Obama To Rethink Afghan War Policy

New Administration May Open Talks With Iran, Plans To Reinvigorate Hunt For Bin Laden

(Washington Post)  This story was written by Karen DeYoung.

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The incoming Obama administration plans to explore a more regional strategy to the war in Afghanistan -- including possible talks with Iran -- and looks favorably on the nascent dialogue between the Afghan government and "reconcilable" elements of the Taliban, according to Obama national security advisers.

President-elect Barack Obama also intends to renew the U.S. commitment to the hunt for Osama bin Laden, a priority the president-elect believes President Bush has played down after years of failing to apprehend the al-Qaeda leader. Critical of Bush during the campaign for what he said was the president's extreme focus on Iraq at the expense of Afghanistan, Obama also intends to move ahead with a planned deployment of thousands of additional U.S. troops there.

The emerging broad strokes of Obama's approach are likely to be welcomed by a number of senior U.S. military officials who advocate a more aggressive and creative course for the deteriorating conflict. Taliban attacks and U.S. casualties this year are the highest since the war began in 2001.

Some military leaders remain wary of Obama's pledge to order a steady withdrawal of combat forces from Iraq, to be completed within 16 months -- an order advisers say Obama is likely to give in his first weeks in office. Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has called a withdrawal timeline "dangerous." Others are distrustful of a new administration they see as unschooled in the counterinsurgency wars that have consumed the military for the past seven years.

But conversations with several Obama advisers and a number of senior military strategists both before and since last Tuesday's election reveal a shared sense that the Afghan effort under the Bush administration has been hampered by ideological and diplomatic constraints and an unrealistic commitment to the goal of building a modern democracy -- rather than a stable nation that rejects al-Qaeda and Islamist extremism and does not threaten U.S. interests. None of those who discussed the subject would speak on the record, citing sensitivities surrounding the presidential transition and the war itself.

As Obama begins to formulate his Afghan war policy, some senior military strategists have begun to question the U.S. commitment to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who is expected to run for reelection next year but is widely considered weak and ineffective. Some European and NATO officials have suggested that an assembly of tribal elders should select the country's next leader, an idea the State Department has rejected.

Obama advisers have emphasized that a sharper focus on al-Qaeda does not mean pulling back on the Afghan ground war. Obama called early in the campaign for deploying two or three additional U.S. combat brigades to Afghanistan. Bush has already approved such an increase, although the timing of the deployments, likely to begin next spring, depends on the drawdown of forces from Iraq.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Mullen, frustrated by the performance of NATO allies whose troops make up more than half the total foreign force in Afghanistan, have already planned for a more overt and forceful U.S. leadership role in the war, as well as more direct involvement by U.S. forces in fighting the Taliban in southern and western Afghanistan.

Some NATO military officials said enhanced U.S. leadership would be welcome, as long as it was not seen as a "takeover bid," said one senior European officer whose country has troops fighting as part of the NATO coalition in Afghanistan. While the U.S. military has long criticized some NATO members for lacking combat zeal and expertise in Afghanistan, many European officers resent what they see as U.S. arrogance.

The NATO officer suggested that Obama, whose election was greeted with wide approval in Europe, may have more success than Bush in persuading other alliance members to increase their fighting forces in Afghanistan. "I think you'll find the new president would then be able to persuade a number of European nations who have not liked this administration's way of doing business to come in behind them," he said.

At Mullen's direction, the map of the Afghanistan battle space is being redrawn to include the tribal regions of western Pakistan. U.S. military and intelligence leaders have delivered forceful messages to Pakistani officials on the need to step up attacks against Taliban and al-Qaeda sanctuaries in their territory.

Obama, advisers said, plans to intensify the U.S. military and intelligence focus on al-Qaeda and bin Laden. Intelligence officials say the search is already as intensive as ever, even as they emphasize that the decentralized al-Qaeda network would remain a threat without him. Bush administration officials have publicly played down the importance of a single individual in the broad sweep of their anti-terrorism offensive.

