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Democrats in revolt over Barack Obama’s troop surge
London Times ^ | 11/29/2009 | Marie Colvin

Posted on 11/29/2009 7:29:04 AM PST by Saije

Barack Obama's much-vaunted eloquence faces the biggest test of his presidential career this week when he takes to the stage at West Point military academy to explain to a nation that thought it had elected an anti-war president why he is escalating the conflict in Afghanistan.

After almost three months of agonising, nine war councils and endless leaks, the president will finally make his views known on Tuesday when he is expected to announce that he is sending about 30,000 more troops. This will push up American forces to 100,000 and the total number of allied forces to almost 140,000, as many troops as the Soviet Union had in Afghanistan.

The carefully chosen backdrop cannot disguise Obama’s dilemma. Somehow he has to convince his own public that the United States has an exit strategy and will not become bogged down, as it did in Vietnam, while making clear to the Taliban and Pakistan that it has not lost its resolve and will stay as long as it takes.

Obama’s toughest challenge will be to win over his most loyal political supporters. He is facing a growing revolt in the Democratic party over why the US needs to be in Afghanistan at all when the real threat — Al-Qaeda — is in Pakistan, and over the spiralling cost in both lives and dollars.

“I think the operative question is why we’re there,” said Anna Eshoo, a Democratic congresswoman who sits on the House intelligence committee. “That’s what I’ll be wanting to hear from the president.”***

The annual bill for the extra troops is estimated at $30 billion (£18.2 billion), on top of the $10 billion-a-month the war is costing. “We’re still not out of Iraq and we’re getting deeper into Afghanistan, both of which are hugely expensive,” she said.

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; democrats; obama; war
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To: fwdude
...What they really want is for use to disband the military...

Bloated, inefficient, Nationalized Health Care will so grossly strain the national budget, as to force a severe reduction of the military. Western Europe has a hollowed military; Britain's military is being hollowed; and the USA's military is being targeted.

41 posted on 11/29/2009 8:59:17 AM PST by ricks_place
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To: Saije
Somehow he has to convince his own public that the United States has an exit strategy

The only "exit strategy" we should be thinking about is called "victory"!

42 posted on 11/29/2009 9:08:44 AM PST by Gritty (The world divides between those who seek to support or destroy American values- Con Coughlin)
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To: Batrachian

I’ll give you the real reason we’re still there and must remain there until complete victory is achieved, no matter how long it takes or how much it costs.

We where attacked on September 11, 2001 by elements of Al Qaeda, a terrorist organization based in Afghanistan. They are still there (and in other places). The Taliban, who aided them, are still there (and in other places). Until such time as these enemies are completely and utterly defeated, we must stay and fight. This should be beyond politics and all other considerations are secondary.

The only “exit strategy” is complete victory, even if that means going through the mouth of hell. Maybe it’s easy for me to say it, since I’m sitting in my easy chair and risking nothing, but I’m a veteran and have to right to say it.

Are you convinced yet?


and when will the final victory happen 2050 ?
btw. i guess 99,9% of the people our soldiers keep killing day by day have NOTHING to do with al Qaeda. if we want to fight terrorist we could invade Somalia for example too. they just will move to other places as they did in Afghanistan. Now the troops have to die because “we” are protecting corrupt radical islamist from corrupt ultra radical Islamists. if you think we can win this then please let me know how. btw. NO one other than the “home team” has ever won anything in afghanistan in history.


43 posted on 11/29/2009 9:13:15 AM PST by darkside321
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To: digger48

It should be fun to watch the democrats fight with Obama, but it’s not because the lives of our troops are in jeopardy as a result of Obama and his absurd Rules of Engagement.

You’re right....these libs ARE revolting.


44 posted on 11/29/2009 9:16:21 AM PST by july4thfreedomfoundation (A Jimmy Carter got us a Ronald Reagan.....a Barack Obama will get us a Sarah Palin)
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To: Sherman Logan
"Excellent thought. How would you define "complete victory" in Aghanistan or against al Quaeda?"

First of all, let's start thinking of ways to win, instead of constantly thinking of how we can't win, or how it's a no win situation. We have to reorient our thinking away from defeatism.

As for how to define complete victory, I'll do that for you now. I define it as when Al Qaeda and the Taliban have been completely destroyed and have no members left alive or free. They no longer exist as viable organizations. They can never resurface and this threat is eliminated forever.

Cutting and running is certainly no strategy for victory. Let's always keep that word in our minds: Victory. Breath it in great big deep breaths. Savor it. Make it your watchword.

