Excerpts from Obama Speech on Afghanistan ("Begin Transfer Out July 2011")

[Hissyspit]

Source: White House

Excerpts from Obama speech on Afghanistan

By Raw Story
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 -- 6:52 pm

THE FOLLOWING ARE EXCERPTS AS RELEASED BY THE WHITE HOUSE:

PRESIDENT OBAMA: "The 30,000 additional troops that I am announcing tonight will deploy in the first part of 2010 – the fastest pace possible – so that they can target the insurgency and secure key population centers. They will increase our ability to train competent Afghan Security Forces, and to partner with them so that more Afghans can get into the fight. And they will help create the conditions for the United States to transfer responsibility to the Afghans."

"Because this is an international effort, I have asked that our commitment be joined by contributions from our allies. Some have already provided additional troops, and we are confident that there will be further contributions in the days and weeks ahead. Our friends have fought and bled and died alongside us in Afghanistan. Now, we must come together to end this war successfully. For what’s at stake is not simply a test of NATO’s credibility – what’s at stake is the security of our Allies, and the common security of the world."

"Taken together, these additional American and international troops will allow us to accelerate handing over responsibility to Afghan forces, and allow us to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011. Just as we have done in Iraq, we will execute this transition responsibly, taking into account conditions on the ground. We will continue to advise and assist Afghanistan’s Security Forces to ensure that they can succeed over the long haul. But it will be clear to the Afghan government – and, more importantly, to the Afghan people – that they will ultimately be responsible for their own country."

DEVELOPING...

Read more: http://rawstory.com/2009/12/excerpts-obama-speech-afghanistan/

[MetaTrope]

1. So with troop fatalities up 50% every year...

That should mean only about 1,400 more dead American soldiers to go. Not bad!

[saigon68]

8. "BRING EM ON" shouted the PRESENT OCCUPANT

[Ian David]

16. At least they have health care. n/t

[bring_em_home_bush]

2. "We will continue training Iraqi security forces

so this rising democracy can eventually take responsibility for its own security." G.W.B., January 30, 2005.

http://iraq.usembassy.gov/iraq/050130_bush.html

"As we deploy these reinforcements, America will take new steps to help the Afghan government mobilize more forces of its own. Afghan fighters are good fighters. If you talk to people who have been in Afghanistan, they'll tell you the Afghan troops are courageous, they just need some help. Along with the Afghan government, the United States and our allies are now launching a new initiative to double the size of the Afghan National Army over the next five years. We'll also work to increase the involvement of Afghan tribes. Local Afghan forces were key to our successes in 2001 and 2002, when we combined the 21st century capabilities of the American military with the courage of Afghan fighters on horseback. In the period ahead, we will once again encourage Afghan security forces and Afghan tribes to take a leading role in the building of a democratic Afghanistan. The Taliban and al Qaeda will not be allowed to return to power. The terrorists will suffer the same fate in Afghanistan that they are now suffering in Iraq -- and they will be defeated. (Applause)." GWB, September 9, 2008.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2008/09/mil-080909-whitehouse01.htm

[AllyCat]

27. Yeah, where have we heard all this bullshit before...

[earcandle]

3. I am so angry about Obama's lies in this speech. Does he really believe we think the crime that was

911, engineered by our government, was the responsibility of
the entire country of Afghanistan?
Of course not.  But he can stand there and mime that same old
story as the reason we are staying there.

I tell you.   This karma is so bad for the American people.
What do we do with an Afghan army that are trained as global
police and given weapons to wage war?
What do we get out of this?  Murdered?  I cannot see any sense
in any of this except that our polity has gone insane.

How do we rid ourselves of this group and put another in
place? 
There is no legal process for this to occur, is there?

We are doomed to live as murderers with our own murder coming
soon. 

I really don't get it .  Can someone please explain how this
brilliant man can behave in such an obvious stupid manner
in hopes to what?  Dupe us again?  Will those young people,
those cadets really go there and die for this shit? 
I wouldn't.  I would turn on my heels and tell them that I do
not work for fuckheads because that is what this
administration
has turned out to be.  A load of continuing fuckheads
continuing Cheney's bidding and the republican way.

I wish there was another planet I could go to.  

Only 38% of the American people approve of this.
If this is a government by the people, we have voted NO.
SO WILL HE DISRESPECT OUR NO? 

I cannot stop crying over this crudeness, this hardness that
is my country. 

[defendandprotect]

20. Great post . . .

Unfortunately, if Obama is smart he knows that 9/11 was MIHOP --

Agree with you on America's karma -- starting with dropping the Atomic bombs on Japan!

And, now, 1.5 million Muslims dead --



:eyes:

[SammyWinstonJack]

36. Brilliant? Or just a corporate tool?

:shrug: A LIAR either way.

[earcandle]

4. He blatantly stated that we DO NOT OCCUPY OTHER COUNTRIES NOR STEAL THEIR RESOURCES< and that is

exactly what we are doing there.

1984///// remember 1984..... remember 1984....

break out of this mentality. do not believe this theater.
start our own economies and leave this one behind.
they do not deserve the time of day they ask for.
they are duplicious and don't even deserve our attention.

I think I am going to forget about politics.

It is unhealthy.

[defendandprotect]

17. Obama has an odd way of confirming US corruption as he sets out to deny it . . .

is that accidental --

Like his denial that 9/11 was MIHOP --

Sounded like he knew!

