Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Um, About Obama's Afghanistan Campaign "Promise"...

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » General Discussion: Presidency Donate to DU
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:15 PM
Original message
Um, About Obama's Afghanistan Campaign "Promise"...

http://www.openleft.com/diary/16306/um-about-obamas-afghanistan-campaign-promise">Um, About Obama's Afghanistan Campaign "Promise"...

by: David Sirota
Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 15:44


In the days since President Obama announced he is massively escalating the Afghanistan War (and yes, a 30-40% troop increase is massive), it has become assumed fact that he is just fulfilling his campaign promise. The idea is that nobody has a right to be angry at him, because hey - he promised it!

Of course, that's an absurd notion in that (as http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2009/12/01/afghanistan/index.html">Glenn Greenwald points out) you could similarly argue that hey - since George W. Bush promised in 2004 to escalate the Iraq War and privatize Social Security, nobody had a right to oppose that either...and nobody made that argument.

But even if you accept the "Obama promised an Afghan escalation so STFU" premise, it still doesn't really fly - because here's the thing everyone's forgetting: He never "promised" to double the size of the Afghanistan occupation. Not even close.

As you can see from http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/promise/134/send-two-additional-brigades-to-afghanistan/">Politifact and http://www.newsweek.com/id/162316">Newsweek, President Obama promised to send 2 more brigades. As the http://www.army.mil/info/organization/unitsandcommands/oud/">U.S. Army's website shows, a brigade is up to 5,000 troops, which means President Obama specifically promised to send 10,000 more troops to Afghanistan. He in no way promised send 47,000 more troops - or 9 brigades worth of troops - to Afghanistan, which is what he has done between http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29242187/">his February escalation of 17,000 troops and now his December escalation of 30,000 more troops. And he in no way promised to send http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/so_how_many_private_contractors_are_there_in_afgha.php">tens of thousands more private military contractors.


http://www.openleft.com/diary/16306/um-about-obamas-afghanistan-campaign-promise">More...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
Cant trust em Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:18 PM
Response to Original message
1. It's an awful argument, but some people act like this is breaking a campaign promise
He kept the promise and it's still a bad idea.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:39 PM
Response to Reply #1
16. Depends on how honest you expected Obama to be
Yes, you can lawyer your way through this and say he was *technically* not breaking a campaign promise. But there were those other campaign promises: HOPE, CHANGE and YES WE CAN.

Try this analogy: You're dating someone and she says "I love you, I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Then, later, you find out she's sleeping with your best friend. Would you feel betrayed? After all, she never promised NOT to sleep with your best friend. What are you complaining about?

What Obama did during the campaign can, at best, be described as emotional manipulation. Now I know this happens in every campaign but, there again, Obama held himself up as something different from all the rest. I think people are fully justified in feeling betrayed by this decision.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Cant trust em Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:51 PM
Response to Reply #16
30. Then I'd tell those kids to grow up.
Welcome to the real world. If someone votes for a candidate based on amorphous campaign slogans, then they get what they deserve. There's some line in the Audacity of Hope where Obama says that he's like a blank slate that people project their vision on. That's what I think this "betrayal" is like. People expected X and they got Y.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 01:01 PM
Response to Reply #30
37. Were you saying that during the campaign?
I don't remember a lot of "IT'S JUST AN AMORPHOUS CAMPAIGN SLOGAN" during the general election. Most people on DU were buying the YESWECANHOPECHANGE mantra hook, line and sinker.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Cant trust em Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 01:06 PM
Response to Reply #37
39. I like it and it makes me feel great, but I don't see it as a binding agreement.
I do believe in hope and change, I worked as a field organizer for the campaign, but I also understand the practicality of governing. Tough decisions are going to have to be made. I've always been very aware of the actual ability of Obama to create real change.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 01:07 PM
Response to Reply #39
40. So, to come back to my analogy
You think the boyfriend should not feel betrayed?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Cant trust em Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 01:23 PM
Response to Reply #40
44. I feel like the expectation between a man and a woman is much more explicit
Edited on Fri Dec-04-09 01:24 PM by Cant trust em
than one a politician uses during a campaign.

Factors on the ground for policy making change over time, forcing leaders to shift and develop new strategies. I think this is part of that.

