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#1
11-27-2009, 12:43 AM
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U.S. Will Be Out Of Afghanistan By 2017: White House
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/...istan-usa.html Fair Use
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will not be in Afghanistan eight years from now, the White House said on Wednesday, as President Barack Obama prepared to explain to Americans next week why he is expanding the war effort. After months of deliberation and fending off Republican charges that he was dithering on Afghanistan while violence there surged, Obama will address the nation on Tuesday on the way forward in the costly and unpopular eight-year war. He is expected to announce he is sending about 30,000 more troops as part of a new counterinsurgency strategy that will place greater emphasis on accelerating the training of Afghan security forces so that U.S. soldiers can eventually withdraw. It appears highly unlikely Obama will offer a specific troop withdrawal timetable, but White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the president would stress that the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan was not open-ended. "We are in year nine of our efforts in Afghanistan. We are not going to be there another eight or nine years," Gibbs told reporters. "Our time there will be limited and that is important for people to understand," he said. He said Obama would use his prime-time televised speech to stress the "sheer cost" of the war, explain to Americans why their military was still in Afghanistan, and press Afghan President Hamid Karzai to improve governance after being re-elected in a fraud-tainted vote in August. "The American people are going to want to know why we are here, they are going to want to know what our interests are," Gibbs said. The White House has estimated it will cost $1 million per year for each additional soldier sent to Afghanistan. With the U.S. deficit hitting $1.4 trillion and fueling Americans' concerns about high government spending, sending more troops to Afghanistan could be a politically risky move for Obama. Obama's fellow Democrats, who control the U.S. Congress, face potentially difficult midterm elections in November 2010, with Republicans eager to exploit Americans' unease about the country's ballooning deficit and high unemployment. Two veteran Democratic lawmakers have already called for imposing a "war tax" to pay for the troop increase. "VERY, VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE" Gibbs said Obama would meet with key lawmakers to brief them about his plan ahead of his Tuesday speech. Key committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate will hold back-to-back hearings next Wednesday and Thursday with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen. Gibbs said the financial cost of the conflict -- which reached $6.7 billion in June alone -- and the physical toll it had taken on the U.S. military made the war unsustainable in the long term. "It is very, very, very expensive," Gibbs said. Obama will again press Karzai to improve the performance of his corruption-plagued government. Karzai's legitimacy was tarnished after a fraud-riddled election in August that saw millions of ballots favoring him thrown out. "As the president has told President Karzai, there has to be a new chapter in Afghan governance and that is something the president will talk about on Tuesday," Gibbs said. Obama has spent the past three months reviewing the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, where a resurgent Taliban has driven violence to its highest levels since U.S. forces invaded in 2001 to oust the militant Islamists for harboring al Qaeda leaders responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States. The president has drawn fire from Republican critics for the time he has taken to reach a decision, but the White House has countered saying the former Bush administration neglected Afghanistan and allowed the security situation to deteriorate. Obama's address to the nation at 8 p.m. EST on December 1 (0100 GMT December 2) from the West Point military academy in New York state will mark the end of a long process of deliberation that was characterized by a slow drip of leaks about the various options he was considering. Angered by the leaks, which some analysts saw as an attempt by some in the administration to influence the president's thinking, Obama threatened to make them a firing offense. MamaDel
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“He who is unaware of his ignorance will be only misled by his knowledge.” (Richard Whately). John 8:45, “And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” —Jesus Christ Galatians 4:16, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” —The Apostle Paul 
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#2
11-27-2009, 09:59 AM
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Is this is the same guy who said he was going to get us out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Now it's 2017 ?? He would be extremely lucky if he makes it through the 2012 elections. Just by him sending more troops ... he has failed. He is suppose to be bringing them home.
Bush's war was a sham. It is time to cut the USA off from the rest of the world. We don't need them. Secure our borders,round up "all" the blood sucking illegal aliens,Secure our financial institutions,bring our jobs back home (end Nafat & Cafta), Start drilling for oil,increase green energy production,etc. Pounding on someone elses doorstep and demanding compliance isn't solving anything. We and many others have failed in Afghanistan ... Obama will too. You would think he might understand that. 
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#4
11-27-2009, 10:58 AM
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Quote:
MamaDel
__________________
“He who is unaware of his ignorance will be only misled by his knowledge.” (Richard Whately). John 8:45, “And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” —Jesus Christ Galatians 4:16, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” —The Apostle Paul
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#5
11-27-2009, 11:03 AM
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JonnyMac;
If he gave a second's thought for the soldiers, the country, or even the dumb party, he would have gone on AFR on Jan 21, and announced, "Ok, everyone remember where we parked. The last boat outa here is in 30 days. Be on one!" In fact he DID inherit a war. But, in fact, he also asked for it. If there was ever a goal, it's long slipped by. I don't think there ever was one. The rest is foolish posturing, while soldiers die. Interesting date, 2017. One year after he has to leave office. Means he can "stick by his decision" and never revisit it for the duration of his term. He can even campaign on his "stick to it" attitude... while soldiers die. $1 million/soldier/year. For that we could college educate the soldier, and every one of his children. At least then we'd have something to show for it.
__________________
.: "The Constitution died years ago! It would be kind to say that hardly anyone noticed. In reality, most cheered." "It may be that the American people aren't educated, or interested enough to sustain a free society." P.C. Roberts :.