[twistedsister1959]

I hope and pray that President-elect Obama works with the people that actually live in this region of the world. We weren''t too comfortable with Soviet missles in Cuba as I recall and I get the feeling that maybe other nations aren''t too comfortable with the USA in their backyards. I agree that Bin-Laden needs to be brought to justice but we need to talk to other leaders and not just go willy nilly into every corner of the world flexing our muscle when a little dialogue with the right countries might mean a few less soldiers coming home in flag drapped coffins. And by the way, I did not vote for Mr. Obama but I do believe he deserves our respect and support until he shows that he doesn''t deserve either. God bless the USA. And God bless our Veterans and the young men and woman fighting today''s war.

[ajayvee]

Discussing this issue on another forum last night, I was reminded of the words of a famous American: When you have a gun, shoot, don''t talk!

[douglas_dunn]

What the Republican Party needs to learn is that if you put an idiot in the White House, you have an idiot in the White House. There are now some 280 million Americans. Can the Republican Party not do any better than the Three Stooges: Bush, McCain and Palin, all of whom MUST be regarded as academic failures. These puppet presidents have not done your party much good, have they? Karl Rove and Steve Schmidt are the real leaders of the Republican Party, and what does that say about you? Your party is led by despicable men who lie and deceive our citizens so that they vote for your puppet presidents. You are sick. Your party is sick. None of you can hold a candle to President elect Obama, more or less our original founding fathers. It''s all a disgrace. So, babalu59, while I can appreciate your civility (highly unusual behavior for a Republican) and respect for our soldiers, I note that you are part of the problem, a huge part of the problem. I would also note that it is too late for you to make amends for the over 4,000 Americans soldiers who paid for the Republican Party with their lives. %u201CIf you put an idiot in the White House, you have an idiot in the White House.%u201D That should be your new mantra. You Republicans need to turn off Fox News and pray for forgiveness. Stop pretending you love God. You cannot love God whilst you so love to lie and deceive your fellow countrymen. Nice blog, but all I see is someone who voted for McCain.

[earache4]

"Obama To Rethink Afghan War Policy"

I suggest he try something the Bush administration didn''t try......winning it.....

[eclecticman1]

Wow!! Pragmatism above ideolgy. What a brilliant thought. If only the bush administration had had it.

[douglas_dunn]

AmJoe, If you weren''t so pathetic, you might be funny. You know after WWII ended, some of the Germans would stretch wires across the road so as to behead our soldiers driving around in jeeps. You remind me of them. Why do you scoundrels feel so compelled to wrap yourself in our flag? God has rejected you, as have the American people. Write your sick minded nonsense to Steve Schmidt or Karl Rove, your real leaders. We tire of it.

[panhandlpete]

United States %u2014 Population: 301,139,947 (July 2007 est.)
taken from gov site off Google moments ago.....and that probably does not include the millions of illegals here.

Now what did the Afghan people do to us? Do they grow poppies and ship their product to the USA? Seems like all our leaders and military folk think that they must have some country to invade and use their war toys so they can build bigger and better ones. Maybe some intellectual conversations with other leaders would make a difference.

It is not just Obama that is being tested, but the Democratic Party as well. The next election will not go to either Repub or Dems if we cannot resolve these war issues for civilized people are fed up with senseless killing.

[ajaxtheleast]

First thing, get the missle launchers
out of Poland.

Second, forget Osama.

Third, stop listening to the military.

Fourth, then respond to EXACTLY what
happens in REALITY,,,NOT to what those
in the military who, even after six
years of their "expertise", cant leave Iraq
without Iraq going up like your favorite
ballpark fireworks show SAY will happen.

The generals are owned by the war profiteering
companies just as Bush is.

And what''s Obama going to do about our
Blackwater thugs???

I''ll tell you what!,,,He''ll never even
mention them!!

We''ve turned into a warring nation and
Obama is showing first signs that
he''s about to be caught up in it.

Just get out of Iraq and SEE what happens!!

