I don't agree with Obama on Afghanistan but he meets my expectations by outlining an end to the mess

[uponit7771]

...which is something Bush did NOT do.

That fact alone separates Obamas plan from the Bush doctrine in a tangible way and keeps him from repeating the whole stupid of the past.

I would've rather Obama leave Afghanistan alone seeing :

- The Afghan government is overtly corrupt
- US generals don't have peace mindset, great people but don't ask them to be nice to folk that aint their thing in my experience
- We're bleeding money there

...but there's a stated end to this mess and FACTUALLY Obama has been looking REALLY good on promises kept and in the works.....so

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. yes

[bigjohn16]

2. When they stand up we'll stand down. nt

[uponit7771]

3. ...yeap and Bush gave them 18 months to stand up right? Obama's timeline makes a big difference

...regardless of whether or not I can see Afghanistan being a waste of time.

[bigjohn16]

4. I don't trust that the 18 month time line will be honored.

He said we'd start a draw down in 18 months but gave no time frame of when that draw down would end. In 18 months Afghanistan will be no more secure then it is today. The only thing that will change is the number of dead US service members.

[uponit7771]

5. Don't trust the timeline but instead look at the fact that Obama's promise-meter is looking pretty..

...good and that's he's done or doing what he said he'll do for the most part...that's all we can ask for.

[bigjohn16]

6. Look at the promise meter?

The President is about to send 30,000 more troops into a quagmire and you think a promise meter factors into that in any way. Are you kidding?

[uponit7771]

8. I was refereing to your distrust of the timeline and pointing to Obama's credibility. He's done...

...or doing what he said he'd do for the most part and that, imho, is a hedge against having to trust anyone.

If the person hasn't been very trust worthy in the past they're not going to be going forward, that isn't the case for Obama

[dmallind]

11. well yeah - since he (and the Democratic Party Platform) promised to do just that NT

[high density]

12. Guess we won't know until 18 months down the road NM

[phleshdef]

14. You only say that because you WANT to have a negative narrative to push.

I am calling you out for what you are.

[tabasco]

7. The best thing about Obama is we can trust him.

I think our allies feel the same way.

[uponit7771]

9. Right, I can look at the facts when it comes to Obama and see the evidence of him keeping promises..

...and has done or doing what he said he'd do for the most part.

He's built up some credibility, that's a good thing...

[Clio the Leo]

10. I wouldn't have voted for him if I didn't think he was different than anyone we've seen before....

.... and I still think that today.

Well said.

[RoadRage]

13. I think it gives the Military confidence too..

They know that unlike his predecessor.. Obama is not interested in a long term military take-over of Afghanistan, and he doesn't have anything to "prove". He wants to meet his 3 objectives, and get the hell out of there- so they know they need to work quickly. Having a timeline is an absolute neccessity - it tells everyone how quickly they need to act (including the Afghani's).

I agree with Obama, and I think he's doing this the right way.

[HopeOverFear]

15. Agreed, that timetable is the only thing keeping me hopeful about all of this

I trust Obama to meet it.