Obama looking for Afganistan Exit Strategy

[rightwinger]

You just don't get it do you RW.

If we don't leave these places in far better condition than they were when we found them, twenty years down the road, we'll just have to go back and do it again. And next time our credibility with the indigenous population will be less than zero.

It happened in Iraq. Had we ousted Saddam the first time around, we would have been the heroes of the Iraqi people.

Had we helped the Afghans in the 80's after there overthrow of the soviet puppet government, we would have had a staunch ally instead of an enemy that helped launch the 9/11 tragedy.

We should learn from these mistakes, not repeat them.

Isn't that what an exit strategy is?

We need a definite plan of what needs to be accomplished and when. Protecting the peace is not an exit strategy, neither is winning the hearts and minds of the people.

If we are going to send 40,000 additional troops we need a plan on wht we expect them to accomplish. Otherwise, send them all home

It would seem that what we need first is an entry strategy. Then we need a goal strategy. And after all that we need an exit strategy.
But why has it taken Obama 10 months as president and who knows how many as candidate to figure this one out?

Where do you get 10 months?

We have been in Afghanistan nearly 8 years without a cogent strategy of what we hope to accomplish and how we expect to extricate ourselves from Afghanistan. How many years did it take the Soviets to figure out a winning strategy?

 

[manu1959]

So we just "declare victory", pack up and leave the Afghans in the lurch...again?

Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.

hey it worked in rawanda and somalia.....

 

[Si modo]

Obama Looking for 'Off-Ramps' Out of Afghanistan - George's Bottom Line

Obama Looking for 'Off-Ramps' Out of Afghanistan
November 11, 2009 7:33 AM

That’s what he wants to “drill down” on in what is likely to be the President’s final meeting with his war counsel today.

One close aide explained that Obama “wants to see more intellectual energy” focused on how this mission ends, saying that the President has insisted that “we’re not going to be in Afghanistan for another 8 years.”

Another said that Obama wants a clear picture of the “American bridge” out of Afghanistan. He doesn’t have it yet. He’s not satisfied with what he’s heard so far. The President will press for answers today.

Angry at Monday’s CBS report (and the military sources who seem to be pushing it) that the President has already settled on an option that would send almost all the troops Gen. McChrystal has requested for Afghanistan, aides insist that Obama has not told anyone what he wants to do – and that he’s likely to continue to mull his options as he travels across Asia over the next 8 days.

All four options the President will consider at today’s war counsel contemplate phasing in more troops over the next year – from a low of 10-20,000 to the high option of about 40,000 troops recommended by General McChrystal. But an official says that the “key question is not how many troops we send. But how many Afghan forces can get ready.” And how quickly they can get ready.

It doesn't really matter all that much at this point, politically. Obama has already assfucked the military. And, when he finally decides on something, it will just be equivalent to KY.

He's a political fool on this point.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

but of course !!! an exit czar !!!!!

Close the Thread

 

[LibocalypseNow]

Bring the kids home now Mr. President! This President has been shamefully Half-Hearted in his approach to helping our kids over there. He will now decide on some Half-Measure that will not achieve any gains in Afghanistan. Look for a modest increase in troop numbers so he can appear to be listening to the Generals who have been pleading with him to do something. This attempt will also be an attempt to appease his Left Wing kooks in his party. Make no mistake about it though,his decision will only be a Half-Measure that will not lead to victory in Afghanistan. Just bring them home for God's sake. No War can be won when a Commander in Chief is not fully committed to winning.

 

[nodoginnafight]

You just don't get it do you RW.

If we don't leave these places in far better condition than they were when we found them, twenty years down the road, we'll just have to go back and do it again. And next time our credibility with the indigenous population will be less than zero.

It happened in Iraq. Had we ousted Saddam the first time around, we would have been the heroes of the Iraqi people.

Had we helped the Afghans in the 80's after there overthrow of the soviet puppet government, we would have had a staunch ally instead of an enemy that helped launch the 9/11 tragedy.

We should learn from these mistakes, not repeat them.

Many false assuptions here - firstly - we did not "have to go back to Iraq" We had no business going back - period. Going back simply weakened our position.

Secondly, Afghanistan did not "launch the 9/11 tragedy"

Thirdly, The organization that executed the 9/11 attack has been devastated. Mission accomplished. All that remains to be done is to pick up after ourselves and get out. Granted "picking up after ourselves" might include some contribution to the stability of the country since our presence helped destabalize it (for a very good reason mind you). But that's it - that's the exit strategy that must be employeed. Pick up after ourselves, support re-stabalizing the country (to a limited extent), and coming home.



You have to learn what the real mistakes were before you can avoid remaking them.

Do we have to re-fight the reasons we went to Iraq for the gazillionth time?

The congress believed, based on Saddam's own repeated assertions, that Iraq had WMDs.

Then Saddam kicked out the weapon inspectors again.

And Congress voted to proceed with the war against Iraq.

Not based on faulty intel, not based on Bush...based on Saddam Hussein's own words and actions.



Thirdly, if we declare victory and leave again, the Taliban will be back in power in no time, and we'll be right back where we started with Afghanistan as a base for Islamic Terrorism.

