Obama's Afghan Plan: About 40K More

[SHRED]

From escalating war, covering for Bush crimes, lack of gay rights, lack of transparency, to hiring those who oversaw one of the worst financial meltdowns in modern history...what's next?

Oh yeah...a shitty health care bill.


WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2009
Obama's Afghan Plan: About 40K More Troops
CBS Exclusive: Sources Say Force Will Grow to 100,000 - Nearly Filling Gen. McChrystal's Request; Long-Term Stay Planned
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/09/world/main5592551.shtml


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[NYCGirl]

1. I believe that is WRONG:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/09/wh-denies-afghan-decision-made-as-tensions-flare-with-pentagon/

[Enrique]

3. it could be right

the report could be right, but the White House is not ready to announce it yet.

Or the report could be wrong as well.

[ClarkUSA]

16. This mediawhore story has been debunked but thanks for bringing it to DU for the 40th time. nt

Link http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8746419&mesg_id=8746419

[izquierdista]

2. I take it your avatar could have done better?

Yes, a hell of a lot better.

[ProSense]

4. Fred Kagan of the American Enterprise Institute says a slow motion surge...."

That should have been a big glaring clue.

[NYCGirl]

5. Those who want to believe the worst often miss clues. Or hope others don't

read the article and miss them, too.

[Sinti]

6. Did you read this part at the top?

Editor's note, 9:57 p.m. EDT: The White House has issued the following response to this story, attributed to White House National Security Advisor James Jones:

"Reports that President Obama has made a decision about Afghanistan are absolutely false. He has not received final options for his consideration, he has not reviewed those options with his national security team, and he has not made any decisions about resources. Any reports to the contrary are completely untrue and come from uninformed sources."

I'm waiting to hear it from the horse's mouth.

[prolesunited]

7. You're right

McCain/Palin would have been a better choice. I sooo wish they were in office right now. Everything would be swell.

[Skittles]

8. get it through you tiny pinhead

just because we didn't get the worst we could have got it doesn't mean we have the BEST WE COULD HAVE

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Actually, yeah.

God, can you imagine how fucked up it would be if Clinton were president? Good lord.

[Skittles]

11. actually, no

I did not support her due her stance on IRW but I don't think she would have done worse than this

[impik]

17. I wonder who's the "best you could have".

[prolesunited]

19. Wow, you're really calling me a pinhead?!? From you, that hurts.

Personally, I'm a progressive/socialist, which I would think has been evident after this many years here.

My point is that when it came to the last election, we were left with two choices: Obama or McCain.

No matter what could of or should have been, those were the choices in the last election. I had no illusions that Obama was a progressive. He campaigned as a centrist Dem and never vowed to take down the corporations.

Have I been disappointed with some of the things he's done? Most definitely. Surprised no. Will I continue to advocate for a better way? Absolutely.

Do I think the country will embrace my personal vision of true equality for all, less corporate influence, more government help for the poor/middle class, simpler lifestyles with less consumerism?... The list could go on. That's not likely in this lifetime, but I think with Obama and the Democrats in power -- however imperfect that they are -- that we will at least be moving in the right direction and they are definitely a damn site better than the Republicans.

After years of Republican influence and propaganda, the best we could have is going to take more than nine months to achieve and convince a brainwashed public that millions of Europeans don't have it wrong.

Social Security and Medicare in their original form wouldn't have passed muster either. But, once the framework was there, we can begin to improve them. We really are on the same side, even if you think I'm a pinhead.

[dionysus]

22. don't know why, but you've loathed him even before the election. why are you so pissed?

:shrug:

[Skittles]

25. I do NOT loathe Obama

I campaigned for him and voted for him

[Kaleva]

10. Really!

:)

[Jennicut]

12. This says it all:

"The two senior administration officials suggested the information is being leaked by Pentagon sources who are trying to box Obama in by setting public expectations that he will send close to 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan as McChrystal requested.

"People at the Pentagon are trying to force a certain outcome," one of the senior administration officials told CNN."http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/09/wh-denies-afghan-decision-made-as-tensions-flare-with-pentagon/

Well, duh. Of course they would do this. McCryhstal already spoke out against doing anything less then what he wanted overseas awhile ago. Obama is in a major tug of war with these assholes. I hope he makes the right decision and does not back down from it. Obama is in a tough situation, his own generals want more war. It is almost like mutiny. But he is the President and gets to make the final call. I hope it it the correct one.

[uponit7771]

13. Didn't McCryhstal already ask for more troops and recieve them early this year?

[Jennicut]

15. Yes, Obama sent the initial troops earlier this year. I think it was close to 17,000.

Then McCrystal was sent in to do a "review" and came up with the 60,000 plus # needed to do a counter insurgency. And he has undermined the President at every step. Gates brought him in to do the review. The President has to remain strong or risk letting the military control the decisions on Afghanistan. Conservatives are foaming at the mouth for Obama to make a decision and are angry that a civilian will make the final decision here, as carefully thinking about what to do in a major war is a bad thing and as if the military is not separate and under the President's control.

[uponit7771]

14. You forgot voting along the lines of republicans cause something isn't perfect, o wait..that Kucinih

[impik]

18. Yea, but the purity! is so beautiful. Even his poop smells like roses

[dionysus]

24. he's gonna swing down on his magic flying unicorn and save us from that nasty old obama!

[TheKentuckian]

20. Obama should punt McChrystal (and probably Peterus as well) into space

He can't afford to get corralled, cowed, or bullied by the military. He's going to have to get the dog wagging the tail pretty quick or this could spiral out of control.

[vaberella]

21. I'm still trying to figure out when CBS became our President. n/t

[dionysus]

23. wow, he's just the shittiest, worst guy ever.maybe you can urge dennis to run against him!!11!!

what is it like being perpetually bitter? do you grind your teeth or anything like that?


:rofl: