Obama Says "All of Us Want" Effective Afghan Strategy

[tekisui]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, July 14 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Tuesday "all of us" want an effective exit strategy from Afghanistan in which Afghan authorities are able to take more responsibilities.

Obama made the comment after talks with Netherlands Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende that centered on the current situation in Afghanistan as well as the global economy and climate change.

"All of us want to see an effective exit strategy where increasingly the Afghan army, Afghan police, Afghan courts, Afghan government are taking more responsibility for their own security," Obama said.

Around 4,000 U.S. Marines and hundreds of NATO and Afghan forces are taking part in an offensive in various parts of Helmand province against the Taliban, the biggest by foreign troops since they ousted the Islamist group in 2001.

The operation comes ahead of next month's presidential election, which is crucial both for Kabul and for a U.S. administration that has identified Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan as its top foreign policy priority.

"If we can get through a successful election in September and we continue to apply the training approach to the Afghan security forces and we combine that with a much more effective approach to economic development inside Afghanistan, then my hope is that we will be able to begin transitioning into a different phase in Afghanistan," Obama said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN14272958
________________________________________________________________________

This sounds like Boosh's Iraq Strategy. Surge, Elections, Afghans stand up, we stand down, Turning a Corner.

[CJCRANE]

1. It does a little.

Bush should have finished the reconstruction job in Afghanistan instead of dropping the ball and invading Iraq instead.

[theoldman]

2. When all else fails, do the right thing.

The problem in both places is that after we leave, the country will fall apart.

[tekisui]

3. Of course, they both will. They have been destabilized, and the infra

structures destroyed. So, why keep sacrificing lives, trillions of dollars that we don't have, a broken military and what is left of our standing in the world for an inevitability? Not to mention that our bombs are creating a generation of America-hating terrorists.

[Political Heretic]

33. Our staying longer doesn't change that. It's a product of the mistakes me made in invading

in the first place.

[Mari333]

4. there goes your tax dollars, rebuilding and fixing another country

what a load of shite.

[HamdenRice]

5. I notice you left the word EXIT out of your headline -- as in EXIT strategy

So wtf are you complaining about? This is a clear statement that we're getting out of BOTH Iraq and Afghanistan.

Would you have rather he said we all want a strategy to stay mired in those places for decades?

Or would you rather he have announced we all want an INEFFECTIVE EXIT strategy?

What is wrong with you people? He says he wants us out of there, and you're complaining?

What are you complaining about?

[tekisui]

13. What is wrong with us people?

Wasting lives and trillions of dollars in wars with no end in sight. He said exit. But, then gives the same prescription of ambiguity and no clear winning scenario. The word exit is never address. That is wtf my problem is. We are looking at more than a decade in Afghanistan. We have already been told that it will take another 5-8 years to regain what was lost there BEFORE we can get further towards our 'goal', whatever the hell that is.

WTF is the problem with you people who are so complacent and accepting of war profiteering without end? Seriously.

[HamdenRice]

16. You're the one asking for a "clear WINNING scenario"

Only imperialist nutjobs and neo-cons think there is a winning strategy. There a surge, de-surge, and get the fuck out strategy, which is what is clearly outlined.

Why do you want to "WIN" in Afghanistan?

[tekisui]

17. I agree there is no win. There is only an exit.

That exit has been the best option for years. And, it will be until we finally do leave some 10+ years from now. What is our objective? What is our purpose there? There are no answers to these questions sufficient to perpetuate a war for profit, costing US, NATO, Afghani and Pakistani lives while breaking our economy.

[HamdenRice]

20. And you predict 10 years on the basis of ....?

obviously nothing Obama said because he is talking about EXITING Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is the kind of "predicting the evil acts of the future" that make DU so frustrating lately.

[tekisui]

24. 10 years has been mentioned many times, I'd bet any amount on it.

You are naive if you think otherwise.

Germany: Troops Out Of Afghanistan In Five To Ten Years - Minister
http://www.stratfor.com/sitrep/20090701_germany_troops_out_afghanistan_five_ten_years_minister

Afghan war to drag on for another decade: Houston
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/04/2264697.htm

British envoy says mission in Afghanistan is doomed, according to leaked memo
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4860080.ece

I've read the number from US military sources, too. I''ll try to find them. The point is, we have no business being there now. We are sold that it is to fight the Taliban. Why? Do you believe that the Taliban is a threat to us outside of the region? Anyone who opposes the US occupation in Afghanistan and fights against it is label as 'Taliban'.

[Political Heretic]

34. How about on the basis of the Pentagon press conference saying they were planning for ten years?

:shrug:

Yeah yeah... I know "LINK?"

It was from a while ago.. if I can find it, I'll edit.


