U.S. military balks at promised Afghan drawdown
Military leaders and President Obama’s civilian advisers are girding for battle over the size and pace of the planned pullout of U.S. troops from Afghanistan this summer, with the military seeking to limit a reduction in combat forces and the White House pressing for a withdrawal substantial enough to placate a war-weary electorate.
Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top allied commander in Afghanistan, has not presented a recommendation on the withdrawal to his superiors at the Pentagon, but some senior officers and military planning documents have described the July pullout as small to insignificant, prompting deep concern within the White House.
At a meeting of his war cabinet this month, Obama expressed displeasure with such characterizations of the withdrawal, according to three senior officials with direct knowledge of the session. “The president made it clear that he wants a meaningful drawdown to start in July,” said one of the officials, who, like the others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to share internal discussions….
Two senior military officials said one set of options being developed by staff officers in Kabul involves three choices: the removal of almost no forces; the withdrawal of a few thousand support personnel, including headquarters staff, engineers and logisticians; and the pullout of a brigade’s worth of troops — about 5,000 personnel— by culling a battalion of Marines in Helmand province that was added after the surge, a contingent of soldiers training Afghan security forces and an Army infantry battalion in either the country’s east or far west.
I don’t blame Petraeus and other military leaders for trying to keep as much manpower as possible in Afghanistan. They’ve fought hard and sacrificed a lot for whatever progress they’ve been able to make, and they naturally don’t want to see it all evaporate.
But in the end, it’s not their decision, and it shouldn’t be. I don’t know how much time is enough time, but I do know the tenth anniversary of our invasion of Afghanistan is coming up. I don’t know how much money is enough money, but at this point it’s costing us $120 billion a year. And I don’t know how many American lives this is all worth, especially given the dismal performance of the Afghan government that we’re trying to defend. But last year we lost 499 soldiers and Marines, in that cause, and another 73 have been killed so far this year, with the spring fighting season yet to begin.
It’s time to start drawing down. It’s time to start handing Afghanistan’s fate back to its people.
– Jay Bookman
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937 comments Add your comment
Dave R.
March 31st, 2011
1:57 pm
“in the winter you played basketball and bowled,”
Yeah, but what KIND of bowling, Mick? Where I came from, we had candlepin and duckpin bowling, getting to throw 3 large grapefruit-sized balls (with no holes) per frame, and we referred to what is on the professional circuit as “big-ball bowling”.
Dave R.
March 31st, 2011
1:57 pm
First TWICE in a ROW!
Joe Cool
March 31st, 2011
1:58 pm
LIL Georgie,
I Know how much you like numbers and “facts”. He’s some you should look into.
U.S. Census Bureau: Black Businesses Grew at 3 Times the National Rate
http://www.theroot.com/views/black-businesses-grew-three-times-national-rate
Mick
March 31st, 2011
1:58 pm
doom
I live in miami and the no one immigrant group has gotten more assistance from the US gov’t than the miami cubans. No other group can just wash up on shore and be granted entry. This group votes straight repub and gave the presidency to bush and in this last election the governorship to rick scott. They influence foreign policy by having a failed embargo in place for nearly fifty years. They are the most pampered hispanic group in the US and receive every gov’t benefit known to mankind, yet vote republican while collecting all they can get from the gov’t dole…
@@
March 31st, 2011
1:59 pm
Jackie:
These folks that argue with you about what is going on in the black community have never lived in the community and have not been black for one day in their lives.
I beg your pardon. I live in the black community and get very dark when exposed to the sun.
SoCo:
That almost makes it seem like people are trying to put requirements on being a mother.
There are requirements to being a mother. One must be able to support them both financially and emotionally. In case you haven’t noticed, men aren’t always there when it comes to child support. Not talkin’ about you, but way too many are shirkers. I’ve known men who will place restrictions on their own opportunity to avoid parental responsibilities.
What are they thinking? Can’t get blood out of a turnip.
I don’t care whether they’re black or white. Women are too easy and men are all too eager to take advantage.
jm
March 31st, 2011
1:59 pm
Obama jinxed the Nationals by not throwing out the first pitch (RE 1-0)
juuuuuuuuust kidding.
Normal
March 31st, 2011
1:59 pm
Dave R,
I’ve found the bigger the balls the better…
Dave R.
