Posted on 10/06/2009 5:11:58 AM PDT by shortstop
They laughed at Bush for calling himself the "decider."
At least he could.
At least he could look at a situation, weigh varying recommendations, and make a decision.
That's something his successor seems incapable of doing. He can't decide if he wants the public option, he can't decide if he supports Van Jones, he can't decide if the Cambridge police are stupid.
And most importantly, he can't decide what to do in Afghanistan.
The problem with that is that it costs lives.
Like the eight soldiers lost in combat on Saturday. Obama's dithering, and the asinine public debate his administration is having with itself, probably cost those men their lives. That's not a policy matter, that's eight funerals and eight broken families and eight reasons why incompetence is intolerable. In the blinding glare of his arrogance and vanity, our president seems to have forgotten than there is a real world out there where what he says matters.
Especially on the battlefield.
For the last three weeks, the administration has carried on an unprecedented argument about what to do in Afghanistan. The argument has been within the administration, it has been between very strong members of it. And above it all, the president has sat, not giving a clue how he feels or what he might decide. In the vacuum of indecisiveness, others have taken the lead and leaked their positions to the press.
So we know that the vice president and the chief of staff want to pull out of Afghanistan, and the generals and the secretary of Defense want to go in bigger, and several other members of the cabinet want something in the middle. The vice president wants missiles, the generals want to pull back to the cities, everybody is taking a position -- except the president who campaigned that he was going to escalate the war in Afghanistan. What he called the "right war" doesn't look so right right now.
And that has been all over CNN.
And Al Jazira.
And in the caves of Pakistan -- and the palaces of Saudi Arabia -- that vascillation is visible and inviting. It indicates a weakness of command decisiveness that breeds contempt and danger.
Take Saturday's attack.
It occurred way out in the middle of nowhere, on the Pakistan and Afghanistan border. Some 700 members of a local tribal militia poured out of a mosque and took to the field against a tiny American outpost. They were disciplined, effective and well armed. Local militia. Not Taliban. Local militia. And we lost eight GIs, one of the highest tolls of the Afghanistan campaign.
Why did the militia attack?
Well, could it have had anything to do with the recommendation of the president's general -- remember, Obama sacked the predecessor to make room for his guy -- that the U.S. pull out of remote and tribal areas and focus its fighting and nation-building efforts on Afghan cities? The report under consideration would have removed American troops from the region of Saturday's assault. That recommendation is being debated in the press by the Obama inner circle. And it seems pretty clear that the local militia wanted its voice heard. It cast 700 votes for the general's plan.
And eight men had to die as a result.
All because Obama can't decide and his people can't keep a secret.
Even if there are divisions within his administration, if different people are trying to convince him of different things, how possibly does that end up on the evening news? How many people had to violate the trust of their security clearances to leak that to the news? Troops on the ground often can't even tell their wives where they are, but the people at the highest levels of the government can blab strategy arguments to the press?
This open-door debate the administration is holding emboldens our enemy and endangers our troops. Further, it demoralizes our troops.
The enemies of America know our weakness and inability to decide and are acting strategically based on that knowledge. We are letting them see our cards, and costing ourselves blood and treasure as a result.The Taliban doesn't need spies, it has the evening news. Never has an American administration so cavalierly passed out such damaging military information. Loose lips sink more than ships.
They also sink morale.
How must it be to be an American soldier or Marine in Afghanistan and see, week after week, that your commander in chief can't decide whether or not the mission that might take your life is worth continuing? Somebody had to go carry out those eight bodies from Saturday -- how must those soldiers feel seeing the most senior levels of the national command unable to make and implement the most fundamental of decisions. What must it feel like to go out on patrol every day and know that half the president's cabinet doesn't think you should be there -- and that the president himself can't quite decide whether to stay or go.
Our troops deserve more than that.
Make the decision soon, and make it in private. Don't give away intelligence to the enemy or discouragement to the troops. Tell your generals and secretaries and the vice president to shut their mouthes. National security debates are conducted by people with security clearances for a reason -- because nobody is supposed to know.
Get their advice, make your decision, and do what you're going to do.
Either way.
But this back and forth, this inability to make a decision, that gets our GIs killed.
As the last weekend has proven.
At least he could.
It is very interesting that when Bush was President the tally of fallen soldiers was printed every day in our local newpaper. It disappeared the day Obama took office.
He has no idea what he's doing and as a result a number of our enemies are playing him for the fool he is.
This is the money quote in this article. It is so true.
How terrible to be the parents of those who give their lives on a mission that we're simply going to pull out of. Decide, Mr Obama: either stay in or get out. If you stay in, then stay in to win. If you get out, then do it quickly.