EDIT - correction even more scary, the 10 years comment was about Iraq despite the Presidents timetable for withdraw. This link reports the Pentagon planning for a three to five year occupation of Afghanistan

Source: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21549_Page2.html

[jody]

6. The only Effective Afghan Strategy is withdraw immediately.

[ShamelessHussy]

27. very somber comic

:hi:

[BolivarianHero]

7. Effective Afghan strategy...

Prop up a coalition of feminists, socialists, and progressives to govern the country and use military resources to protect them from Uslamists and other reactionaies. Propping up pro-West religious wackos against anti-West factions is a worthless endeavour. Failing that, send the troops the fuck home.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Obama's version of "Peace With Honor". Same strategy will produce the same results.

Vietnamization worked ever so well. Not to mention the glorious victory in Iraq.

“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy.” - Gandhi

[blm]

9. You edit like FOX news - the exact wording is 'Effective EXIT Strategy'

and I trust that Kerry has been working to develop that strategy for some time now, concentrating on the HUMAN NEEDS of Afghans in order to change emphasis from a war plan to developing the peace plan.

In fact, Kerry will be leading hearings on changing Afghan strategy towards rebuilding their infrastructure needs in ways that effect the Afghani peoples' everyday lives.

[tekisui]

14. I'll believe it when I see it. So far we have seen SURGE and escalation

with an expansion into Pakistan. I guess you'll be giving this same song and dance in 10 years, when we are still there.

[Raskolnik]

10. Did you or Reuters choose to leave out the word "exit" from the headline?

One of you is pretty damn dishonest.

[tekisui]

15. Reuters. I copy headlines as I find them, or indicate a change with

parenthesis. But, that exit is never really addressed.

[blindpig]

11. When he says 'we' he is talking about the elites

here and in Europe. He sure as hell ain't talking about 'us'.

[jody]

12. Please just be quiet and fight and die in our imperial quest for empire.

:sarcasm:

It doesn't matter which party elects a Commander in Chief, the results are the same.

[Raskolnik]

21. Really? You don't want an effective exit strategy from Afghanistan? n/t

[blindpig]

23. Please...

You know as well as I do that "effective exit strategy" means that the country is pacified enough that our puppet regime can manage the place in the interest of international capital.

I don't want that, I want our people the fuck out of there.

[Raskolnik]

25. Oh, yeah. "International capital" is just drooling over Afghanistan.

With rubble of all sizes, its just "international capital's" dream, isn't it?

Please, indeed.

[blindpig]

26. Pipelines

Pipelines routing oil and gas thru Afghanistan to Pakistan, cutting Russia and China out of the equation.

The same pipelines that had the Taliban in Washington's sights even before 9/11.

Man, I hate belaboring the obvious.

[Raskolnik]

28. That pipeline sure does get a lot of mileage, doesn't it?

Could you point out where this pipeline is located?

[blindpig]

29. Map here:

Ya know, I really don't think that you are ignorant of this, but whatever.

[Raskolnik]

30. So the pipeline doesn't exist.

If the whole point of the Afghan war was to build this pipeline, they seem to be doing a piss poor job of actually building it, don't they?

[blindpig]

31. You're pretty good at being obtuse.

Of course it's not been built, the place ain't safe for billion dollar investments by foreigners, but it's a work in progress, no matter how many people are killed.

[Raskolnik]

32. So, let me get this straight--rather than build the pipeline with a Taliban regime controlling

Afghanistan, "they" chose instead to invade, demolish, then rebuild Afghanistan, and *then* build a pipeline? Do I have that right?

[blindpig]

36. Yep

Hell, the oil & gas people are getting the job done for free, they're big on having their investments secure, ya know? What do you think all of those campaign contributions are for, civic duty?

[blindpig]

37. dupe

[Cid_B]

18. If you are holding your breath...

for the American Govt and Military to just say "Fuck it... I quit" and everyone is gone in 2 weeks then you are going to pass the hell out.

[tekisui]

19. I'm not holding my breath for anything.

I am going to keep calling for an exit from a war without a clear objective, that profits corporations and take innocent lives.

[ShamelessHussy]

22. Nation Building - How much will that cost, to be 'effective'? Can we afford it?

Are we talking about a blank check? If not, how much?

Who is gonna pay for this? Only Americans?

[MadHound]

35. The only effective strategy is to leave, ASAP

We can't "win" in Afghanistan, just like we can't "win" in Iraq or Vietnam. All we can do is continue to pour money and troops into a bottomless rathole, all the while destroying what little is left of America's reputation.

Leave, now, that is the only effective strategy.

[bvar22]

38. As long as there are US tanks on the streets of Kabul....

...there will be no such thing as a "Free and Fair Election".