March 31st, 2011
1:59 pm
“This country is broke because of 30 years of failed liberal Congressional policies. Why are you so ignorant?”
Fixed your typo, mm.
jm
March 31st, 2011
2:00 pm
“Pure Bullsh*t.”
SoCo’s new favorite line.
@@
March 31st, 2011
2:00 pm
Oops! Dropped my last sentence.
And the kids suffer as a result.
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 31st, 2011
2:01 pm
Holy crap! Really?? Kind of like “hey lets buy a house for $600k even though I only make $20k per year”. And you wonder why the black community has the problems it does? WOW
No. Like, why get involved in the personal lives of citizens. I don’t think I have a right to get involved in what someone else does in the privacy of their own home. Abstinance programs have not worked, there’s a big anti-abortion push going on, and people are somehow equating single-mother childbirth to welfare. As I said earlier, people on the outside of the community do not see the entire support system.
Real Scooter
March 31st, 2011
2:01 pm
mm
March 31st, 2011
1:52 pm
Pot meet kettle.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 31st, 2011
2:01 pm
I forgot to mention, when making a military decision I think I will take my chances with US military generals instead of Jay Bookman, call me crazy…
Dave R.
March 31st, 2011
2:02 pm
Normal, candlepin bowling was great! Ten pins about the height of traditional pins, but straight up and down. And they don’t clear the downed pins in between throws, so you get to play off them to knock down the others. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it sent the ball in crazy directions.
jm
March 31st, 2011
2:03 pm
speculative from the ABC, but who knows.
Caterpillar Inc.’s CEO this week tried to tamp down talk the manufacturer of construction and mining machines is leaving Peoria, Ill., its home for 85 years, but not everyone is persuaded quite yet. Speculation Caterpillar will exit Illinois heated up following a March 21 letter the company’s chairman and chief executive fired off to Illinois’s governor complaining state legislators have created a climate unfavorable to business, reports Chicagobreakingnews.com.
CEO Doug Oberhelman’s letter does not mention taxes specifically, but the state recently increased both corporate and personal income taxes and he has said previously the hikes affect the state’s competitiveness. In the letter to Gov. Pat Quinn the Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) chief said, “Before I never really considered living anywhere else and certainly never considered the possibility of Caterpillar relocating. But I have to admit, the policymakers in Springfield seem to make it harder by the day.”
The letter also said the company, which employs 23,000, is being courted by other states. While neither Georgia nor Atlanta is mentioned, officials here have expressed interest.
Oberhelman attempted to reign in speculation about the company’s future home when he spoke Wednesday to a U.S. Chamber of Commerce gathering in Washington, D.C. He said in spite of “sensational” headlines such as ‘Cat leaving Illinois,’ that isn’t what he wrote in the letter to the governor.
According to Chicagobreakingnews.com, Oberhelman told a group at a chamber summit: “I actually said, I’m looking forward to finding ways to invest more in Illinois and to change the business climate. Illinois is our home and has been for 85 years, but the facts remain: Legislators in Illinois have created an environment that is unfriendly to business and investment, and at Caterpillar, we want to help lead and change that climate.”
Hard to say what Caterpillar will do. But it’s clear the cat is out of the bag, so to speak, when it comes to the company head’s displeasure with the business climate in Illinois. He’s almost certain to find a warmer climate in Georgia, and not just the weather.
Read more: Could Atl. be Caterpillar’s new home? | Atlanta Business Chronicle
USMC dawg
March 31st, 2011
2:04 pm
“I enlisted at 18 and after my first 24 hours at Parris Island, I had a momentary daydream wandering if I could de-enlist. About at that same time I had a senior drill instructor screaming in my ear and I got my answer.”
AHHHHHHH! As Archie and Edith used to say…. THOSE WERE THE DAYS!
I remember thinking the same thing, Del.
But I LOVED Parris Island!
Joe Cool
March 31st, 2011
2:05 pm
“Kind of like “hey lets buy a house for $600k even though I only make $20k per year”. And you wonder why the black community has the problems it does? WOW”
Maybe you needed more facts for the nonsense you speak lil Georgie.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/us/25south.html
Tundra Dude
March 31st, 2011
2:05 pm
U.S. military balks at promised Afghan drawdown
Should be EZ to “unbalk” them. Stop the funding, cut off their paychecks. Let them hitchhike home.