Our soldiers are being slaughtered by indecisiveness by a puppet POTUS. Our military leader in charge of the mission is being scolded for telling the truth. As an American I am ashamed of this President, his ego and his pomp. What's the charade? Get out minds on Afghanistan and off of Health Care so he can slip that through Congress? or get Cap and Trade through while he is making headlines going to Copenhagen with the wife?
I hate to say it, but another 9/11 is right around the corner thanks to the stupidity of this Administration.
He is very good at slight of hand. But now we are watching, it’s not so easy then.
152 dead American soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen since the new ROE to avoid civilian casualties were announced on July 2
Rest in Peace
152)10-04-2009 NAME NOT RELEASED YET
151)10-03-2009 NAME NOT RELEASED YET
150)10-03-2009 NAME NOT RELEASED YET
149)10-03-2009 NAME NOT RELEASED YET
148)10-03-2009 NAME NOT RELEASED YET
147)10-03-2009 NAME NOT RELEASED YET
146)10-03-2009 NAME NOT RELEASED YET
145)10-03-2009 NAME NOT RELEASED YET
144)10-03-2009 NAME NOT RELEASED YET
143)10-03-2009 Owens, Brandon A Private 1st Class
142)10-03-2009 Smith, Aaron M. Sergeant
141)10-02-2009 Rabjohn, Thomas D. Sergeant
140)10-02-2009 Sklaver, Benjamin A. Captain
139)10-02-2009 Newton Jr., Alan H. Private 1st Class
138)10-02-2009 Adams, Ryan C. Sergeant
137)10-01-2009 Hercules Jr., Russell S.Specialist
136)9-30-2009 French IV, Alex Staff Sergeant
135)9-28-2009 Shaw, Christopher D. Sergeant 1st Class
134)9-28-2009 Martin III, Jack M. Staff Sergeant
133)9-26-2009 Chrobot, Jordan L. Lance Corporal
132)9-26-2009 Graham, Kevin J. Specialist
131)9-24-2009 Malone, John J. Lance Corporal
130)9-24-2009 Reynolds, Titus R. Sergeant
129)9-24-2009 Smith, Edward Bernard Sergeant
128)9-24-2009 White, Joseph V. Specialist
127)9-21-2009 Meredith, William L. Private 1st Class
126)9-20-2009 Kowall, Corey J. Specialist
125)9-20-2009 Winkleman, Damon G. Specialist
124)9-19-2009 Davis, David A. Sergeant
123)9-17-2009 Monroe, Jeremiah J. Private 1st Class
122)9-16-2009 Gordon II, Robert D. Sergeant
121)9-16-2009 Bohle, Bradley S. Sergeant 1st Class
120)9-16-2009 McCloskey, Shawn P. Sergeant 1st Class
119)9-16-2009 Mills, Joshua M. Staff Sergeant
118)9-15-2009 Void, Demetrius L. Specialist
117)9-14-2009 Wright II, David T. 1st Lieutenant
116)9-14-2009 McConnell, Andrew H. Sergeant
115)9-12-2009 Hornbarger, James R Technical Sergeant
114)9-12-2009 Berky, Bryan D. Staff Sergeant
113)9-12-2009 Juden, Tyler A. Sergeant
112)9-12-2009 Cox, Daniel L. Specialist
111)9-12-2009 Allen, Nekl B. Staff Sergeant
110)9-11-2009 Martinek, Matthew M. Private 1st Class
109)9-10-2009 Fowlkes, Christopher S. Lance Corporal
108)9-10-2009 Parten, Tyler E. 1st Lieutenant
107)9-08-2009 Layton, James R. Petty Officer 3rd Class
106)9-08-2009 Johnson Jr., Edwin Wayne Gunnery Sergeant
105)9-08-2009 Johnson, Michael E. 1st Lieutenant
104)9-08-2009 Kenefick, Aaron M. Staff Sergeant
103)9-06-2009 Haney, Randy M. Sergeant
102)9-06-2009 Murphrey, Michael C. Staff Sergeant
101)9-05-2009 Loney, Youvert Sergeant
100)9-05-2009 Meadows, Joshua S. Captain
99)9-04-2009 Andrews, Darryn D. 2nd Lieutenant
98)9-03-2009 Baltazar Jr., Christopher S. Lance Corporal
97)9-03-2009 Castiglione, Benjamin P. Petty Officer 3rd Class
96)8-31-2009 Welch, Jonathan D. Specialist
95)8-31-2009 Brochu, Jordan M. Private 1st Class
94)8-31-2009 Hall, David R. Lance Corporal
93)8-31-2009 Walshe, Tyler R. Specialist
92)8-29-2009 Hario, Eric W Private 1st Class
91)8-29-2009 Dahlke, Jason Sean Staff Sergeant
90)8-28-2009 Wheeler III, Abraham Sherrod Specialist
