In an interview with ABC News today, Obama said his extensive and expansive strategy-review meetings have given him greater confidence in whatever his final decision will be.

“I have gained confidence that there’s not an important question out there that has not been asked, and that we haven’t asked — that we haven’t answered to the best of our abilities,” Obama said.

WHAT?!?!??!?

This is what we’ve come to in this country? The President takes off for a trip, while troops are dying, but announces, weeks and perhaps months after he’s trumpeted his new “strategy” for Afghanistan, and announces……

He’s confident he’ll come up with something really snappy once he gets around to deciding something, whatever it is… whenever that is.

That’s what I call… LEADERSHIP.

Actually, that’s not what I call it, but there are children bloggers out there. You get the idea.

This man is an unutterable fool.

And we are fools for having elected him.

We will pay the price, in the Greatest National Hangover in History.

and the infrastructure in Afghanistan needs serious beefing up in order to accomodate and supply that many troops.

I highly recommend you read “Ghost Wars” by Steve Coll.

Sorry, but your use of the word “infastructure” is kind of amusing.

Patreus and McCrystal have both said how important relations with the Afghans are and that those relations are undermined when civilians are killed. It undermines victory

Yet they requested more troops. Victory is essential. And you can’t avoid civillian kills in Afghanistan. They strap bombs to their children, dude.

Wake the F up.

The AP reported Obama would add “tens of thousands more forces,” while CBS said he plans to send four combat brigades plus thousands more support troops.

“Reports that President Obama has made a decision about Afghanistan are absolutely false,” Jones said in a e-mailed statement today. “Any reports to the contrary are completely untrue and come from uninformed sources.”

I remember the series (UXB) well. Great stuff and the real guys are terrific too. THey still find WW2 ordinance all over the place but especially in the Thames.

Sounds like Obama is doing the right thing. Not sure why so many people here are suggesting he is setting things up to fail in Afghanistan as failure can only hurt him. There are good reasons for not sending 40,000 or so in right away. There aren’t enough troops for that and the infrastructure in Afghanistan needs serious beefing up in order to accomodate and supply that many troops. Furthermore, if the strategy is to be taken seriously, it will require tandem efforts to the military gear up and those efforts will require time to organize as well.

Incidentally… the notion that we quickly raise the number of troops, win, and get out… that isn’t remotely the plan or the way the military is thinking about conducting this. I think the most heartening aspect of the way this is being rolled out is that this does appear to be a long term plan which is going to be given a number of years to work.

MB4 on November 9, 2009 at 8:41 PM

You don’t seem to like the ROE and call them ‘politically correct’ yet you support our military leaders and our mission to have some sort of victory. Make up your mind. Patreus and McCrystal have both said how important relations with the Afghans are and that those relations are undermined when civilians are killed. It undermines victory… that is the ROE are so strict there. You want Soviet style ROE??? Wrong army dude. Hopefully we can do something good over the coming years there and leave behind a better legacy than the Soviets.

See this post: Half Assed amabO: 30K Troops for Afghani ……

Trial balloon.

You are just f*ked up. You racist pig head. His name is Obama.

rightistliberal on November 9, 2009 at 8:04 PM

Really? Racist pig head? Bishop?

Grow up. Republicans get much worse.

If I were McChrystal, I’d seriously consider quitting now, before being totally groomed up as the sacrificial lamb…

There are still many problems that have to be addressed in conjunction with more manpower.

If the irresponsible ROE’s that put our Soldiers in unnecessary danger and leave them second guessing their actions are not changed the casualties will continue to mount without much progress.

If we choose not to defeat the Taliban/al-qaeda before we worry about winning hearts and minds the casualties will continue to mount without much progress.

We have overwhelming strength in firepower,armament,and no one is better trained and stronger than the American Soldier.
We need to use these advantages to decimate the enemy and make it clear that there are serious consequences for supporting the jihadist.
Then they will be in much better shape for winning “hearts and minds”.

If Obama gives Gen.McCrystal what he needs WHEN HE NEEDS IT than I commend our Commander and Chief.

Apparently the Obama administration has decided that Afghanistan is “to big to fail.”

On a side note…the code pink,Answer,Move on crowd of the democratic party has made it clear that an escalation of the war like sending more troops is totally unacceptable.

I am really curious to see if the liberals will take to the streets protesting against the chicken hawk Obama and his war machine or will we hear from the peace and love crowd that “War is the Answer” now.

BL@KBIRD on November 9, 2009 at 8:53 PM

Even had one near decapitation on the list.

Peaceful bunch, aren’t they?

I just love what religion teaches people.

KyMouse on November 9, 2009 at 9:42 PM

I recommend the book “17 seconds”, written by a British man who disarmed scores of Nazi mines. Powerful.

With the stranglehold of the current ROE’s and the trickle of troop deployments, will this strategy end up being a slo-mo meatgrinder set up for failure?

I worry for our troops’ safety and morale because I do not believe that ObaMao has their back.

They are “Danger: UXB” which is about a London squad tasked with defusing unexploded German bombs; and “Piece of Cake,” about the RAF (and allies) fighting in the Battle of Britain.

Both series are excellent. Rent them, and you’ll thank me.

MikeA on November 9, 2009 at 9:03 PM

Thanks, that’s at least more detail. I should be able to dig up links to the news reports myself, from that.

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