The analogy you have assumes that nothing has changed, but the person's actions reflect some intent to deceive.

I don't think that Obama went into this decision lightly, but felt that given how the situation in Afghanistan had changed that this was a decision that he had to make.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 01:37 PM
Response to Reply #44
48. For the most part, I agree with you wrt: politicians
Which is why I remember listening closely to Obama's rhetoric, looking for weasel words and other hedging. I distinctly recall coming away from his statements thinking, "Damn, this guy's actually serious."

So, I guess I got conned. In the immortal words of George W. Bush: "Can't get fooled again."
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Cant trust em Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 01:46 PM
Response to Reply #48
49. I really do feel like deep down, Obama wanted to come in and be different
I actually think that the war escalation is not the best example of feelings of unmet expectations. I think that the post-TARP restructuring of our financial sector is what's let me down the most. I would have liked to seen extreme strings tied to the money. In essence, we're going to bail you out, but you're not going to create another bubble like this. I feel like a lot of what is slowing Obama down is a middle of the road Congress and obstructionist republicans.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 01:56 PM
Response to Reply #49
50. Abso-friggin-lutely
If you see even a few of my posts, you'll notice that I concentrate a lot on Obama's financial betrayal. That one is explicit and incredibly disappointing.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Cant trust em Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 02:10 PM
Response to Reply #50
54. I met a Herb Allison a few weeks ago
He's the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Stability (AKA TARP guy). He spoke a little bit about now that we've stabilized the banks, we want to make sure that we take care of small businesses. I want to give them the benefit of the doubt, but it's hard to swallow sometimes.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 02:14 PM
Response to Reply #54
55. Ok I first read that as Herb Alpert
That's what I get for going sleep-free for two days.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Cant trust em Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 02:15 PM
Response to Reply #55
56. I almost called him that to his face.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ZombieHorde Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-05-09 11:57 PM
Response to Reply #30
94. What is the real world, besides a TV show? nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mkultra Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 04:15 PM
Response to Reply #16
67. In your analogy , the girl would have to have said..
"I love you, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. But im going to sleep with Afghanistan"

Since he actually spelled it out in his campaign.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-05-09 10:21 AM
Response to Reply #67
85. Where did he spell out 47,000 more troops and thousands of contractors
And no specific exit strategy?

Can you point to that speech?

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mkultra Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-05-09 11:58 AM
Response to Reply #85
88. you switch your position like every republican i know
First you where complaining that he went in at all, now your complaining that he didn't specify exact numbers or pre-specify an exit strategy. You must be aware that you aren't really convincing anyone with this kind of chicanery.

Let me boil it down so you cant try to confuse the topic further. He made it very clear that he would be going back in to Afghanistan and that is exactly what he did. He kept his word. If you don't like it, to damn bad.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-05-09 01:01 PM
Response to Reply #88
89. Projection, thy name is mkultra
You specifically used the words "spelled out", shifting from the usual apologist claptrap of "well, he never promised he WOULDN'T massively escalate a pointless war."

So, Mr Consistency, I ask you again: when, exactly, did Obama "spell out" his plans for Afghanistan?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mkultra Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-05-09 01:17 PM
Response to Reply #89
90. That would be Aug. 1, 2007 for one
Edited on Sat Dec-05-09 01:20 PM by mkultra
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/jul/22/obama-ballyhoos-afghan-stance/

"Our troops have fought valiantly there, but Iraq has deprived them of the support they need — and deserve," Obama said. "As a result, parts of Afghanistan are falling into the hands of the Taliban, and a mix of terrorism, drugs and corruption threatens to overwhelm the country. As president, I would deploy at least two additional brigades to Afghanistan to re-enforce our counterterrorism operations and support NATO's efforts against the Taliban."



There you go Mr. Uninformed.


For extra gravy, check out the truth o meter about what others claimed ABOUT Obama.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-05-09 03:43 PM
Response to Reply #90
91. Ah, the old weasel words again. From 2+ years ago, no less.
Again, from the next paragraph in the article:
Now, sure, if you wanted to be obsequiously propagandistic in your fealty to President Obama, you could argue that he gave himself a two-word out when he made his Afghanistan campaign promise - he said he'd send "at least" two more brigades. So yeah, you could lawyer it to say that technically, he hasn't "broken" a campaign promise - just like Republicans lamely argued that even though Bush in 2000 said he was against nation building, he also said he wanted to protect America, and that latter clause meant his Iraq adventure wasn't breaking the promise in the former clause.

