughing his ass off.

My problem with Obama are his statements six months ago that Afghanistan was a “war we couldn’t afford to lose.”

But now we can? This man’s indecision and confusing positions could easily get us all killed.

He wanted the mess, talked about the mess, and ultimately lied about the mess. He does own it. That all the of That One’s supporters suddenly want to excuse him now is disingenuous at best.

I believe he got that Afganistan assignment the same time he started campaigning (silly me, when does he STOP campaigning?) Every time I heard that excuse, I always thought – then why don’t you step down and let someone else have that assignment, so someone can do some work on the problems!!! But of course, he only took it for his “resume”, words on a paper, no work required.

Didn’t Nixon say something like that, too? “I want to be perfectly clear”….. or similar?

he may be a “Weinee”, but he mails a BIG fish lol

Somehow one gets the feeling that Obama has already made a deal with the “moderate” Taliban that includes the removal of Karzai.

You guess? I take your meaning donjo, but there is no arguement that Bush pulled resourses from Afghanistan that had very severe consequences at many levels. The irony about that is, the military had been tasked with fighting two wars concurrently, (at least that is what was pushed) and the troops required for Tora Bora were shunted to Iraq.

It is still pure BS to say BO “inherited” Bush’s war. It’s an excuse for weak minded people to not take the responsility required of the office. He ran for the office, he asked for the job, with many lining up behind him blinded to his fraudulent ways and lake of any relevent experience.

You despise the “man”? Is that the measure of it? Why did you place the word ‘man’ in quotes? Because he isn’t one or because it’s the idea of Obama?

Thank you for that link, Katmoon, and if your kids go to the Middle East send me their addresses so I can send them some comforts from home.
I am a supporter of soldiers angels and have 18 adoptees so far.
I love our soldiers and military men and women more than I love civilians at this point.

Your children are the real heroes of this country.
The men and women who sacrifice their lives for honor and duty and love of country.
God Bless them and God Bless YOU.
And God Bless this Country!!!

There is no “moderate” Taliban.
Read ONE book about the Middle East.
How about starting with “What Went Wrong” by Bernard Lewis, a Middle East Historian.

Everyone here is an idiot, trying to give their two cents about war when NONE of you have been in it!
My husband has been over there(back and forth) for SIX YEARS!!!!!

Just LEARN something about the culture of the MIddle East and about the extremists. THEN make a statement that you think is intelligent.
Until then, just shut UP.

I read this and just got a sick feeling in my stomach. Ugh!

While emphasizing that the military was achieving its targets ahead of schedule, General Abbas did acknowledge that Taliban militants — whose numbers he estimated to be 5,000 to 10,000, along with 1,000 foreigners — were putting up stiff resistance.

Troops managed to secure the northern Sherwangi area after an intense battle. “After heavy fighting, a number of terrorists were killed and their positions captured,” General Abbas said.

.

Ya think NATO would be working the other side offensively but is reported in the Media? (shhh!)

The Pakistanis, however, aren’t attacking Taliban and other militants who’re attacking U.S., Afghan and NATO forces in Afghanistan .

Abbas confirmed that Pakistani authorities have an “understanding” with two Taliban factions based in Waziristan, led by warlords Maulvi Nazir and Gul Bahadur, who’re fighting in Afghanistan , not in Pakistan .

“There was an understanding with them that they will not interfere in this war,” Abbas said. “There is always a strategy to isolate your main target.” He added that people “sometimes have to talk to the devil in this regard.”
The U.S. has provided Pakistan with night-vision devices and other equipment, but a senior American defense official told McClatchy on Monday that the U.S.-led international force in Afghanistan isn’t directly supporting or coordinating with the Pakistani operation, merely “observing.”

.

Walid Phares
Taliban’s War on Pakistan: Lessons to draw, options to pursue

c. The Obama Administration must rapidly extend resources to General McCrystal in Afghanistan so that the pincer movement against the regional Taliban can happen at the same time. Now that the Pakistanis are on the offensive in Waziristan, NATO and Afghan forces must take the offensive on the other side of the border. The Taliban must not be enabled to fight one adversary at a time, by massing all their resources in two countries against one foe then move to the next.

.

Today, National Security Network Senior Adviser Gen. Paul Eaton (Ret.), who served more than 30 years in the United States Army and from 2003-2004 oversaw the training of the Iraqi military, responded to Dick Cheney’s accusations on Afghanistan from last night:

“The record is clear: Dick Cheney and the Bush administration were incompetent war fighters. They ignored Afghanistan for 7 years with a crude approach to counter-insurgency warfare best illustrated by: 1. Deny it. 2. Ignore it. 3. Bomb it. While our intelligence agencies called the region the greatest threat to America, the Bush White House under-resourced our military efforts, shifted attention to Iraq, and failed to bring to justice the masterminds of September 11.

“The only time Cheney and his cabal of foreign policy ‘experts’ have anything to say is when they feel compelled to protect this failed legacy. While President Obama is tasked with cleaning up the considerable mess they left behind, they continue to defend torture or rewrite a legacy of indifference on Afghanistan. Simply put, Mr. Cheney sees history throughout extremely myopic and partisan eyes.

“As one deeply invested in the Armed Forces of this country, I am grateful for the senior military commanders assigned to leading this fight and the men and women fighting on the ground. But I dismiss men like Cheney who inject partisan politics into the profound deliberations our Commander-in-Chief and commanders on the ground are having to develop a cohesive and comprehensive strategy, bringing to bear the economic and diplomatic as well as the military power, for Afghanistan — something Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld never did.

“No human endeavor can be as profound as sending a nation’s youth to war. I am very happy to see serious men and women working hard to get it right.”

http://www.nsnetwork.org/node/1442