Obama sets new approach to Afghanistan
“President Obama this morning announced a new Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy that will require significantly higher levels of U.S. funding and thousands more military and civilian personnel to reverse what he called an “increasingly perilous” situation….
Among the resources required, he said, are an additional 4,000 troops, beyond the 17,000 he authorized last month, that will bring total U.S. deployments to more than 60,000. U.S. military expenses for Afghan operations this year, White House aides said, will increase about 60 percent from the current toll of $2 billion a month. The newly announced forces, from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, will serve as trainers and advisers to an Afghan army expected to double to 134,000 by 2011….
“In going forward,” he said, “we will not blindly stay the course,” but will monitor progress with a series of benchmarks and metrics imposed on Pakistan, Afghanistan and U.S. efforts. “And after years of mixed results, we will not provide a blank check. Pakistan must demonstrate its commitment to rooting out al-Qaeda and the violent extremists within its borders,” Obama said.
In an indication that U.S. covert and overt operations against insurgent hideouts in Pakistan will continue — including missile attacks launched by Predator drones, Obama said that “we will insist that action be taken — one way or another — when we have intelligence about high-level terrorist targets.”
…. Lawmakers and the administration itself have questioned the ability and will of the Afghan government to fight corruption and the narcotics trade and have criticized the Pakistani military’s performance against al-Qaeda and other insurgent groups. U.S. intelligence officials believe that elements of Pakistan’s intelligence service continue to actively collaborate with the Taliban.”
I’m on deadline for a Monday column and can’t give this the time it deserves right now. But I’ll make one quick point: Obama’s correct to stress the responsibility of other parties to step up. We Americans can’t fix Afghanistan by ourselves, no matter how much money, time and manpower we put into it. If others don’t do their part, Afghanistan will fail no matter how smart or committed we are.
Sometimes that’s a hard thing for Americans to accept. We have this crazy idea that everything that happens anywhere around the world is a result of something we did or didn’t do. It’s not. Despite our immense relative power, events in other parts of the world have an historic and cultural momentum that we are sometimes helpless to alter.
When Mao and the Communists took over China in 1949, it set off howls here in America of “who lost China?,” as if we somehow had more power over China’s fate than the Chinese themselves. Likewise, there was little we could do to stop North Korea and Pakistan from going nuclear and we may not be able to stop Iran either.
That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try every reasonable means at our disposal. But the idea that events in the rest of the world can be molded to our liking by sufficient application of U.S. willpower and muscle just ain’t true, and our refusal to accept that reality has sometimes caused us problems.
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134 comments Add your comment
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
1:19 pm
Jay:
I support the President in these efforts (as I did his decision on marijuana yesterday).
That said, it is so AMUSING to have to see Democrats put on their “war paint” !!
What say ye libs out there ???
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
1:23 pm
P.S.
We also both know if McCain had won and was initiating the same reponse, we would be seeing threads about the Republicans bogging us down in this futile attempt ……….
THAT’s the truly sad thing ………..
ESR
March 27th, 2009
1:26 pm
This will make his whacky way left freako’s that totally want to ban the military all together go nuts. The libs do know that this isn’t a cat fight where democratic males hit each other with their purses, they’re fighting a real war over there with guns that kill? You libs know this, right?
I Report/ You Whine
March 27th, 2009
1:33 pm
Yeah, the Euroweenies couldn’t hold up their end of the deal either.
After years and years of failed socialist policies, free health care, government meddling in private industry, they have become soft, stupid and cowards, hairy armpitted freaks.
We’ll be joining them shortly, I suspect.
“In going forward,” he said, “we will not blindly stay the course,” but will monitor progress with a series of benchmarks and metrics imposed on Pakistan, Afghanistan and U.S. efforts. “And after years of mixed results, we will not provide a blank check.
What a small puny little man, little third grader playing the part of an adult, it’s always someone else’s fault, ain’t it?
