I just watched him give a talk on the subject. Dang! I agree with him But then I think we should have left Afghanistan when we chased Ben Laden and gang into Pakistan. That was more than 10 years ago so good job Barrack, glad you see the light. This is a rare occasion you know, agreeing with Obama makes me check my parts before I can say it. I also agree with the program he is starting to strengthen family units for the sake of children. What the heck is happening??
He only quadrupled the number of troops there for 6 years. What does victory look like, a handshake from Karzai?
Uh oh! Perhaps I am a victim of Fox bias again, looking about for info on the My Brother's Keeper program, I find nothing about strengthening families. Geez was that an add on created at Fox? Damn! too bad, it sounded like a plan. http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014...e-initiative-empower-boys-and-young-men-color
Playing devil's advocate, I don't think Obama really wanted to take the troops out of Afghanistan, but I agree it's for the best.
Victory is to be defined by the leader taking a Nation to War. The war should end when the previously defined victory as been achieved. To me, removing Ben Laden and gang from Afghanistan was victory in that country. Killing him in Pakistan surely completed the requirement. Creating a Democratic Society in Afghanistan as condition for Victory is idealistic if not irrational. Democratic rule in that counrty may be a goal worthy blood shed by their young people for their reasons, but it should not have been in the definition of Victory by our leader in going into that country, nor for exit criteria.
If I got this right, you don't think he is doing this for the right reason I appreciate. I suspect you are spot on, reasons to be discovered later if they exist.
There never was a mission there, except revenge. It didn't take 100,000 troops on the ground for 6 years to get Bin Laden. It took some Intel and a Navy Seal team to get him. And I slightly altered the lyrics to an anti-war protest song to fit Afghanistan. I was never in favor of going to war there. What we've accomplished is radicalization of people sympathetic to the Taliban and destabilization of what was once a fine ally (Pakistan). I sense victory looks like "tuck tail and run away"
I think we are pretty much in agreement. I wanted Ben Ladens head mounted on a post some where, that's Victory and a sign for the next asshole to read.
uh, well except, I don't think Pakistan was ever a fine ally. We uses to get quite a few Pakistanis coming through the lab on temporary assignment when I managed there. Part of the World Trade program for training in the financial system software we provided. Dang, I never found any of them to be my ally. They had this peculiar aversion to using the restroom facilities as designed, several would refuse to sit where the infidel sat, they preferred to squat over the appliance, some with completely unacceptable results. What a fucking mess!
This is actually what he ran on in '08, and why he beat Hillary - ending the war. It's his essential campaign promise. Glad to see he kept it before he leaves office.
The promises he keeps happen to either coincide with election years or are pushed to after elections so the political damage from his poor decisions are minimized.
It took stealing blood samples to verify Bin Laden relatives under the pretext of immunization, and thus ruining the trust of real doctors.
Karzai insists he won't sign deal giving US troops immunity to Afghani law. Karzai would not go into the US base, and wanted Obama to come to the Afghani palace.
uh, what ever did the trick was the right move. Nothing on earth should have been in the way of getting that SOB.
Well now innocent doctors trying to vaccinate kids are being killed because they might work with the CIA.
I'm split on Afghanistan. On the one hand, I live here and have enough concerns without having to worry about being their policeman. If they don't want the Taliban, then they can fight them. On the other hand, When people haven't the strength to free themselves from the oppressors who seek to enslave them, it's hard to sit back and watch.
Sounds like another evil that need to be squashed. Good Muslims purging their world of the influences of the infidel perhaps.
