THE BIG STORY: PRESIDENT OBAMA SENDS MORE TROOPS, ENDS WAR IN 2011
After weeks of deliberation, President Barack Obama revealed his war strategy for Afghanistan last night while speaking at the famed West Point Military Academy.
“As commander in chief, I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. . . After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home. These are the resources that we need to seize the initiative, while building the Afghan capacity that can allow for a responsible transition of our forces out of Afghanistan.”
The additional soldiers will bring U.S. troop levels to nearly 100,000 in Afghanistan with a price tag of over $30 billion a year.
TELL US: How do you feel about President Obama’s new Afghanistan strategy?
Because of the mess that was left behind, I don’t see that he had any other choice in this matter than to finish the fight.
Well Im sad to see that more troops have to be deployed, we know more soldiers will die and this affects so many more people than you know however they signed up for it for whatever reasons so they have to go, BUT I wil be watching tonight so I that I can try to understand why. This seems like a never ending war, I hope it ends one day but I doubt it.
Unfortunately, these troops are necessary in order for us to leave that region successfully. We have to protect ourselves from those who want to destroy us. Nobody wants or likes war. We are dealing with evil and irrationality. We really have no other alternative but to protect ourselves. So these troops are necessary. The president should not have taken 4 months to come to this conclusion.
4 months to come up with “surge lite”, and then give your “hand picked” General less than what he asked for.
Months of consultation, for this. Either fight to win or come home!
Where are the anti-war Democrats?
Hi Mara,
I’m an anti-war Dem. Did you have a question?
AP
Rik,
I couldn’t agree with your last sentence any more if I had written it myself!
AP
AP,
Now I’m confused. How can you be an anti -war Dem and then believe in Rik’s statement. Half of his statement wouldn’t fit what you believe.
AP writes:
Hi Mara,
I’m an anti-war Dem. Did you have a question?
Isn’t this a question?
“Where are the anti-war Democrats?”
Mara,
Okay, I thought there might be a follow-up to your inquiry. Carry on….
AP
Larry,
As I have said many times, we humans are a complex folk. I don’t believe in war… However, once you commit to one, be in it to win it… otherwise, what’s the point?
I want this administration to do whatever is needed to get our service men and women home. Period. And, it would be great if there was provision made for their health and readjustment once they /are/ home.
AP
…also, Larry, my comment was addressing RIk’s last sentence specifically.
AP
I am waiting with with great anticipation to see if Cindy Sheehan will be making a makeshift camp outside President Barack Obama’s Chicago home.
I am also looking forward to next month State of the Union Address by President Obama for the massive demonstration on our nation capital.
What are the chances that those who oppose war during President George W Bush Adminstration will continue the struggle to bring our troops home NOW?
It will be interseting to see the spin doctors at work.
President Obama message to Al Queda and the Taliban, lay low until July 2011 and when the troop pull out lauch an all out assault. During this time, amass all the weapons.
AP
I hear ya, you don’t like war, but if we are going to fight, then we should bring the full might of the US military.
Id agree.
President Obama has to have a plan and exit strategy. It’s not always about being for or against war. Sometimes, this action is necessary, for the right reasons. President Obama is making a rational and thorough decision about military force. It’s about national security, safety of citizens and prevention of possible world catastrophes.
I would love to see the troops come home, too. I feel saddened that more will have to be deployed, but this is a very tough issue, and I doubt that anyone responding to this blog could perform better in the president’s position.
I resent that Dick Cheney has become so vocal about what president Obama should do, now that he no longer directly influences any president. He has some nerve declaring that he thinks the president should be in it to win it, when the last administration couldn’t achieve a win in eight years, and in fact, diverted everyone’s attention from the purpose of the Afghanistan war, by starting a new one in Iraq.
For those of you who voted for the president, you won’t like every decision he makes, but don’t abandon him now that we’re going through the thin times. When he stated on the campaign trail that the multitude of issues he’d have to confront wouldn’t be easy, he wasn’t saying it with a wink. We knew that he inherited several messes and that it was going to take much longer to resolve them than we wanted. The situations the country is in didn’t occur overnight, they won’t be solved overnight. Things may actually get worse before recovery appears on the horizon.
(Pause for a moment)
Anyone remember Senator Obama questioning then Secretary of State Rice on the troop surge in Iraq?
In less than a year, under this present administration the unemployment rate has risen to more than 10%, the national debt has risen by more than $2 trillion (more than any other previous administrations; number of jobs created under the $787B stimulus bill has been misrepresented.
