Can any here who support the president's last escalation in Afghanistan can tell me what we gained?

[bigtree]

And, what are we gaining by dragging our feet now? Specifically with a concrete example, if you would.

[dschis]

1. Vietnam

[babylonsister]

2. YOU piss me off. His last escalation? Whatever will you do if we

flee Afghanistan? We're talking 10 months in office, not 8 fucking years.

If/when we flee, will that make you happy?

Who is dragging their feet vs. making a learned, knowledgeable decision on what will be done?

:nuke:

What will be your next big deal, bigtree?

Ugh.

I love that our President is so thoughtful about the fate of so many people.

[LakeSamish706]

4. But he is to slow in making a very important decision.... There are many other countries...

that are loosing loved ones in both Afghanistan and Iraq.... Lets get on with a very real decision here.... As we wait, there are lives being lost in both conflicts.

I'm sorry, but I thought that one of his first things to do would have been to get the hell out of both Iraq and Afghanistan..... The Russians will tell you (and many others) that Afghanistan can never be a war that can be won.

[babylonsister]

13. You have no clue what Obama said in the primaries.

He said he'd get out of Iraq by 2011, and Afghanistan was the fight we needed to fight.

You are too slow in realizing reality.

So he's not slow in anything. He's doing what dim son never did. He's considering all the alternatives, and the weight of that is weighing him down. As a prez, that's unfortunately the way that goes. I'm glad his compassion will be a factor.

[LakeSamish706]

30. I honestly don't care what he said in the Primaries... We are on the ground and running...

The war (or whatever it is supposed to be called, I don't think war, I think maybe GW Bush's WAR ON TERROR, whatever the hell that means) needs to come to an end now! It is not winnable, (ask the Russians) and we cannot save a country that has no desire in having us there.... This Iraq/Afghanistan thing is a figment of the Bush mis Administration. Obama better get his head on straight and get the hell out of both... ASAP.

[dschis]

6. The military

is used to getting it's way. Normally that would work, but I think Gem Powell is whispering in his ear and I trust him more.

He probably told them it isn't good enough. If it were me I would begin a withdrawal I told people a long time ago that place and Iraq for that matter would make Vietnam look like a playground. Someone didn't read their history books.

In a guerrilla war, a determined enemy will defeat you strategically no matter what kind of toys you have.

Ask the Brits and Ottomans and the Soviets

[bigtree]

17. geez. get ahold of yourself

Do you really believe the president disapproves of questions about his actions? If you don't want to answer the question, fine, but I don't know why you insist on knocking on my motives here. I'm clearly against any further action there and you are clearly in favor of just letting the president have his way. Or, are there ANY questions you have about the effectiveness of his decisions? First the defenses of the president were that he's not made a decision. Now you seem to want to shut off debate over actions he's already taken. Good luck with that.

[Subdivisions]

3. I don't know what we gained, but...

I do know what we've lost.

[pennylane100]

5. Could you pin down the date of his last escalation

I need a little more context to answer that question.

[bigtree]

18. here

Wed February 18, 2009

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Barack Obama has approved a significant troop increase for Afghanistan, Pentagon officials said Tuesday.

The new troop deployment is expected to include 8,000 Marines from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as well as 4,000 additional Army troops from Fort Lewis, Washington.

"This increase is necessary to stabilize a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, which has not received the strategic attention, direction and resources it urgently requires," Obama said in a written statement.

"The Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan, and al Qaeda supports the insurgency and threatens America from its safe haven along the Pakistani border."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/17/obama.troops/index.html

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. A crop of born-again hawks who used to be anti-war...sort of.

[dschis]

8. And break our country while they are it

[FLAprogressive]

9. they're anti-war when it's convenient

[Mari333]

19. If Bush was still in office

people would be up in arms right now and marching against the occupations.
Instead, too many are blindly following partyline and not thinking for themselves.

both wars need to end, and the people who started them need to be held accountable.