Reality would prove lottsa people wrong!

[earache4]

Obama is over his head...
Posted by mr22587 at 08:13 AM

Oh now, I wouldn''t misunderestimate him if I were you....

[ral95]

Obama is over his head...


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Posted by mr22587 at 08:13 AM : Nov 11, 2008
---------------------

Obama is over whose head?

[douglas_dunn]

Yea, sure. President elect Obama is in over his head. Meanwhile, McCain is praying he can keep his job in Arizona, Palin is having a mental breakdown in Alaska, President ("I stole two elections") Bush has redefined the word "unpopular" and the Republican Party is running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Sure, President elect is over his head. We all are, with Republican nonsense. Give it a rest, man. We''re all sick of it.

[douglas_dunn]

demswin08, da man!

[ray999999]

if obama don''t get our troops back the first year in office he will be a one term president,he has a lot of work to do after the last idiot in office.

[grumpas]

Obama is over his head...

Posted by mr22587

Hell hath no wrath like a Republican who has been scorned!

[douglas_dunn]

grumpas, now that''s funny. Thanks for a morning laugh.

[bigsk8fan]

afghanistan is where bush should have spent american resources. after all, their taliban govt protected the al qaeda terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attacks. iraq had nothing to do with that. if bush had acted rationally, he would not be leaving the white house in such disrepute and disgrace.

[mccain08nc]

if obama don''''''''t get our troops back the first year in office he will be a one term president,he has a lot of work to do after the last idiot in office.
Posted by ray999999

----------------------------------
----------------------------------------
------

I wonder how many of us think he needs to get our troops out and still make sure Iraq is secure. Because if Iraq is taken over by the taliban then 4000 troops lives would have been wasted and yes i am sure the left will find a way to blame Bush but it will be on Obama''s head far as I am concerned.

[louiville2]

"Obama To Rethink Afghan War Policy", Hmmmmmm Obama''s thinking, thinking, thinking now where did we put those white flage Michele can you help me find those white flags.

[douglas_dunn]

Mccain08NC, Their lives already were wasted. You need to rent the movie "A Crude Awakening" and get with the times. Iraq was an oil war faught by an oil executive for the sake of war profiteers. Wake up, man! Instead of invading Iraq for the same reason China supports the genocide in Dafur, we, Americans, could have, and now will, do better. Instead of fighting over the remaining "easy" oil, we will build the first national renewable energy infrastructure, leading the rest of the world and saving the planet in the process. In short, there''s a better way. Get you head out of your Iraq.

[douglas_dunn]

louiville2, thank you for your contribution. You Republicans are so clever. You show clearly time and again that your only real leaders are Steve Schmidt and Karl Rove. You have no real political resolve. You like to hate. That''s all. You are one and all small people who care for nothing. You cannot love God because you dispise the truth.

[ral95]

IT IS his fault that 4000+ lives are gone including my sons. He had no business attacking a country that did not harbor the people responsible for 9/11.



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Posted by demswin08 at 08:51 AM : Nov 11, 2008
--------------------------------
demswin08 - sorry for your loss. My wife and I lost our''s 2.5 years ago to an illness and the pain remains strong. You are correct - we had no business in Iraq. A preemptive strike on a country that was no threat to us is not only unethical, but unforgivable. That doesn''t take away the good your son did or his bravery for volunteering to go overseas.

[mccain08nc]

IT IS his fault that 4000+ lives are gone including my sons. He had no business attacking a country that did not harbor the people responsible for 9/11.


Posted by demswin08
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You and the left are so narrow minded all you think is 9/11. I don''t claim to know reason be hind every thing but we are there we have lost 4000 troops it is a tragedy but it would be even more of a tragedy to spit on the graves of those 4000 soldiers and say they died for nothing and not keep Iraq free.

You may beleive they already died for nothing in your eyes but make a trip to Iraq on your own and talk to the iraqi''s and see if they beleive this was a useless war. They lived under a dictator for years that would slaughter them for opposing the governmen, you do realize if our government was that way the left would be eliminated for the treasonist statements they make about our president. But instead we have the freedom to be an absolute idiot.