I Report/ You Whine
March 27th, 2009
1:36 pm
If you want to know the latest Moonbat Fever Swamp diaper wearing talking points just press your ear up to Obambi’s TelePrompter, it’s sure to spew them for you.
manchild
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
1:44 pm
The silence from you libs is deafening.
I know it’s hard and you’re stunned, but President Obama has put on his war paint. Are you not going to support him?
Marines – standby to repel boarders !
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
1:53 pm
To ESR:
Isn’t this amusing to watch them squirm ? I mean, for President Obama to actually want our troops to KILL terrorists …. with no interview, no advice of rights, no attorney, no trial, no appeal. This is serious.
Bosch
March 27th, 2009
1:54 pm
Well Geez Corporal, give us a minute.
No, I do not support Obama doing this. This should have been done years ago, but I think this is a mistake. After 911, I was all for what Bush did, but years later, the situation has changed due to his incompetence and the Iraq distraction.
mm
March 27th, 2009
1:56 pm
Corporal Warmonger and Friends,
I fully support the effort in Afghanistan and Pakistan. After all, Afganistan is where Al Qeada was at when 9/11 occurred. I hope we do snuff out Al Qeada. I don’t think anybody is upset about.
Now if Obama wants to invade an innocent country, then I’ll treat him the same way I treated Bush.
Sorry to burst your bubble.
Bosch
March 27th, 2009
1:58 pm
Let me rephrase, I was all for Bush going into Afghanistan, but he let that ball drop with really bad consequences – the Taliban was allowed to reform, AQ and bin Laden are now in Pakistan – and we are facing dealing with a nation who has nuclear weapons at their disposal.
No, this situation is not good, and there is no one to blame but Bush.
G
March 27th, 2009
1:59 pm
I’m thankful that President Obama and his team have crafted a plan that acknowledges there is no good course to take. Only bad or worse choices.
This and everything else he has done or has chosen to do show a cool head and calm hand.
In other words, he is the total opposite of what we’ve had for 8 years.
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
2:01 pm
O.K. Everyone:
Here’s the score so far:
Bosch: For
mm: Against
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
2:02 pm
Sorry:
In my excitement of seeing the libs forcing themselves to bitterly reply I got it reversed:
Bosch: Against
mm: For
Bosch
March 27th, 2009
2:02 pm
Corporal,
Your score is wrong.
Bosch
March 27th, 2009
2:04 pm
Corporal,
Bitterly reply? Nope. I know you like to stereotype folks, but in this case, it just ain’t so.
G
March 27th, 2009
2:04 pm
Soviets tried to occupy and rule Afghanistan (through a puppet). Since President Obama’s goal is not to occupy, but to fight al Qaeda, there is no comparison.
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
2:05 pm
ON TO PARADISE !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnhvAAboKSA&feature=related
Bosch
March 27th, 2009
2:07 pm
I think sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan is a huge mistake. It will only get more young men and women killed fighting a pretend war that we can not win. You can not fight ideology with guns and ammunition, you fight it with money.
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
2:10 pm
Bosch:
I fixed the score. See my 2:02.
“Bitterly”? Sure but lighten up………..I’m just can’t help pulling your guys legs because I know, I JUST KNOW, this is not making you a happy camper.
But hey, live and learn. That’s how politicians are. They tell you one thing during the campaign (we will sit down and talk to these nice people) and then when they get in office they do something else.
Your worst nightmare (and mine on different issues) is that this is just the tip of his ideological iceberg.
Fact it, he is such an unknown, we could all be in for some BIG SURPRISES !
As we used to say in the USSS “You elect ‘um, we protect ‘um” !
@@
March 27th, 2009
2:10 pm
jay, based on everything I’ve been reading the help may not be forthcoming. Obama’s pressure on Europe to jump on board his economic policies is causing resentment, not to mention his eagerness to engage Russia and Iran.
Europe is a continent separate from the U.S. and in closer proximity to The Russian Impaler.
