“His plan comes up short. There’s not enough troops, not enough resources and not enough urgency. What President Bush and Senator McCain don’t understand is that the central front in the War on Terror is not in Iraq and never was. The central front is in Afghanistan and Pakistan where the terrorists who hit us on 9-11 are still plotting attacks seven years later.”
Barack Obama
Campaign Speech
September 9, 2008
Obama also said “we can’t wait” on sending more troops.
But that was last year during the campaign.
It meant nothing.
Now, Obama is already talking about getting out and getting out quick.
The Politico reported:
President Barack Obama’s strategy for Afghanistan will include a plan for “how we’re going to get folks out” after a secure environment can be passed to the Afghan government, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday.
“We have been there for eight years. And we’re not going to be there forever,” Gibbs said. “It’s important to fully examine not just how we’re going to get folks in but how we’re going to get folks out.”
Gibbs spoke en route to Alaska, where the president stopped at an Air Force base in Anchorage before traveling on to Tokyo for his maiden trip to Asia, which will take him to Japan, Singapore, China and South Korea.
The president “has asked for, and will want, benchmarks to evaluate our progress,” Gibbs said. “That’s part of his desire to get a sense of where we are rather than committing to an open-ended conflict.”
As President Obama continues to dither and waffle October became the deadliest month for the US in Afghanistan since the war began in 2001.
(ICasualties)
The average monthly US deaths in Afghanistan have nearly quadrupled since Barack Obama took over in January.
No wonder troop morale is down in Afghanistan.
November 13th, 2009 | 12:01 pm | #1
“where the terrorists who hit us on 9-11 are still plotting attacks seven years later.”
So I guess if he wants to pull out now he must think they have stopped plotting….either just because he got elected or maybe he got one of those nice liberal National Intelligence Estimates similar to the one that claimed Iran had stopped their nuke weapons program. BTW, Has anyone checked lately to see if the seas are in fact receding as proclaimed during the acceptance speech in Denver?
November 13th, 2009 | 12:04 pm | #2
One word.
Containment.
That is the word that is missing from all these analyses, from both sides. One word can sinultaneously define and also limit our objectives, while placing expectations into a realistic view.
Containment is also the neccessity that cannot be avoided. The Taliban or any similar organization cannot be allowed to gain control of Afghanistan. The ideology must be contained within its adherents.
Implementing this objective could be done without such an over-reaching effort as is currently being bandied about by some, while also steering clear of the self-defeating act of withdrawal, leaving our hard-fought gains to waste.
November 13th, 2009 | 12:16 pm | #3
Agreed w/ Robert.
I think we went into Afghanistan w/ the best intentions, but these folks really do not even begin to comprehend the possibility of a stable national govt that can protect their property and rights. Neighbor has always lived in fear that his other neighbor would take his tools or livestock. There is a centuries old ingrained distrust between the people, and a likely larger divide between the people and any central government.
November 13th, 2009 | 12:36 pm | #4
[...] reading: Gateway Pundit: President “Dither and Waffle” Looks For Escape Hatch From Afghanistan and London Times on Barack and Michelle Obama: Mr&Mrs show irks voters and Lib Talker Defends [...]
November 13th, 2009 | 12:39 pm | #5
[...] reading: Gateway Pundit: President “Dither and Waffle” Looks For Escape Hatch From Afghanistan and Lib Talker Defends Obama’s Dismal Afghan Record By Claiming Cheney Eats Babies (Video) and [...]
November 13th, 2009 | 12:42 pm | #6
The president “has asked for, and will want, benchmarks to evaluate our progress,” Gibbs said. “That’s part of his desire to get a sense of where we are rather than committing to an open-ended conflict.”
This approach can only fail. The population has a high degree of illiteracy. How are they going to read maintenance instructions for weapons or infrastructure improvements? They have ingrained customs and long-standing conditions that preclude loyalty beyond their tribe. I see no alternative to a long-term presence of some sort, other than abandonment and retreat.
