"Obama is seeking an approach to eventually ending U.S. involvement in Afghanistan"

[babylonsister]

Obama Seeks Afghan War Exit Strategy Tied to Karzai Commitment

By Edwin Chen and Viola Gienger


Nov. 13 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama is seeking an approach to eventually ending U.S. involvement in Afghanistan even as he weighs a possible expansion of the American military role in the conflict, administration officials said yesterday.

“An exit strategy is as important as ramping up troops,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters aboard Air Force One as Obama headed for a trip through Asia. Gibbs echoed comments earlier in the day by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

“How do we signal resolve and at the same time signal to the Afghans as well as to the American people that this isn’t an open-ended commitment?” Gates told reporters traveling with him to Wisconsin, where he visited an Oshkosh Corp. factory that is speeding production of mine-resistant vehicles for the war.

Obama may decide this month whether to grant a request by his commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, to increase the U.S. force of 68,000 by as many as 40,000 personnel next year. The decision has been complicated by allegations of corruption in Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s government and concerns the Afghan leadership may not be able to extend its authority nationwide.

“Our success in Afghanistan is most dependent on the Afghan government being a true partner,” Gibbs said. “It’s time to start a new chapter in Afghanistan when it comes to governance and that’s obviously going to play a big part in the decision he makes.”

more...

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601074&sid=ab_FWeSE1snw

[phantom power]

1. I, for one, don't actually care about "signaling resolve."

Let's just leave. I don't "have resolve." I want it to stop. Isn't that the point?

[golddigger]

2. + 1

[babylonsister]

3. I guess that's why no one voted for you. If you think this decision,

whatever one the President ultimately makes, is easy, you'd be wrong.

[phantom power]

4. I don't know from "easy." But riddle me this...

what is this "resolve"? Resolve to do what? And why do we, as a country, care if we "signal" it? Whatever it is?

I'm serious. What do you think that means?

[babylonsister]

6. My interpretation of our 'resolve' involves trying to help the

Afghanis (Afghanistanis?) be able to defend themselves against the Taliban, so we don't have to. That includes helping them become more self-sufficient.

Then you have the gopers who will bemoan any withdrawal, claiming this will make us less safe, because the Taliban was behind 9/11. Of course, they'll never mention that's exactly what idiot son did.

I think the prez is caught between a rock and a hard spot, as has been mentioned many times.

And I don't have the answers. I'm with you in that I want us out, the sooner the better. But I can also appreciate the position the President is in, and the time and care he's taking in trying to find a way out.

[phantom power]

9. Hmm. Here's the thing that bothers me...

Back when Dim Son was in charge, his administration was also making lots of noises about "resolve" and "staying until Iraq-ghanistan was stabilized."

I know that I thought this was nonsense because I consider it to be a fundamentally flawed idea. In other words, just because The Smart Guy is now in charge, that doesn't improve the odds of it working. It can't work, and so it's a big disappointment for me to see Obama hunting the same snipe.

Now, that's where I'm coming from. Maybe other people thought it wasn't going to work because Dim Son is, well, Dim Son. And now that Obama is managing things, he can get the job done. That would worry me a great deal.

[Cha]

13. If you don't understand that this is a whole different

reality with President Obama at the helm then there's not much that can be explained from those who do understand.

[mkultra]

15. the difference is this

There was no taliban/Al queda in Iraq until dipshit invaded. Afghanistan happens to host both. Killing Bin Laden is the point.

[phantom power]

16. So we stay until we confirm that bin Laden is dead, and then we go home?

[mkultra]

17. either that or route al queda bad enough

to feel confident that they wont try and reassert themselves or give the afghani government enough strength to rebuff al queda in teh future. Bin Laden could easily be in Pakistan along with much of the Al Queda structure. They have been trying to reassert themselves lately and return back across the Pakistani border.

Afghanistan is where we were suppose to go instead of Iraq.

[phantom power]

18. But I'm told that they are busy fighting the Taliban insurgency.

Is it both? And when do we decide we're done? The Taliban, at least, are Afghans, whether we like it or not. What does it mean to defeat them? Is that going to be like how were were going to defeat the VC?

History never repeats, but it sure does rhyme.

[mkultra]

24. taliban and al queda are often the same

in this case. defeating them means knocking out their recruitment and directive structure. Yes, this is much like Vietnam, except for the fact that VC didn't attack us first. History doesn't always repeat itself.

[hileeopnyn8d]

8. Resolve

is to reach a decision. To come to a successful conclusion, to find a solution, or a firmness of purpose.

In this context - you have a General and a portion of the country that believes the only solution is to drastically increase troops. Despite the fact that this general also thinks we could be there for a very, very long time using that strategy. His proposal does not include an exit strategy. The right-wingers and pundits are criticizing the President for lacking "resolve" - (the ability to reach a decision)

He is turning it around on them and telling THEM that their "resolve" isn't an acceptable conclusion.

In other words - Gibbs is saying that while it is important to a portion of the American people that the President is seen as "not dithering" THEIR solution is not a solution. Their conclusion is not a conclusion if it doesn't actually conclude - meaning end/exit.

[dgibby]

11. The general to whom you allude was Darth Cheney's hit man during the last administration.

I now wonder if he's part of the "sleeper cell" Darth left behind.

[ShortnFiery]

20. It doesn't matter, President Obama is now one of "the players" ...

Us little people are being TOLD what we are to BELIEVE.

The M$M is already working 24/7 to MANUFACTURE CONSENT of such a pragmatic and thoughtful President ... the least we can do is SACRIFICE another, say 30,000 of our sons and daughters to the death and destruction industry "over there." :puke:


It's all a game to the ruling elites. We have NO say ... hell, the M$M even manufactures our opinions, i.e., those that are acceptable to our corporate masters.

[HopeOverFear]

5. +1

[goclark]

23. Bingo again Babyonsister ~

Why is it that some don't realize that you don't take kindly to Bullies ~ you would think they would know that by now.

:bounce:

[dionysus]

10. it has to be done correctly, safely, and with minimum loss of life.

there's also huge monetary and political considerations. you seem to think moving entire armies and equipment is some simple and easy task. newsflash, it isn't

[ShortnFiery]

21. No, the only considerations are for the MIC. People's lives mean NOTHING to these ghouls. n/t

[dionysus]

25. who exactly are the ghouls? the president? pentagon people? please specify.

[MNDemNY]

7. This may be a good sign.

:thumbsup:

[optimator]

12. an "exit strategy" could be 50 years

don't be guillibe

[Cha]

14. Learn how to spell

gullible if you're going to accuse people of it.

[ShortnFiery]

19. You make a valid point. President Obama will give the MIC at least 30,000 troops

to be sucked into the intake of the MIC. But we'll all be slobbering all over him due to his lauded "concern" for an exit strategy.

Welcome to Kabuki Theater: Democratic Executive Branch Style!

Endless WAR never felt so good as when there's whispers of a potential Exit Strategy.

No Sale :thumbsdown:

[phleshdef]

22. Bad spelling skills. Check. Lack of common sense. Check. Hoping for the negative. Check.

Hardly any posts. Check.

I smell pizza.