The 'plotting' thing in the president's speech . . .

[bigtree]

from the president's address: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/12/01/f-obama-afghanistan-speech-transcript.html


" . . . unlike Vietnam, the American people were viciously attacked from Afghanistan, and remain a target for those same extremists who are plotting along its border."


This is a misleading and specious argument the president has made against the straw man of opposition to his plan he constructed last night. Leaving aside the reality that most Vietnam comparisons to the president's actions in Afghanistan are much more complex than what he chose to outline - anyone can 'plot' against America from anywhere. The most important thing to concern ourselves with is whether they have the means and the opportunity to carry out their 'plot'.

It's not credible to claim that there is some threat 'along the border' between Pakistan and Afghanistan that has the potential to reach the U.S.. It's not even credible to claim that the 9-11 attacks came from Afghanistan, where the alleged orchestrators fled. Some Taliban there certainly did give harbor to the terror suspects, but they also offered to give them up and were turned down by the Bush administration in favor of the invasion.

Most of what our troops are fighting in Afghanistan is resistance to our 9-year occupation. That resistance is only going to deepen with every escalation of force and activity. Look at the last few months since the last escalation to defend the 'election' of Karzai. Violent attacks and killings on all sides has increased in proportion with the increase in troops and offensive missions against the Afghanistan Taliban.

Even the military admits that most of 'al-Qaeda' fled to Pakistan long ago. They are fighting specters of al-Qaeda and using the Afghanistan Taliban as scapegoats for the fugitive suspects they failed to capture or kill. This latest round of making 'space' for the afghans to 'take over' our grudge match against those remnants and ghosts is certainly going to gin-up more resistant violence.

The 'targets' the president worries about are not in the continental U.S. . . . they are the troops he's obligingly sent to the 'plotters' doorstep - just like bin-Laden and crew planned that our leadership would do in response to the plane crashes. Now we're stuck there shedding Muslim blood, fulfilling the 'plot' which began this all. And, our leaders don't seem to be able to stop themselves from compounding the folly. For the 'plotters', mission accomplished.

[optimator]

1. such outrageous claims require proof

Biden claimed today that the USA's EXISTENCE is in danger.
I'm gonna need more than "trust me" to believe such nonsense.

[AllentownJake]

2. If the elites were scared

They'd be telling us to buy war bonds and sending their own children, and not to be part of the JAG corp.

[Echo In Light]

3. Huge, motivating, justifying False flag 'reminder' around the corner?

[arcadian]

5. If something happens remind me that you said it first.

[Echo In Light]

13. Well, look at it this way; those in power realize a significant % of the global populace knows it's

... a phony war that afforded implementation of pre-arranged plans (PNAC, Patriot Act) by way of a self-inflicted 'attack.' Plus, w/the cold war over, it's obvious that vested interests require new enemies to remain lucrative. So, given that context, when any Rep of those power structures issues dire warnings, various interpretations as to the meaning - especially when such a dire warning hasn't any substantial source, or credibility - are expected. So, basically, now that it's perfectly clear to all that this phony "war" is going to be, of course, continued, it's perfectly natural to second guess strategies.

[tekisui]

6. I wouldn't be surprised if something

happened in Pakistan that further justified our escalation. In fact I expect it. The question is whether it takes place sooner to rally support, or later to prevent the 2011 start of withdrawal.

It doesn't really matter if it comes from the IS or the Taliban or any other entity. The new strategy puts us in a vulnerable position. Major attacks in the region will be used as evidence of both the failure of the strategy and the need for involvement. Disengagement is the only strategy that is practical. And, that ship has sailed.

[bigtree]

10. withdrawal

. . . depending on 'conditions on the ground'

[tekisui]

11. Yep, that could very quickly turn in to never.

[bigtree]

21. the exit date is bogus

It's a bluff to scare the Afghan regime into doing what they want them to.

[NoSheep]

17. Something already happened. Pakistan. who has nukes, allowed the Taliban to take over

the Swat Valley as a result of the withdrawal of the blank check form the US. Then, they blackmailed us and we gave them more money and they started fighting the Taliban in Swat Valley again. We could go on and on like this or go over ourselves in earnest and try to deal with it by training the poorer people in the region to provide their own security because the Bush administration didn't do that. (they had no interest in it because they wanted the war to continue. It made them richer) I think we are trying to get SOMETHING for the money we spend over there and then get out. That's what I think is happening.

[arcadian]

4. Obama has just created more targets.

[tekisui]

8. The Taliban are cheering the decision.

They have more targets and easier recruitment.

[StarfarerBill]

12. As is al-Qaeda and every other anti-Western group.

They supply the provocation, and we supply the fresh, young bodies; truly, a fearful symmetry.

[tekisui]

7. There is only one way to sell a war:

FEAR.

[bigtree]

19. the president should watch what he's angling for

If he's looking for some future political point where he can withdraw without a backlash, he'd better cool it on scaring folks into accepting his escalated occupation.

[grasswire]

9. the way to protect our troops is to bring them home

Washington keeps forgetting that.

[eleny]

14. kr

The fragment you quoted troubled me greatly. Right from the start there was the carefully phrased flim-flam.

[bigtree]

18. speech opened with 9-11 terra-terra

. . . same fearmongering appeal as before.

[Javaman]

15. Revistionist history isn't only for the right anymore...

tastes like chicken.

[bigtree]

16. I hoped for better when I first heard the word 'exit'

. . . tastes like crow.

[dajoki]

20. K&R

[bigtree]

22. .