President pays respects to America’s fallen
President Obama went to Dover, Del. in the wee hours of the morning to greet the returning bodies of U.S. servicemen killed overseas. He also met privately with the families of the fallen for a reported two hours.
He needed to do that. As commander in chief, he honored the sacrifice of those under his command. As president, he expressed the gratitude of the nation not just to those fallen but to all who risk their lives for the country. And as a human being, he saw and felt first hand the consequences of the decisions he is making. It’s a weight every wartime president must carry.
I continue to search for a convincing argument that Afghanistan can be “won.” I haven’t found it yet, and if someone comes across one, let me know. Even Gen. McCrystal’s assessment was pretty pessimistic if you read it. I’d love to sit McChrystal down and ask him one very private question: If we follow your advice, what do you think the chances that in 10 years, Afghanistan will be a peaceful, self-governing nation that offers no harbor for Islamic terrorism?
Forty percent? Eighty percent? It’s sure as hell not 100 percent.
As an AP story pointed out, the U.S. and its allies already outnumber the Taliban forces by 12-1, yet as McChrystal acknowledges, we’re still losing ground. The inherent corruption in Afghanistan and our status as a profoundly alien presence are obstacles that sheer manpower cannot overcome.
I do see a lot of arguments in effect describing Afghanistan as “a test of our will and toughness.” It is so much more important than that, and justifiying it in those terms is profoundly wrong. We’re not bringing those caskets back to Dover as a way to prove our toughness. At least I hope we’re not.
Here’s an AP video of the ceremony early this morning.
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383 comments Add your comment
Normal
October 29th, 2009
9:37 am
Paul
October 29th, 2009
9:25 am
Paul, didn’t know of the movie, but I doubt I could sit and watch it. As for Hollywood, I can still remember the characterization of the Viet Nam Veteran in the movies. Drug soaked psychotic serial
killers everyone. You would have thought that Manson was a VN Vet.
Jimmy Carter
October 29th, 2009
9:37 am
godless heathen
October 29th, 2009
9:34 am
After 9 months in office it’s about time he got one right.
Call it Like It Is
October 29th, 2009
9:37 am
That is the least he can do since he’s done nothing else but run this country down since he’s been in office.
As, he always blames America whenever he speaks.
Enough Said!
USinUK
October 29th, 2009
9:37 am
william –
“Maybe you can further explain how my family can purchase healthcare without a job. I will gladly pass that info on”
well, personally, I’m all for the single-payer system where EVERYone has a national health service to fall back on if they’re unemployed, but since the other side of the aisle thinks that’s an idea further to the left than Fidel Castro, that’s right out.
mike
October 29th, 2009
9:37 am
Marsh –
“President Obama is not afraid of the fallen soldiers’ coffins.”
LOL. You really drank the kool-aid on this didn’t you? This photo op was done in large measure to allow folks like yourself make that silly comment.
It is so easy to manipulate that partisans on either side. What the White House needs to improve is their messaging to people in the middle, to whom this nakedly political photo op will mean little.
jconservative
October 29th, 2009
9:37 am
Afghanistan. How to make a 21st century democracy out of a 12th century feudal Islamic state. It will not happen and everyone knows it.
They may not admit it, but they know it.
Will the US continue to fight the Taliban & Al Qaeda for a few more years? Probably. How? Where? How many US troops?
I will guess that the administration will put in more troops & use them to support the Pakistan border areas to assist the Pakistanis in their efforts to defeat the Taliban there. In other words, change the mission
from nation building to just a war on “terrorist & their supporters”.
And you can probably add to that some effort to buy off the Afghan feudal “lords”.
I am basing this on comments coming out of the White House, State & Defense in the last few days.
Nothing Is Free
October 29th, 2009
9:39 am
The fact that we elected a Chicago lawyer as our leader has emboldened our enemies. This was the worst month in the worst year since we have been in Afghanistan. They aren’t afraid of Obama and it is obvious why: he is more afraid of hurting his own popularity than he is about protecting our troops.
So he goes and meets the bodies. Bush did it often, but unlike the media wh*re that we now have, he did the classy thing and kept it secret.
OBOZO, INSTEAD OF SPENDING THE TIME TO TAKE YOUR ENTIRE ENTOURAGE TO DOVER, HOW ABOUT MAKING A FRIGIN’ DECISION!?!? MAYBE THEN THERE WON”T BE AS MANY DEAD AMERICANS, not that you would give a damn.