A policy of containment, clearly stated to the Afghan government and the tribal elders, would give them a benchmark with which to evaluate their own progress. It could serve to limit and define our own actions, while serving to reduce the much-discussed “footprint” on Afghan society.
In my opinion, much analysis comes into focus, which we are clearly missing from all fronts, when viewed through the strategy of containment.
November 13th, 2009 | 12:46 pm | #7
Video: Obama’s Afghanistan Strategy Decision Making Process Captured on Time-Lapse Photography http://optoons.blogspot.com/2009/10/obamas-afghanistan-strategy-decision.html
November 13th, 2009 | 12:51 pm | #8
We went to Afganistan to kill and oust the Taliban who were harboring Alqueda and Osama. We were initially very successful but the Taliban continues to return and old tricks are hard to stop. Same thing happened in Iraq. As President Bush said this is a LONG war. It will be lengthened by the political hustling by Democrats in this country. The enemy is keenly aware that our focus is easily broken by political gaming. If all of our politicians were operating in sync our foreign problems would melt. The enemy realizes that divided we fall and they are playing the game well.
The Taliban are a brutal lot and they need to be dealt with brutally. The ROE we are working under in Afganistan are ridiculous. We (and NATO) need to get real at home – and brutal on the battlefield.
November 13th, 2009 | 1:07 pm | #9
What’s the difference between Obama and his dog, Bo?
A: Bo has papers.
November 13th, 2009 | 1:23 pm | #10
Three words…
Rules of Engagement.
November 13th, 2009 | 1:27 pm | #11
Containment. Right from the French Military Tactics playbook next to Maginot Line, Appeasement and Surrender. Last time I looked A-Stan was bordered by a country whose porous border and welcoming arms allowed AQ and Taliboomers to come and go as they pleased with very little fear of being chased, except for the occasional drone attack.
When I was growing up the act of war was not only to defeat the enemy combatants it also was meant to persuade the population that acts of war would no longer be tolerated.
I guess the new educational system where hurting someones feelings is leading us to a warfare where containment is far better then victory,because we dont want to hurt someones feelings by defeating them.
November 13th, 2009 | 1:44 pm | #12
I dread listening to or reading the news these days. It’s one disaster after another. Clueless potus and clueless followers. Will we make it to 2010?
November 13th, 2009 | 1:49 pm | #13
All this dithering and waffling. What can explain it…
Followed a link yesterday to an article that happened to give Lenin’s “To Do” List. The one that jumped out was “Demoralize the military (and police). Make them ineffectual.”
God bless and keep our brave men and women who serve. Stay strong.
November 13th, 2009 | 2:12 pm | #14
++
watched & listened to Journalist David Rohde being
interviewed by George Stephanopoulos earlier today..
he says “we cannot walk away from Afghanistan”.. that the majority of Afghans are wonderful people, and they feel America will abandon them (sound familiar Dems), the Taliban on the other hand couldn’t hate US
more or these smae Afghans more if they tried..
Freelance War Reporter Accuses Times of Lying About Taliban Bribes
[The Times has acknowledged that small bribes were paid to guards so that they would look the other way while Rohde escaped. But executive editor Bill Keller denied that any large sums of money exchanged hands — even though they were prepared to pay $2 million to the Taliban to secure his release.]
==
November 13th, 2009 | 3:19 pm | #15
Bozo better get on it and start to apologize to al Qu’aeda, because he has apologized to so many of his friends already, might not stop there — must complete the apology tour. Once he apologizes peace will reign on earth.
November 13th, 2009 | 3:58 pm | #16
++
Jo @ 3:19 pm #15
re: [Once he apologizes peace will reign on earth.]
“”I’m convinced we can ‘Create a Kingdom’ right here on Earth”
~ Barack Hussein Obama aka: Barry [Dunham] Soetoro
exaggerating a point..
in days gone by, poor souls with such
mental delusions were lobotomized..
