After the speech, I'm still conflicted

[ruggerson]

I would far prefer to morph our involvement in this into a CIA/police strategy where we gather intelligence and then selectively take out anyone plotting against us.

I'm willing, however, to give Obama the benefit of the doubt, as I don't believe he is invested in a wartime economic structure, as Bush was. And he obviously is deeply immersed in all the intelligence and nuances of this seemingly endless conflict, while we civilians are not.

The speech didn't ring with great authenticity to me. I still don't know if this is a political move or if he honestly believes this is the right thing to do. His use of 9/11 and his contention that we were attacked from AFghanistan gives me great pause.

But warfare, unlike many other issues, is often a long, complicated, brutish haul. So, I'm willing to give him some time on this one. We elected him to do this job and only one individual at a time gets a crack at it.

I don't support this war, I don't support sending our kids into yet more danger, but I will reluctantly support and accept the decisions this President has made and hope that time will prove him correct.

[Clio the Leo]

1. I'm kicking and recing all of the positive critiques....

.... and while I dont agree with all of what you've said, (lol surprise!) I love the way you did it.

We CAN be civil to one another while we do this.

[rfranklin]

3. We can be civil when we drop a missile into that village...

of innocent Afghanis and claim there was an Al Qaeda number two man hiding there.

[VMI Dem]

2. I'd like to see victory declared.

Like on an aircraft carrier or something like that, to fire us patriots up and all.

[nevergiveup]

4. I too am conflicted.

This was the most subdued call for war I have ever heard. His heart was not in this speech. I got the feeling he was describing a mission that he knew would be doomed from the start.

[PBS Poll-435]

7. I got the opposite reaction.

He made this decision after very thoughtful consideration. He heard many different viewpoints on how to improve and fix the mess in Afghanistan quickly and then get out. And while stability in the region is crucial, he, IMHO, feels responsible that by creating this new strategy he may have just signed some more death certificates.

[potone]

5. This is a miserable situation.

I was surprised to hear Christiane Amanpour (sp.?) say that she thinks that this can work. She has spent a lot of time in Afghanistan and certainly is not naive about the situation there. I hope she is right. I think there are no good choices here.

[ruggerson]

15. that surprises me as well

let's hope she's correct.

[Jackeens]

6. At last, some thoughtful, balanced, reflective sanity - thank you ruggerson.

:thumbsup:

[patrice]

8. I was prepared to accept what was said, but not how it was said. American Exceptionalism

is a facade for Wars 'r' Us and their new contract with China to be security for the oil pipeline that China needs.

That's not the whole story; Pakistan figures in our national security somehow, but it's hard to say whether our role in Afghanistan makes that worse or better.

[jefferson_dem]

9. Thoughtful comments on an extremely challenging, complex issue.

Needless to say, this issue extends well beyond the typical left-right political divide and anyone who tries to boil it down to such is lying or ignorant. Thanks for the post.

[JohnnyLib2]

12. +1

[AVID]

10. Thank you. I agree almost word for word.

I do not want this escalation.

Every book, article, analysis about Afghanistan I've read (and I've read and reviewed over 30 since Jan) leads me to the conclusion that fighting the Taliban/Al Qaeda in Afghanistan is hopeless.

But, I (obviously) do not know everything President Obama does.

I, too, will support this (mainly for the forces fighting in the trenches NOW who direly need this reinforcement)until I see the withdrawal component of this plan waver one bit

[rg302200]

11. A calming critique of the situation

this makes me happy and hopeful!

I also support Obama in this decision and appreciate the fact that he took the time to make the decision, relied on others opinions and set a timetable. Its refreshing to see a President that uses facts!!!!

[HughMoran]

13. I think most of us are conflicted/ambivalent

I do tend to give Obama the benefit of the doubt on this - I truly believe that he is a thinking person who has put a lot of thought into this and believes that he can succeed at this. I will give him time to prove himself.

[depakid]

14. Welcome to a complex world

And remember who the audience for this speech is. Hint: it's not just Americans.

These words will be translated into as many languages as there are newspapers.

I may beg to differ with Obama on the domestic front- and realize that he may not have the most proven and effective people around (understatement) but this is the sort of deal he gets very clearly. In fact- this is the sort of complex multicultural process, with tons of different and disparate sometimes incongruent angles that only a man like this can navigate.

Perhaps only a man like President Obama, as Commander in Chief- can deal and lead effectively.

Now, back to my usual "annoyed" get 'er done on the domestic front type thing.

~Depa

[Orsino]

16. Conflicted means you're paying attention.

The Sekrit Plan still eludes me, and more death and misery seems the only certainty. If there is some good to be achieved in Afghanistan, this president may be the one who can find it--but goddammit, I don't yet see a way to "win," and therefore I can't see a point to escalating.