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.
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 ...
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.
The only "exit strategy" we should be thinking about is called "victory"!
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?
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.
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.
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.
It will not be termed a surge, but rather a seep.
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.
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...
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.
We’re NOT trying to conquer Afganistan...we’re trying to FREE it...
Well outside the previous paradigm...
Are you seriously trying to claim that 99% of the taliban has nothing to do with AL Q?
?!?
Well far be it from me to be a proponent of the impossible, then.
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 ... ;-)
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).
BTW, where do you come from?
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:
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.
“Here is the background info: “
Many thanks!
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