USinUK
October 29th, 2009
9:40 am
“So, you approve of the tactics used by Al Queda on 9/11/01.”
not to mention, the Germans when they levelled Coventry, London, Birmingham, etc …
excellent role models you got there, william …
Finn McCool
October 29th, 2009
9:40 am
The only reason we effected change in Germany after WW2 was because we and the Russians rolled up the entire country. We leveled the country so much that they had no choice but to start from scratch.
What we’re doing in Afghanistan and Iraq amounts to us and the Russians having stopped at the border of Germany and said “Ok, you Germans are back where you belong, in your own country, we’re going home.”
Either your in it to win it or you are just expending lives and money and getting nowhere and we are currently getting nowhere while expending lives and money. If we are going to effect change there then we have to level the country and force them to start over again. Otherwise, lets just go home. Quit running around the bush making military contractors rich and killing our young people.
Bosch
October 29th, 2009
9:41 am
USinUK,
I’m good. Thanks.
I tend the believe that Obama is waiting on the results of the Afghanistan run-off, and then he’ll decide what to do from there – but some how I do not see him pouring in more troops. I don’t think he’ll do it.
And for those of you who are suggesting this was a photo op – have you been living in a frakkin’ cave since 2000? I guess the images of Bush in that flight suit have just skipped right on out of your memories.
stands for decibels
October 29th, 2009
9:42 am
It will not happen and everyone knows it.
They may not admit it, but they know it.
Do you think our nation is grow-up enough to accept a President who would tell them the truth about this? Or would we all have a collective s–t fit?
Paul
October 29th, 2009
9:42 am
Marsh
What was the ‘try’? You asked a question – did Pres Bush ever meet with families of fallen soldiers? I responded with cite that he did and tried to keep them away from the media.
And you say ‘nice try’? Are you that partisan?
Finn McCool
October 29th, 2009
9:44 am
NIF says The fact that we elected a Chicago lawyer as our leader has emboldened our enemies.
NIF, if another country invaded us would you just stand around and let them kill your relatives while dictating how your new life would be lived? You wouldn’t be mad as hell and fighting them tooth and nail?
It’s got nothing to do with who our leader is. Our troops are in their backyard and they are responding as any normal, rational human being would.
Go sell your political angling somewhere else. We aren’t idiots.
William
October 29th, 2009
9:44 am
Taxpayer
October 29th, 2009
9:32 am
I approve of the tactics use in World War II. Those tactics were not used completely in the Korean War and looked what happened.; those tactics were not use in Vietnam War look what happened; those tactics were not use in the Gulf War and now we see the results. If you going to commit to war then commit to war. Make the whole country side more intersted in finding food and water than guns and bombs. I guess this scares you huh.
USinUK
October 29th, 2009
9:44 am
“The fact that we elected a failed Texas baseball owner as our leader has emboldened our enemies. This was the worst month in the worst year since we have been in Iraq”
sorry, NiF, but the same could have been said right after Bush was reelected
Nothing Is Free
October 29th, 2009
9:46 am
Marsh
**Obama is not afraid of the fallen soldiers’ coffins.**
FOUND IT!!! Apparently I’ve found the problem. Obama has no problem sending our soldiers into a mission where they are under-protected and now are facing an emboldened enemy. Now this liberal says that he isn’t afraid of fallen solders. When history tells us that every US president has been terrified of the idea of Americans dying for any reason, this guy has no problem with Americans dying just because he is too weak to make a decision.
Paul
October 29th, 2009
9:46 am
Normal 9:37
Had a discussion the other night with DebbieDoRight. I believe she was born after Vietnam but has family members (career) who served there. She took my characterizations of the country’s treatment of soldiers, as well as how those with connections got in the Guard (they rarely went to Vietnam) how draft dodging was not seen as unpatriotic, how going to Vietnam was not seen as patriotic, as a slur on the military.
Today is not then. Attitudes are much different. Heard a career retired military guy on tv. Said when he went in (Vietnam time) military was dead last in polls of ‘who do you trust’? Now it’s number one or at the top. Attitudes change. Thank goodness.
USinUK
October 29th, 2009
9:46 am
Bosch –
“but some how I do not see him pouring in more troops. I don’t think he’ll do it.”
I thought this was interesting in today’s news … rather than a blanket increase in troops, look at how they are deployed, where we are seeing cooperation and where we aren’t
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/29/AR2009102900927.html?hpid=topnews
SouthGaDawg
October 29th, 2009
9:47 am
Jay,
This was simply a nice photo-op by the President. He set it up a long time ago when he removed the ban on the media showing the fallen Military coffin’s ban.
Make no mistake, this was a purely political picture done for a photo-op.