@@
March 31st, 2011
2:06 pm
Oh, and Soco?
This part…I know you mean well, so I’m not aiming that at you directly, but others barf out crap without providing any solutions. They may as well be the problem.
Never doubt that I do mean well. If you’re talking about the black community, I’m limited in what I can do because I’m NOT black (except in the summer months) (ISH). The black community can be very defensive on the topic. I’m reluctant to invade their territory.
You, however, can….much like Bill Cosby tried to do.
Thulsa Doom
March 31st, 2011
2:06 pm
Southern Comfort,
I think its intellectually dishonest to sit there and say its okay to reproduce regardless of financial status and marital status. Its not okay because others get stuck paying the bill for someone’s kids. Its not okay to just have kids out of wedlock and expect others to pay for your free sh$t.
The biggest problem with raising kids out of wedlock is that a single mother is far more likely to be mired in poverty- hence the stat that 41% of all single black mothers live in poverty vs only 7% of married black couples.
And you can cite various examples such as yourself of kids being raised successfully by single mothers. But the reality is that according to the hard data this is more the exception and not the norm.
To sit there and act like a black or white kid raised in a single mother family has roughly the same advantages as a kid raised above the poverty line in a 2 parent family is intellecually dishonst. Not to mention ludicrous. And overall whatever the various reasons for the 70% rate of out of wedlock black birth rates you can’t make any rational argument that this is a good thing.
Even if the unmarried woman and father stay together as an unmarried couple for a number of years is it a good thing for a kid to grow up knowing that his parents aren’t even married to each other?
What kind of a value system is that kid growing up with in most cases where he sees that its just not important for his parents to raise kids in a family where mom and dad are married?
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 31st, 2011
2:07 pm
There are requirements to being a mother. One must be able to support them both financially and emotionally.
And how do you determine what is enough? I have cousins who probably couldn’t rub two nickles together on any given day of the week, yet their children are taken care of, and not at the expense of taxpayers. The majority of my cousins and I were raised by our grandparents while our mothers worked. Those things don’t show up in statistics. That’s why I laugh when people outside of a community try to explain what goes on in that community when they don’t have a clue.
SoCo’s new favorite line.
It’s a lot easier to type than Pure, hot, steaming, fresh-out-of-the-bovine, Bullsh*t!!
Tundra Dude
March 31st, 2011
2:08 pm
jm@1:04 pm, wrote:
one could say it resembles the award at the Nobel Peace Prize,” Aftergood said. “It’s not because Obama brought peace to anyone but because people hoped he would be a force for good in the world, and maybe that’s the way to understand this award.”
OIC….then they should change it to the _Hoping for Peace_ award.
dave
March 31st, 2011
2:11 pm
For the second time in history, I agree with Jay. Pull them out and do it now. Those of you who feel or believe there is any reason to stay, please read the book “The Wrong War.” If you have served in the military and are a combat vet, as I am, you might change your prespective.
Fred
March 31st, 2011
2:13 pm
Pull them out of Iraq first.
Jackie
March 31st, 2011
2:13 pm
@Thulsa Doom
You statement showing where the percentage of whites on welfare is greater than the number of blacks and further bolstering the fact that there are 6 times more whites than blacks proves my point. Thanks.
@@@
By your tanning easily proves what??
Wonderful website that shows numbers and percentages of blacks, whites and others in many categories. Did you ever consider the poverty rate for blacks, whites and others and how that impacts the young and single black woman?
AmVet
March 31st, 2011
2:13 pm
SoCo, you know the con jackassery is getting mighty deep when certain people here tell you they live in the black community!
USMC dawg, carefu!
There are numerous never-served sleazeballs around here who will tell you that you are “mistaken’ about your military service!
Heyward has a dinger for me and Chipper has a run scored. Off to a good start…
HDB
March 31st, 2011
2:13 pm
Thulsa Doom
March 31st, 2011
2:06 pm
Like SoCo, I was raised by a single parent; the key is ECONOMICS!! A single parent that earns a middle class salary can raise a child that would become as competitive as any middle class child in two-parent homes. If that single parent has the support system that heretofire was quite prevalent in black communities (grandparents, uncles/aunts/role models), then that child could prosper! Take that same situation…but put the child in poverty and NO support system, the child is doomed!! Note single actresses that either have borne or adopted children; check their economic status…….
