So Pelosi feels that abandoning the Afghans would result in a less corrupt and more competent government – like, say, the previous Talib one? My head hurts trying to think like her…

LTC John on October 7, 2009 at 11:43 AM

Choice and competition. We’ve kind of boxed the Taliban, unfairly mind you, into Pakistan and Afghanistan. What they need is the ability to go where they want (choice) and compete with the other terrorist groups (Hezbolah, Hamas, etc..) on a level playing field. The US has arrogantly made the war on terrorism so one sided that it borders on a monopoly and unfairly restricts the Taliban to the local region.

Pelosi also suggested the Taliban should be a member of the IMF. This would open up sources of funding to enable them to re-equip with modern weapons and other technologies, and put them on a road to world-class terrorism. With this new source of funding, the Taliban could create millions of new jobs, both within the Taliban as they expand their organization, and the results of their business operations would create an untold number of jobs in industries such as biological cleanup, radioactive contamination remediation, trauma treatment centers, and demolition/re-construction trades.

Choice and Competition: Obama 2016

Punt formation.

TQM38a on October 7, 2009 at 10:17 AM

No, this is “step back into the endzone…take the safety. Let the defense get on the field.”

(just practicing smart decision-making in the Age of Obama)

Shock the Monkey on October 7, 2009 at 11:56 AM

I hear you. We’re probably not that far apart.

Be safe, Soldier!

wear I’m deployed

Correction: where I’m deployed.

What a sucking hole of leadership, what a disaster of a president, what an unfolding tragedy for our military.

flyfisher on October 7, 2009 at 11:36 AM

Well I know that there are certainly personal politics involved. However given the weight of the situation, I think some slack does need to be cut. Escalation in Afghanistan is a much larger engagement than the “surge in Iraq.” In Iraq we had been previously engaged in a large scale operation. Now in Afghanistan we are on the cusp of such a similar operation as we saw in Iraq. Deliberations do need to be made. Luckily, Obama will not cut troop numbers. Moreover, if personal politics are involved, Obama will heed to the request of his commanders. Nothing would make Obama look worse than to lose a war and lose the support of America’s most cherished institution…its miilitary.

Also on a personal note, this decision affects me as well. Considering that I just processed through MEPS and I’ll be meeting with an Army OCS battalion board next week, any long term decision made to increase troop numbers will affect how long and wear I’m deployed once I complete my training. That being said, I completely understand where you are coming from.

Bullets, Beans, and Bandages? Where are the future votes in that for the Democrat Party?

Nancy Pelosi openly questioned the President’s support for the Karzai government, with its corruption and competence problems, which has given war opponents an opening for pushing withdrawal.

So Pelosi feels that abandoning the Afghans would result in a less corrupt and more competent government – like, say, the previous Talib one? My head hurts trying to think like her…

Smart power I guess.

Pft.

Bullshiite of the highest order. Ogabe is politicking at this point, trying to seem like he really wants to pour troops into Afghanistan while the dastardly Congress is playing roadblock…”Oh well, I tried” he said.

Bishop on October 7, 2009 at 10:19 AM

He is incapable of leading. He only seeks approval and praise.

Shock the Monkey on October 7, 2009 at 11:16 AM

I don’t have a problem with him taking the time to make a rational decision. It is indeed a big and complicated decision. However, I don’t for one minute believe the first time Obama knew McChrystal wanted more troops was when he received that report. He’s known it for months. Also, a patriot makes his decision without regard to personal political impact. Obama is all politcs.

FYI, this situation is real personal for me. My cousin is an Air Force pilot flying supplies and troops in and out of Afghanistan. Based on everything I’m getting from him (via email and conversations with his father), the situation has really deteriorated, and our troop morale is not great because they see the CIC for who he is.

Of course that won’t help the congress get reelected in 2010 either.

But you just can’t rule out campaigning with him, because it’s almost all he does.

Same problems here. Think I caught a virus from HotAir yesterday, had to do some serious work on the computer.
Maddening.

bridgetown on October 7, 2009 at 10:18 AM

Something on Hot Air turned my laptop into a mindless brick yesterday. Took me well onto half an hour to get the programs to close so I could reboot. Whatever it was/is just litterally froze EVERYTHING that was open at the time. Could not even turn it off. Had to remove AC power AND the battery!

Yoop on October 7, 2009 at 11:22 AM

Additionally, watch your temp files. When I checked after yesterday’s lock-up the temp file was FULL of cookies and Active-X files, etc., that could only have been dumped there via Hot Air.

One of these new ads is a bad actor!!!

Same problems here. Think I caught a virus from HotAir yesterday, had to do some serious work on the computer.
Maddening.

bridgetown on October 7, 2009 at 10:18 AM

Something on Hot Air turned my laptop into a mindless brick yesterday. Took me well onto half an hour to get the programs to close so I could reboot. Whatever it was/is just litterally froze EVERYTHING that was open at the time. Could not even turn it off. Had to remove AC power AND the battery!

The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. – Winston Churchill

So Mr. President, do you pronounce it Af-Pak or Off-Pock?

flyfisher on October 7, 2009 at 10:55 AM

Let me put it to you this way. He didn’t even wear an American Flag lapel pin during his campaign until he was forced to. Why should we believe that what is best for America outweighs his personal political goals and ambitions?

kingsjester on October 7, 2009 at 10:59 AM

Agree completely. I should have italicized anyone. I’m sure you know it, but my question was rhetorical. No thinking person believes he’s acting in good faith, which is treasonous when dealing with the lives of American soldiers.

In the old days, Democrats were just wrong. Now they’re wrong and most of them hate America. They have no business having power over our military.