And you are now using it for your political purposes as well.
Congratulations comrade.
What's next?
October 29th, 2009
9:48 am
Impressive! Obama saluting a fallen soldier. Just a coincidence there were hundreds of cameras at the “event”?
What’s the next photo-op?
* Obama helping a little old lady across the street?
* Obama kissing a baby?
* Obama having a “Coke and a smile”?
* Obama having a hot dog and beer at a baseball game?
* Obama eating apple pie at a community picnic?
* Obama subduing bigfoot?
Kamchak
October 29th, 2009
9:48 am
FOUND IT!!! Apparently I’ve found the problem.
Nope.
Nothing Is Free
October 29th, 2009
9:50 am
USinUK
**but the same could have been said right after Bush was reelected**
It could be said, but it wouldn’t be true. The last year under Bush was the most promising year we have had in Afghanistan. Casualties were down and we controlled large parts of the country. Now that they are facing a lawyer instead of a “cowboy” they know that Obama is weak and afraid. ANd he proves it every day that he doesn’t make the decision to act. But the elections are next week, so I’m sure this political wh*re will be ready to decide.
What a piece of crap we have in the White House.
Jimmy Carter
October 29th, 2009
9:51 am
I’ll tell you what Obama’s waiting for regarding Afghan. Next weeks elections.
jconservative
October 29th, 2009
9:51 am
As a former Viet Nam era veteran I was thrilled to see Obama go to Dover to meet the dead troops coming home. If it was up to me we would have a national moment of silence every time one of those planes landed. I would like to see every plane met by a civilian member of the administration. We as a nation owe something to those who die in our name. That something is the respect & thanks of the nation.
Paul
October 29th, 2009
9:51 am
Reports out this morning that the Pres will go with a “McCrystal Lite” plan. 20,0000 additional. Pull back from outlying regions. Concentrate on cities.
I’m not sure if this is a new strategy or an attempt to compromise, to harmonize, to give everybody a little something. I hope not. War is not the place for such political considerations.
DAVID- the Truth Detector
October 29th, 2009
9:52 am
OBAMA….the politician, has absolutely no respect for the troops…..just as the Atlanta-Obama-Journal has no respect for the troops….Enough said.
Mrs. Godzilla
October 29th, 2009
9:53 am
Photo op? in the dark?…..some of you are really pitiful.
May God save your souls.
Marsh
October 29th, 2009
9:54 am
mike @ 9:37,
You so smarrrrrrt.
NIF @ 9:39,
>So he goes and meets the bodies. Bush did it often, but unlike the media wh*re that we now have, he did the classy thing and kept it secret.<
Evidently Shrub kept it so secret that no one knows about it, except, well, you…Ha!
Jimmy Carter
October 29th, 2009
9:55 am
Paul
October 29th, 2009
9:51 am
I would expect this to be the administration’s plan. Announce the troop buildup (AFTER the NJ and VA elections), mention concentrating on the cities and pulling out of the outlying regions. With this announcement, the taliban will just move to the outlying regions and make periodic assaults in the cities. Just give ‘em our playbook. Geez.
Nothing Is Free
October 29th, 2009
9:56 am
jconsrvative
**I was thrilled to see Obama go to Dover to meet the dead troops coming home.**
And this is the difference between liberals and conservatives. We would be thrilled if he grew a spine instead of looking for yet another photo-op. Sure. Go greet the soldiers and met with their families, but try, at least try not to make it into another media event.
People here are buying into the BS. Thank Heavens that most of America is smarter than that.
Marsh
October 29th, 2009
9:56 am
D-tTD @ 9:52,
Gosh, once again, I need proof of how you know this.
Thank you in advance.
Paul
October 29th, 2009
9:57 am
Photo op in the dark?
The White House doesn’t schedule arrival times of military aircraft at Dover. They came on their own schedule, the President went to honor them. Photo op? The policy now is that whether or not to have news media present is based in part on the families’ wishes, remember? The outcry would have been if the White House sought to bar the media. Not that he went in spite of the media being present, knowing full well how his detractors would criticize even this.
Jimmy Carter
October 29th, 2009
9:57 am
Mrs. Godzilla
October 29th, 2009
9:53 am
Did you come up with that one by yourself, or did you use a teleprompter?
Normal
October 29th, 2009
9:57 am
Paul
October 29th, 2009
9:46 am
Yes, I will grant you that attitudes toward the Military are different today, and I would like to think that my generation of Service Men and Women had a small part in that.
But what galled me the most was the way everybody
bamed the “Grunt”. We were the easiest target, I guess, but all we were doing was obeying orders.