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 31st, 2011
2:15 pm
@@
With your heart and spirit, you could do far more than you realize.
I think its intellectually dishonest to sit there and say its okay to reproduce regardless of financial status and marital status. Its not okay because others get stuck paying the bill for someone’s kids. Its not okay to just have kids out of wedlock and expect others to pay for your free sh$t.
You do know what it means to ASSume, right? How does what I said automatically mean that someone’s getting free sh*t? If you study history, you’d know that the Black community is far more self-supporting and stronger that what people want to paint it as today. YOU may doubt it, but I have nothing but faith in the Black community. You’re talking about a community that survived slavery, lynching, and other crimes against humanity. In the early 1900’s, you’re talking about a community that mirrored the “White” community. Separate but equal meant that the Black community had to have it’s own schools, doctors, lawyers, financial advisors, and everything else.
No matter how much people try to tear it down, whether it’s from within or outside, the Black community will survive and prosper. It doesn’t matter whether the child comes from a single or dual parent home. It doesn’t matter whether the family lives in Beverly Hills or the projects. It’s all about how that child is taught and what they learn. That’s why I don’t focus on non-essential crap. I spend my energy to make sure they’re learning how to learn and think for themselves.
Tundra Dude
March 31st, 2011
2:16 pm
AmVet@9:19 wrote, in part:
On a related note, there is some great news in north Africa:
Lt. Gen Charles Bouchard, a Canadian now heading the international operation, says the transition of command from the U.S. had been “seamless with no gaps.”
————————–
No surprise, it’s “seamless”, sorta like passing the baton from one hand to the other.
(snipped)
A Canadian three-star general was selected to be in charge of all NATO operations in Libya. His boss, the commander of NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command Naples, is Admiral Samuel J. Locklear, US Navy, and the admiral’s boss is the supreme allied commander Europe, Admiral James G. Stavridis, United States Navy. (this post is always held by an American)
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:18 pm
Joe…..great I guess we should start building more prisons.
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:18 pm
Southern….you do when our taxes are going to fun their babies.
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:20 pm
Southern…”Black community will survive and prosper”
When? We are all waiting.
JIMBOB (aka James Robert)
March 31st, 2011
2:20 pm
How many kids must die fighting for Hamid Karzai! How many kids must die fighting for Hamid Karzai! How many kids must die fighting for Hamid Karzai! How many kids must die fighting for Hamid Karzai! How many kids must die fighting for Hamid Karzai! How many kids must die fighting for Hamid Karzai! How many kids must die fighting for Hamid Karzai!
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 31st, 2011
2:22 pm
George
You should get paid to be an ASSumer, you’d make billions…..
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:23 pm
Southern…..what am I assuming?
Thulsa Doom
March 31st, 2011
2:24 pm
HDB at 2:13pm,
I would agree with your whole post- its about economics more than anything else. And in terms of economics a single mother whether black or white is going to be substantially more challenged and have a harder time staying out of poverty than a 2 parent family. That’s just an easily observable common sense thing that we should all be able to agree on.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 31st, 2011
2:26 pm
If anyone thinks that is doesn’t matter if you come from a dual parent home you are ignoring statistical facts. Of course there are exceptions and many people who come from a single parent home can be as successful as anyone. With that said, by far people who come from a single family home have a much more difficult time. Denying that is like denying the sky is blue. And you shouldn’t take offense to it, its just a fact.
And if you can’t even support yourself you have no business bringing more people into this world. It is bad for you and them. If you think someone in poverty should pop out 5 or 6 kids and let the govt support them you are irresponsible. Children are extremely expensive nowadays and to bring them into this world with no way to support them is wrong.
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:27 pm
Southern….waiting? Tick Tick Tick
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 31st, 2011
2:27 pm
What are you assuming? Damn near everything you post, but for starters….
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:18 pm
Joe…..great I guess we should start building more prisons.
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:18 pm
Southern….you do when our taxes are going to fun their babies.
IF our taxes are going to fun(d) their babies, then you have a point, but not when. You’re assuming that it’s automatic that taxes are funding their babies, which is not the case. I’m not even going to comment on the prison statement.
@@
March 31st, 2011
2:28 pm
SoCo:
If they can provide without help from the outside, I’m fine with that. If, however, they eagerly latch on to entitlements, resentment will build from the outside.