==
November 13th, 2009 | 4:16 pm | #17
++
wow @1:44 pm #12
re: [Will we make it to 2010?]
what’s the diff.. they’ll most likely have some 20
mil illegals votes buried in their nutshell by then..
via TRBO
Glenn Beck Show November 12, 2009
Friday the 13th and Greg Craig Tossed Under Obama Bus
==
November 13th, 2009 | 4:28 pm | #18
++
BABS @ 1:07 pm #9
good one.. well, at least a chuckle..
this however, not even that..
==
November 13th, 2009 | 5:08 pm | #19
Mike W
November 13th, 2009 | 1:27 pm | #11
Tell me how you would achieve this “victory”. How would you “persuade the population” that you were more serious than the enemy who commits atrocities upon that population without any concern, the enemy some of whom are part of that population and others from foreign lands who come to aid them? Those others who couldn’t care less about the local people, most of them who probably just want to get on with their lives? And even if you persuaded the population that your alternative was worse, what would you do after declaring “victory” if the enemy could still be seen returning and gaining power in certain towns or regions? Which they would do or certainly try.
Regardless of anything that you did, even partial genocide, you would have to stay for a very long time, and …
… contain.
November 13th, 2009 | 6:20 pm | #20
Dear Mr. Obama
If you are unwilling to stand behind your troops, please feel free to stand in front of them.
http://heyitsjustablogman.blogspot.com/2009/04/rmc-idf-adopt-new-practice-targets.html
November 13th, 2009 | 6:29 pm | #21
“And even if you persuaded the population that your alternative was worse”
Very telling statement Robert.
Gee how about we just send the obamao to A-Stan to talk to AQ. I am sure he could persuade them to “contain” their violent ways to just A-Stan. These are people hell bent on world domination and you really believe you can contain them?
Like I pointed out before France fully expected to”contain” Germany with an impregnable defense line. That worked beautifully for the Germans.
November 13th, 2009 | 6:42 pm | #22
For the first time since we been there (I think) Pakistan has finally stepped up and putting pressure on the Pushtins (sp?), the mountaineers harboring Al Qaeda. Now or rather few months ago was/is prime time for a big push from both sides. IMO
Can’t force a country to become literate or throw away tribal mentalities, end corruption but to make their every day lives safer and cripple Al Qaeda is key.
November 13th, 2009 | 7:01 pm | #23
Thanks Mike W and Robert on your input. Everyday I get the defeatist mentality on the War in Afghanistan; not because of our military but the decisions that are made for them.
Atlas Shrugs ran an article about 4 of our soldiers were killed because of the ROE of this present admin…they called for backup and the commanders wouldn’t sent them because of a possibilty of civilian casualties. They wern’t even near the villages and the soldiers told them that, but backup was still refused. How do they expect our military to survive, when the enmeies have no ethics in their ROEs; by holding up in civilian homes and the civilians allowing them to? When they get safe houses in day care centers, hospitals, nursing homes etc…?
November 13th, 2009 | 7:27 pm | #24
Maybe I am wrong. But there are 1.5 – 2 Billion Muslin on Earth today. Even if there are say 10 -30% that do not want Sharia’ Law, the Taliban, the Al Qaeda, Wahabbis or whatever in their government. That still is a lot. So what the terrorist insurgents now have the big guns; a few years back they could go in the Dollar General, Radio Shack, or a Beauty Supply store and buy every supply they needed to build a bomb.
In 1948, 1967, Yom Kippur 1973 in the phenominal wars with almost the whole Muslims nations together, was defeated by Israel, a nation not much bigger than the size of Rhode Island. 1948 one small airplane was dropping jars of gasoline on Egyptian tanks. They didn’t have American, NATO or UN troop help.
So do you see where I’m going with this……?
November 13th, 2009 | 7:56 pm | #25
wow
November 13th, 2009 | 1:44 pm | #12
Will we make it to 2010?
I don’t know where you live, of course, but I recommend you take a trip to Gettysburg and stay the whole day there, soaking up the vibes. It’s the most haunted, painful, heartbreaking place in the country.