89)8-27-2009 Wildes, Matthew Everett Private 1st Class
88)8-26-2009 Hogan, Donald James Lance Corporal
87)8-26-2009 Curtiss, Kurt Robert Staff Sergeant
86)8-25-2009 Hallett III, John Louis Captain
85)8-25-2009 Jenkins, Cory J. Captain
84)8-25-2009 Williams, Dennis Michael Specialist
83)8-25-2009 Sawyer, Ronald Wayne Sergeant 1st Class
82)8-22-2009 Morin, Darby Todd Corporal
81)8-22-2009 Lobosco, Andrew Thomas Staff Sergeant
80)8-21-2009 Ingram, Matthew Lee Sergeant
79)8-20-2009 Pellerin, Justin Reid Specialist
78)8-20-2009 Wolverton, Brian Michael Not Yet Reported
77)8-19-2009 Dumont Jr., Paul Edmond Specialist
76)8-18-2009 Benjamin, Adam Frank Gunnery Sergeant
75)8-18-2009 Yanney, Jonathan Christopher Private 1st Class
74)8-18-2009 Walker, Morris Lewis Not Yet Reported
73)8-18-2009 Tom, Troy Orion Specialist
72)8-18-2009 Crisostomo, Jose San Nicolas 1st Sergeant
71)8-18-2009 Bowen, Clayton Patrick Private 1st Class
70)8-17-2009 Damas, Leopold Fred Lance Corporal
69)8-16-2009 Woods Jr., William Brian Sergeant 1st Class
68)8-16-2009 Roush, Nicholas Ryan Corporal
67)8-14-2009 Bernard, Joshua Matthew Lance Corporal
66)8-13-2009 Cahir, William John Sergeant
65)8-12-2009 Tinsley, John Captain
64)8-10-2009 Ferrell, Bruce Earnest Lance Corporal
63)8-09-2009 Schimmel, Patrick Wayne Lance Corporal
62)8-08-2009 Swanson, Matthew Kalen Samue Specialist
61)8-08-2009 Olvera, Javier Lance Corporal 20
60)8-08-2009 Smith, Tara Jean Staff Sergeant
59)8-07-2009 Burrow, Dennis James Lance Corporal
58)8-07-2009 Freeman, Matthew Charles Hays Captain
57)8-07-2009 Evans Jr., Jerry Randall Sergeant
56)8-06-2009 Hoskins, Jay Michael Sergeant
55)8-06-2009 Guzman, Rivera Christian Armando Corporal
54)8-06-2009 Argentine, James David Lance Corporal
53)8-06-2009 Babine, Travis Thornton Lance Corporal
52)8-05-2009 Garcia, Anthony Christian Petty Officer 3rd Class
51)8-02-2009 Summers III, Severin West Sergeant 1st Class
50)8-02-2009 Luce Jr., Ronald George Captain
49)8-02-2009 Granado III, Alejandro Sergeant 1st Class
48)8-01-2009 Walls, Jonathan Michael Corporal
47)8-01-2009 Fitzgibbon, Patrick Scott Private
46)8-01-2009 Jones, Richard Kelvin Private
45)7-31-2009 Miller, Alexander Joel Specialist
44)7-30-2009 Posey, Gregory Alan Lance Corporal
43)7-30-2009 Stroud, Jonathan Fulton Lance Corporal
42)7-29-2009 Vose III, Douglas Melville Chief Warrant Officer
41)7-29-2009 Smith, Gerrick David Sergeant
40)7-25-2009 Vincent, Donald Wayne Private 1st Class
39)7-24-2009 Coleman, Justin Dean Specialist
38)7-23-2009 Charpentier, Andrew Scott Aviation Electronics Technician Airman
37)7-23-2009 Lane, Ryan H. Sergeant
36)7-23-2009 Xiarhos, Nicholas George Corporal
35)7-23-2009 Lasher, Jeremy Scott Lance Corporal
34)7-22-2009 Neff Jr, Randy L.J. Specialist
33)7-22-2009 Rimer, Joshua James Sergeant
32)7-21-2009 Morales, Raymundo Porras Sergeant
31)7-20-2009 Pratt, Dennis Joseph Private 1st Class
30)7-20-2009 Roughton, Andrew Jay Specialist
29)7-20-2009 Owens Jr., Gregory Sergeant
28)7-20-2009 Lightfoot, Anthony Marquis Specialist
27)7-18-2009 Kopp, Benjamin Stephen Corporal
26)7-18-2009 Gramith, Thomas Joseph Captain
25)7-18-2009 Mcdowell, Mark Russell Captain
24)7-14-2009 Fabrizi, Jason John Sergeant 1st Class
23)7-13-2009 Spicer, David Shane Staff Sergeant
22)7-13-2009 Heede Jr, Michael Wayne Sergeant
21)7-12-2009 Lindstrom, Eric James Staff Sergeant
20)7-11-2009 Hatfield, Jerome David Master Sergeant
19)7-11-2009 Barbozaflores, Pedro Antonio Lance Corporal
18)7-10-2009 Lembke, Matthew Ryan Corporal
17)7-09-2009 Farris, Joshua Ray Specialist
16)7-09-2009 Missman, Gregory James Specialist
