CBS News: President Obama is giving Gen. McChrystal nearly all the additional troops he wants

[FLAprogressive]

Source: Breaking News Online

CBS News sources: President Obama is giving Gen. McChrystal nearly all the additional troops he wants in Afghanistan.

Read more: http://twitter.com/BreakingNews/status/5572373318

---

From a BNO tweet....

hooray for more war mongering. go team.

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. Damn.

I had hoped he would agree to dial it back. :(

[FLAprogressive]

2. I had hoped for many things. So far very litte has come to fruition.

[KakistocracyHater]

30. like I always say: BERLIN FOOD DROP

'nuf said

[lefty369]

52. 40,000 more + they are staying LONGTERM.

So much for CHANGE.

Obama is looking like Bush on steroids.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Obama is goose stepping into the path that LBJ followed in Vietnam

Nothing but more graves in our national cemeteries.

[Ruby the Liberal]

7. And as history repeats itself, we can see the inevitable conclusion.

[polichick]

9. I thought he was smarter than this. nt

[IndianaGreen]

17. Vietnam was brought to us by the best and the brightest of our generation

We see the same hubris at play here. The gods save us from those that believe in American Exceptionalism.

[polichick]

20. "American Exceptionalism" - I was really disappointed...

...to hear the words come out of this president's mouth when he said he believes in it.

I hope there's a progressive challenger in 2012 - I'm sick of this shit.

[Duende azul]

49. Wow, where did he say that?

[Igel]

66. Well, he said it.

But not all quotes mean what they seem to mean.

He believed in American exceptionalism just as people in other countries believe in theirs--and he rattled off a short list of countries chosen for no obvious reason. I think Greece was in there. I forget the others, the details aren't significant. In context, the meaning was clear: Belief in American exceptionalism is really just routine pride in one's country's greatness--even, presumably, if you live in Kosovo or Macedonia, Equatorial Guinea or the Comoros--and has no actual meaning unless taken to mean that your country is really more exceptional than any other. Then it's bad.

Of course, Obama's redefinition guts the traditional meaning of American exceptionalism, which is precisely that America is exceptional when compared to other countries.

[SoCalDem]

57. Viet Nam was fought by "our generation", but not "brought by" it

Eisenhower was born in 1890
Kennedy in 1917
Johnson in 1908

a 19 yr old swept up in the chaos would have been born in 45-onward, That generation would go on to have little or no control of much until way into the 80's & 90's...although many of the WWII era men held tightly onto the reins of control for a very long time, due to the gains in life expectancy and gains in elder health care. Many of the Boomer era, never GOT to be in control of much at all, beyond their own family units..

[bikingaz]

60. yep by another politician who believed he would make a difference

Too many yes men in the midst and not enough people to tell him the unvarnished truth.

[joeycola]

12. +1

[girl gone mad]

27. Like LBJ, minus the spine on social and economic issues. n/t

[lefty369]

53. So sad, but why do so many Americans sign up for this

1000 bases in 153 foreign countries. What kind of people sign up for this?

[1776Forever]

64. In my sons cases -

They felt it was an honor to serve our country since their father was a Korean Vet and their Grandfather was a WW1 Vet. Their Dad was totally disabled & we had very little money with 5 kids to raise so this has helped them get their careers off the ground with the training they received. We all should realize someone must defend this country and without the Military we would be overrun. It is the policies that they have to serve under that is in question, not the men and women in uniform!

[Orwellian_Ghost]

71. Economic refugees

Create an economic crisis and make false promises and it's easy to get troops into the military.

And on a related note create an economic disaster in the occupied lands and you can buy off many of the locals for a proxy force.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. You could see this coming weeks ago when the British leaked it.

[Journeyman]

5. Well, nothing different here than what I expected in 2004 et seq. . .

[Coyote_Bandit]

6. Not

the change I voted for......

[Duende azul]

48. Well, at least he advocated for this during his campaign.

So this is a promise kept.

Shit.

Remember when lots of DUers defended him on this, telling it was merely rhetorical to appear tough on defense? That the critics please lighten up.
Where are these people now?

Iraq was out of discussion for "tough on defense" because all of his early appeal was based on his opposition to that war.
No one took his statements on Afghanistan and Pakistan seriously and lots of people thought it would never be of much relevance.
It's understandable that in the campaign euphoria many didn't want to take a closer look at the issue.

But what is real tragic about all this: It wouldn't have been necessary during campaign to take such a position. He would have been elected anyways.
There was no need to out"bomb" McCain. Or to outbrave "under sniperfire" Hillary.
Perhaps it was the main purpose to keep her in the race that long to force him to "tougher" positions.

I don't know, what to make of this. Was he merely opportunistic or did he really believe this shit? Or did they force him with threats that aren't public knowledge?
It hurts to see a person you like committing these crimes.
Let's be clear (isn't that one of his preferred phrases?): What happens in Afghanistan and Pakistan are warcrimes committed during an illegal occupation.
If he doesn't end it as soon as logistically possible, he is as guilty as Bush. No way around it.