Congratulations on your obsequious propaganda.


Now, here's what normal, intelligent adults might expect from the phrase "spelling out" (from the comments on the article):

I will send 50,000 more troops to Afghanistan even if the mission there becomes obviously futile, even if the government there shows itself to be hopelessly corrupt, even if the CIA keeps funding the Taliban, even if Afghani civilians keep dying at an alarming rate, even if the plight of Afghani women keeps deteriorating, even if we keep creating terrorists, even if the American economy is struggling and desperately needs jobs...



Of course, why should we expect our HOPECHANGEYESWECAN president to actually be honest with us? :eyes:


Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mkultra Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-05-09 09:42 PM
Response to Reply #91
92. your statement would be true if not for other facts
Edited on Sat Dec-05-09 09:52 PM by mkultra
His intent to take a careful approach to the situation means that before you commit troops you commit to an analysis first, then choose numbers based on that analysis. Any normal intelligent adult could tell from his statements that his intent is to ramp up Afghanistan and these same said adults should also know the choosing the troops numbers would be done at escalation time, not two years in advance.

My point is well made. He made it very clear that he intended to shift focus back to Afghanistan. I expected it, why didn't you.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
arcadian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:20 PM
Response to Original message
2. That doesn't correspond to the light beaming out of Obama's ass
Like war hawks on DU have been saying.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NJmaverick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:26 PM
Response to Reply #2
7. Hey it's the guy that thinks Bill Clinton is in league with the Bush family
:thumbsdown:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
arcadian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:33 PM
Response to Reply #7
12. Hey, chummie, don't look now but a lot of DUers
don't particularly care for right of center Bill Clinton and his dynastic family.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
cali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:35 PM
Response to Reply #12
13. bwahahahaha. trust you not to know the meaning of a simple word
like dynastic.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
arcadian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:36 PM
Response to Reply #13
14. The Clintons aren't a political dynasty?
Edited on Fri Dec-04-09 12:37 PM by arcadian
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
cali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:57 PM
Response to Reply #14
35. why, no. no, they're not.
n., pl., -ties.

1. A succession of rulers from the same family or line.
2. A family or group that maintains power for several generations: a political dynasty controlling the state.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
arcadian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 01:05 PM
Original message
Interesting that most political writers don't share your limited view.
http://news.google.com/archivesearch?um=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=%22clinton+dynasty%22&cf=all&sugg=d&sa=N&lnav=d2&as_ldate=2003&as_hdate=2006&ldrange=1992%2C2002&hdrange=2007%2C2008

But then again, nobody has ever accused you of being a Beltway insider or Washingtonian brain trust now have they?

:rofl: <-@U

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
cali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 01:11 PM
Response to Original message
41. lol, genius.
a google page as proof that "most political writers think the Clinton's are a dynasty?"

You're cute when you're on the defensive, sweetie.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
arcadian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 01:19 PM
Response to Reply #41
43. Bwahahaha! and your naïveté is amusing
You're like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NJmaverick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:38 PM
Response to Reply #12
15. not many think that Bill Clinton is in league with the Bush Family though
which was in FACT what I said.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
arcadian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:42 PM
Response to Reply #15
19. ORLY?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1716851

"If you go back and read what (Bush) said in the campaign, he's just doing what he'd said he'd do. You've got to give him credit for that... No one has the whole truth," Clinton said.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:45 PM
Response to Reply #19
24. pwned.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NJmaverick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:46 PM
Response to Reply #24
26. I am sure you BELIEVE that
sadly your perspective is a bit askew
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NJmaverick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:45 PM
Response to Reply #19
25. You posted the wrong link, it didn't show any poll that had MANY DUers supporting your assertion
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
spiritual_gunfighter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:52 PM
Response to Reply #12
31. +1 n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
avaistheone1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-06-09 03:26 AM
Response to Reply #7
95. As if they are not.
Clinton did Bush's dirty work on NAFTA.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
cali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:21 PM
Response to Original message
3. I wouldn't argue that people don't have the right to be angry at him
Edited on Fri Dec-04-09 12:22 PM by cali
over the escalation. I would and do argue that claiming- as many are doing- that they've been betrayed by him because of his decision to escalate it, is dishonest. Oh, and he said he'd send at least least 2 brigades.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:24 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. Glad you mentioned the "at least" escape clause
Reading on...

