Posted on 10/08/2009 1:11:01 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
President Obama is prepared to accept some Taleban involvement in Afghanistan’s political future and is unlikely to favour a large influx of new US troops being demanded by his ground commander, a senior official said tonight.
Mr Obama appears to have been swayed in recent days by arguments from some advisers, led by Vice-President Joe Biden, that the Taleban do not pose a direct threat to the US and that there should be greater focus on tackling al-Qaeda inside Pakistan.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
No. The Taliban DOES NOT deserve any involvement in Afghanistan’s future, especially when it’s the very same Taliban that had imposed 7th century fundamentalist Islamic rule for five arduous years.
Monday, October 05, 2009 3:52:34 AM · 76 of 95
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009990698_usafghanvillage03.html
For troops, Afghanistan ‘like Vietnam without napalm’
The men of Bravo Company have a bitter description for the irrigated swath of land along the Arghandab River in Afghanistan, where 10 members of their battalion have been killed since the beginning of August: “Like Vietnam without the napalm.”
By Hal Bernton
The Seattle Times
JELAWUR, Afghanistan — The men of Bravo Company have a bitter description for the irrigated swath of land along the Arghandab River where 10 members of their battalion have been killed and 30 have been wounded since the beginning of August.
“Like Vietnam without the napalm,” said Spc. Nicholas Gojekian, 21, of Katy, Texas.
snip
Bravo Company arrived in Afghanistan with 24 Strykers, the first of the eight-wheeled combat vehicles outfitted with high-tech communications and surveillance gear to arrive in Afghanistan. A third of the vehicles are now out of service due to bomb attacks or maintenance.
The bomb threats are so pervasive that Stryker drivers have abandoned some stretches of road in favor of driving through the deserts on different routes. The road to one smaller outpost has so many homemade bombs that the soldiers usually arrive on foot, a treacherous hike due to buried land mines.
snip
The company had 152 soldiers when it arrived, which was more than a dozen short of its authorized strength. Since then, some platoons have been depleted by injuries, including concussions from bomb blasts.
“I don’t have enough troops for everything they want me to do here,” said Capt. Jamie Pope, the company commander, a West Point graduate from Sherrills Ford, N.C. One platoon authorized to have more than 40 soldiers is now trying to get by with fewer than 32 soldiers. After guard duty is assigned, a platoon may be at less than full strength for patrols.
“We may go with 10 to 11 guys, when we like to have 14 to 21,” said Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Dimico, a 1st platoon soldier from Yakima. Another platoon that arrived with 39 soldiers was operating last week with 22, according to Sgt. 1st Class Zalman Dass from Renton.
Thanks for your service. Please know that you are serving a country gone mad, and most here are not worthy of your sacrifice, or that of your family. Come home safe.
Obama’s warped views.
What changed Obama’s mind was when the columnist George Will called for a pull-out of American troops from Afghanistan.
Obama couldn’t sleep at night knowing he was to the right of George Will on any issue.
I think Will was wrong . . but it still is true that George Will’s article was quite influential in causing the present policy crisis.
Under obama, it is a distinct PROBABILITY. He is reversing ALL of the good that has been done in Afghanistan AND Iraq. By design. Iran is emboldened by this and will take every opportunity to do as much damage as it can and there will be nothing we can do about it. Not because we can’t. Because we WON’T.
Special prayers up for your friend Sgt Roback. Prayers for you and your unit during your deployment to Iraq.
“I think Will was wrong . . but it still is true that George Will’s article was quite influential in causing the present policy crisis.”
This is an attempt at humor, right? Ha Ha. Velly funnee.
No. I have to place the blame squarely on Obama.
But you know what? Things being so otherworldly these days, it just might be true. He gets his wittle feelings hurt so easily ya know. Probably the criticism from the intrepid pontificator was more than he could bear.
Maybe you can get reassigned to ridiculing those who would like the president’s birth information to be verified. You’re striking out here big-time.
He can now has the justification for not sending additional troops. Don't be surprised when you hear him say that he's strategically "re-deploying" our troops in Afghanistan to other regions to fight the real terrorists, Al Qaeda.
This will satisfy the anti-war kooks and the liberal MSM can tout that 0bama has re-prioritized the war on terror to more effectively fight Al Qaeda on different fronts. He's already eluded to the notion that there is no war with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Slimy bassturt!!!
bam has declared war on America, period. Al Qaeda didn’t do this much damage to this country in the past 20 years. They killed us, but they couldn’t destroy us. bam is killing us AND destroying us.
This is actually very consistent.
He has no problem with Hamas ruling the Palestinians, so why should the Taliban in Afghanistan be any different?
I tend to agree, on surface at least. There is a lot of money in the sale of equipment to the US Govt. for the Afghani military. It is like a micro NATO being built. Will Obama leave all those brand new Russian helicopters behind? And why won’t he “Change” and have us set up U.S. production?
...cue the sound of crickets....
“Community Organizing?”
That’s a perfect description.
The chasm between the allied armed forces in the field and the arm chair bureaucrats presided over by TOTUS is a deep one.
As long as The Community Organizer (with Plugs O’ Biden at his side) is in charge and still mulling over the decision whether to listen to General McChrystal, we are screwing over the Afghan people as well as our troops.
Exactly.
The majority of rural Afghanis want the vermin - Taliban and aQ - out.
Agreed.
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