I doubt I will see anyone held accountable for torture and war crimes , its still a good old boys network in DC.

and anyone who supports either of these occupations in any way is a scumsucking chickenhawk.

[LakeSamish706]

10. Reality is, we do not yet have an escalation in Afganistan announced.....

It is just a mater of time until we do... I hope we don't see this happen....

[bigtree]

16. The first escalation, not the one pending.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/17/obama.troops/index.html

[EmeraldCityGrl]

11. There will be extreme faux outrage from the Right

if he decides to bring the troops home. We all know another terrorist attack is possible if not likely and Obama will
forever be blamed for "cutting and running." He'll be called a coward, and worse. How militant could the armed forces
be if the decision is unpopular there? There are so many ways this could blow up it hurts my brain to think about it.

And those bastards Bush and Cheney leaving this in his lap makes me so angry I could rip their hearts out.

[Le Taz Hot]

20. Well, by all means,

now that "we" have the presidency, the Congress and the Senate, let's just allow the right wing whackos to CONTINUE to determine policy 'cause we're too a-skeered of what the lunatics might say. Yeah, good governing there, President Change.

[SammyWinstonJack]

24. It's okay if Obama does it.

:silly: Why is that? :shrug:

[Bonobo]

12. Anti-Kerry OP, check. Anti-Obama OP, check.

Time for an OP praising our SOS I think!

[babylonsister]

14. Yes. The OP insists he doesn't do this, but he does. nt

[Bonobo]

15. I love this entry from the OP's blog!

Saturday, August 25, 2007
Robbing Us Blind from FEMA to Iraq
From FEMA to Iraq, the president and his right-wing pied-mynas have done nothing but attend to their own pocketbooks at the expense of everyone in their path. It's clear they're still confident they can manipulate this administration and their republican enablers in Congress to continue to do their bidding.

[bigtree]

23. By the way that 'blog' entry of mine is an article of mine about BUSH

. . . from ****2007****

[FLAprogressive]

27. epic fail

[bigtree]

22. this is just ignorant

What you want is NO dissent. That's fascism.

[Karmadillo]

29. There you go again making fascism sound like a bad thing. Just stop it and join the hive.

You'll feel better and we'll feel better.

[bigtree]

21. So you think I should post what you want to read

I've made my share of positive Obama posts, but I am OPPOSED to his military stance and policy regarding Afghanistan. That's a perfectly legitimate stance which is consistent with my anti-war efforts here since 2003. What a crock to suggest that ANYONE opposed to his war prove their loyalty to the WH just to please tender sensibilities.

But this is just for you (and another member here who needs stroking)

I still carry my first article after the election on the front of the website I maintain: http://www.returningsoldiers.us

Validating Our Hopes and Dreams

THE election of Barack Obama will be a validation of hope. It will be an affirmation of the hope of millions of voters, including many who have never believed in the political system before - some old enough to remember when there were very real barriers to their participation.

The value of his election will be a suspension of apathy for many; hopefully, enough to spark the kind of attention to the workings of our political system that we will need to motivate our legislators into action and to effect the changes we're seeking.

{snip}

In Barack Obama's hands is the task of restoring, not only prosperity at home, but, peace abroad. His unswerving focus on harnessing the power of the American people by challenging us to believe in our own roles in the disposition of our government will be extremely important if he can manage to translate that hope and belief into action and initiative.

For now, though, Barack Obama has most eloquently and effectively captured our attention with his inclusive and inspiring campaign. That may well be his most enduring and constructive contribution to our democracy.


support for the president on this board:
just for you:

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more . . . (just search bigtree - obama) That's better than just imagining how I feel about the president (or just plain making it up to suit whatever agenda YOU are pushing here.)

[ipaint]

25. Not one answer to your question but plenty of personal/loyalty attacks.

The teabaggers are good at that tactic, too.

[MadHound]

26. Pipeline concessions, bumper opium crops

Otherwise, death, destruction, and the downfall of this country.

[timeforpeace]

28. a) It never happened, and b) if it did you weren't supposed to notice.