Now, sure, if you wanted to be obsequiously propagandistic in your fealty to President Obama, you could argue that he gave himself a two-word out when he made his Afghanistan campaign promise - he said he'd send "at least" two more brigades. So yeah, you could lawyer it to say that technically, he hasn't "broken" a campaign promise - just like Republicans lamely argued that even though http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqiBwsjAa2s">Bush in 2000 said he was against nation building, he also said he wanted to protect America, and that latter clause meant his Iraq adventure wasn't breaking the promise in the former clause.

Yes, Obama maybe hasn't broken an explicit campaign promise on Afghanistan (while, of course, explicitly breaking promises on everything from NAFTA to Gitmo) - and he certainly didn't promise to end the Afghanistan War (nobody has said he did). But I'd say he also isn't simply "fulfilling" a campaign promise by escalating the troop increase he committed to by a factor of four (and again, that's only counting U.S. military troops, and not private contractors).


Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NJmaverick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:30 PM
Response to Reply #5
11. "your fealty to President Obama"
Edited on Fri Dec-04-09 12:32 PM by NJmaverick
Was this written by Glen Beck?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
arcadian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:40 PM
Response to Reply #3
17. Continuation of foreign wars
doesn't often fall under most people's definition of Hope®. And certainly, continuation of Bush era policies doesn't fall under most people's definition of Change®.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:43 PM
Response to Reply #17
20. You forgot YES WE CAN™
Which has now become WELL, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO IF IT DOESN'T UPSET TOO MANY REPUBLICANS.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
VMI Dem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:24 PM
Response to Original message
4. Ask them about his campaign claims that marriage is between a man and woman.
They'll tell you he just said that to get elected.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NJmaverick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:27 PM
Response to Reply #4
9. Here are his promises and their statuses on GBLT issues
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NJmaverick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:25 PM
Response to Original message
6. To the aurthor of this article= Liar! liar! pants on fire!
Article says- "As you can see from Politifact and Newsweek, President Obama promised to send 2 more brigades."

Politifact ACTUALLY said- "he will send at least two additional brigades to Afghanistan,"


Shameful lies told to further an even worse agenda
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:26 PM
Response to Reply #6
8. Clicking on links: a key concept in using Teh Internets
From the very next paragraph:
Now, sure, if you wanted to be obsequiously propagandistic in your fealty to President Obama, you could argue that he gave himself a two-word out when he made his Afghanistan campaign promise - he said he'd send "at least" two more brigades. So yeah, you could lawyer it to say that technically, he hasn't "broken" a campaign promise - just like Republicans lamely argued that even though Bush in 2000 said he was against nation building, he also said he wanted to protect America, and that latter clause meant his Iraq adventure wasn't breaking the promise in the former clause.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NJmaverick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:29 PM
Response to Reply #8
10. Sorry telling a lie and then addressing the lie doesn't make the original lie correct
the sneaky author hoped people wouldn't click on his support links because it would expose him for the liar he is.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:41 PM
Response to Reply #10
18. No, making a point and then addressing possible quibbles with the point = NOT telling a lie.
Your inability to read more than four paragraphs is not the author's problem.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NJmaverick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:47 PM
Response to Reply #18
28. Sayings something false makes that person dishonest and not someone to listen to
Edited on Fri Dec-04-09 12:47 PM by NJmaverick
you can't move past that basic FACT because you wish/want something else (like to have another false reason to Bash our DEMOCRATIC President.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 01:05 PM
Response to Reply #28
38. Glad you finally admit you're dishonest and should not be listened to
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5524913&mesg_id=5527157

I expect you'll stop posting now -- or at least include a disclaimer on every reply.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bvar22 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 01:31 PM
Response to Reply #38
47. WOW.
That deconstruction of NJmaverick was a thing of beauty.
Thanks.
Saving the link.
:patriot:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 01:56 PM
Response to Reply #47
51. Unsurprisingly, it didn't take me very long to find a crystal-clear example.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ClarkUSA Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 04:07 PM
Response to Reply #28
65. Ignore the sniggering attacks. Here's someone INTELLIGENT telling the TRUTH re: Obama's decision..
Edited on Fri Dec-04-09 04:32 PM by ClarkUSA
General Clark totally supports the strategy behind President Obama's decision:

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK (RET), FORMER NATO SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER:... It was a strong speech, Larry. I think he laid out an important case.