Regarding the fucking generals: Why didn't they ask Bush for this?

[polichick]

8. Disgusting, if it's true. nt

[Autumn]

10. Yay!!

:puke: Fucking figures.

[tularetom]

11. It won't buy him any republican support if that's what Rahm is hoping for

He's still an Amurka hating Mooslim as far as they are concerned.

[PopSixSquish]

37. Rahm Opposes the Build-up in Afghanistan and Supports VP Biden's Position

but don't let that stop you from slamming him...

[Duende azul]

56. Can you provide a link please?

I only find rumors on this.
I would like to see a statement where Rahm refuses Mc Chrystal's demands.
I would really hate to have one less reason to dislike the guy but if he really opposes the "surge" that could be a first step towards liking him.
So please help me out.

[DebbieCDC]

13. Stupid, just totally stupid

[KamaAina]

14. Remember, he only promised to end the war in *Iraq*

he didn't say anything about Afghanistan. :sarcasm:

[Qutzupalotl]

19. He promised to focus on Afghanistan

and increase troops and resources there. He said it over and over during the campaign.

[IndianaGreen]

22. It won't be his ass that will get shot in Afghanistan

He should be brave with his own hide, not someone else's.

[AtheistCrusader]

32. Quiet you.

Don't bring your 'facts' into this rabble.

(Thank you)

[Divine Discontent]

15. since it's not posted as official yet, I'm still hoping this is not the case because it's so wrong

[pasto76]

16. as you were.

President Obama has taken some steps recently to make this decision personal. Which we never got from Bush.

he is also playing the hand that Bush and Co dealt him. Afghanistan/Pakistan has some very possible very scary outcomes.

As a veteran of these wars, and an opponent of any mroe of MY troops dying, I still trust President Obama to not make decisions flippantly or casually.

War mongering is what Bush did. War mongering is what Cheney and Rummy wanted. President Obama is NOT cut from the same cloth. You can object to a multitude of things, but war mongering this is not.

SGT PASTO

[rug]

29. You say war mongering, I say war making . . . let's call the whole thing off.

[Skittles]

46. the people needlessly dying are still just as fucking dead

these wars STINK

[n2doc]

18. He's a weenie

No guts at all. No change, either, in this case, from W's policies of endless war and "surgin' " But better speeches.

[pokercat999]

21. Obama is a fool. Forget that Iraq and Afghanistan are now

his wars. Forget that he is now a war criminal almost as bad as Bush. I take that back, WORSE than Bush, Obama should at least know better. Forget the continued murder of women and children in Afghanistan and Pakistan by our drone planes.

He's a fool for playing right into the rethugs hands one more time. By giving McKiller ALMOST all the targets he wants he has set himself up to be the fall guy when we fail, as we surely will. They will say and be believed by MOST Americans, that because he shorted the request by several thousand extra targets the loss will be his. The trouble is we are going to lose regardless of the number of targets we send.

There is only one realistic answer, bring everyone home. Start now, tonight, and have it done with 90 days. Equipment that can't be brought home should be destroyed in place, just get our people out, all of them, from everywhere. Lets cut our war budget by 50% this year and another 25% every year after that until we only have a home defense force much like Japan, Sweden, Norway and other civilized countries.

What the fuck is wrong with this country? Are we all crazy?

[polichick]

24. Progressives aren't crazy - but this guy is no progressive...

...and he seems to have lost his mind.

[lefty369]

54. Great post. We must be a crazy country

To keep enabling and supporting this kind of crap.

At what point do we just say "NO MORE!"

[sam sarrha]

23. get out of Afghanistan NOW.. it's much worse than they let on..it's a BLACK HOLE >>links>>

the Muslims are not going to change how they been running the place for the last 1200 years, their Theocratic Oligarchy makes the rules, and the War Lords aren't gonna change to help a bunch of peeons they now profit from by using them as slaves,... it is a Feudal State, they arent going to shame themselves and their clans by doing what an Infadel tells them to do. they will just suck up as much money as we are stupid enough to give them. then turn on us when the sun goes down.

i hoped Obama is wiser than the Generals on this ..but i was wrong.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09084/957975-374.stm#ixzz0VXJIx6Kn
"snip...There is a logic inherent in the current situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan that says clearly to the administration of President Barack Obama, "Don't go any further with this one."

It is simple. It is impossible to fix Afghanistan without fixing Pakistan. It is impossible to fix Pakistan. Thus, Afghanistan is and will remain an impossible sinkhole.

It will, in fact, be the same kind of quicksand for the United States in terms of unwinnability that the Vietnam War was for more than a decade.

The further implication for the Obama administration is that, as was the case with the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson, all of its great objectives to meet the short- and long-term needs of the United States at home will go over the falls as it wrestles to find the resources and energy to contend with an expensive war that it cannot win and does not have the courage to end
..snip

http://www.lewrockwell.com/margolis/margolis20.html
Afghan tribes are taking up arms against their foreign occupiers. I saw this happen during the 1980s, when growing hatred of Soviet occupation forces ignited a national uprising.

