Ah ha, "Senate report: Bin Laden was 'within our grasp'"

[wisteria]

Another example of when Senator Kerry was right on the mark in 2004.

"Osama bin Laden was unquestionably within reach of U.S. troops in the mountains of Tora Bora when American military leaders made the crucial and costly decision not to pursue the terrorist leader with massive force, a Senate report says"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091129/ap_on_go_co/us_tora_bora_bin_laden;_ylt=AjfPUyAliVK2bWzPZaJiu46s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNtMDhxNWkxBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkxMTI5L3VzX3RvcmFfYm9yYV9iaW5fbGFkZW4EY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXIEY3BvcwMxBHBvcwMzBHB0A2hvbWVfY29rZQRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3J5BHNsawNmdWxsbmJzcHN0b3I-

[MBS]

1. "kerry was right" - you bet . almost time for a bumper sticker

[fedupinBushcountry]

2. Yes

and the best part is that this report came from the SFRC under the leadership of JK. He proved he was right even though many knew he was. I'm not sure what he is going to think of Obama's decision on Afghanistan, I am waiting to see exactly what it is, I don't trust all of these reports coming out of the Pentagon higher ups.

[beachmom]

3. The darling left continues to smear & bash John Kerry:

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/11/29/the-irony-of-tora-bora/

Oh, yes, the whole point of this report was to encourage Barack Obama to escalate war in Afghanistan!

:eyes:

Emptywheel has done some good work, especially on the torture memos, yet she seems to hold little interest into delving into John Kerry's extraordinary record in investigations over his Senate career. Her mention of AQ Khan is curious. Apparently having an investigator who knows a great deal about AQ Khan makes the whole enterprise warmongering?

[karynnj]

4. I saw several saying that this provided cover for Obama

but the really stupid thing is that it would be cover if Obama were to pull out - as there would likely be the "who lost Afghanistan?" question. The really strange thing is that none questioned what Kerry's team would research next. He might tackle Iraq.

I really do not get how Bush screwing up 7 years ago means that Obama now has a new reason to escalate. It is pathetic when Kerry has been pulling against the full McChrystal plan - though my guess is that anything other than out now won't fly.

[wisteria]

6. I understand it to a point. Not capturing Bin Laden in 2001 and holding him accountable for his

murdering over 3,000 people, has emboldened al Quada and Taliban forces. Left alone, he has been able to recruit, reinforce, realign, and form new strategies against the US.
I want to read the entire report because I know that with Kerry's guidance this is sure to be a well thought out and well researched report.
And, I don't recall Kerry ever saying not to send any troops into Afghanistan. He always seemed to make it clear that we need Afghanistan in order to achieve our goals in Pakistan. He said we have to take it slow and measure our successes carefully before proceeding further each step of the way. Karazi will be a huge factor in this as well as training and counter insurgency.

[karynnj]

7. I agree with you On Kerry's position

I should have written it better. Kerry did push back against the mission behind McChrystal's plan saying that it was too much, but he also spoke against leaving many times and he spoke against the Biden option of just counterterrorism.

[wisteria]

5. firedoglake has me anoyed lately. They are unyeiding and very cocky.

I don't like to read opinions of people who only see one side of an issue and don't even take the time to investigate or listen to anothers poins of view. FDL just thinks they are right 100% of the time. And, a little OT, they have said they will cause trouble if the public option is not included in the health bill. They would rather see no bill then something other than what they think it should have in it.

[beachmom]

8. Lately?

[ginnyinWI]

9. that also describes a lot of people on DU, unfortunately. nt