In my earlier post, I said my third tour was so someone else would not have to go. I volunteered for my first first tour because I thought it was my patriotic duty. When I went back the second time, all thoughts of patriotism were in the sh*tter. I went back because I felt I belonged nowhere else, especially back home.
No matter how you feel about this war or the past wars, blame the top and bless the Grunt. That’s all I’m saying.
FinnMcCool
October 29th, 2009
9:58 am
Meth Addicts Demand Government Address Nation’s Growing Spider Menace
A 45,000-word proposal was drafted by members of TRN during a marathon, 72-hour meeting under the Roosevelt Bridge, and presented twice to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. The document, which includes schematics for the development of a giant “spider bomb” the size of Rhode Island, concludes repeatedly that the problem would best be combated with large quantities of methamphetamines and steel wool.
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/meth_addicts_demand_government?utm_source=slate_rss_1
lmno
October 29th, 2009
9:58 am
People complain when the President of the United States greets the bodies of our fallen soldiers.
Who is at war now? Cause some of you seem to be at war against our troops by lashing out against their commander.
Nothing Is Free
October 29th, 2009
9:59 am
Marsh
**Evidently Shrub kept it so secret that no one knows about it, except, well, you…Ha!**
“President Bush offered personal condolences on Monday to the families of 26 soldiers killed in Iraq, meeting privately with 98 parents, spouses, children and other relatives of the dead at a time when his handling of war casualties has become a political issue.”
That would be me and anyone who can read.
New York Times:
John J
October 29th, 2009
9:59 am
Yes “shrub” did it all the time, he just never made a photo op out of it. He also sepent more time than you will ever know at Walter Reed, again not as a photo op.
Normal
October 29th, 2009
9:59 am
jconservative
October 29th, 2009
9:51 am
Well said, and welcome home.
Paul
October 29th, 2009
9:59 am
Jimmy
They’ll know our playbook regardless of what the decision is. Question is, is this an effective strategy for achieving our goals? Or has the President changed the goals he stated during the election and last March?
Kamchak
October 29th, 2009
10:00 am
Thank Heavens that most of America is smarter than that.
As evidenced by the last presidential election.
Mrs. Godzilla
October 29th, 2009
10:00 am
jimmy carter
no teleprompter, just decency.
USinUK
October 29th, 2009
10:01 am
NiF –
“The last year under Bush was the most promising year we have had in Afghanistan”
don’t take this the wrong way, but you couldn’t BE more wrong on that assessment – but, considering how much attention the US media paid to Iraq, it’s understandable. Afghanistan has been accelerating for nearly the last 2 years
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/07/usa.afghanistan
and and interesting piece in the Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/world/asia/09iht-nato.4.16826833.html
Pokey
October 29th, 2009
10:01 am
Strategically, the troop increase has as much to do with what is going on in Pakistan as it does with AF. One can’t suceed without the other. Obviously, the solution involves more than troop numbers but you can’t win an insurgency without security.
If BHO doesn’t give Gen McC his full request, he is choosing to fail. It will be interesting to see what McC does when BHO doesn’t given him all he asked.
The more interesting question JB is how McC answers to your question would change if he doesn’t get what he asks for.
Doggone/GA
October 29th, 2009
10:01 am
“Just give ‘em our playbook. Geez”
You HAVE got to be kidding. There’s no way to keep our “playbook” secret from them. The very BEST we could do is keep them from finding out…right up until the DAY we start. Once we start, they’ll figure it out quick.
The ONLY WAY to keep our plans a total secret would be to have our army be all Afghani, no uniforms, no military vehicles, mixed in with the civilian population. Sound like the “enemy” – doesn’t it?
Nothing Is Free
October 29th, 2009
10:01 am
Mrs. Godzilla
Big surprise. They have lights at Dover Air Base. Even the cameras have light ON THEM to take pictures.
Now do you understand?
Paul
October 29th, 2009
10:02 am
Normal
Agreed. Getting all the blame (responsibility) while having none of the authority is difficult.
Thanks for what you did.
FinnMcCool
October 29th, 2009
10:02 am
NIF writes: We would be thrilled if he grew a spine instead of looking for yet another photo-op. Sure. Go greet the soldiers and met with their families, but try, at least try not to make it into another media event.
That’s how politics works in the US. EVERYTHING they do is for political reasons. That’s how they get the moniker “politicians.”
If he didn’t go do it, you would complain that he never pays attention to the fallen troops. When he does it you complain that he’s doing it for political purposes.
Got anything original?