[AllyCat]

25. Earcandle...I'm right there with you. This is so senseless.

And those of us who don't agree are being pilloried all over this site. As a peace activist, I have been called a neocon tonight by fellow DUers. I think I now agree with an old flame I could never get to vote. He said there was no difference between the parties. He was/is right.

[intaglio]

28. What resource is the USA stealing in Afghanistan?

I do not necessarily agree with this deployment - but I am a bit confused by your statement. There is the possible Uzbek/Pakistan oil pipeline; though that is not a resource and is highly unlikely to be completed in any circumstances.

[earcandle]

37. Drugs. Medicine. Opium Poppies. Ahhhh... what do they call this item on the black market? The one

that funds all of the crimes and wars around the world that we
don't directly fund through our government? 

[Hissyspit]

5. Obama to Send More Troops, Seek Afghanistan Exit

Source: Reuters

Obama to Send More Troops, Seek Afghanistan Exit

By REUTERS
Published: December 1, 2009
Filed at 8:14 p.m. ET

WEST POINT, New York (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Tuesday he is sending 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan by next summer to speed the battle against the Taliban and plans to start bringing some home in 18 months.

The accelerated timetable Obama unveiled in a high-stakes speech surprised some Pentagon planners who expected a 12- to 18-month period for deploying forces to bolster the 68,000 U.S. troops already in the war zone.

"As commander-in-chief, I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home," Obama told cadets at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York.

These U.S. troops, plus an expected extra contingent from NATO allies, Obama said, "will allow us to accelerate handing over responsibility to Afghan forces and allow us to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011."

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/12/01/us/politics/politics-us-afghanistan-usa-1.html?_r=1

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. Excellent summary...nt

[saigon68]

7. INSANITY

[pam4water]

12. For might makes right, until they've seen the light,..

For might makes right, until they've seen the light,
They've got to be protected. All their rights respceted!
'Til somebody we like can be elected.
The members of the cor all hate the war.
They'd rather kill them off by peaceful means.
Stop calling it agression. We hate that expression.
We only want the world to know,
We're here to help Democracy flow.
That's why they lover us everywere we go. Send the Marines.


To paraphrase Tom Lehrer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHhZF66C1Dc

[AllyCat]

24. Lehrer supported Obama in 2008. I wonder what he is thinking now

[pam4water]

26. OH I didn't konw that! Well Tom's either writing song about it :)

Or he giving him help Alzheimer now with a hammer. Wish I was 1/4 the word smith Lehrer is.

[grahamhgreen]

19. LOSER

[Bette Noir]

22. You know what I liked best about the speech?

He said "Lives and resources," instead of "blood and treasure." I am so sick of that cliche.

I think he's wrong to escalate, but at least I know he came to his decision thoughtfully.

[Bette Noir]

23. I don't know why the above posted as a response to another comment.

I had clicked on the OP.

[Hissyspit]

32. It got combined with another thread.

Actually they're both my threads.

[BobRossi]

30. We have been severely punked!

"Change" my ass!

[swilton]

34. Too many troops - Too many bases

I believe that he will send more troops - I don't believe he will implement an exit strategy

We have already invaded and occupied too many countries for too long for this to be believeable

[L0oniX]

35. Stop joining the military ...fools! Force them to start a draft.

[Grassy Knoll]

9. He became a " Blue Dog Hawk " so sad.

[RedCloud]

10. But we are no country at all, rather an Empire! Hungry for raw materials..

Just a hunch, but maybe the Taliban have moved too close to Cheney's precious pipeline.

[lib2DaBone]

11. So Sad.. We need an FDR... we got "Bush and Cheney"

[LynneSin]

31. You're kidding me right?

Did you sleep thru his speeches during his election campaign where he said 18 months timeline to get these wars wrapped up? Even I wasn't foolish to think we could just bring home everyone the day after inauguration.

And Obama compares to Bush & Cheney like I do to a Playboy Bunny.

:eyes:

[SHRED]

13. So much bullshit in the speech tonight...

...it's hard to digest.


---

[earcandle]

14. I thought so too. Another puzzle or dupeville?

[FarLeftFist]

15. OK, nothing to see here, just politics as usual.....

Now can we start working on moving American society forward.

[defendandprotect]

18. This is GD'd nonsense -- but glad he confirmed HE's "C-I-C" . . .

cause it looks more like he isn't in charge --

MIC - corporate military -- privatized military --

runaway military --


How many levels of intelligence agencies -- ??

CIA all over the map corrupting governments, including our own!!



:nuke:



PS: We need to know how much Congress, itself, is making from these wars!!

[FriendlyReminder]

21. I am so damn disappointed. UGH!

[SergeStorms]

29. 30,000 more now and in 16 months we'll bring them home........

.......unless we don't. :eyes: What are the chances of THAT happening? I'm guessing somewhere around the 100% range. Or, by that time, we'll have ourselves fully embroiled in another conflict, somewhere, and we'll need extra troops there. The military industrial complex monster must be fed. War, and it's tools, are the only things we produce in this country anymore. Can you imagine what the economy would be like if the government stopped ordering the tools of war? :wow:

This is not the change I voted for. Not even close.

[rfranklin]

33. Obama said we will begin to "transition" in 2011....

There will be no coming home for most of those soldiers.

[Name removed]

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