Obama’s Options in Afghanistan
But whatever the weight given to those historical analogies, it seems clear, from the sampling of American opinion we can take from the blogs that have reached this Web site since we posted “Obama’s Options in Afghanistan” as our latest topic, that many Americans have already concluded that the American enterprise in Afghanistan is doomed; and that President Obama, by “doubling down on a bad bet”, as Sandra from Kent, Wash., put it, only ensures that the price in lives lost and billions of dollars expended will be much higher when the moment comes, as these critics believe it will, for American forces to follow the Russians in abandoning an unwinnable war.
EMERGENCY ANTI-ESCALATION RALLY
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009 • 11am-4pm • Washington DC
Lafayette Square | White House Metro: Farragut West or Farragut North
Come hear Cynthia McKinney; Sen. Mike Gravel; Kathy Kelly; Chris Hedges, David Swanson; Coy McKinney, Debra Sweet, Mathis Chiroux, Lynne Williams, Hon. Betty Hall, Elaine Brower, Marian Douglas, Michael Knox, Ralph Lopez, Ron Fisher, and a message from Granny D (turning 100).
Defend the defensible: Seeking a viable strategy in a difficult country
The president would do well to read the memoirs of 19th century veterans of Britain's Afghan wars before granting our commanders their requests for additional troops. This swamp cannot be drained.
Marine Colonel: Stop Afghan Army Expansion!
Jeff Haynes retired as a colonel after years overseeing the U.S. Marine Corps teams training the Afghan National Army. As Afghan war boss General Stan McChrystal weighs nearly doubling the current 90,000-strong ANA, Haynes is urging caution. “The reality is that ANA effectiveness is already suffering because of an inadequate number of competent leaders and staff officers from the kandak (battalion) through the corps level. Growing the army too fast will only exacerbate this leadership deficit.”
An Open Letter to President Obama from Michael Moore
Dear President Obama,
Do you really want to be the new “war president”? If you go to West Point tomorrow night (Tuesday, 8pm) and announce that you are increasing, rather than withdrawing, the troops in Afghanistan, you are the new war president. Pure and simple. And with that you will do the worst possible thing you could do — destroy the hopes and dreams so many millions have placed in you. With just one speech tomorrow night you will turn a multitude of young people who were the backbone of your campaign into disillusioned cynics. You will teach them what they've always heard is true — that all politicians are alike. I simply can't believe you're about to do what they say you are going to do. Please say it isn't so.
Response from the Hot Air Blog:
The Undisputed Genius of Michael Moore
Open Letter to Obama: Please Bring Our Troops Home Now! (22 Nov 09)