[douglas_dunn]

Mccain08NC, you want treason? Bush is a criminal. The last two elections were tainted, stolen to be precise. The "surge" was a fake. It had little or nothing to do with quelling the violence, but a lot to do with convincing you loyal Republicans to vote for McCain. Man, you guys know so little of the truth you are seriously dangerous. You are completely unwilling to face the truth that your so-called leaders are nothing less than political criminals who have used the media to lie and deceive our people.

[douglas_dunn]

Mccain08NC, And, oh, by the way, that "dictator" was the result of your party providing critical monetary and military support to an Iraqi thug in order to intimidate and ancient and highly respectable culture. In short, you used Iraqi sunnis to attack Iran. Then you attacked the Iraqi political leadership using our military. Now you want us to attack Iran. "Around and around she goes and who the Republicans will want us to kill next nobody knows."

[differnet]

First, Iraq wants us out by 2011. So, no biggie for Obama to pull out in 18 months. But he better hope Iraq doesn''t decend into turmoil again or he''ll get blamed.

As for Afghanistan, he''s already proven he''s a sexist, so what does it matter if his "solution" plunges women back into slavery, deprivation and death. So basically, he''s willing to let the Taliban rise again and women can start being shot in the head for leaving their houses without a male relative escorting them.

[douglas_dunn]

Mccain08NC said "You may beleive they already died for nothing in your eyes but make a trip to Iraq on your own and talk to the iraqi''''''''s and see if they beleive this was a useless war." Are you kidding me? Have you no respect, not an inkling of respect for the truth? I don''t need to travel anywhere. I sat at home just YESTERDAY listening to one Iraqi after another saying they didn''t give a *** about our elections because the U.S. had been in their country for six years and "nothing had changed." Wake up man! This was an oil war, faught so that Exxon Mobil (look up at the top of your page because they have advertised here everyday as long as I can remember) could start pumping oil again from Iraqi oil wells. During the execution of this war, Bush''s closest friends in Texas have gotten insanely rich. Our country was just raped by war profiteers and executives on Wall Street. A black man has been sent from God to save us and you hate him, too. You hate the truth. That''s the problem. You want to feel patriotic do you? Well I have it on first account from a Marine sniper that our soldiers routinely and deliberately killed civilians, the same as they did in Vietnam. Go feel patriotic about that! But don''t blame them. If you make a man a walking target he does what comes natural. No, the fault is not theirs. It is *yours* You blind followers of a bankrupt political party are to blame. So, PLEASE, stop preaching to me.

[douglas_dunn]

demswin08, I am *so* sorry for the loss of your son. I pray you will forgive some of my comments if they weigh heavy on you. I *never* question the integrity of the men and women who enlisted to fight this war. They are the only patriots I know. God love for enduring such a heavy loss. -Doug

[ral95]

First, Iraq wants us out by 2011. So, no biggie for Obama to pull out in 18 months. But he better hope Iraq doesn''''t decend into turmoil again or he''''ll get blamed.

As for Afghanistan, he''''s already proven he''''s a sexist, so what does it matter if his "solution" plunges women back into slavery, deprivation and death. So basically, he''''s willing to let the Taliban rise again and women can start being shot in the head for leaving their houses without a male relative escorting them.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by differnet at 09:18 AM : Nov 11, 2008
---------------------------------------------
gw is responsible for the fiasco in Iraq. It is hard to imagine Iraq being any worse with us out of there.

I think Obama has indicate putting more troops in Afghanistan so I don''t know what you mean by his solution will put them in darkness bunk. Do you make this up as you go? Kinda like gw?

[douglas_dunn]

michaelt3022, You''re deluded. We had him. We had him as sure as the sun rises in the morning and we let him go. Why? Because Bush and the other war profiteers need more time to regain control of the Iraqi oil fields. The were *never* in this for Bin Laden. Wake up, man! It was and is and always shall be an oil war. Rent the movie "A Crude Awakening" and get with the times.