Next year, the President will be focusing on mid-term elections (not much will get done as all HOR seats will be up for re-election and some Senate seats.
I think former VP Cheney should say, he thinks the President should be in to LOSE. (sarcastic of course)
Didn’t Rush Limbaugh said he hoped the Obama presidency FAIL.
Here is Chevy talking about winning and he “has the nerves” and Linburgh talking about failing — and he was “raked over the coal.”
Fail vs win, when is it appropriate to use either?
Not following your point, Mara. Neither Cheney nor Limbaugh intend any of their comments to be complimentary, or even helpful. If they present the only alternatives, then under those circumstances, it’s lose/lose rather than fail vs. win.
“We knew that he inherited several messes and that it was going to take much longer to resolve them than we wanted’
Hold up a second. Ive heard this time and time again. Some seem to have a very short memory. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the democrats were the majority the last 2 years of the bush administration. So they sat right there, and did nothing. So to me they had a hand in what President Obama inherited.
Plus for at least 2 years leading up to the financial crisis the democrates over saw the housing and banking committees.
Did they start it, of course not. But two years before it hit. They said nothing and did nothing. Dodd and Franks oversaw housing and banking, and had the majority on both committees.
that is the were responsible for regulating housing and banking. This fact seems to always be missing when passing out the blame.
They President didn’t vote for the initial Iraq war. But he did vote to fund it at least twice. And several Dems voted for and continued funding. To include Clinton, and Kerry. It could not have been funded or passed without democratic support
Now I’m not bush fan, but I do believe in fairness. So if you want to Blame bush, be my quest, but i can assure there is plenty left for Obama’s own party.
I’m just saying
Rik — Welcome, another voice of reasoning. You said it right. Your comment is the most non-partisian, I have seen on this blog.
“Fair and balance”
Rance,
You can always be counted on to make sense from nonsense.
Rik,
Interesting points you make. I’m looking forward to reading more from you!
AP
Rik and Mara,
Yes. You guys hit on points that we as blacks have missed this whole time. I don’t even have to say anything at this point. I am extremely happy to see some black folks pointing out what the real truth is. Thank you.
In watching Glenn Beck today he introduced me to the Coward and Piven strategy. Nothing new to those on the right but I have never heard it called by that name. This is what’s going down folks. Next November we need to even the playing field and put some Repubs in office , Congress and Senate, or it will be bleak.
And let me say, if that was Reagan or Bush giving the speech you would have seen a win attitude not an attitude of someone having to have their teeth pulled as Obama displayed. The great teleprompter reader is losing his touch. Yeah, go ahead and tell them when we are leaving so they can lay back and wait for the right moment. Real bright and what a confidence booster.
Larry,
In a perfect world (if such a thing existed) how would the wars’ progressions look to you? What would be your solutions to either ending the war, or to having a US presence (temporary/long-term/permanent)? What would be your method of resolution?
AP
PS. Glad you had a good Thanksgiving. Mine was wonderful – food, family, friends – lots of good times!
Oh, BTW, I”m LOLing at your “the great TelePrompTer reader” reference. That’s the good stuff.
AP
AP,
In my opinion, if McChrystal says he needs 40,000 then he gets 40,000. I am not sure how Obama decided on 30,000. It could very well be that the additional 10,000 troops is what gets us over the hump.
We should also remember that our enemies are watching us. There is much talk about Obama being weak and our enemies are just thriving off of that. Iran would not and I mean would not be pulling the stunts they are pulling now if Reagan or Bush were in Office. They know they would be dealt with immediately. Not with this President though. He wants to coax the bully. It will not work. He is going to have to toughen up quick. Image is half the battle here. Right now we are looking mighty soft.
Basically, what I am saying its tough to predict when and how a resolution will take place. But back to what you and others said before; if we are going to be in it then lets win it.
I guess Karzai’s refusal to ‘restage’ his election wasn’t strong enough confirmation of his government’s corruption. While I do want every perpretator of 911 brought to justice, I believe this may be idealistic and not realistic. More bloodshed will not prevent the inevitable destabilization in Afghanistan. Karzai will be challenged by the Taliban and probably countless others. The only winners in this war will be the profiteers.
Like Rance, AP and others, I am not abandoning the President. But I see this decision as a continuation of Bush-Cheney’s failed strategy. I find myself questioning whether the President is genuinely pursuing change or campaigning for reelection.
Peace!
Larry, who is our enemies, do you even know? question: on 911 when the story first came out they said it was 3 men 3 boxcutter took over 4 airplanes then it was 12 men and how its Iraq and Afghanistan you people will buy any story the white man tell you, you guys make me sick.
