Frontline tonight - Obama's War - 9:00 ET

[slipslidingaway]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/obamaswar/


From this GDP thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8699343&mesg_id=8699343

[slipslidingaway]

1. kick for anyone that might be interested n/t

[spanone]

2. bu$h* has a seven to one ratio of ownership of that war.

[tekisui]

4. Only if you measure by time.

bush has only 2:1 ownership based on troops numbers.

But, Obama has 1:0 ownership based on who is President.

[MissDeeds]

6. Time schmime

This war is a disgrace. And as the Frontline title says, it's now Obama's war. This cannot be won militarily. More bodies on the heap of a tragic misadventure will not right this mess. We need to end this now.

[kenny blankenship]

11. It's not a time share, Comrade.

You want it or you DON'T want it, like a used car. When you buy it and receive keys and title, IT'S ALL YOURS.
Enjoy the ride.

[tekisui]

3. Thanks.

[slipslidingaway]

8. You're welcome - A different view and petition - Rethink Afghanistan

http://rethinkafghanistan.com/

Interview...
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/10/2/rethink_afghanistan_filmmaker_robert_greenwald_launches

"With 100,000 signatures, we will bring this petition to the Capitol and demand that hearings be held on alternatives to war.

After eight years of U.S. military engagement in Afghanistan, violence and instability still prevail. The military approach to Afghanistan is not succeeding; further application of American military force will not bring stability to the country or security to our own.

With over 90 percent of U.S. funding in Afghanistan directed toward military purposes, non-military strategic options are not being pursued. The problems facing Afghan society are economic, social and political in nature, and require economic, social and political solutions. The U.S. can play a more constructive role in Afghanistan by engaging civil society than by waging war.

Congress should begin debate on civilian alternatives to a failed military-based approach to bringing peace and security to the region, starting with Congressional hearings.

Signed ..."


:hi:

[tekisui]

13. Signed!

[slipslidingaway]

14. Thanks, so few signatures :( Next week about the financial crisis...

who knew ... how they silenced Brooksley Born.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooksley_Born

"Born was appointed a member of the CFTC, on April 15, 1994, by President Bill Clinton. While on the commission and after becoming its chair two years later, Born sought comments on the need to regulate derivatives, specifically swaps that are traded at no central exchange, known as the dark market, and thus have no transparency except to the two counter-parties (no actual regulatory scheme was proposed at the time). The request for comments, called the "Concept Release," stated that the growth of trade in derivatives had prompted the CFTC to re-examine its regulatory scheme.<4> The request for comments was opposed by Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan and Treasury Secretaries Robert Rubin and Lawrence Summers.<5> Specifically, on May 7, 1998, former SEC Chairman Arthur Levitt joined the other members of the President’s Working Group – Treasury Secretary Rubin and Federal Reserve Board Chairman Greenspan – in objecting to the issuance of the CFTC’s concept release, in which Born attempted to shed light on the dark market, citing grave concerns about the possible consequences of the CFTC’s action. In particular, these concerns focused on the risk that such discussion would increase legal uncertainty concerning swaps and other OTC derivative instruments and, thus, reduce their value..."

[annm4peace]

19. went to a house party to watch Rethink Afganistan

only 2 of us had been at a protest before. 3 of the 10 people there had never been to anything. All had opposed both invasions.

It is a good documentary and should be on PBS. It shows how many money has been wasted. How many lives and land wasted. Not one more death, not one more dollar.

[slipslidingaway]

22. Thank you and happy to hear that people are at least discussing...

what is happening.

[amborin]

20. just signed; it's at 6,187 now, more signatures needed!

[slipslidingaway]

23. Thanks and they need to update their counter :) n/t

[tekisui]

5. Amazing what the troops go through.

[nightrain]

7. knr, of course!

[slipslidingaway]

10. Thanks and OT ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6750922&mesg_id=6766256

From CBO today, they are only required to give estimates for bills...

that are reported out of committee.

Weiner may have asked for a score, but unless it is reported out of committee or pushed for a score by committee chairs or someone in a position of authority then many times they are not scored.

She said they try and work with members of Congress on other estimates, but even if they did that the estimate would not be published.

They have a staff of 250 and 50 people have been working solely on HC for months.

In summary someone needs to make it a priority for CBO and that has not been done.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

9. i have to wonder

what kind of medical support these marines have. i started watching at 10pm and a marine was killed.

the way that marine was treated makes me wonder if they have any corpsmen with them.

no one called out for the doc, i didn't see any bandages being applied, just one guy slapping the

wounded marine and calling his name and as a former corpsman, that's not how it's done.

[slipslidingaway]

12. Did not look as if there was anyone there with medical training :( n/t

[spaten]

15. throughout this show

they talked about the american military dealing with corruption at all levels in afghanistan and all I could think about was the criminals on wall street in our own country running free.

Then as I listened for the mission goal explained, all I heard was bush's lies repeated and it is obvious that there is no real goal, it is unwinnable, there is no real american interest, there is no justification whatsoever.

[slipslidingaway]

16. There is some justification ...

resource wars, check the map in the link below.


Welcome to DU :)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8699343&mesg_id=8701101


http://areview.co.cc/mfarhanonline/featured/gas-rich-turkmenistan-and-tapi-pipeline-may-bring-peace-to-kabul/

"Gas Pipelines. TAPI, TAP, IPI, IPC, TAPC Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are landlocked nations. They do not have complete control over the utilization of their natural resources, as they are forced to ship their oil and gas via pipelines that run through other countries in order to reach the global market. Whoever controls the pipelines controls the energy they contain, which is vital to a country’s economy and even military strength, as modern militaries, with aircraft, armored vehicles, and gas-powered ships are reliant on oil. The struggle for control of these pipelines is now being waged, quietly but surely, between many countries including Russia, China, Iran, and the United States.<4>

Central Asian oil and gas has historically flowed through Russian pipelines. Of course, maintaining this arrangement will also mean that Russia will receive sizable transit fees as well as have more oil and gas with which to secure greater leverage in international politics. China proposes to build a pipeline of about 3000 km from the Caspian oil fields across Kazakhstan and into China to feed its growing economy. Iran would pump the oil and gas south into its existing network, which would boost its efforts to obtain a regional leadership position in the Middle East. The US, attempting to maintain its position as the world’s sole superpower, but without direct geographic access to the region, would like the oil..."

[LuckyLib]

17. So true. There is no way to win this.

Welcome to DU!:hi:

[Bigmack]

18. Vietnam Redux....

I was there for the first one, and it looks like those Marines are there for the sequel..... "Live Bait II".

Let's just call it Vietghanistan.

[slipslidingaway]

21. Sadly, I think you are right. :( n/t