[louiville2]

Hey loui, If you are so brave why are you in here cutting Obama instead of in the military serving in Iraq to protect us.If you have already served,I thank you.If not **** because you have no right to say anything about our troops or the pullout.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by demswin08

Vietnam Veteran and we would have wished we had it so good (Iraq)try being a tunnel rat in a jungle. It wasn''t about the troops it was about our fearing leader.

[douglas_dunn]

IwasHungry68, Amen to that! All we have done is to interrupt an Islamic civil war. We did, however, help to free the Kurds. I like the Kurds. They are very American. They know how to fight for their freedom.

[douglas_dunn]

michaelt3022, What is an "Extreme liberal" I was a lifelong Republican until Thanksgiving Day, 2006, when all hell broke loose in Iraq. Does becoming a democrat make me "extreme"? Isn''t it bad enough to be a liberal. I mean, it seems to me that "liberal" is a bad word in the Republican vocabulary. Is it really necessary to use "extreme liberal" Isn''t that redundant? Let me tell you something, my good man, the truth, if not the Democratic Party, is, as Jesus said, very liberating. You should try it some time.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by

[babooph]

Will the bribe $ to reduce attacks end? The deep weakness of the Bush idocy is masked by the propaganda system-will this now come to light ?

[douglas_dunn]

michaelt3022 says "We got close but in the fog of war he got away." Try again. We had in in a cave with some of the best bunker busters made in the world. We could have killed him with the push of a button. But instead we let Iraqi soldiers go in after him and he "slipped out" the back door. As for the documentary "A Crude Awakening" is concerned, it is the work of dozens of the top scientists in the world. It has correctly predicted the end of easy oil in our country and some 135 or so other countries. When will you people repent and aquaint yourself with the truth. Your party is in shambles. Your leaders, karl Rove and Steve Schmidt are running around blaming others for their failures. You completely trashed the life of that poor little girl in Alaska. Have you no shame? Have you not one iota of decency left in you?

[way2ski]

Expanding the war in Afganistan is wrong. We should get out of Iraq and Afganistan, then they won''t have anyone to bomb and shoot at. We can hunt down Bin Ladin through covert clandistine means. We don''t have to invade a country to catch a criminal. We''re not fighting El Quaida we''re fighting the Taliban. That''s the same group we supported to kick Russia out of Afganistan. History has shown that nobody can win a war in that country, not the Britsh Empire, not the Soviet Union at it''s peak, and certainly not the US. If we stay there it will be worse than Vietnam and Obama will end up a one term president and none of his agenda will be enacted because the country will be discouraged about the war. We need to just leave.

[way2ski]

OH, and I forgot to mention, Osama Bin Ladin is in Pakistan, not Iraq, not Afganistan...duh

[britpatjax]

Once we remove ourselves from Iraq then Afganistan will take on a different aspect. Getting Osama Bin Laden means nothing. They were motivated by his money but WE substituted Abu Ghraib and Haditha and Gitmo to make idealism and hatred the recruitment tool. Go figure? And of course we can beat idealism much easier than we can financial enticement. It worked for us everytime right? Working big time in Pakistan right? They love our ''drones'' to bits right?

[ral95]

its amazing how libs expect and demand iraqi citizens to be self responsible but think american citizens should be taken care of by the government


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Posted by jamesm12341 at 10:05 AM : Nov 11, 2008
-----------------------------------------
Not only do you use "libs" as if it is a derogatory term, you catagorize anyone not agreeing with you as a lib and know what they think. I admit, I too make generalizations, such as anyone that voted for gwb twice must place their own personal agendas above the USA''s good, but I''m trying. I have seen some very gracious and patriotic repubs talk highly of obama even though they voted for mccain. They seem to want the country to be what it was before gw came into play. Of course, when they lost the election they did not lose to someone of gwb''s questionable character!