I agree with a lot of the sentiments that Michael Moore expressed. I do think in this case, the president limited the objectives. He's not talking about nation-building. He's not talking about building a democracy.

I think he pointed right at the objective, go after Al Qaeda. He didn't talk about Pakistan, but Pakistan is all over this speech. And the simple truth is that, as he said, you can't get at Al Qaeda in Pakistan without doing more in Afghanistan.

So I think that he's going to put a lot of pressure on the Pakistanis and give them a lot of help and expect them to do a lot more directly against Al Qaeda while the U.S. forces in Afghanistan also work against Al Qaeda and work for a very minimalist objective with the idea of getting ourselves out of there in a responsible way pretty quickly...

CLARK: I think victory here is we go after Al Qaeda, particularly in Pakistan. We do it with the leadership of the Pakistanis, we give them the support to do it, we build a strong relationship with Pakistan, and we leave behind in Afghanistan some kind of minimally stable government.

If we have to go back in there at some later time, if we have to leave a residual force, if we have to leave some special forces and intelligence collectors there, we might have to do that.

But the point is the objectives in Afghanistan are pretty minimal. What we really want to do is go after Al Qaeda.
And that's a war that there won't be a victory parade. Mark's exactly right on that. But we'll know when we're winning. We've already done a pretty good job against Al Qaeda. We just need to finish the job a little bit more in Pakistan, and we can't do that if we don't hang on in Afghanistan.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0912/01/lkl.01.html
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
spiritual_gunfighter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:53 PM
Response to Reply #6
33. You obviously didnt read the whole article
It is addressed, you should read it before commenting next time.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Rosa Luxemburg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:43 PM
Response to Original message
21. he can get the job 3 times as fast
:evilgrin:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:44 PM
Response to Reply #21
23. I think you accidentally a word there.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Rosa Luxemburg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:50 PM
Response to Reply #23
29. done, done, done!
slip of the mouse!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Thrill Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:44 PM
Response to Original message
22. So what? This isn't going to change his decison.
Its easy, if you don't like it, show him when he's up for re-election.

This is pointless
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
vaberella Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 01:26 PM
Response to Reply #22
46. Exactly. I say just vote him out and we'll get a Repub who doesn't mind extending military rule.
Since Obama is really that bad.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ClarkUSA Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:47 PM
Response to Original message
27. He kept his campaign promise to "finish the job" in Afghanistan and will be ending two wars by 2011.
Edited on Fri Dec-04-09 12:48 PM by ClarkUSA
:)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
NJmaverick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:53 PM
Response to Reply #27
34. Stop that, don't you know the rules?
you are suppose to make up your own campaign promise that you then attribute to Obama and then bash him for not keeping it. Then if someone questions what you did you talk about that person's "fealty to President Obama".
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ClarkUSA Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 01:13 PM
Response to Reply #34
42. You've got the 24/7 Obama Outrage Club's MO down pat.
Edited on Fri Dec-04-09 01:14 PM by ClarkUSA
Too bad no one cares about David Sirota's contrived hair-splitting except the Bad News Bunch. :)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Cha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 02:03 PM
Response to Reply #42
53. It's batshit blind and this is what this country has to deal
with..both ends of the extremists can't deal in reality so they make up shit as they go along and just know there's idiots out there who will buy it.

WTF..don't any of those writers think they'll get readers if they go with the facts?

Fuck 'em if they can't handle reality.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ClarkUSA Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 02:37 PM
Response to Reply #53
58. Good thing Pres. Obama understands batshit crazy after last year & is brushing it off his shoulders
Edited on Fri Dec-04-09 02:37 PM by ClarkUSA
<<Fuck 'em if they can't handle reality.>>

Absolutely. Let them snigger and sneer... who the hell really cares what they think in the real world?