I’ll share a story with you. I worked as a liaison between my church and the ChildTech program (teenage mothers). I loved going up there when the babies were present. I often did when I was working part-time. I even gave the staff instructions in sign language, which turned out to be mui beneficial. Kids have a tendency to scream when they can’t communicate.
Anyhoo, the program placed certain demands on the participants. They were required to pay $5.00 a week for childcare. If they didn’t, they were to be expelled from the program. It never happened…government programs never follow thru with consequences. Threatens their bottom line.
I got to know some of the young mothers. One stands out in my mind. She had one boyfriend and had become pregnant. She remained with the boyfriend. He had graduated and was pursuing a career in law enforcement. They were planning a future life together as a family. She impressed me in many ways. Paid her $5.00 faithfully and cussed the others out for thinking that it was beneath them or above them (don’t know which) to do the same. “Do you think everything in life is gonna be free?” she asked.
When the girls had been suspended, they were required to show up at the church and care for their own children. Again…they were to be expelled from the program if they didn’t. They didn’t but were never expelled.
The young mother who impressed me got herself expelled. Not only did she show up but helped the staff with ALL the children, not just hers. More young mothers like her will benefit our society and I didn’t hesitate to tell her so.
jm
March 31st, 2011
2:28 pm
Transit list for ATL transportation… very interesting stuff
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:28 pm
Southern….Ok I am 72% sure that our money will fund for those babies. Keep up the good work.
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:30 pm
Southern….when 1 in 9 black males aged 20 to 34 are in prison…..i stand by what I said. Keep up the good work.
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:32 pm
Southern.,..to further prove my point…..
Prison populationFurther information: Incarceration in the United States
The racial composition of the US prison and jail population as of 2008 was 60.21% (African American (non-Hispanic), 20.29% Hispanic, 13.44% White American (non-Hispanic) , and 6.06% Other (American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander American, and Multiracial American).[27]
U.S. incarceration rates by race, June 30, 2006:
Whites: 409 per 100,000
Latinos: 1,038 per 100,000
Blacks: 2,468 per 100,000
getalife
March 31st, 2011
2:32 pm
I think our cons hit rock bottom attacking AmVet’s service.
You can’t get any lower than that.
Way to support the troops sickos.
@@
March 31st, 2011
2:33 pm
I seem to be in the midst of a melee. I’m lagging behind.
Jackie:
By your tanning easily proves what??
I’ve been mistaken for black on more than one occasion. People have responded to me as if I were. That’s all.
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:34 pm
@@ That is hilarious!
Dave R.
March 31st, 2011
2:34 pm
“You can’t get any lower than that.”
Of course you can. You do so with every post you generate.
Your next post adding value to the coversation will be your first.
John Birch
March 31st, 2011
2:35 pm
The worst kids come from 0 parent homes, you know the ones where ‘mom’ plays the slots at Victoryland while the toddler roasts to death in the car. However, sterlization should be a qualification for welfare. If you have children you can’t support, you shouldn’t have any more children, it’s that simple.
Thulsa Doom
March 31st, 2011
2:35 pm
Southern Comfort at 2:15pm,
I wish I could believe and have the same faith as you that the black community will survive and prosper. We would all like to see that but I just don’t believe it. I just don’t see the values system that I see that makes other minority cultures even more successful than the dominant white culture- take the east Asian or Indian(Asian) cultures and look at their value system. Incredible emphasis on academic achievement, emphasis on the stable family unit, discipline, staying out of trouble, etc. They got it figured out. Many blacks and whites to a lesser degree do not.
“It doesn’t matter whether the child comes from a single or dual parent home”-southern comfort.
You point out exceptions to the rule but overall the empirical evidence presented proves you wrong. It does matter. It matters a lot.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 31st, 2011
2:35 pm
@getalife
You mean like when Democrats picket the funerals of dead soldiers?? Like when they spit in the face of our soldiers when get home?? Is that what you’re talking about??
Jackie
March 31st, 2011
2:36 pm
@George W
Where do you get that specious number?
You seem to believe that you have struck gold with this line that you can not prove.
Where is your corroboration?
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:37 pm
Thulsa….that is exactly what I was saying.
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 31st, 2011
2:37 pm
@@
Good story, although I’m thinking that some here wouldn’t buy it because it doesn’t fit their opinion and/or outlook. What some fail to see is that sometimes it takes the smallest of things to inspire young people. Instead of just constantly berating them or stereotyping them, the smallest encouragement can reap major benefits.
I can tell from the stories you post that you have a kind heart. I think you’d have a lot more sway in positively affecting people than you give yourself credit for. I’ve seen it time and time again. If you don’t make people responsible, they won’t accept responsibility. If people spent more effort into providing work opportunities instead of bitching about welfare, who knows how much benefit that would provide to the country as a whole?
jm
March 31st, 2011
2:38 pm
Where’s our score update?
Braves up 2-0…………..
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:38 pm
Jackie….which number are you referring to?
getalife
March 31st, 2011
2:38 pm
Your are a liar mike.
You are sick in the head.
You cons attacked his service and you should apologize now mike.
jm
March 31st, 2011
2:39 pm
Bravos.
Trippy.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_03_31_atlmlb_wasmlb_1
jm
March 31st, 2011
2:39 pm
getalife – the resin is clogging your neurons buddo
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 31st, 2011
2:40 pm
@getalife
Not following you, where did I lie? And I never said anything to Amvet?? Are you saying Democrats did not picket the funerals of dead soldiers?
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:40 pm
uh oh getalife is about to explode…..tick tock tick tock….
Mike, are you laughing as much as I am?
getalife
March 31st, 2011
2:40 pm
jm,
Yeah, you spit in AmVets face.
Apologize now cons.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 31st, 2011
2:40 pm
@getalife
Are you able to communicate without name calling. Are you a teenager??
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:41 pm
Woodstock…..hilarious isnt he?
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 31st, 2011
2:41 pm
@George W
I am rolling over here……….
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:41 pm
Woodstock…..getalife is sicilian….be careful he may go “all Jersey Shore” on us!!
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:42 pm
Jackie….waiting?
getalife
March 31st, 2011
2:42 pm
mike,
Apologize.
I am not playing.
You talk about spitting in their faces and you did it here.
Not on my watch.
Man up son or step off.
@@
March 31st, 2011
2:43 pm
SoCo:
She was one among 18 young mothers. She was the exception. I feared for the remaining 17. They didn’t have her drive.
If people spent more effort into providing work opportunities instead of bitching about welfare, who knows how much benefit that would provide to the country as a whole?
How can I or people like me, provide work opportunities? My husband has often said “Too many people are too busy making a living to make a fortune.” ‘Tis true…we’re all struggling.
Jackie
March 31st, 2011
2:43 pm
@George W
Where do you get the 72% from?
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:43 pm
mike….are you scared yet…..getalife has us all trembling! hahahaah
Thulsa Doom
March 31st, 2011
2:44 pm
Does getalife ever have a single thing of revelance to say? I have never seen one legitimate point made by this poster. A lot of rhetoric and hyperbole but never one logical point.
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 31st, 2011
2:44 pm
Doom
I live in that community, and I know the power that it possesses. It’s just a matter of getting people to believe in themselves and not let others dictate who or what they are. If you continuously label someone as no good, they begin to buy into that assessment at some point. As someone who knew and studied history, I refused to buy into the young gang-banger thug image that people tried to project when I was in that age range. I let my grades and test scores speak for me. I still relish in being the anti-stereotype whenever I get a chance to play that role.
If those outside the community just stopped planting the seeds of doubt and failure for a generation, it would do wonders. You can’t expect a young impressionable mind to see themselves as anything other than a failure when that’s all they hear from everyone else, can you?
when 1 in 9 black males aged 20 to 34 are in prison…..i stand by what I said. Keep up the good work.
Whoop de fu*king doo… When the justice system and our country treats ALL criminals alike, I’ll be concerned about a statistic like that. Until then, that stat doesn’t mean jack sh*t. When corporate thieves go to jail with the frequency that someone does for possession of an ounce of weed, call me.
getalife
March 31st, 2011
2:44 pm
Jackie,
All they do is lie here and spit in the troops faces.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 31st, 2011
2:45 pm
@getalife
I never said anything to AmVet, although I disagree with his politics. For being a person that served his country I respect him deeply…
Thulsa Doom
March 31st, 2011
2:46 pm
Jackie,
I still didn’t understand your point earlier about the % of whites on welfar vs blacks. On the welfare rolls whites make up 38% of the total and blacks 37%. But there are 6 times more whites than blacks which means that as a % of their population there are dramatially more blacks on welfare. Is this the point you were making?
getalife
March 31st, 2011
2:47 pm
“You mean like when Democrats picket the funerals of dead soldiers?? Like when they spit in the face of our soldiers when get home?? Is that what you’re talking about??”
