Freeing Up Resources... for More War

[Orwellian_Ghost]

Freeing Up Resources... for More War
by Norman Solomon

Hours after President Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress, the New York Times printed the news that he plans to gradually withdraw "American combat forces" from Iraq during the next 18 months. The newspaper reported that the advantages of the pullout will include "relieving the strain on the armed forces and freeing up resources for Afghanistan."

The president's speech had little to say about the plans for escalation, but the few words will come back to haunt: "With our friends and allies, we will forge a new and comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat Al Qaida and combat extremism, because I will not allow terrorists to plot against the American people from safe havens halfway around the world. We will not allow it."

Obama didn't mention the additional number of U.S. troops -- 17,000 -- that he has just ordered to Afghanistan. But his pledge that he "will not allow terrorists to plot against the American people" and his ringing declaration, "We will not allow it," came just before this statement: "As we meet here tonight, our men and women in uniform stand watch abroad and more are readying to deploy."

Get the message? In his first speech to Congress, the new president threw down a 90-month-old gauntlet, reaffirming the notion that committing to war halfway around the world -- in Afghanistan and now in Pakistan too -- will make Americans safer. With drumrolls like that, the mission could outlive all of us.

<snip>

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/02/25

[maxsolomon]

1. we can't afford either war

and it will be the nail in the coffin of our hegemony.

leaving 50K "non-combat" troops in iraq after the "pullout". i want ZERO left.

[ixion]

2. *sigh* just like Clinton and the so-called 'war' on drugs

I thought when he was elected that he'd stop the madness, but he didn't. He escalated it, and continued the policy.

Just like Obama appears to be doing. :(

[Truth2Tell]

3. And the band played on... K&R nt

[TBF]

4. Pakistan too... *sigh* K&R nt

[Orwellian_Ghost]

6. It appears

there will be an overall increase in the military budget to go with the increased funding for these phony wars.

I don't see how folks can rationalize this and still call themselves "progressive" or whatever non-descript term du jour they use to make themselves feel better.

[TBF]

7. I'm still figuring out how he's going to cut taxes, pay for increased

military spending, shore up the investment banks, and provide health care for all. I have a feeling Social Security is next on the chopping block.

[blindpig]

14. Social Security

Maybe they think the cumulative propaganda since Reagan has taken hold, but I don't think so. They may be counting on a generational divide & conquer strategy.

Bring it on, I say. Wanna stir up working class old farts like me, try it, you're liable to draw back a nub.

[leftstreet]

15. If the Dems go after SS, that makes TWO dead political parties

Geez, how dumb could they be?

Wait...

[TBF]

16. And if there's anyone who votes, it's the older folks. But I didn't like

that "start a conversation" business and "private accounts". Just no.

[Mari333]

5. same old shit.

it will end when the country is completely bankrupt.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. A vain and self defeating attempt to hold together the dying empire.

But, of course, they assure us that this time will be different.

[blindpig]

9. Yep, with 30,000 to 50,000 troops remaining indefinitely.

Neocolonialism plain & simple.

Somehow I don't think this is what a lot of Obama supporters expected, except for the right wing shills of the Democratic Party who revel telling folks that they haven't payed attention. Which is true, but their jack ass braying betrays their true allegiance to the bloody handed capitalists, the only beneficiaries of the carnage.

At some point the rest are going to have to put aside their denial and decide which side they are on.

[paulsby]

10. this is completely consistent with his campaign

he never claimed to be a pacifist, supported the cause in afghanistan, and came out strongly on the war on terror (tm).

iow, whether or not one disagrees, this is par for his course.

[Gregorian]

11. Thanks. I failed to pay attention to this aspect of his speech.

Damnit, I'm not very optimistic.

However, I know Obama gets it. It, being planet earth. He has a handle on global warming. And that is not at all a separate issue from wars.

I want to stop the military activity in the Middle East altogether, no matter what the consequences. I know that may be cruel.

How are we going to combine forces in this country and fight off this military activity? Kucinich is one of our best hopes.

[blues90]

12. I am so sick of wars that this country continues to start and

the god bless america crap.
all the protesting in the 60's I did and that didn't stop them and again in 2003 and that didn't stop them and still they have no intention of ending these and will probably bring Pakistan into it.

I have a feeling that the wars will end once someone , somewhere finally pushes that button.

Most of the globe was behind us after 9/11 and we allowed the freaks in control to toss it in their faces.

Well we let the last admin begin the bombing and 70% of the people were behind it when 70% of the people should have stood up against it.

I saw all the chinese made flags on all the cars here and it made me sick.

Now once again we put all our faith in the government to do the right thing and you know how that will go.

Watching Obama speak last night sort of reminded me of a scene right out of 1984 with all the standing and cheering.

Well we would not be in this surreal world if we had cut this off back in the 60's and again in 1980 and continued to cut it back now we are going to fix it , does this include putting all the bodys back to life and the buildings back up.

We did this and we will carry the guilt until it fades away into some history book that should be titled americas insanity and greed, blood for oil and a pipeline to the past.

[leftstreet]

13. The War to (ext)End all Wars

x(

[TBF]

17. morning kick n/t