15)7-08-2009 Roy, Michael C. Sergeant
14)7-08-2009 Hager, Roger Gary Michael Lance Corporal
13)7-08-2009 Tate, Darren Ethan Aviation Ordnanceman Airman
12)7-08-2009 Hayes, John Eric Sergeant
11)7-07-2009 Talbert, Christopher M. Specialist
10)7-06-2009 Garner,Mark A. Captain
9)7-06-2009 Chavers, Brock H. Sergeant
8)7-06-2009 Hosford, Chester W. Specialist
7)7-06-2009 Williams, Derwin I. 2nd Lieutenant
6)7-06-2009 Johnson, Issac L. Specialist
5)7-06-2009 Randolph, Tony Michael Petty Officer Second Class
4)7-06-2009 Gideon, Nicolas H. J. Private 1st Class
3)7-04-2009 Fairbairn, Aaron E. Private 1st Class
2)7-04-2009 Casillas, Justin A. Private 1st Class
1)7-02-2009 Sharp, Charles S. Lance Corporal
US Military Fatalities in Afghanistan By Year
Year US
2001 12
2002 49
2003 48
2004 52
2005 99
2006 98
2007 117
2008 155
2009 239
Total 869
Man is the military gonna be pissed at zero, and he’s counting on them to fight the citizens when the country is turned upside down? Aint gonna happen zero.
The left NEVER cared about the dead soldiers, unless they could use them to get elected. If those who voted for Obama aren’t sick about this, they have no conscience. I suspect that is the case.
"Training will be at Camp Robinson, then the soldiers will go to Fort Chaffee where they’ll be trained on their specific mission of finding and disarming IED’s. The 209 soldiers will then go to Fort McCoy in Wisconsin later this year before heading to Afghanistan early next year for a year deployment.
OBAMA!!
sw
He’s not avoiding a decision. He’s voting “present”.
I hereby challenge EVERY FREEPER who has not made a donation to Free Republic to make a donation of just $10 and see what happens to the Freep-A-Thon!
If you have never donated to FR, please think about donating at least $10 (or whatever you can afford) to help keep FR up and running. Thanks! :)
Why did the militia attack?
Secretary Robert Gates On Afghanistan: “I Try To Avoid Terms Like Winning And Losing”
• I EXPECT LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS TO SCRUTINIZE AND LIMIT THE USE OF FORCE LIKE CLOSE AIR SUPPORT AGAINST RESIDENTIAL COMPOUNDS AND OTHER LOCATIONS LIKELY TO PRODUCE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS GUIDANCE....THE USE OF AIR TO GROUND MUNITIONS AND INDIRECT FIRES AGAINST RESIDENTIAL COMPOUNDS IS ONLY AUTHORIZED UNDER VERY LIMITED AND PRESCRIBED CONDITIONS......
....ANY ENTRY INTO AN AFGHAN HOUSE SHOULD ALWAYS BE ACCOMPLISHED BY AFGHAN NATIONAL SECURITY FORCES, WITH THE SUPPORT OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND ACCOUNT FOR THE UNIQUE CULTURAL SENSITIVITIES TOWARD LOCAL WOMEN.
..NO ISAF FORCES WILL ENTER OR FIRE UPON,OR FIRE INTO A MOSQUE OR ANY RELIGIOUS OR HISTORICAL SITE EXCEPT IN SELF-DEFENSE. ALL SEARCHES AND ENTRIES FOR ANY OTHER REASON WILL BE CONDUCTED BY ANSF.
Excerpts from General McChrystal TACTICAL DIRECTIVE -6 JULY 09.
Obambi and General MCkoocoo handcuff our troops.
they’ll be trained on their specific mission of finding and disarming IED’s.
/////////////////////////////////
WHY CAN’T THE AFGHANISTAN SOLDIERS DO THIS CRAP? TRAIN THEM DAMIT
OBAMA WILL OF COURSE LOVE THE KILLING OFF OF OUR BEST MOST COURAGEOUS FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE LOVING CITIZENS - WHICH ARE OBAMBI’S FUTURE ENEMIES.
I'm past the point of caring whether this is by design, or simply incompetence. This guy needs to be removed from office. I don't care how historical the election was. This is beyond partisan bickering. He's not fit for office, and everybody knows it.
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