G
March 27th, 2009
2:11 pm
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/opinion/14obama.html
July 14, 2008…Candidate Obama announces his plan to reduce war in Iraq and concentrate on Afghanistan:
“Ending the [IRAQ] war is essential to meeting our broader strategic goals, starting in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the Taliban is resurgent and Al Qaeda has a safe haven. Iraq is not the central front in the war on terrorism, and it never has been.”
ByteMe
March 27th, 2009
2:13 pm
I’m on the “maybe” side. If the strategy is to be the biggest bully on the block for a while to get the different sides to come to the table with the goal of throwing out those who want to export their radicalism, then I’m all for it. If the goal is to somehow “win” Afghanistan, well that’s a fool’s errand and we the people would be right to scream loudly about it.
What I’m missing in all this is a discussion of the underlying strategy and how additional troops fit into that strategy.
@@
March 27th, 2009
2:15 pm
When Bush was sending money to Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, liberals shrieked about the fact that it was going to corrupt governments and finding its way into the hands of terrorists. And now?
It’s the right thing to do….it’s “cool”.
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
2:15 pm
Bosch:
Re: your 2:07. I hear you but you have to fight it on all fronts.
Money, education, diplomacy, economics, blockades, and then in the case of these types (Islamic fanatics) you must hunt their leaders down and hit them wherever and whenever you can (no rest – ever). When they sleep, play, pray, train, relieve themselves or pick their nose …. they never know when it’s coming. They only understand power. And if we don’t use it they will hit us here (they may get a lucky shot in anyway).
Once we have a new generation of “unbrainwashed” people over there we might be able to back of a little. Maybe. It’s always their choice.
HSR0601
March 27th, 2009
2:16 pm
I think the most dangerous thing is depression and poverty world-wide, instead of oil competition, and to repeat and extend past mistake is going to rush the U.S. into an incurable condition. Needless to say, without democracy, everything involving health care and economic growth will go wrong.
Bosch
March 27th, 2009
2:19 pm
Corporal,
I can not help you with your Obama paranoia – that is an issue you have to work out for yourself.
ByteMe,
Good post.
Later folks – gotta go run some errands.
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
2:19 pm
To @@:
You are forgetting the libs are democrats. They never (except Bosch so far) criticize their own ………..
)
To G:
Translation?: So you hold you nose and support Obama in killing terrorists? Is that correct?
DB, Gwinnettian
March 27th, 2009
2:21 pm
Corporal, what part of “I like to know what I’m talking about before I speak” do you not get? The WaPo piece is 2,000 words, and it’s a topic of deadly importance.
And your presumption that you know what the “libs” think about any particular topic when your only exposure to such thought is via a crummy comments thread is noxious at best.
Anyway, nothing I’ve seen from skimming Jay’s column and the WaPo piece comes as a surprise at all–had you been paying attention, Obama campaigned on being willing to take a very tough approach with Afghanistan. Or did you not notice when he taunted McCain as being unwilling to “go to the cave where [Bin Laden] lives”?
WhoCares
March 27th, 2009
2:22 pm
I can’t WAIT to see what Jimmy Carter has to say about THIS!
Question is will Obama let the Military do their jobs or will he TOO keep their hands tied.
You just gotta love this, Obama is a blood thirsty war mongerer just like Bush, the libs have GOT to be wetting their pants over this.
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
2:23 pm
Bosch:
Re: your 2:19. You dodge. I support him when I think he is right (in this case) and I do not support him when I think he is wrong. That doesn’t fit the definition of paranoia (he’s always wrong) but nice try.
Mrs. Godzilla
March 27th, 2009
2:23 pm
I’m with Bosch.
I don’t like it.
The only bright spot for me is “Obama will also send hundreds more civilian and development workers into Afghanistan, three administration officials said on the eve of his announcement.” From Agence France-Presse.
Course, being the commie pinko liberal 200 ton socialist facist with a
wretched loney life I am, I still support the President.