Im with you Tenay, everyone has something to say and what should be done and what they would do, but NO ONE has any idea what the president is really going thru, he IS dealing with alot of crap that was left over from the last administration, making decisions on a war that was created by our own US ignorance, backstabbing, greed and hatred, as well as trying to fixed this messed up econonmy that was nearly destroyed by greedy wall street gangsters who had support from washington to steal from the average american who was trying to get a piece of the pie, then get reimbursed for it from those same americans! so for all you people who think you have the answer you dont because these are very complex problems that Obama is facing, we elected him now stand by that and support him, so typical of people to run the other way when things dont go there way!
i could’nt agree more ” tenay ” and ” shockadelica ” you sisters are so on point.
Obama is dealing with decision that the past administration made. Decisions of the government which include members of his own party. Less we forget, the government has three branches.
The decision to go to wars was approved by members of both parties. The economic meltdown started when Democrats took over House of Representative.
K2O You are saying that, to say what?
His having to run again in 2012 is a reality, and it’s something that he and his people have to think about. But, unless you voted for him (those who did) only because he wasn’t John McCain or Sarah Palin, then have faith in your instincts and hang tough.
Have you ever noticed how long it takes for a ship to change course? It can’t simply stop and turn around, it has to steadily veer toward it’s new direction. I feel certain that it will take all of eight years to see positive results. So, yes, reelection should be a consideration of his administration so that they have time to get the job(s) done. As critical as time is now, some circumstances simply won’t be rushed.
your right rance, it’s going to take every bit of 8 years at least before we can even feel any results.
To Larry, AP, and Mara
thanks you for your kind words. I really like it here. I have read disagreements, but everyone remains respectful, and i can get with that.
Honestly,I really learned something. What happened was i became confused. I that i was living in Italy, or Germany. Since everybody was talking like Bush was Mussolini, Hitler or maybe Caesar. Like some Dictator doing what ever he wanted.
while all this going on, what were the Democrats doing. You know this being a “Democracy” and all. Well come to find out not a thing. No warning, no legislation, no nothing. Yet no one seems to want to acknowledge this simple truth. Its like democrats simply vanished the last two Bush years
So my new friends, let that be a lesson to you. “Rats do leave a sinking ship”
Thanks Rik. Those rats are running the country today. I tell you what Rik, the Dems were sitting back getting paid from the Subprime scandel that’s what they were doing. Barney Frank who heads the House Financial Services Committee ( which overseas the entire financial community) fought reform well over 5 years before the roof caved in. Obama and Dodd had there hands in the pot also not supporting reform of Fannie and Freddie. Then what makes it so bad is Obama runs for president as if he had nothing to do with the meltdown. His hands were dirty when he was an attorney for ACORN and sued Citi and BOA on their behalf getting the banks to lend to low income folks back in the mid nineties. Obama has a long history in this meltdown crisis. Absolutely unbelievable. Not one of those folks above ever admit that. Kind of like CNN news, not quite telling the whole story.
And K20 you are so right. Just by coincidence that’s when the meltdown started happenning is when the rats came into the majority in the Senate and Congress.
I have read what Tenay and others have had to say and they talk as if Obama is some innocent bystander who just happened to become President. Obama knew what he was getting into and he knew the issues ( at least we thought he did.) In my opinion he has been a pathetic commander in chief sort of like Jimmy Carter. So let’s quit the pity party for this Marxist. You talk of backing him but he doesn’t give a d… about you. Wake up please.
Tenay there were 19 highjackers. You state we buy anything the white man hands us? OK. Let’s hear your version.
Tenay our enemies are those who want to do us harm. That includes the Taliban, Al Quada and any government assisting and harboring these individuals. I hope that helps. Oh yeah, might as well put in Iran and North Korea to try and cover all basis that I can.
BRING BACK THE DRAFT.
Get some of the useless excuses for human beings that are polluting the black community off of the streets. If they make it back from fighting a war, just maybe they will have something of value to offer.
tenay
on December 3rd, 2009 at 2:55 pm Said:
K2O You are saying that, to say what?
That the predicament the cointry is in was not created solely by Republican/Bush as the left would want us to believe. The Democrats is also responsible.
poor larry, k2o and Rik your so brainwashed, I hope you wake up and find your way someday
shockadelica:
Brainwashed to conclude that both Democrats and Republican party are responsible for the mess we are in?
If you think otherwise, then you are brainwashed.