When 2011 hits and Pres. Obama welcomes the last of the combat troops home from the Middle East,
I'm sure David Sirota, Matt Taibbi, Counterpunch, SocialistWorker.org, HuffPo and the 24/7 Obama
Outrage Club members who are their rhetorical disciples here at DU will still be whining about
something, anything, and everything Obama.

Of course, we'll be the ones doing this :eyes: and this :nopity:

It must suck for the Failers to know that their pathetic bitterness means nothing in the big scheme of things.
I mean, a vast majority of the whole world loves Pres. Obama's 2011 exit plan, the U.N. and Human Rights
Watch approve of his decision, and a majority of Americans like it, too.

:fistbump:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
dionysus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-05-09 11:47 PM
Response to Reply #34
93. ooooh, major bonus points for use ofthe word "fealty"
:thumbsup:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Nicholas D Wolfwood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:52 PM
Response to Original message
32. It's not that anyone's saying to STFU, per se.
Edited on Fri Dec-04-09 12:58 PM by Nicholas D Wolfwood
It's that the histrionics weren't displayed when Obama made the campaign promises. No one went into fits of rage. No one said "THIS ISN'T CHANGE I CAN BELIEVE IN!" Instead, they overlooked it, or worse - decided that since no politican ever keeps their promises that Obama would surely come over to their side once he's in office.

It's the hypocrisy of saying you no longer believe in Obama or that he's lost your vote when he's doing what he said he'd do in the first place that most take objection to. Technically speaking, you should've never "believed" in the first place if you actually paid attention.

On edit: It's like if Santa Claus himself tells you that he doesn't exist (stay with me here), but you believe he exists anyway, put out the milk and cookies, wake up on Christmas morning, find no gifts, and then whine that you expected Santa to exist.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 12:59 PM
Response to Reply #32
36. We expected Obama to make intelligent decisions
When he made those "promises" (of a much smaller escalation), it was before a blatantly fraudulent election and the exposure of the Karzai family as a world-class drug cartel.

We expected Obama to make the right decisions and lead. He isn't doing that here.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Nicholas D Wolfwood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 02:31 PM
Response to Reply #36
57. Ahh, and I presume you have the market cornered on intelligence?
A disingenuous comment if I've ever seen one. You're telling me that there's no intelligent reason imaginable for either escalating in Afghanistan? If that's the case, it's not Obama's intelligence I question.

Believe it or not, just because you believe something to be true, that doesn't end reasonable, intelligent debate.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 03:13 PM
Response to Reply #57
59. So explain to me WHY it's an intelligent decision
Try to use an explanation that doesn't boil down to "I trust Obama implicitly."
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Nicholas D Wolfwood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 03:28 PM
Response to Reply #59
60. Obama explained his own decision.
You've deemed it "unintelligent". You could've said you disagree or that you think he's wrong, but you picked unintelligent, which means that no reasonable person with an IQ over 90 would ever even contemplate going this route.

So you'll excuse me if I pass on the offer. It wouldn't be intelligent of me to waste my time on someone that isn't going to bother considering it.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 03:30 PM
Response to Reply #60
61. I'm giving Obama the benefit of the doubt
If it was an intelligent decision, then it was a craven political one that uses our troops as fodder for his re-election hopes.


BTW, I knew you couldn't come up with a single reason why the decision makes sense. Thanks for not disappointing.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Nicholas D Wolfwood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 03:57 PM
Response to Reply #61
62. Nice attempt to bait me.
But seriously, I'm not biting.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 04:02 PM
Response to Reply #62
63. I'm not baiting you. I'm proving you don't know what you're talking about.
There's a subtle but important difference.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Nicholas D Wolfwood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 04:04 PM
Response to Reply #63
64. If you say so.
Edited on Fri Dec-04-09 04:04 PM by Nicholas D Wolfwood
You're clearly more intelligent than all of us, so I'll assume you're right on this too. :hi:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 04:23 PM
Response to Reply #64
68. I'm not saying I'm clearly more intelligent than everyone else.
Just you. :hi:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Nicholas D Wolfwood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 04:26 PM
Response to Reply #68
69. And Obama.
So I guess I'm in good company.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 04:28 PM
Response to Reply #69
70. Like I said: I was just being nice to Obama
I really think this is a craven political decision by an intelligent but fundamentally weak man.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Nicholas D Wolfwood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 04:29 PM
Response to Reply #70
71. And that's "nice"?
:eyes:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 04:30 PM
Response to Reply #71
72. See, there's that intelligence factor again.
As I said before, assuming Obama made a dumb decision is giving him the benefit of the doubt.