We only have to re-debate the reason we went back to Iraq if you want to try to claim it was justified. It clearly wasn't. Your "supporting points" are justs twists, spins, along with at least one outright falsehood. So if you insist on losing that debate one more time .... it's your call.

as for your speculation as to what may or may not happen when we leave Afghanistan ... well ... One - it's pure speculation. Given the turn the Islamic community has taken toward Al Qaeda it appears to be pretty off-base speculation at that.

Two - IF the U.S. managed to "cleanse" Afghanistan of terrorists - they'd simply pop up somewhere else. It's what has happened in the past - what leads us to believe it would not happen again? And suggesting that perhaps the U.S. should maintain a permenant military presence in every nation where terrorists are likely to crop up is impossible and absurd.

A more realistic strategy is to create cooperation diplomatically wherever possible to deter harboring terrorist organizations and to retaliate against terrorist organizations and render then impotent with our military when they attack the U.S.

That strategy has been accomplished in Afghanistan. No reason to stay other than to tidy things up a bit.

Or can someone articulate what further objectives remain? Using terms like "win" and "lose" without including exactly what those terms actually mean in quantifiable objectives is just juvenile, empty rhetoric.

 

[Zona]

Thank you President Obama for thinking about an exist strategy and thinking about our troops. This administration is so much better than the last one.

Seriously.

 

[LibocalypseNow]

This President seems to be far more interested in fighting wars against his own people than he does in fighting against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. This President has declared numerous Wars against all Americans who have dared to criticize him. It's all just one big Socialist mess at this point. When will more Americans figure this out?

 

[Zona]

Isn't that what an exit strategy is?

We need a definite plan of what needs to be accomplished and when. Protecting the peace is not an exit strategy, neither is winning the hearts and minds of the people.

If we are going to send 40,000 additional troops we need a plan on wht we expect them to accomplish. Otherwise, send them all home

It would seem that what we need first is an entry strategy. Then we need a goal strategy. And after all that we need an exit strategy.
But why has it taken Obama 10 months as president and who knows how many as candidate to figure this one out?

Where do you get 10 months?

We have been in Afghanistan nearly 8 years without a cogent strategy of what we hope to accomplish and how we expect to extricate ourselves from Afghanistan. How many years did it take the Soviets to figure out a winning strategy?

I think the soviets are still thinking about one.

For 8 years, the republicans didnt say a word about this dumb war. We would have been over this if we sent the trooops needed with a plan from the start, but we didnt. We went to war with Iraq for oil ....oh and wmd's.

 

[nodoginnafight]

still waiting for someone who supports staying in Afghanistan to articulate why and to tell me exactly what objectives they think are left to be achieved......

Anyone???????

 

[LibocalypseNow]

So much for that "Good War" stuff. That stuff is going the way of his "Changing the Tone of Washington" stuff has gone. Just another lie in the end.

 

[nodoginnafight]

So much for that "Good War" stuff. That stuff is going the way of his "Changing the Tone of Washington" stuff has gone. Just another lie in the end.

On the contrary - imho - the good war has been won - what exactly is it that you want to keep fighting for?
Any real input on that or are you just going to keep regurgitating bumper stickers?

 

[Zona]

So much for that "Good War" stuff. That stuff is going the way of his "Changing the Tone of Washington" stuff has gone. Just another lie in the end.

The change in the white house now is, him not being all swager, ego and from texas. He is actually thinking about situations before saying things like mush room clouds and wmd's.

See the difference?

 

[LibocalypseNow]

Like i said,just another Hopey Changey lie in the end. He called it "The Good War" only when he needed votes. He has done absolutely nothing for our kids over there since becoming the Commander in Chief. He will now decide on a Half-Measure that will not lead to any gains in Afghanistan. It is very sad but it is what it is.

 

[nodoginnafight]

Just like I said - no objective - just bumper sticker slogans.

 

[LibocalypseNow]

Hey they're your Hopey Changey's "bumper sticker slogans" not mine. So don't get angry with me. Geez!

 

[namvet]

So much for that "Good War" stuff. That stuff is going the way of his "Changing the Tone of Washington" stuff has gone. Just another lie in the end.

The change in the white house now is, him not being all swager, ego and from texas. He is actually thinking about situations before saying things like mush room clouds and wmd's.

See the difference?

and how many kids are dying while he allegedly "thinks" ???? you left that one out huh ???

 

[Si modo]

BHO has gone beyond stepping in the shit on this topic. He is fully immersed in it and has successfully pissed off a lot of folks who were otherwise giving him the benefit of the doubt. Fool.

 

[nodoginnafight]

Still not able to come up with a legitimate objective that remains to be accomplished?

I'm listening

 

[nodoginnafight]

Si - I have come to enjoy your input as being a lot more than empty rhetoric.

And I just keep getting more and more curious - maybe you can be the one to help me out. In your opinion, are there remaining objectives to achieve in Afghanistan? Objectives worthy of the sacrfices our folks over there (and their loved ones still at home) are making?

What different tact would you endorse and why?

I've come to expect the empty and banal rhetoric from some posters, but I've always held you in higher regard. I'd appreciate your input.