[lefty369]

55. I am now starting to think they are just

bringing over the extra troops for coming wars with IRAN/PAKISTAN. All other stories are just noise.

[RedCloud]

25. Does the reich wing even lose ever with Obama in the WH?

Stop kissing their war infested asses to the hilt.

How many progressives has Obama hired? 1/3 of a person so far?

Bush loaded his government with shit faced reich wingers and we still have to put up with that shit?

[Skittles]

44. meet the new boss

[Individualist]

47. +1

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

26. Why not buy the entire poppy crop and start a program to help

farmers with new crops instead?

[pokercat999]

65. For the same reasons we will not help people in our own

country. Where is the money for war profiteers? How can Halliburton, KBR, Raytheon, GE, and the thousands of other military contractors make money if we do something sensible?

Same way we gave banks and wall street trillions in "bailout" payoffs, er, funds. We could have paid off every mortgage in America with the same money and solved the "crisis". Instead our policy of pretend and extend will still bring down the "economy" and it will be worse than it would have been last year.

These people are not stupid. The see the opportunity not only for immense profits but also to maintain control of the US and most of the world.

[Taverner]

28. Jezus FUCK

I hate this shit

:grr:

[phasma ex machina]

31. Somewhere along the way America became the neo British Empire :(

I don't think I can get my country back. Perhaps it only existed in my imagination in the first place.

[dana_b]

33. earning that Peace Prize!

:sarcasm:

[closeupready]

70. Yeah, what a fucking joke that was. Idiots on the Nobel Committee.

Pffft. :mad:

[NecklyTyler]

34. We see the expansion strategy, now show us the exit strategy

Afghanistan displays the characteristics of quicksand. I want to see how we are going to extract ourselves, not how we are going to get in deeper

[Owl]

35. Stupid move.

[Neecy]

36. Well.....

Then let's have this President make a prime-time speech asking Americans to sacrifice and join the goddamn military! It's a crime to be sending the same people back again and again and again. Either that or end these obscene wars and bring these people home.

[phasma ex machina]

42. +1 Those troops on their fifth and sixth rotations need some relief. nt

[totodeinhere]

38. I will wait to see how accurate that report is.

I'm still hoping (maybe against hope) that O will eventually decide not to send any more troops. But if it turns out he does, it will be a big mistake IMO.

[phasma ex machina]

45. This report is indeed acurate. I heard about it months ago.

When hundreds of soldiers got a special Saturday medical exam in my town.

[JudyInTheHeartland]

39. Hope...

[sendero]

40. Surprise, surprise, surprise..

.... Obama fucks up yet again.

[spanone]

41. link...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/09/world/main5592551.shtml

[Karmadillo]

43. I just hope purists don't mess this up by standing on principle.

nt

[Duende azul]

50. Oh sure they will.

They will not acknowledge that this is a step in the right direction.
See, if he doesn't give the general all the soldiers asked for, this is a first step on the way out. Isn't it?

But this logic will never be available to purists.

[moodforaday]

73. There's an old joke

in my country:

Q: How did the skinheads save the old granny's life?
A: They stopped kicking her.

Obama has yet to stop kicking.

[Barack_America]

51. *sigh*

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

58. "Bring it on!" "Smoke 'em out!" Same song, different singer. K&R

[Orwellian_Ghost]

59. What's the surprise

Some of us predicted this would be the case if he was elected.

We also predicted what would occur with AFRICOM.

We also predicted how the Iraq occupation would be reconfigured.

Every single prediction was on point. Tea leaves were not necessary.

[Nikki Stone1]

61. You're surprised? Really?

I figured the military would get what it asked for.

Obama's got no balls.

[donheld]

62. K & R & U

The unrecommend is only a wish. I would love to unrecommend Obama's thread saying he's sending more than
about 10 more troops to Afghanistan. I think he should send the Bushes, Cheney's and Rumsfelds and that's it.

[1776Forever]

63. Not happy with this decision. I have family member that will be going over next year.

I wonder what the "plan" is now. How can we "win" this kind of war? In 2009 these people still live like 1500's. Will they ever want to be "like" us? Was hoping for at least a moderate stance with more Nato involvement.

:shrug:

[piratefish08]

67. This war is now officially the new and improved Vietnam. nt

[excess_3]

68. very very sad .nt

[piratefish08]

69. War spending in 2010 will exceed $190 billion

if indeed the Pentagon seeks-and Congress approves--$50 billion in "emergency" funding. That's more than the $179 billion spent under President Bush in 2008.

http://counterpunch.org/leys11092009.html

[BakedAtAMileHigh]

72. War Is Peace!

have none of these people ever studied history? It is called 'The Graveyard of Empires' for a very good reason......

Now I am sure some sycophant is going to come along and tell us "it's all part of the plan"...kinda like God's plan: you can't know it or question it, so don't bother your little head about the brilliance of Rahm Emmanuel. Pathetic. While our government plays macho asshole, more soldiers and civilians die.