I can barely two step…but I never lock step.
mm
March 27th, 2009
2:27 pm
Corporal,
You are truly deranged. I’m sorry you’re not getting the “screw Obama” response you so wanted to hear.
You wingnuts woudn’t recognize reality if it hit you in the face.
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
2:27 pm
Jay:
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I haven’t had this much fun on one of your threads in a long time.
DEMOCRATS AGAINST OBAMA’S WAR UNITE !!
All is fair in love and war …..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDvg7n0jST8
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
2:27 pm
mm:
Why thank you.
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
2:31 pm
DB/G:
Why thank you for your input @ 2:21. Now go clean your rifle.
WhoCares:
Oh, you are right. I didn’t think about that. Jimmy will go through the roof ….. but will he criticize the Messiah publicly?
STAY TUNED !
@@
March 27th, 2009
2:38 pm
Corporal:
Again, you have more appreciation for Bosch than I’ve been able to muster.
He’s mooshy. He says whatever serves his purpose at any given moment just like so many of the liberals. They’re definitely not the kind of people you can rely on in a pinch.
Mooshy!!!!!
ConservativeAnchor
March 27th, 2009
2:40 pm
It is good that he did not stay true to his campaign promise of surging in Afghanistan. It is a different battle and if you surge … bring lots of body bags and American flags for draped coffins.
Keep Afghanistan small, maintain a legitimate government, enable the citizenry (schools and training), and take your time sorting out the bad guys.
When you find the bad guys. Kill em as fast and brutally as possible.
Oh … btw … G … that is what we have been doing.
G
March 27th, 2009
2:41 pm
I find it odd that so-called Christians refer to President Obama as “Messiah”.
G
March 27th, 2009
2:44 pm
CA @ 2:40, I never said we haven’t.
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
2:44 pm
To @@:
I got your back.
To Conservative Anchor:
Precisely.
“Combat at the level of small units is not a grand, strategic ballet. It’s the swift and violent theatre of death.” Col. Jack Jacobs (Medal of Honor – Vietnam)
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
2:45 pm
To G:
I told you yesterday (you don’t pay attention in class) that Messiah is Hebrew for “Christ” and the Bible says there will be many false Christs.
Comprendo?
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
2:50 pm
P.S. To mm:
Regarding your 2:27 …
“There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and the enemy. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion.”
Gen. William Thornson, U.S. Army
getalife
March 27th, 2009
2:55 pm
Good luck and get obl.
Jim Webb: Pot Legalization Could Be Part Of Criminal Justice Overhaul
Lets elect Webb after 8 years of President Obama.
jon
March 27th, 2009
2:57 pm
Innocent country? Bosch couldn’t have been talking about Iraq, invader of Kuwait and ignorer of the resulting UN sanctions. Did Bush invade an innocent country and I missed it?
getalife
March 27th, 2009
2:58 pm
Give it a rest private.
You want him to fail.
I Report/ You Whine
March 27th, 2009
3:02 pm
A little spark of courage and pride rises up from the ashes-
The Freedom Tower is out. The agency that owns ground zero confirmed Thursday that the signature skyscraper replacing the towers destroyed on Sept. 11 will be more commonly known as One World Trade Center.
Bravo!
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
3:05 pm
jon:
You know you are dealing with those who believe in “revisionist history”. There’s no use ………
DB, Gwinnettian
March 27th, 2009
3:05 pm
Lets elect Webb after 8 years of President Obama.
Just FYI, were that to happen, he’d be about a month away from turning 71 after his inauguration. Don’t really see that happening, but you never know.
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
3:10 pm
To My Conservative Friends:
Someone sent this to me. Check it out. It’s about Democrats fighting in Iraq ……… not long …… stay with it ……. it gets better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr4QBZfjtqs&feature=related
Corporal
March 27th, 2009
3:13 pm
To getadeath:
You want him to fail in Afghanistan. I want him to win.