After four or eight years of having the first African American President, let see if Obama inspired BLACK MEN TO RISE TO THE OCCASION.
If not all the tears that fall on election day worth nothing. As a public school teacher, I am the only black male under 30 on the teaching staff. There are two others over 50.
No wonder the black children come to school with so much indiscipline. A household headed by a woman and ninety percent of their educators are female. No male to emulate.
History in the White House means nothing if we continue to see more and more of our black men heading to prison.
The real brainwashing is, BLACKS STICKING WITH DEMOCRATS ALL THESE YEARS. WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO SHOW FOR IT?
Highest employment of all races, lowest percentage of all college graduates, cities that predominantly voted Democratic has the highest crime rate, worst under funded public school system.
BLACKS ARE BRAINWASHED TO THINK THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS THEIR BEST INTERESTS. WHERE IS THE PROOF?
To shockadelica
I hope your name is in salute to Parliament Funkadelic. If so Kudos. Which should tell something about me.
I don’t understand why any one who has a different opinion or view is brainwashed. Could we not make the same argument against you? A/Americans are not a monolithic group of people all thinking and behaving the same way. We are diverse.
Further some of us have peeped the race card game, and are not falling for it any more. I do not advocate the republican or democratic party. What i say is listen to both, without bias or rancor.
Also after 40 years of democratic loyalty A/Americans have little to nothing to show for it. I will remind you all that A/Americans are “DEAD LAST” in every measurable positive statistical category. That is edu, small business ownership, home ownership etc. But fist in practically every negative category.
That is literacy, out of wedlock births, STD’s, spending etc.
Question what is the Democrats record on these issues? Simple research indicates, that the democratic party is not deserving of A/American support. That’s just my opinion.
Larry makes some excellent points. What is your response?
To K2O
I missed your post. Bingo, nothing but the facts.
I’m interest to read how shock responds.
Rik and K20
What we have to realize, and maybe we already do, is that Liberals are are not in line with logic. Facts don’t come into play when they make decisions or arguments. They are more driven on emotion and how they feel. When someone from the right throws up some hard facts they can’t answer then they start name calling. I see this all the time and I see it here on this site. So we know one the name calling starts that person doing the name calling can go no further with any factual information.
Shockadelica and Tenay come to mind instantly.
Not every Liberal behaves in this manner but a lot do. I am very bewildered how anyone who wants to do well in life, in America, can support Obama. He is against prosperity. He is against wealth. As of right now you would think he is against the economy getting better. He must because he is not doing squat about it. How can a man make corporations and small businesses ( people who create jobs) the villians and tax them even more in the middle of a recession and call himself a man of the people? I look at his actions not what he says. Pushing a Socialist agenda is not doing any one of us any favors.
So our so called brothers and sisters want our community and people to do better then we need to have someone in office who feels the same. Obama is not it. Therefore, how anyone can state that Obama is trying to make things better escapes me. What the h… are they basing this on? Oh yeah, emotion.
Larry
Yes indeed. I agree.
you wrote “They are more driven on emotion and how they feel”.
Brother i will admit that they used to hook me with that same bait. That is until research some topics for myself.
Shock and others may be interested to know that the three S’s all originated or were maintained by the democratic party. Slavery, Separate But Equal and segregation, never mind Jim Crow or the infamous Black Codes.
I mean i could go on for days about what the democrats have done to black folk, including chain immigration, and who really voted for civil rights legalization, and who tried to block it. All of which is part of the public record. No white man has to brain wash me.
My God man, who votes 40 years for the very party that is oppressing them. It is beyond dumb!
As far as voting for President Obama. Again ill be honest with you. I didn’t vote for him, but I’m not angry about him being President. His election was very important, it was bigger than my political ideology.
But he “Never” fooled me, Not for a second. Our children will pay a sever price for Bush and Obama. But hey at lest he was (partly) “Black”
We the way that some people go back and forth especially the Republican supporters. I can tell you right now, there is know way you could even handle the job President Obama is doing. At least when people talk negative about him, he don’t allow it to get the best of him. He say his piece and move on.
So certain people should follow his lead and do the same.
State your point and move on. You are not going to change anyone mind on here. If you know so much you need to be sitting behind a desk pushing a pencil helping President Obama solve the problems instead of bad mouthing him.
I agree with Tenay and shockadelica what is your point for going on.
Rance you make good points. The other peope just keep repeating the same things. Kinda like the same people just under different names.
Correction. With
littlebit:
It is called a discussion.
littlebit says:
” I can tell you right now, there is know way you could even handle the job President Obama is doing.”
Not every who has an opinion aspire to be President. Some are doctors, teachers, lawyers, cooks, and all of society’s undesirables.
“At least when people talk negative about him, he don’t allow it to get the best of him. He say his piece and move on.”
How close are you to Obama so you could come to this conclusion?
To Littlebit
Fine by me, If im negative, then you tell me something positive. Why don’t you tell me something positive about President Obama or the Democratic party.
Start with his/their record on Inner city crime, black home ownership, black small business ownership, black edcuation, out of wedlock births, aids in the hood, public schools, drugs. home many black homes have been saved by his foreclosure plan, how many black jobs have been saved or created by his stimulus package
yes, I understand that he is the President of the united states. But surely a demographic voting at a 90% clip (2008 95%), for 40 straight years.
should get something more then fleeting useless pride.
Did/have we get anything besides government dependency and a partially Black President.
I don’t mean to be disrespectful. But you may need to educate me. Please join the discussion.
Rik and K20 bravo. I to wait for words of wisdom from littlebit.
This President Campaigned on being Anti-War now he has turned his back on those who elected him for just that. We do not need to lose more lives in Afghanistan. Obama’s party is overwhelmingly against this action. African Americans are overwhelmingly against this War. So who is Barrack listening too? We have too many problems here in the good ole U.S of A to be spending billions of dollars and losing American lives in the Middle East.
And for all those who are for this war. Why don’t you go down to the local recruitment center and join the Army? Unless you just enjoy having your principals and the cost of someone else.
Hey guys
I just came across this.
Mr. Roland Martin on CNN blog.
Shock, littlebit and administration supporters. Please read carefully and even twice if need be.
“The White House has spent a lot of time trying to make the argument that its $700 billion stimulus plan would save or generate hundreds of thousands of jobs, but according to Black Caucus members, **their constituents have been left out in the cold**. They are threatening to join up with Republicans to defeat some of the president’s measures unless they get more. Will he call their bluff or advocate a black economic agenda? He told USA Today there will be **no specific plan of action for African Americans**.”
Nothing for A/Americans! Now is it really unreasonable to demand something for your record support.
Mr. Martin is not white. So are we still brainwashed. At what point do you at least stop drinking kool aid, and “maybe” reevaluate things.
I mean my God, at least the Jones town people had an excuse, they were made to drink it. some even realized they had been duped, and fled.
But you guys just blindly drink, and ask for more.And get mad, because others won’t drink with you.
yep I agree Rik.
AP, obviously Obama is anti-war. We can tell by the way he handles foreign adversaries. However, he must believe that this Afghan thing is serious for him to leave troops there. I believe it is also. We cannot afford to have a pre 911 mentality. Now since you are afforded the same benefits as us, those who are for the war, you too should sign up for the draft.
Please tell me what you were saying when 9
911 hit? I would have liked to have heard your solution then.
If blacks do decide to look toward the Republican party at least they will be that much closer to self development. We all can’t make it but we need to have that mentality first.
You know I think its time for a little honesty here. AP, Rance, Tenay, Littlebit, and Shockadelica help us here.
We have a President that is basically spending us into oblivion and during a recession. You do realize that all the money spent by Obama we have to pay back correct? It comes out of our pockets. Ours and corporations. So things are already tight for most of us. I cannot afford to be giving government more of my money. If I try and earn more Obama will take more because we know he despises the wealthy or what I like to call prosperity. Thus, his so called spread the wealth plan. That means he takes from those who have and gives to those who don’t. The spread the wealth is straight from Obama’s mouth so that is legite. Also the employment picture is sketchy at best so jobs aren’t guaranteed either. So basically everything is tight right now.
So what is it you guys see that is so good about his strategy? When and where do you see prosperity coming back and how? What mechanisms will drive the come back? What initiatives do you see working that you believe will have positive results? Is it in the HC legislation? How about cap and trade? How about his immigration reform? These are priority issues for Obama. I think these are legitimate questions since you support Obama. SOMEBODY answer the bell and explain to us people on the right what we are missing. Hard facts and figures would be helpful. I am willing to listen and respond.
What happened? I’ve been waiting, for a response. I didn’t think the questions were unreasonable or difficult to answer.
Rik, somebody will chime in and blame Bush and talk about the Iraq war. That’s the only fall back plan they have.
Blacks have a war going on in the community.Send the thugs to afghanistan. They love guns, like to kill, and have no respect for huminity. They need to be trained as real soldiers. GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR —– OUR COUNTRY.