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#6
11-27-2009, 11:42 AM
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I'm all for the tax and it should only be on those who have profited off this war!!
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"If the control of the economy is not in the hands of the majority of Americans then neither is political control."
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#7
11-27-2009, 12:01 PM
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fredkc,
While I agree with this observation, which is very accurate I might mention, I still don't think you understand how serious the problem with radical Islam is to our way of life. Should we ignore the steadily increasing numbers of converts and births of that particular religion, it will be at our peril. Even if it is 'around the world from us' Better there, than here!! Got a great e-mail today which sums up how we should all feel, IMHO.. Michael ------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think this is how General George S. Patton would sum things up.... and then catch holy hell from Ike. He sure had a unique way of expressing his thoughts. ATTENTION! To ALL those whining, panty-waisted, pathetic Citizens, it's time for a little refresher course on exactly why we Americans occasionally have to fight wars to keep this nation great. See if you can tear yourself away from your "reality" TV and Starbucks for a minute, pull your head out of your ass -- and LISTEN UP!! Abu Ghraib was not "torture" or an "atrocity". This is the kind of thing frat boys, sorority girls, and academy cadets do every year. A little fun at someone else's expense. Certainly no reason to wring your hands or get your panties in a wad. Got that ? WHICH PART DON'T YOU GET? Islam a peaceful religion??? My Ass! Millions of these warped misled sons-of-bitches are plotting, as we speak, to destroy our country and our way of life any way they can.Some of them are here among us now. They don't want to convert you and don't want to rule you. They believe you are a vile infestation of Allah's paradise .. They don't give a shit how "progressive" you are, how peace-loving you are, or how much you sympathize with their cause. They want your ass dead, and they think it is God's will for them to do it. Some think if we give them a hug or listen to them, then they'll like us, And if you agree? Then you are a pathetic dumb ass! If they manage to get their hands on a nuke, chemical agents, or even some anthrax -- you will wish to God we had hunted them down and killed THEM while we had the chance. How many more Americans must be beheaded?? You've fallen asleep AGAIN, get your head out of your ass! You may never get another chance!
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"Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character; and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man." Arthur Schopenhauer "In this life, if you have anything to pardon, pardon quickly. Slow forgiveness is little better than no forgiveness." Sir Arthur W. Pinero "Only one life, that soon is passed, only what's done with love, will last.." author unknown
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#8
11-27-2009, 12:05 PM
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#9
11-27-2009, 01:32 PM
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Some time limit....are you sure.....is that enough.....jeez....give me a break.
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#10
11-27-2009, 02:12 PM
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Let's compare statistics of war death tolls from evil hate-filled Muslims to the peace-loving West, in Afghanistan & Iraq. (We can't call ourselves Christians because after all, this is not a religious war- only when we talk about the muzzies can we assume that.) What would YOU do, if your country was being bombed, your people killed by the 1000's? Your country covered with the enemies military bases; filled with foreign contractors. If those evil muzzies hate us, it is NOT for our freedoms; it is for the war that we continue on their land. It is so easy to kill from afar.
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There is no spoon
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#11
11-27-2009, 02:13 PM
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Where in the world do you get the idea that this war tax is going to be subjectively placed on war profiteers?
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#12
11-27-2009, 02:15 PM
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I'd rather he just shut the hell up and do something constructive.
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#13
11-27-2009, 02:16 PM
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[quote=fredkc;3570882]JonnyMac;
Interesting date, 2017. One year after he has to leave office. Means he can "stick by his decision" and never revisit it for the duration of his term. He can even campaign on his "stick to it" attitude... while soldiers die. QUOTE] You think hes going to win a second term? What are the odds he survives the next 6 months with the decisions he make at the wave of his hand?
__________________
Democracy is five wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.
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#14
11-27-2009, 02:22 PM
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Quote:
 MamaDel
__________________
“He who is unaware of his ignorance will be only misled by his knowledge.” (Richard Whately). John 8:45, “And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” —Jesus Christ Galatians 4:16, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” —The Apostle Paul
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#15
11-27-2009, 02:36 PM
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We are not in the sailboat age
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#17
11-27-2009, 05:55 PM
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Just recently... Clinton financed a buncha debt with short term bonds... He got the deficit "down" and the next schmuck got to deal with it. Bush passed a bunch of "tax cuts" that all expire by early next year. Let the next schmuck deal with it. So... Obama makes a "brave decision" to get out by 2017... the next schmuck gets to deal with it. Just sayin'... Seen this act go by more than once.
__________________
.: "The Constitution died years ago! It would be kind to say that hardly anyone noticed. In reality, most cheered." "It may be that the American people aren't educated, or interested enough to sustain a free society." P.C. Roberts :.
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#18
11-27-2009, 06:42 PM
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The only people profiting from this war are the ones behind the scenes. The ones with the no bid contracts and the scum bags in their pockets. Our economy surely hasn't benefited from it. Besides ... our being the global police force has not stopped Iran or North Korea or Pakistan from obtaining nuclear weapons. It hasn't done a thing. If we were really at "war" with iraq ... it would have been a glass parking lot a long time ago. Same with afghanistan. They can't run from a nuclear blast. I never said to let our guard down ... we can show our stuff off anytime we wish.
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