Jemima Khan: The things you say sound great, Mr President. So why do you end up disappointing us?

[xchrom]

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/jemima-khan-the-things-you-say-sound-great-mr-president-so-why-do-you-end-up-disappointing-us-2302561.html

Alhamdulillah! President Barack Obama is finally withdrawing troops from Afghanistan.

Except he's not – only those extras that he deployed in the "surge" of 2009; 68,000 will remain, double the number sent by his predecessor, George Bush.

Obama keeps doing this. Sounding marvellous, then, in retrospect, disappointing. After eight long and bloody years of Bush, everyone outside America, especially Muslims, welcomed this voice of reason, sobriety and perhaps even empathy. Scribbled on a bullet-punctured wall in Gaza was "Obama Inshallah!". Even in Pakistan, the only ally of the US, which the US regularly bombs, people came out on the streets – any excuse, admittedly – to celebrate his election victory.

There was not a burning effigy in sight because here was an American president who had a Muslim middle name, a Muslim father and a daughter called Malia, named after, no, not a Hawaiian family friend but, as everyone now knows, the daughter of the Caliph Othman. Obviously. Even if he wasn't actually a secret Muslim, despite all the wishful whispering over chai that rivalled any Tea Party tittle tattle, at least he understood Muslim culture, having grown up (OK, spent some of his childhood) in Indonesia regularly attending Friday prayers at the mosque (or maybe just once) with his devout (non-observant) Muslim stepfather.

[vi5]

1. But he's not a Republican!!!

"Look over there! See the crazies?!? At least he's not one of them, right?"

That's what you get. That's all there is. Please stop asking for more. It only gives aid and comfort to the enemy.

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. Then he should stop acting like one. nt

[vi5]

4. No argument here....

But I'm not holding my breath waiting for that to happen.

[RandomKoolzip]

5. Exactly. +1.

This is as liberal as it's gonna get unless a secession or two happens.

[tabasco]

14. Since when does being liberal mean not supporting valid

military missions with a just cause?

Bush delayed accomplishing the mission in Afghanistan by eight years.

We had just cause to invade Afghanistan, but not Iraq.

Obama is now accomplishing the mission that Bush ignored and beginning the redeployment.

Don't speak for me when you imply being a liberal means expecting utopia overnight.

Secession supporter, eh?

[malaise]

3. Jemima Khan is an English upper class lady who was

married to former Pakistani cricket captain and Cambridge educated political scientist and politician, Imran Khan.

The US should remove every single military person from Afghanistan and stop using drones against Pakistan, but I'd love her views on Libya.

[Dreamer Tatum]

7. I just wonder if she has any nieces or nephews. nt

[Generic Other]

17. One of Princess Diana's best friends

Kind of interesting to hear any of that set say something substantive about anything, eh?

[xchrom]

6. kick

[treestar]

8. Still mystified by the amount of ego it takes

to see the POTUS as a person who is supposed to "please" you - especially when you don't live in the United States.

[malaise]

9. And

You're English upper class.

[xchrom]

10. you must be 'mystified' a lot. nt

[treestar]

11. Pure ad hominem

Zero substance to that reply.

It still stands that anyone sitting around thinking how the POTUS can make them personally happy is driven by a giant ego.

[xchrom]

12. claiming that people want to be made 'personally happy' is about as insulting as it gets.

get thee to a mirror.

[treestar]

13. Now the victim card.

OK, but the President still "disappoints" a certain person and that's newsworthy. Because a POTUS is supposed to get this lady what she wanted.

[OhioChick]

15. Rec n/t

[amborin]

16. kr

[GeorgeGist]

18. If you actually listen to what he says ...

it's mainly plagiarized from leaders who conned the US into a mess.

[WinkyDink]

19. Jemima "daughter of billionaire James Goldsmith" Khan.