Five things I have to say about Afghanistan and President Obama's decision

[Sparkly]

1. I know what I don't know. I don't know all that's going on in Afghanistan and Pakistan; I don't know exactly what Obama's going to say tomorrow night; and I am no expert anyway. One thing I do know is that Socratic wisdom is a good thing.

2. I believe any of the leading Democrats in the primary would have backed out of Iraq and focused more on Afghanistan and Pakistan, including some increase in troop presence, but it seemed they were talking about increasing NATO involvement, international collaboration, and political maneuvering. So IF it's primarily about combat troops, I'll be might dismayed. (But I'm not expecting it's only about combat troops.)

3. To the primary rehashing, the one real difference between Obama and Clinton on this question had to do with hypotheticals about "actionable intelligence" within Pakistan (i.e, if we could take out Osama bin Laden inside Pakistan, should we strike there?). However, that was a campaign, and this is now, so I expect the administration's stance is more nuanced at this point.

4. Whatever the decision, but *especially* if it involves a massive "surge" of combat troops (with or without other multi-billion dollar expenditures), I hope President Obama will explain it specifically, including:
-- Why he thinks his action is absolutely necessary
-- What other options were considered (and why they were rejected)
-- What the exit strategy is
-- What the timeline is
-- How Pakistan is involved

5. To what's "necessary," I include the safety and freedom of large numbers of people (here and elsewhere) but frankly I do not include "letting women go to school" in other countries, staunch feminist though I am.

So, I'll wait to hear what he has to say.

That's all.

[graywarrior]

1. Love it!

[Clio the Leo]

2. Now what always amazes me.....

.... and I am not directing this at you, I'm venting and kicking your nice OP at the same time .... is how that people assume the worst.

Am I the ONLY one who sees the man a little differently than most of the other pols? I have NEVER expected this speech to ONLY be about a huge troop influx .... I presume it will be about making the best of a bad situation as efficiently as possible.

[Sparkly]

5. About assuming the worst

I think the president's willingness to compromise and bend to so-called "conservatives" (Republican nutjobs) on other issues may have engendered some mistrust on this one.

I also think it's easy to see this in light of the fiasco in Iraq (not to mention the one in Vietnam) and people are just plain sick of lies and wars, and are wary. One of the consequences of misuse of the military is that it weakens the ability to use it when it's really needed (hurting recruitment, equipment, AND public support). I'm not saying I'm sure it's needed here -- I'm just waiting to hear what Obama says.

I think President Obama seeks the political center in many regards, and I'm not happy with that. However, I don't assume that it means he's a PNAC Neo-Con like the Bush boy and the Dick.

I'm willing to hear him out, at least.

[Clio the Leo]

6. Bent over to a Republican nutjob?

Like on the Stimulus?

Or like how he's agreed to start over with the health care bill?

Or how he's put an end to his Czars?

That Teabagger party he hosted in the East Room?

Bent over to the Republican nutjobs? Do tell..........

[JuniperLea]

8. What did I miss?

What "start over" with health care?

What end to Czars?

What Teabagger party?

[Sparkly]

9. Please -- I didn't say "bent over..."

As I see it, he's been unashamed of his mission to reach across the aisle, bring people together, compromise, etc. And that's fine -- it's a legitimate way of working. I'd much prefer he's knock some heads together and use the Democratic majority in a more bullying way.

(I think the stimulus needed far more regulations, the healthcare legislation is far too weak; I think "socialist" measures like Roosevelt's WPA are needed now, and yes I think the president, especially this one at this time, has more power than he's used to make such things happen in Congress.)

But I meant what I said. One doesn't have to agree with everything, or disagree with everything, or assume anything before it's made clear.

[JuniperLea]

7. I think a lot of people want him to do as Bush did...

Meaning, whatever the hell he wants to do... run roughshod over everyone just to further his own agenda.

I was frustrated with Obama for that at first, then I realized that in order to be able to claim the high ground on this or any other issue, he first must try to be fair... something Bush never was. I expect he hears the clock ticking... louder than we hear it even... and though I don't expect the roughshod treatment out of him, I do expect his patience to be just about out on many issues.

[Sparkly]

10. Thanks -- that is true.

I do want him to run roughshod over everyone to further "his own agenda," as long as his agenda is MY agenda!! (Just being honest!)

I don't care about the "high road," or "fairness" to Republicans. I want him to make up for all the egregious abuses of power in the last administration and right the balance, even if it means the same rough methods. Once sanity and balance are restored, we might get back to compromise and such.

I'm just sayin'... But I didn't mean to get into all this. I don't want to be costumed in a "Love Obama" OR a "Hate Obama" hat. I hope that's possible.

[JuniperLea]

11. I hear ya!

I'm allowing for the fact he's smarter than all of us, knows more, has more information, etc. I think the span of time he's going to allow for a "buy-in" will become shorter and shorter...

[JuniperLea]

3. Well done, Sparkly!

I could have just not posted on DU at all today... I could have just copied and pasted your fine OP in response to about 642 comments.

Very, very well done!

:patriot:

This is what thinking people do, folks! They think things through... amazing, isn't it? Not one assumption in that OP, not one.

Too many here are just spewing garbage, and when you call them on it, they move the goalpost. Frustrating.

[Cha]

4. That's what I'm doing..thank you

for articulating it so well.

[Martin Eden]

12. Voice of Reason

You are.

[AVID]

13. k&r

[Hekate]

14. Thoughtfulness and reason--thank you Sparkly. KnR

[GeorgeGist]

15. 6. What's the point?

Obama's given into the bullies ...

[Ruby the Liberal]

16. 7. Define "win"

[Sparkly]

17. I don't think I used that word, did I?

:shrug:

[Ruby the Liberal]

18. Your #4 is my list as well

I was thinking more of the sheeple. The USA! USA! USA! crowd who want to "win" the wars.

We haven't "won" a war since WWII.

Edit to add -- I was adding to your 5 points and the 6th above me. Didn't mean to direct that question to you specifically. Sorry for any confusion.

[Sparkly]

19. Oh -- I understand.

Yes -- I hope he describes what "Okay, we can leave now" looks like, with a very specific goal.