Jimmy Carter
October 29th, 2009
10:03 am
Speaking of setups, let’s not forget the masters of this genre – the Clintons. Remember these?
Clinton (D):
At Normandy – walking on a sandy beach, comes across a mystery pile of rocks (intentionally place ther), and arranges them in a cross. Luckily, a battleship was in the background for this big-money photo op.
Clinton (D):
A few days later – walking among headstones of fallen soldiers. All headstones have an American flag planted in front of them. Clinton (D) happens to come across the ONE flag that had fallen over, and he leans over to re-plant the flag.
Clinton (D) and Rodham Clinton (D):
While enjoying a vacation on a tropical isle, a reporter somehow gets past the Secret Service to take a picture of Clinton (D) and Rodham Clinton (D) dancing arm in arm. They were along with their daughter. No walkmans. No radio. No boombox. No band. They were just dancing to the tune of mother nature. (Two weeks later, the Lewinsky scandal broke).
Clinton (D) Rodham Clinton (D):
Every townhall meeting they ever participated in included hand-selected audiences. Don’t forget that.
Sandy Burger (D):
Stuffs classified papers in his pants. Documents may have been related to Clinton (D) responses (or lack thereof) to terrorist plots. Many papers never appear again as they were destroyed. No charges of a coverup advanced by the media (D).
Hef
October 29th, 2009
10:04 am
Mike@9:33am-In many ways I agree. Whether genuine or just a photo op (only his hairdresser knows for sure), I’m just glad he acknowledges our fallen heroes. NOW make up your MIND on a strategy Mr President!
Taxpayer
October 29th, 2009
10:05 am
I guess this scares you huh
Again, william, do you approve of Al Queda’s use of said tactics on 9/11/01? And, I promise not to be scared of you widdle answer.
Nothing Is Free
October 29th, 2009
10:06 am
Uncool
**That’s how politics works in the US. EVERYTHING they do is for political reasons.**
Said the liberal.
Nothing Is Free
October 29th, 2009
10:09 am
Uncool
**Got anything original**
Nope. Just the same old media wh0re in the WH, trying to take control of as much as he can. You know, just what we said he was before you elected him. The facts haven’t changed a bit.
Doggone/GA
October 29th, 2009
10:09 am
“Said the liberal.”
Nope, said the realist
Mrs. Godzilla
October 29th, 2009
10:10 am
NIF
For a place with lights on the field sure was a dark video…..
Oh I know!
He wanted it that dark so that in the photo op you couldn’t see him
giggling and goofing off and sticking his tongue out and just having s good time at a solemn occasion…..
There are really some sick puppies here.
Jackie
October 29th, 2009
10:10 am
@jconservative
As you can easily discern, many of the keyboard warriors have not had the opportunity of being in a live combat situation, therefore, their bluster far exceeds the reality of the situation.
They don’t seem to understand that “bullets, rockets, shrapnel has no eyes.” The things they see on TV and the movies are nowhere near what actually goes on war.
As all of us who have served know, when we stand in line and raise our right hands, the possibility of our coming back home erect is not guaranteed.
Having someone pay respect to your memory and the effort you put in to uphold your sworn duty is all that those alive can do to respect your service.
What is wrong with these classless clowns?
stands for decibels
October 29th, 2009
10:11 am
There are really some sick puppies here.
Given the solemn topic, this particular comments thread might be an especially good time not to feed them.
Nothing Is Free
October 29th, 2009
10:12 am
USinUK
I give the guardian all the respect you would give the Limbaugh letter and the NYT article had no dateline.
USinUK
October 29th, 2009
10:12 am
hef –
“(only his hairdresser knows for sure)”
LOL … I haven’t heard that for AGES … thanks for hte laugh!!
jconservative
October 29th, 2009
10:12 am
Nothing Is Free
Increasing the number of troops increases the number of dead.
But if you like dead troops, so be it.
Why are we there? Bush said we went to get bin Laden. We failed to do that. Lost the war. Correct?
Making a decision. Bush made a decision on Iraq in 5 minutes with no one else in the room (according to Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld & Powell).
He would have probably served the nation better if he had spent a few weeks going over the dozens of options & discussing those options with his “war cabinet” & the Pentagon. But he did not & we have a 1st class mess on our hands that we still do not what we will end up with. Based on the history of the region, I will guess we will end up with an Iraq that is a militant Islamic republic dedicated to the destruction of the USA.
But hey, he made a quick decision. I will give you that point.
TnGelding
October 29th, 2009
10:12 am
Marsh
October 29th, 2009
8:21 am
No he didn’t.
