The Only Thing Clear About Obama's Afghan Policy: It's a Disaster

[Better Believe It]

Only Thing Clear About Obama's Afghan Policy: It's a Disaster
by Ray McGovern
March 29, 2011

“Let me be clear,” President Barack Obama is fond of saying. And his desire was on full display two years ago when he announced a “comprehensive, new strategy” for the war in Afghanistan — but only in the rhetoric.

Pleasing the Establishment

Instead, in his March 2009 speech – and the one on Dec. 1, 2009, at West Point announcing the additional troop buildup – Obama was following the interests of the pro-war political/media Establishment that still dominates Washington. It remains almost as influential inside his administration as it was inside Bush’s.

Hoping to assuage this Establishment, which was a touch nervous by all his campaign talk about “change,” Obama offered continuity, from keeping Defense Secretary Gates and the rest of Bush’s Pentagon high command to appointing another hawkish Secretary of State, Clinton for Condoleezza Rice.

Meanwhile, Washington policymakers and intellectuals who had gotten on Bush’s wrong side for raising doubts about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were just as unwelcome in the Obama administration.

Read the full article at:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/03/29-0

[gratuitous]

1. Making the rubble bounce isn't such a hot idea?

But, but, but, duh! Winning!

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. Ever stand back & think about how absurd & futile our war in Afghanistan

is? Yet it goes on & on unquestioned with no end.

[AKDavy]

3. Why is this not clear to everyone?

Why do the children of the poor line up at recruiting offices seeking opportunity in exchange for their blood, when they should be staying home demanding opportunity?

Why are we engaged in humanitarian efforts in other nations while we ignore suffering at home?

Why do we gladly trade a pound of liberty for a ton of oppression masquerading as an ounce of security?

[KoKo]

5. Good Questions. Who could know the answers except the Pollsters who say

that Democrats Support him and his policies in large numbers. Post yesterday on DU said 87% of "Liberal" Democrats supported him. The poster couldn't verify the numbers ...but someone else posted on the thread that it was from National Survey from Gallup Polling. They are reputable...although, some have said, a bit on the Right Leaning side.

Whatever...I'm a lifelong Democrat and I don't understand any of what's going on with him.

[AKDavy]

6. Chris Hedges, in "Death of the Liberal Class"

and in his March 27th essay on Truthout.org, has made a good case that the liberal class has sold out their traditional values for a seat at the power table. Andrew Bacevich also did an excellent job of chronicling "The New American Militarism."

I think it boils down to forgetting what real liberalism is: egalitarian, universalist, reason-based, and placing the liberty of the individual above obedience to the collective.

"The Collapse of Globalization" by Chris Hedges: http://www.truth-out.org/the-collapse-globalization68839

[MannyGoldstein]

4. "It's a Disaster"

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/15/bon-jovi-gets-white-house-appointment/">Bon Jovi Gets White House Appointment

The White House press release highlighted Mr. Bon Jovi’s work with the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps those in need and is dedicated to breaking “the cycle of poverty and homelessness in the United States,” before also noting his “more than 120 million albums” and “2,600 concerts for more than 34 million fans.”

“I am honored to have been selected by the President to serve on the newly created White House Council for Community Solutions,” Mr. Bon Jovi said in a statement through his publicist. “I have seen firsthand the powerful impact when people from the public, private and nonprofit sectors work together. All of us have a role to play in helping address some of our nation’s most serious problems, and I look forward to working with the rest of the council to help out where I can.”

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/just-a-couple-of-guys-grabbing-burgers/">Just a Couple of Guys Grabbing Burgers

Mr. Obama had a cheddar cheeseburger with onions, lettuce, tomato and bread-and-butter pickles, with a bottle of iced tea to wash it down. Mr. Medvedev also ordered the cheddar burger, but he added jalapenos, onions and mushrooms, and paired it with a bottle of Coca-Cola.

[somone]

7. It's an obscene waste of taxpayer money

Money that is desperately needed here at home

[jwirr]

8. From what I have been hearing and seeing the young men/women

who started this is Libya are untrained, unarmed and in way to far to stop now. The book about how to get rid of a dictator - did it have a chapter to tell you what to do if the dictator refused to leave and began killing you? It worked in Egypt and a couple of other countries but now they are facing some of the most evil dictators. I have my fears that this one is not going to work - that is also why EU and Obama are in there. If that unready group are not helped and they are killed no nation will ever again try to gain freedom.

I am not for our troops in there but I want them to be armed with something a little more dangerous than a plastic toy gun.

[leftstreet]

9. K&R