45 posted on 11/29/2009 9:19:28 AM PST by Batrachian
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To: Renderofveils
Obama’s toughest challenge will be to win over his most loyal political supporters.

His entire decision (or non-decision) on Afghanistan is politically motivated. He's going to put on a show at West Point and blame the former Commander in Chief's failure to capture Bin Laden as justification for committing more troops. He is the ulitmate coward.

46 posted on 11/29/2009 9:19:37 AM PST by jersey117
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To: Yardstick

It will not be termed a surge, but rather a seep.


47 posted on 11/29/2009 9:21:11 AM PST by dtrpscout (A bad dog is better than most good people.)
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To: darkside321
These are good left wing talking points. Are you sure you're on the right forum? The left loves talking about all the civilians we're killing and how we can't win. They positively gloat about it.

Besides, what if it is 2050? What's the hurry? Should we have imposed an artificial deadline on the cold war as well?

Stop this defeatist talk or go away.

48 posted on 11/29/2009 9:27:12 AM PST by Batrachian
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To: canuck_conservative

9/11?...didnt you get the memo?

We’re suppossed to be over 9/11....all the enlightend Liberals have been saying so for years....

Hell...they dont even consider it an act of terrosism anymore...just another man caused disaster...


49 posted on 11/29/2009 9:31:50 AM PST by Crim
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To: Batrachian

have i said that the 99,9% are civillians??? i said they have nothing to do with al quaeda which is a fact. btw. you will not tell me how i should write my posts.


50 posted on 11/29/2009 9:34:08 AM PST by darkside321
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To: darkside321

We’re NOT trying to conquer Afganistan...we’re trying to FREE it...

Well outside the previous paradigm...


51 posted on 11/29/2009 9:34:50 AM PST by Crim
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To: darkside321

Are you seriously trying to claim that 99% of the taliban has nothing to do with AL Q?

?!?


52 posted on 11/29/2009 9:36:10 AM PST by Crim
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To: Sherman Logan
We have the ability to kill all Muslims, but not to control them.

Well far be it from me to be a proponent of the impossible, then.


Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

53 posted on 11/29/2009 9:42:58 AM PST by The Comedian (Evil can only succeed if good men don't point at it and laugh.)
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To: silverleaf

54 posted on 11/29/2009 9:44:12 AM PST by mirkwood (Never mistake motion for action-Hemingway)
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To: Saije
I'd heard these figures elsewhere but they seem inflated. First of all a lot of the military are on salary regardless of where they serve. Secondly adding 30,000 soldiers for 30 billion equals $1 million per soldier. The full annual cost makes it $1.5 million per soldier.

I know there's a lot of equipment and materiel involved but that still seems high. Not suggesting we need cost cutting - just maybe better accounting ... ;-)

55 posted on 11/29/2009 9:46:01 AM PST by Tunehead54 (Nothing funny here ;-)
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To: Crim

shure! Al Qaeda is a global terror organisation. who once has operated in afghanistan too. (most because of the Taliban did just not care that they have been there).
but they have moved on to other places which are more safe for them long ago. so the troops still kill radical muslims (taliban) this is true but they have nothing to do with Al Qaeda. btw. Afghanistan is full of radical muslims. (the people we put in power there are not much bether then the taliban).


56 posted on 11/29/2009 9:49:03 AM PST by darkside321
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To: Saije
My sad take on all of this... Obama wants 100,00 of our best pinned down in Afghanistan so they are off shore and unable to assist in the pending coup’...
57 posted on 11/29/2009 10:10:48 AM PST by April Lexington (Study the constitution so you know what they are taking away!)
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To: darkside321
You get your facts either from Al Qaeda or the DNC, both of whom are after the same thing, and so are you. Your defeatist talk makes the enemy smile and should be crushed.

BTW, where do you come from?

58 posted on 11/29/2009 2:58:17 PM PST by Batrachian
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To: nralife
Here is the background info:

Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News

When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport , Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.

During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport , Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: 'See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home,' he said 'They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should.'

Here's another great one:

Image Hosting by imagefra.me

Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News

The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. 'I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it,' she said. 'I think that's what he would have wanted.'

God bless those who sacrifice so much.

59 posted on 11/29/2009 7:02:22 PM PST by pke
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To: pke

“Here is the background info: “

Many thanks!


60 posted on 11/30/2009 1:26:29 AM PST by nralife (Sarah doesn't know it's a damn show! She thinks it's a damn fight!)
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