I sure hope Obama was sincere and wasn’t guilty of using the troops as a photo op like the person you mentioned.
Jay, were the 3 other civilians shown family members of the fallen hero?
FinnMcCool
October 29th, 2009
10:12 am
And when all the Taliban people and when all the Al Queda people are killed there will be no more enemies, right?
Hehehe. Yeah, right. There will be new names and new organizations.
You can’t stop hate. Just ask the angry white people you run into today.
Del
October 29th, 2009
10:13 am
This indecisive incompetent president doesn’t deserve a photo-op with our military. The Taliban see a weak leader in Obama and they have stepped up their offensive. They are receiving assistance directly and covertly from states who also see the weakness in this administration. If our government and the American people can’t support our military sufficiently enough for them to complete the job, by all means bring them home. They have fought well without the support of a war declaration just like in Korea, Vietnam and now this. It was indeed interesting to see the bloggers yesterday discussing to which president did the Vietnam war belong to. Wars belong to those who fight in them not to presidents or to the POS’s we elect to Congress because it is they who make the sacrifice. Politicians by and large are only interested in their election/reelection not in the people who are getting shot at.
TnGelding
October 29th, 2009
10:13 am
jconservative
October 29th, 2009
10:12 am
Quick and easy in his mind.
USinUK
October 29th, 2009
10:14 am
NiF –
“I give the guardian all the respect you would give the Limbaugh letter and the NYT article had no dateline.”
fine – here’s voice of america:
http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2008-11/2008-11-25-voa63.cfm?CFID=311248253&CFTOKEN=56468026&jsessionid=88309440211247e7b3685770787c4f45432f
RAMBLE ON!!!
October 29th, 2009
10:14 am
haha USinUK…that’s where I get my news on teeeeeveeee.
This certainly can’t be considered as a very good resource for getting real news now would it?
Perhaps you should venture outside Jay Bookman, Cindy Tucker, Wa. Post, NBC, and the NYT for your “news”.
I look forward to you referencing Jayson Blair or Keith Olberman soon.
What a douche bag, typical liberal arrogance.
USinUK
October 29th, 2009
10:15 am
and here’s ABC
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/12/more-troops-are.html
USinUK
October 29th, 2009
10:15 am
and here’s raw story
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Kabul_bomb_sign_of_worsening_securi_07082008.html
Nothing Is Free
October 29th, 2009
10:15 am
Mrs. Godzilla
**He wanted it that dark so that in the photo op you couldn’t see him
giggling and goofing off and sticking his tongue out and just having s good time at a solemn occasion…..**
So is that what you think he did? I don’t think you understand. Obozo is a coward and one slimy dude, but he and his political machine is the most powerful and polished political machine in the world. How good are they? They beat the Clinton machine, hands down. Even a slick-arse Chicago lawyer knows to mind his manners. Obama is the slickest (slimiest)
USinUK
October 29th, 2009
10:16 am
but, yeah, just cuz it’s in the guardian, it must be wrong
(btw – I’m not a huge fan of the guardian, either – but that doesn’t mean that the story was wrong)
Nothing Is Free
October 29th, 2009
10:17 am
USinUK
And this year is the worst. Get it?
Obama has been in charge THIS YEAR. Get it?
Marsh
October 29th, 2009
10:18 am
Paul @ 9:42 & NIF @ 9:59,
If you try real hard, maybe you can C-O-M-P-R-E-H-E-N-D.
I already know Shrub met with the families of the fallen.
My question was: Did Shrub go meet the fallen soldiers’ coffins?
Geez….How dense.
Doggone/GA
October 29th, 2009
10:18 am
“There will be new names and new organizations”
Yeah, I’ve often wondered how many millions of people have read, as children, about Hercules fighting the 9 headed monster and still think he was supposed to have been fighting an actual monster. Analogies just pass right by them.
Nothing Is Free
October 29th, 2009
10:19 am
Notcool
**Just ask the angry white people you run into today.**
Just a little liberal bigotry to spice up the blog.
pat
October 29th, 2009
10:19 am
Just walk away? That advice is so beyond stupid that it is amazing that a grown person would make such a statement and that grown people would have such idiotic ideas. We are not in Afghanistan for the hell of it, we were directly attacked no less then 6 times by these people. Thousands of deaths, American African and otherwise, so do those people no matter? Are their lives so insignificant that you would walk away and re-enable these people to not only get away with it, but to do it again and to what degree?
If we leave with out finishing the job more people will die, many more. There has been no indication that they will stop, hell all we did was help them with the Soviets and then they turned the guns we gave them on us.