I really don''t care what happens in Iraq after we leave - we should have never been there in the first place. I also think the goverment is responsible for the well being of its citizens just as the citizens are responsible for the well being of the government. We have not had a good relationship between the government and the citizens for the past 8 years. That is hopefully going to change - it can''t get any worse!

[differnet]

What? A sexist? Just because he didn''''t take Hillary as VP.
You are Crazy. He is not talking about pulling out of Afghanistan,only Iraq.
And who are we to tell people how to live. Afghani''''s have lived this way since the times of Christ who are we to challenge their religious beliefs and tell them they are wrong.
We only went after the Taliban because they refused to help reel in Bin Laden and they Harbored Al-Qaeda and refused to let us come and get them. We didn''''t care about how they treated their women or how they dressed them.That was a non-issue.
As for the being sexist you confuse Obama with Mccain

Posted by demswin08 at 09:29 AM : Nov 11, 2008

Yes, a sexist. When you stand around and say nothing to stop discrimination then you are as guilty as the people who commit the discrimination. Not once did Obama call for his supporters to stop the sexism towards Clinton or Palin. He inculcated the misogyny. Plus one has only to look at the pay rate disparity between McCain''s staff and Obama''s. Moreover, when his campaign was approached about women being on his cabinet and asked for parity, they claimed that they probably wouldn''t be able to find enough qualified women. So, out of 300,000,000 Americans, he can''t find 10 qualified women to serve. Yeah, right. He''s a sexist. Sorry to make you face facts.

[mccain08nc]

If you make a man a walking target he does what comes natural. No, the fault is not theirs. It is *yours* You blind followers of a bankrupt political party are to blame. So, PLEASE, stop preaching to me.
Posted by douglas_dunn

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And I am sure you were watching MSNBC or the other left leaning networks, so you got the true look at what our soldiers have accomplished in Iraq. I have great sadness at every soldiers life that was lost there. But I have even greater saddest at the propaganda the left news spread they are so hell bent on keeping people hating this war they never report the great accomplishments of our soldiers over there.

The left leaning media and Murtha''s of the world show so much disrespect for the soldiers who fight and died in Iraq it is disgraceful. Not once have you seen the left leaning media report about the success of the war they are to determined to keep you on the left hating this war.

Again "demswin08" there is nothing I can say about your loss that will make a difference I have never experienced that kinda loss. But I do know if I did I would not want that loss to go invein because of propaganda by a news media.

[way2ski]

We can secure our borders, protect our citizens, and support our allies, but the Bush Doctrine of invading a country without being attacked, (or an ally being attacked) is wrong. It goes against our long standing tradition of defending our selves if attacked, but never invading another country as an aggressor. The world hates us for what we did in Iraq. Even Iraqis say they were better off under Hussan. In hindsight, our grounds for being in Afganistan are also questionable. The soverign government of Afganistan was not involved in 911. Criminals who lived there were. We got caught up in our anger to revenge the terrible loss of lives and declared war on country that was itself unable to control the thugs that lived there. Osama Bin Lin is not worth even the life of one American soldier. We''ve given too much and it we should not lose one more precious American life in this vengeful pursuit. I remind you we lost over 50,000 Americans in Vietnam and we got nothing for it. History speaks!!!

[mccain08nc]

Other than liberating the insurgents, and destroying their infrastructure for no apparent reason, what "good" have we accomplished?
Posted by IwasHungry68

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your right they have acomplished nothing there sorry for arguing the point. The left leaning media''s right it is total chaos there lets just get out of there now.

Oops forgot maybe you should read this article might help you realise there is more going on there than you see on MSNBC.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D91L960O0&show_article=1

[ral95]

Mccain08NC: There is nothing you can say in defense of gw''s invasion of iraq. The reason for the invasion was false, but even if wmds were found, that does not justify that thousands of people have died as a result. Most of them civilians - those are the people whose protection we decided to use as a reason for us being there after gw''s little white lie about the threat to the USA was discovered. In my opinion, those that continue to support our presence in Iraq are hardcore right wingers that are going to vote repub no matter who is running (ie. gwb)without any thought as to what is right for the USA.