That was your reply when I said for the cons need to apologize to AmVet.
You spit in his face.
Apologize mike.
jm
March 31st, 2011
2:48 pm
getalife appears to be a 1-liner macho wuss blog bot
getalife
March 31st, 2011
2:48 pm
And you other cons that attacked AmVet’s service, apologize now.
@@
March 31st, 2011
2:48 pm
If those outside the community just stopped planting the seeds of doubt and failure for a generation, it would do wonders.
Please e-mail that snippet to the DNC.
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:48 pm
Jackie….this site actually says it is more like 80% and it comes FROM THE BLACK COMMUNITY!!!
http://blackamericans.com/blogs/news/archive/2008/01/25/about-80-of-black-babies-are-born-to-unwed-moms.aspx
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 31st, 2011
2:49 pm
@getalife
Are you not aware that Democrats hate American soldiers? And America for that matter??
@@
March 31st, 2011
2:49 pm
Getalife:
I’m not gonna apologize to AmVet. He brought this on himself.
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:49 pm
getalife…..cry cry cry cry…..time to change your diaper yet?
getalife
March 31st, 2011
2:50 pm
And you did it again.
Pathetic mike.
getalife
March 31st, 2011
2:51 pm
@@,
How?
jm
March 31st, 2011
2:51 pm
getalife – what’s 6th grade like these days?
Jackie
March 31st, 2011
2:51 pm
@getalife
Those loud-imouth, keyboard warriors have all the answers, yet refuse to step up and be counted when things get tough.
Have diaharrea of the lip.
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 31st, 2011
2:52 pm
How can I or people like me, provide work opportunities? My husband has often said “Too many people are too busy making a living to make a fortune.” ‘Tis true…we’re all struggling.
I had an uncle who started his own HVAC business. He let me tag along with him on service calls. I might have made $20 dollars from him over the entire summer, but the knowledge I gained was worth far more. Your husband probably has immense knowledge from his renovations that he could impart to a young impressionable mind. The key is finding the one who wants to learn it. Kids are funny about things like that. Peer pressure will keep them dumb before they admit that something interests them.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 31st, 2011
2:53 pm
@Jackie
Your comments are contradictory. And please explain what plate we are not stepping up to when things get tough??
jm
March 31st, 2011
2:53 pm
SoCo – what, no “Bullsh*t!”?
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:53 pm
jm….he didnt make it that far.
getalife
March 31st, 2011
2:54 pm
Jackie,
These cons spit in the face of the troops.
Fact.
@@
March 31st, 2011
2:54 pm
He neglected to keep his facts straight?
He’s always looking for a fight?
He’s obsessed?
He constantly accuses others of what he, himself does?
He dictates how others should behave?
He’s a control freak?
He seeks to silence the free speech of others and then brags when he succeeds?
Do you want more?
jm
March 31st, 2011
2:54 pm
getalife – has nothing substantive to say. fact.
George W
March 31st, 2011
2:55 pm
Jackie….I proved my point and provided the link…..See that is the issue….instead of approaching the problem and working to correct it the black man just points at the white man and blames him…..hence your situation will never get any better just worse…..very sad.
Dave R.
March 31st, 2011
2:55 pm
“Apologize.
I am not playing.
You talk about spitting in their faces and you did it here.
Not on my watch.
Man up son or step off.”
In the immortal words of Sgt. Hulka, “Lighten up, Francis.” You’re wired a whole lot differently than normal humans, getalife.
@@
March 31st, 2011
2:55 pm
Getalife:
My 2:54 should have been addressed to you.
getalife
March 31st, 2011
2:55 pm
@@,
Waiting for you to apologize.
Don’t crawl that low @@.
You are better than that.
AmVet
March 31st, 2011
2:56 pm
getalife, it’s OK.
It’s not as if any of those four lying sleazeballs have ever worn a uniform one day in their sorry lives.
Maybe they get it from their parents who spit on returning Viet Nam vets.
And you know @@, she’ll cover for liars and racists, but not a veteran…