This is a gross stupidity of under estimating the resolve of your enemy. They hate you and want you to die, they don’t really care that you are on their side.
Afghanistan has to be won. There is no choice in the matter, so we better figure out how to do it and then do it. Failure to do so will cost lives in the thousands, if not more.
America’s greatest disease is history-Alzheimer’s. The present does not exist in a bubble, they have not attacked us again because we didn’t let them, not because they turned over a new leaf.
This is almost as stupid as when Anderson Cooper discovered that nasrallah was actually anti-Semitic, who knew!
USinUK
October 29th, 2009
10:19 am
ramble –
“This certainly can’t be considered as a very good resource for getting real news now would it?”
sure … just in a VERY limited supply.
“Perhaps you should venture outside Jay Bookman, Cindy Tucker, Wa. Post, NBC, and the NYT for your “news”.”
awwwwww … diddums is just jealous because he doesn’t understand all the multi-syllabic words they use …
(by the way – multi-syllabic words means big words, since that might be a challenge for you)
“typical liberal arrogance”
considering your willful ignorance, I’m not surprised you see things that way.
Taxpayer
October 29th, 2009
10:20 am
There are really some sick puppies here.
They’re also currently known as the 19 percenters. We are looking forward to further reductions in that number though.
lmno
October 29th, 2009
10:21 am
“Yes “shrub” did it all the time, he just never made a photo op out of it. ”
You’re right about that. In fact Bush went out of his way to make sure that NO photos of flag draped coffins were shown to the public.
Which, I think, is kind of disgusting.
USinUK
October 29th, 2009
10:21 am
NiF –
“And this year is the worst. Get it? Obama has been in charge THIS YEAR. Get it?”
ahem. your original statement was: “The last year under Bush was the most promising year we have had in Afghanistan”
which was wrong. this year is bad, but it’s a situation which has been escallating for nearly 2 years (which means that last year wasn’t the best/most promising/rosiest or anything else).
got it?
Doggone/GA
October 29th, 2009
10:22 am
“we were directly attacked no less then 6 times by these people”
Actually we were not. We were attacked by Al Qaida operatives. The Afghans, via the Taliban, gave them refuge…but did not participate in the attacks. We went to Afghanistan to get bin Laden and to stop the Taliban from giving him and his organization refuge.
As a matter of fact, if your going to talk about WHO attacked us…we should have invaded Saudi Arabia. Look it up.
Normal
October 29th, 2009
10:22 am
Nothing Is Free
October 29th, 2009
10:19 am
you sure do clutch at straws, just sayin’…Bless your heart.
Road Scholar
October 29th, 2009
10:22 am
Paul: “The White House doesn’t schedule arrival times of military aircraft at Dover. They came on their own schedule,…”
How stupid do you think we are? Didn’t Bush schedule his photo opt on the deck of a carrier? And the brave sailors lining the deck were getting their daily sun ration (while in dress uniform) or just observing the “Mission Accomplished “sign?? Why wasn’t that done in the dark? The President can do anything he wants, when he wants, except raise /lower the sun.
NIF: So why wasn’t the tarmac lit up like a Christmas tree? Mood lighting? Give me a break!
Being patriotic w/o being a patriot. Now who is spinning ?
Finally, while the bickering (and some say the freedom to express their veiws) continues, how do you think our troops are interpreting this? Do you think they feel supported by insinuating that it was only a photo opt? Give the fallen and their families some repect, and if needed for some, the benefit of the doubt.
Taxpayer
October 29th, 2009
10:22 am
Just a little liberal bigotry to spice up the blog.
Proclaims the bi-partisan NIF. hehehe
Mrs. Godzilla
October 29th, 2009
10:22 am
Nothing Is Free
No dear, you don’t understand. Never have, never will,
and in the the end….you will pay the ultimate price.
I feel so sorry for you and your poor family.
TnGelding
October 29th, 2009
10:23 am
Del
October 29th, 2009
10:13 am
I salute the fallen heroes, as well, and apologize for the poiticians that placed them in harm’s way.
Obama is tough as nails, and the Taliban and the rest of the world will soon know it if they don’t already. I guess kicking GOP butt wasn’t enough for you? It’s the president that sends the troops into undeclared wars and they must take full responsibility for their actions, especially if it is a preemptive strike.
FinnMcCool
October 29th, 2009
10:23 am
Wars belong to those who fight in them not to presidents or to the POS’s we elect to Congress because it is they who make the sacrifice. Politicians by and large are only interested in their election/reelection not in the people who are getting shot at.
Such hate and disrespect. Why do you even live here? Move to another country where you like how it is run. There are lots to choose from.