[mccain08nc]

Mccain08NC,
It was not in vein and I don''''t feel it was because he inlisted after the war started in god faith that he was doing the right thing and died thinking the same.
I have a second Son that is there as we speak.

My point has been this bush doctrine of attack before your attacked or pre-emtive war.
Where I come from there needs to be a threat of attack before you strike back. This was just palin bullying on the part of Bush to make the rest of the world FEAR the U.S. and do as we wanted them to do.

Posted by demswin08
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See there is the problem you all think I am arguing Bush was right for attacking Iraq I am not saying anyting of the sort. All I am saying is we are they we made the decision to be there now we have an obligation to finish what we started. I understand it is expensive and I dread one more soldier dieing but do we really want to say 4000 died for nothing. Just so we can make Bush look worse than he already does.

[solarrays247-2009]

Obama doesnt want any Muslim confrontations. He will initially put on a front, then in time soften up and party with Osama and his boys.

Posted by datnewchimp at 10:48 AM : Nov 11, 2008

I believe that you are in serious need of a history lesson, my friendz! It was during George W. Bush''s reign that the stance seems to have been softened toward capturing and/or killing Osama Bin Laden. And most of the intentions were redirected to Iraq! Of course, that is understandable, considering Bush and his daddy, George H. W. Bush, can count among their friends and former/current business associates family members of Bin Laden''s family.

Things that make you go hmmmm-mmm-mm!!

[petro49l]

Al Qada trafficks methamphetamine, PCP, LSD, tar heroin, psychodelic mushroom, and potent hashish from their Pakistani sanctuary. Bin Laden is paid for the narcotics over the Internet. He then invests the profits in American corporations. Terror is the guise of a drug dealer. He funds domestic terror groups to promote the sales of illicit substances.

[solarrays247-2009]

See there is the problem you all think I am arguing Bush was right for attacking Iraq I am not saying anyting of the sort. All I am saying is we are they we made the decision to be there now we have an obligation to finish what we started. I understand it is expensive and I dread one more soldier dieing but do we really want to say 4000 died for nothing. Just so we can make Bush look worse than he already does.

Posted by Mccain08NC at 10:56 AM : Nov 11, 2008

Your thinking on the matter of staying the course regardless is just as faulty today, as it was during the Vietnam war. Because of that reasoning, ie to stay the course even though it was quite evident the war would be lost......we lost 50,000+ of our young men and women! Was that worth it? You are entitled to your own opinion....of course!

[differnet]

You won''''t be happy unless there is a woman president and an all woman cabinet.
God help us when they all PMS at the same time. We will need to place those launch codes in Fort Knox.

Now that was sexist did it make you mad.


Posted by demswin08 at 11:03 AM : Nov 11, 2008

Well, if you want to tell kids that ANYONE can be President, then I suppose you need to include those kids who are female. At this point, I would be happy with a 30% solution to legislation, executive and judicial branches. Seems resonable. Women represent 51% of the population, but effectively have less representation than minority groups in the USA.

[mccain08nc]

thanx IwasHungry68, I have never heard anything from Obama or anyone connected to him that was even close to sexist. So what if he don''''t choose any women in his cabinet. It just means he had people with MORE experience to hold those jobs.
I have heard that Clinton and Sebelius are on his list of picks for positions though.

Posted by demswin08
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well I think what the other person is saying goes in the same lines I have heard said about the NFL.(poor analogy but follow me here). It is said because the NFL has more white head coaches than black they being racist for passing the qualified black coaches. So of course if some one feels there are qualified women or blacks for a position they going to make acusations of racism or sexism. But nobody can say what goes through the decision process.

[differnet]

differnet,
Has anyone told you the womens lib movement died in the 80''''s.



Posted by demswin08 at 10:58 AM : Nov 11, 2008

Let me guess demswin08. Your divorced and unhappy. You haven''t ever had a successful relationship with a woman.