Obama puts brake on Afghan surge

[Fireweed247]

PRESIDENT Barack Obama has demanded that American defence chiefs review their strategy in Afghanistan before going ahead with a troop surge.

There is concern among senior Democrats that the military is preparing to send up to 30,000 extra troops without a coherent plan or exit strategy.

The Pentagon was set to announce the deployment of 17,000 extra soldiers and marines last week but Robert Gates, the defence secretary, postponed the decision after questions from Obama.

The president was concerned by a lack of strategy at his first meeting with Gates and the US joint chiefs of staff last month in “the tank”, the secure conference room in the Pentagon. He asked: “What’s the endgame?” and did not receive a convincing answer.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5683681.ece

GObama:luvya:

(I'm reposting this because I just saw it last night in GD Politics and didn't get a chance to recommend it and thought others might have missed it too. This is the best news I have heard in a very long time. This is just as thousands of of Alaskan soldiers are getting prepared to ship out in the next month. I wonder if the trip will be canceled? )

[spanone]

1. wow, a president who 'thinks' before he acts, now there's change

[jwirr]

2. As far back as Barry Goldwater we have been warned not to go to

war in that country because the terrain alone makes it un-winnable. Someone needs to really think about this.

[merh]

3. That is what a leader is supposed to do

I fear that his taking on the military - Kennedy did.

Perhaps that is why he is trying to form the coalition that folks perceive as his catering to the repugs, he knows there is strength in numbers and he needs all the support he can get to stand up to those that have corrupted our government over the last few decades.

[Fireweed247]

4. I know what you mean about Kennedy

but the military(see below) and CIA have been dumbed on down with the rest of the country so if they try anything hopefully they will fail and expose themselves at the same time. Obama cannot just back down and be bulled by this government mob.



The 9,600-ton warship ran aground Thursday night about a half-mile offshore from Honolulu International Airport

[merh]

5. I think that is why he insists on trying to reach accross the aisle

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.