Yes, we will make it to 2010. Our troubles are nothing at all compared to what our ancestors endured. We’ve survived a civil war, two world wars, a massive depression, and untold natural disasters. We’ll survive this and be stronger for it.
November 13th, 2009 | 8:00 pm | #26
Ann I know exactly where you are going. Containment in the past has never worked nor is it working today. Iran is a classic example of a failed attempt at containment. Sanctions were used to “contain” Iran`s drive to attain nuclear capabilities. The problem was that the containment was not supported by every country.The cold war was another containment strategy that failed because when one communist agitated war was put out another one was started.
I read that story you referred to about the death of the GIs.The ROEs are a problem.Another story I read was about a night raid to capture several known combatants in a house. After getting into position a mortar flare was suppose to be fired as a signal and also to help the A-Stan Army and police see the objective and obstacles. Someone in the chain of command scratched that plan because it was feared the 9 lb. canister would fall on a neighboring house and in some way damage it.The combatants escaped and the whole mission turned into a cluster ….
November 13th, 2009 | 9:20 pm | #27
++
Robert @12:04 pm #2
exactly how does one “contain” a Global Jihad??
people just can’t seem to stop swallowing the koolaid.. jihad has been going on since Muhammad’s instruction booklet became a best seller, before there was a USofA, even before any American stepped foot in any Arab / Muslim country, go figure..
==
November 13th, 2009 | 10:01 pm | #28
++
Obama Leaves Troops Hanging
==
November 14th, 2009 | 5:00 am | #29
bg
November 13th, 2009 | 9:20 pm | #27
Love the Gates of Vienna battle.
Jefferson and the Barbary Pirates. (Jefferson kept a copy of the Koran in his library; so he could understand “the enemy well”(Whatever happened to the song “from the halls…the shores of Tripoli”.)
A few years back, Turkey was a moderate secular Islamic Government, that enjoyed mutual relationship with Israel and the US. Today they are furnishing weapons to Lebanon, which has a 42% radical Muslims in the country.
The Western Civilization countries should of kept them on their knees and broke their legs permanently after the fall of the Ottoman Empire and pushed them back in the Saudi desert riding camels from whence they came.
No doubt or disredit to our brave soldiers could win this war against these savages; it’s the appeasing governments trying to bring a culture of death possessed with a global domination ideology in a democracy and free civilzed world is insanity and delusions of grandior..
I love our country and our troops but their morale is down enough right now, so I need to digress.
November 14th, 2009 | 9:27 am | #30
Mike W
November 13th, 2009 | 6:29 pm | #21
“And even if you persuaded the population that your alternative was worse”
Very telling statement Robert.
And it is telling you what exactly? You haven’t put forth anything specific that can be applied to Afghanistan, other than late in the thread stating that Rules Of Engagement are a problem. I agree. The Rules Of Engagment should be constructed so as to protect our forces. This is a tactical decision whereas I initially was trying to put forth a more somewhat strategic thought that could be implemented in today’s political climate.
bg
November 13th, 2009 | 9:20 pm | #27
exactly how does one “contain” a Global Jihad??
I was discussing Afghanistan, where the jihad would be contained by keeping them from obtaining governmental power.
I would be interested in hearing some specifics on how you all would implement actions, rather than just complaining about the way things are, which by the way I am not too happy about either.
November 14th, 2009 | 9:52 am | #31
One more thing.
This is not a choice between victory and some lesser outcome. Victory has already been achieved. It was achieved 8 years ago, when the Taliban were removed from power.
What we are seeking now is to preserve that victory, just like we still seek to preserve the victory achieved at Yorktown, and all others since then.
November 14th, 2009 | 7:24 pm | #32
++
don’t know the right answers Robert..
but i do know “containment” is a crock..
and i will note that history has proved feeding
the crock believing it won’t eat you is a crock..
the Muslim Brotherhood, Taliban & al Qaeda are offshoots of one another.. ergo, the same breed aka: Sharia Law (Political Islam) enforcing Islamists..
==
November 24th, 2009 | 1:54 pm | #33
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