Obama to Meet w National Security Team. Why isn't a Peace Advisor included?

[mod mom]

President Obama will meet with his national security team Wednesday afternoon to talk about the war in Afghanistan. Obama is working on a new strategy for the conflict there, which he says is essential to U.S. national security.

The White House released who will be in the meeting tomorrow:

Vice President Biden

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates

Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan

Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

General David Petraeus, U.S. Central Command

General Stanley McChrystal, U.S. Commander in Afghanistan

Admiral Dennis Blair, Director of National Intelligence

CIA Director Leon Panetta

Karl Eikenberry, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan

Anne Patterson, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan

General James Jones, National Security Advisor

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/obama-to-meet-with-national-security-team-on-afghanistan.php?ref=fpb

WHY ISN'T THERE ANYONE INCLUDED ADVOCATING FOR PEACE? SHOULDN'T THERE BE A PERSON EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT AN ESCALATION IN AFGHANISTAN AND REMINDING NS MEMBERS ABOUT BOTH THE HUMAN AND FINANCIAL COSTS, BESIDES THE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT, FOREIGN POLICY? KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE A LOPSIDED TEAM. MAYBE ADDING SOMEONE LIKE DENNIS KUCINICH WOULD BRING ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE.

[gratuitous]

1. Because that would violate the tenets of our national religion

The high priests and acolytes of the High Church of Redemptive Violence will not brook any heterodox opinions. Heretical beliefs against Sacred Violence must be rooted out and destroyed, all praise to the Rifle, the Bomb and the Holy Hand Grenade.

[Echo In Light]

17. Amen

[cali]

2. How do you know that there isn't someone advocating for peace

among those listed?

[KittyWampus]

13. I was going to say Biden would be a likely candidate to act as the unofficial Peace Candidate

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. Kucinich voted for the war in Afghanistan

[cali]

5. heh. did he really?

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. Here is the vote:

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2001/roll342.xml

[babylonsister]

4. I think Biden might be that person...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8668794

[mod mom]

7. Thanks for the link, sis...

but I really think a permanent member advocating for peaceful solutions and reminding others of the true costs of war would behoove the team.

[Robb]

8. Advocating for peace regardless of the situation?

I don't think that would be any more helpful than someone who officially advocated for war regardless of the situation. :shrug:

[mod mom]

11. Reminding the others (& recall how lopsided the team is) of the effects that may

not be considered by the rest of the team such as the environmental effects of military action, views by other nation's of this nation's imperialistic tendencies and of course the human & financial concerns of possibly getting into a situation that may be another Vietnam. Look what Afghanistan did to the Russian economy. How did that go for them?

[mod mom]

12. Reminding the others (& recall how lopsided the team is) of the effects that may

not be considered by the rest of the team such as the environmental effects of military action, views by other nation's of this nation's imperialistic tendencies and of course the human & financial concerns of possibly getting into a situation that may be another Vietnam. Look what Afghanistan did to the Russian economy. How did that go for them?

[Robb]

16. Forgive me, but I would prefer not.

I'd prefer well-rounded big-picture thoughtful people at the table, with broad understanding of the issues and a historical perspective on them, rather than a one- or two-issue ideologue, regardless of the ideology involved.

I still think a peace advocate would make about as much sense as a war advocate.

[dysfunctional press]

6. because it's a stupid concept maybe...?

:shrug:

[Davis_X_Machina]

15. It's a Kucinich Club secret handshake. You're just pissed...

...because they won't let you in the treehouse.

The reason why we don't have peace is because we don't have a cabinet-level Department of Peace, you see. In every state.

[ecstatic]

9. From what I've heard, there are members in the admin

who are calling for a de-escalation in Afghanistan. So Kucinich isn't needed.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

14. I can think of 3, maybe 4 advocates for peace in that group:

Biden

Clinton (despite earlier triangulations)

Panetta (my possible 4th)

and of course

PRESIDENT OBAMA

Now, I know what the OP is driving at and I'm in 105.7834% agreement but let's not forget these 4 are not corporatist warmongers and the military attendees take their marching orders from the civilians not vice versa. That's what matters.

I have every confidence our president will tell the generals and admirals that peace is the objective and they had best be prepared to make it happen and return home when it does happen.