We sure don’t want you around.
Jimmy Carter
October 29th, 2009
10:24 am
Taxpayer
October 29th, 2009
10:20 am
You’re right about the 19 percenters. The lastest report said roughly 19% of the population identify themselves as liberals. I, too, am looking forward to further reductions in that number. Most Americans consider themselves Republicans or Conservatives.
joe matarotz
October 29th, 2009
10:25 am
Why is Obama rendering a hand salute? He is not in uniform? Is he pretending to be ‘one of the men’?
Nothing Is Free
October 29th, 2009
10:25 am
jconservative
**Increasing the number of troops increases the number of dead.**
LOL!! Did you just make that up? LOL!!! What a bunch of nonsense.
**He would have probably served the nation better if he had spent a few weeks going over the dozens of options & discussing those options with his “war cabinet” & the Pentagon. **
Do you really see it like that? Bush didn’t have troops in harms way, waiting on his decision. Obozo does. PLEASE TRY TO THINK!!!!
And BTW. Congress supported the war. Get it?
PLEASE try and think beyond what you are told to think. Going into Iraq and Afghanistan was not done by Bush in Cheney in back rooms (like our health care future is being done) Hearing you talk about it like it was a small group of Republicans sending our troops off does nothing to show any real understanding on your part. It does show that you buy into the simplistic version given by the far left.
Doggone/GA
October 29th, 2009
10:25 am
“Didn’t Bush schedule his photo opt on the deck of a carrier?”
Bad comparison. Bush scheduled HIT phot op (not opt) to fit the arrival schedule of the carrier. He did not schedule the arrival of the carrier to suit his schedule for a photo op.
Paul has it right, you have it wrong.
Jimmy Carter
October 29th, 2009
10:26 am
FinnMcCool
October 29th, 2009
10:23 am
Move to another country? Did you do the same during the past 8 years? Doubt it. I guess when you cannot deal with alternative views the best you can come up with is “we sure don’t want you around”. Typical liberal response.
TnGelding
October 29th, 2009
10:26 am
Road Scholar
October 29th, 2009
10:22 am
Maybe that should have been THIS White House…
USinUK
October 29th, 2009
10:21 am
Lead ‘em by the nose!
Chris Salzmann
October 29th, 2009
10:26 am
You have to hand it to the conservatives here. The Republican administration ignored, undermanned and under funded the war in Afghanistan for what, 8 years and now are complaining that President Obama is taking his time in making a decision to escalate a conflict that was, potentially lost years ago due to the neglect of George Bush/Dick Cheney. Dick Cheney has the temerity to accuse Obama of dithering when he and his ilk dithered for 8 years on Afghanistan??? These people and their supporters should be taken out and hung. I’ll volunteer to kick the chairs out from under them. Heck, I’ll pay very well for that opportunity. Who wants to go first?
FinnMcCool
October 29th, 2009
10:27 am
Yes, the 19%ers should buy more fire arms.
They should drink lots of liquor and budweiser, preferably while handling their guns.
Nothing Is Free
October 29th, 2009
10:28 am
Mrs. Godzilla
**No dear, you don’t understand. Never have, never will,
and in the the end….you will pay the ultimate price.**
Wow. What a riveting debate. My family is doing very well, not that it is any of your business.
But it’s good to know that you have no response other than yet another slimy personal attack. I expected no more.
FinnMcCool
October 29th, 2009
10:28 am
well said, Chris.
USinUK
October 29th, 2009
10:29 am
TnG –
“Lead ‘em by the nose!”
fat lot of good it will do … I’m not holding my breath that he’ll even acknowledge his error
but thanks for the attagirl
Doggone/GA
October 29th, 2009
10:29 am
“Why is Obama rendering a hand salute? He is not in uniform? Is he pretending to be ‘one of the men’?”
Jesus save us all! It’s just amazing how ignorant supposedly intelligent people can be. In this country the President NEVER wears a military uniform, not officially. He is the **CIVIULIAN** Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, and as such he is owed, and returns, the salutes of the military…but he is NOT “in” the military.
Chris Salzmann
October 29th, 2009
10:29 am
Jimmy Carter October 29th, 2009 10:24 am SAID: Most Americans consider themselves Republicans or Conservatives.
CHRIS SAYS: ROFLMAO. That’s a load of BS if I’ve ever seen one. You got any reliable sources to back up that claim or did you, like others like you, just pull that out of your fat ………..???
Taxpayer
October 29th, 2009
10:30 am
Jimmy,
You are a member of the 19 percent club.