tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35366449.post5032495758923474319..comments2024-03-22T02:37:10.429-05:00Comments on Political Friends: Obama Should Act in AfghanistanAndy Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659445086323172664noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35366449.post-1289761423886039572009-11-03T10:07:39.589-05:002009-11-03T10:07:39.589-05:00My understanding is that McCrystal presented the P...My understanding is that McCrystal presented the Pentagon with two different plans, one for 40,000 troops and one for 60,000 troops. Both plans detailed how these troops would be used and where they would be used. It wasn't just a "give me these troops". If that's the case, and the General is willing to stand by either of those plans, then I think President Obama needs to comply with one plan or the other. To do anything else would mean that President Obama no longer has confidence in McCrystal. If that is true, he needs to replace the general.<br /><br />Your second paragraph really worries me. In order to win the war, we may very well have to accept more deaths. Soldiers die. If used in combat, sometimes they die at a higher rate than in peace time. I don't want to belittle that point or sound flipant about it. My wife works directly with soldiers, and I have Gaurdsman that work with me. When we talk about the number of dead soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan, I put a face on those deaths.<br /><br />Having said that, the simple thought that soldiers might die is not a reason to pick any course in the war. If we are afraid to have our soldiers hurt, we should return them to the states and prepare for our eventual take over by another country that isn't afraid to use their soldiers. I would also argue that by delaying making a decision in Afghanistan, President Obama is putting soldiers at risk if the General believes we need more troops there.<br /><br />Obama should decide a course, and go with it.Andy Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03659445086323172664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35366449.post-1858562800388140662009-11-02T10:46:43.129-05:002009-11-02T10:46:43.129-05:00I don't think it's a political move. Woul...I don't think it's a political move. Would you agree to send more troops knowing that your General is settling on a number of40,000 troops? Especially when he knows he needs more than twice that amount of troops to achieve success? I don't think he's had enough time to decide on the fate of many troops' lives.<br /><br />In order to "win" this war, the U.S. would have to succumb to many more deaths per month than we've already endured. I'm not prepared for that, and I don't think Obama is either.Patricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35366449.post-74207364024994849042009-10-29T06:17:10.238-05:002009-10-29T06:17:10.238-05:00Dave,
You did see the words "I think" a...Dave,<br /><br />You did see the words "I think" and "the current rumor is". The represent statements where I am guessing, or I have read reports from "anonymous" sources. I don't put a lot of credibility in anonymous sources, so I qualify the with the "rumor" statement.<br /><br /><br />The accusation that President Bush ignored a troop request for 8 months has been discredited by a an article from the Weekly Standard. Read it <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/017/120ekabc.asp?pg=1" rel="nofollow">here</a>. I will warn you ahead of time, it is going to tell you what I have seen in a number of different sources: The Bush transition team developed a new policy for Afghanistan; the Obama Administration asked them not to release it so they could review the situation; the Obama administration then released a "new way forward" in Afghanistan a few months into the Obama presidency that looked a lot like the review the Bush administration did.<br /><br />I don't want the President to rush to judgement, but he has had plenty of time to look at what the situation is and make a decision. I truly believe this is a political move on his part. If he waits to announce a decision till late next week I will be right.Andy Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03659445086323172664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35366449.post-57547459461342858372009-10-29T01:14:39.814-05:002009-10-29T01:14:39.814-05:00Pure conjecture on your part, Andy.
Are conservat...Pure conjecture on your part, Andy.<br /><br />Are conservatives now mind readers?<br /><br />Let's not forget the fact that 8 months before Pres. Bush's presidency was to end, a memo was distributed through the White House begging for more troops in Afghanistan. Both Pres. Bush, and Vice Pres. Cheney completely, and utterly, ignored the request.<br /><br />I do think he has to make a decision soon. But frankly, I'm glad he's weighing all the options instead of doing something rash.Seattle Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35366449.post-44682117075133773342009-10-28T06:31:22.972-05:002009-10-28T06:31:22.972-05:00There is an excellent piece in the Wall Street Jou...There is an excellent piece in the Wall Street Journal on this this morning. View it <a rel="nofollow">here</a>Andy Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03659445086323172664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35366449.post-92091110595910284912009-10-28T03:10:51.624-05:002009-10-28T03:10:51.624-05:00I think he doesn't want to make the commitment...I think he doesn't want to make the commitment because it's going to be unpopular with his base and with liberal Democrats. Obama doesn't have a history of going against the liberal side of his party, that's usually the side he looks to for campaign money. The current rumor is that he will make a decision after the runoff elections in Afghanistan...which just happen to be after the elections here.Andy Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03659445086323172664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35366449.post-47270692866048539302009-10-27T18:45:18.732-05:002009-10-27T18:45:18.732-05:00I agree that the President needs to do something a...I agree that the President needs to do <i>something</i> about Afghanistan. I just heard on the news today that this month has been the deadliest for U.S. troops there in the entire war. Something needs to be done. If Obama's new strategy included increasing troop strength, then why doesn't he do what he said he would?Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17996173704045178865noreply@blogger.com