You may not know this, but intelligent people can make dumb decisions.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Nicholas D Wolfwood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 05:13 PM
Response to Reply #72
78. Seems more like you have a personal problem.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 05:19 PM
Response to Reply #78
79. Um... Brain Trust? I didn't post that.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Nicholas D Wolfwood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 06:08 PM
Response to Reply #79
80. Oh, but you posted in the thread.
You probably are a complete fucking retard, but you're not quite THAT dumb.


I can post idiotic photos too.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 07:37 PM
Response to Reply #80
81. Wow, Genius. Were you AROUND for the primaries?
And did anyone ever show you how to link to a specific post? Have your mom help you out with that.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
impik Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 04:45 PM
Response to Reply #36
73. Oh yes, and it there wasn't election fraud, i'm sure you would support
Obama's decision, right? And who made you that judge of the "Intelligent decision"? You don't have 0.00000001% of the information Obama has. So you'll excuse me if i trust him more than i trust you.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 04:59 PM
Response to Reply #73
76. I won't excuse you one bit.
Unless you can provide one piece of evidence as to why committing another 30,000 troops (and tens of thousands of contractors) makes sense.

Again, "my president, right or wrong" is not an argument.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
LWolf Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 09:42 PM
Response to Reply #32
84. Bullshit.
I am not "No one." I didn't display histrionics or go into fits of rage, but I damned sure did condemn Obama's agenda, strongly, and often.

I paid close attention.

That's why he never earned my support.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
impik Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 01:24 PM
Response to Original message
45. He said "at least" two brigades, and in any case, what is it
a market?? He's the CIC, he sees the intelligence, he made a decision that is absolutely in the line of what he talked about during the campaign. This is seriously stupid.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 02:03 PM
Response to Reply #45
52. From the very next paragraph

Now, sure, if you wanted to be obsequiously propagandistic in your fealty to President Obama, you could argue that he gave himself a two-word out when he made his Afghanistan campaign promise - he said he'd send "at least" two more brigades. So yeah, you could lawyer it to say that technically, he hasn't "broken" a campaign promise - just like Republicans lamely argued that even though Bush in 2000 said he was against nation building, he also said he wanted to protect America, and that latter clause meant his Iraq adventure wasn't breaking the promise in the former clause.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Jennicut Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 04:10 PM
Response to Original message
66. It is not inconsistent with his thinking on the Afghan situation but it is still a mistake in my
opinion. This is a needless argument.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Lord Helmet Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 04:50 PM
Response to Original message
74. Obama was clear about Afghanistan. You're lost in the weeds with this argument.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 05:06 PM
Response to Reply #74
77. Exactly when did he say he'd escalate by 47,000 troops (and thousands of contractors)
The closest he got was promising to "finish the job". What, exactly, did that mean?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 09:29 PM
Response to Reply #77
82. * cricket noise * cricket noise * cricket noise * cricket noise *
Why am I not surprised. :eyes:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
BklnDem75 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-05-09 11:37 AM
Response to Reply #82
87. Because it's a stupid question?
Edited on Sat Dec-05-09 11:39 AM by BklnDem75
Why would Obama make a campaign promise to send 47k troops before he became president and got more information? Were you drinking when you posted that?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ShortnFiery Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 04:56 PM
Response to Original message
75. KnR
:thumbsup:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ProSense Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Dec-04-09 09:36 PM
Response to Original message
83. "Um, About Obama's Afghanistan Campaign 'Promise'..."
He never promised to set a date to begin withdrawal either.

Now what?





Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jgraz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Dec-05-09 10:23 AM
Response to Reply #83
86. He also never promised not to nuke Chicago while fucking a puppy on live tv
I guess we have THAT to look forward to now... :eyes:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Sun Nov 03rd 2024, 08:00 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » General Discussion: Presidency Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC