Wait, wait, wait…now, hurry up!

By Michelle Malkin  •  December 1, 2009 01:49 PM

After much dithering, President Obama is set to deliver his speech at West Point tonight announcing a 30,000 troop deployment to Afghanistan.

While Obama took his sweet time, our men and women in uniform will now be sent scrambling. Wait, wait, wait..now, hurry up!

President Obama has decided to expedite the deployment of 30,000 additional American troops to Afghanistan over the next six months, in an effort to reverse the momentum of Taliban gains and create urgency for the government in Kabul to match the American surge with one using its own forces, according to senior administration officials.

In bringing the total American force to nearly 100,000 troops by the end of May, the administration will move far faster than it had originally planned. Until recently, discussions focused on a deployment that would take a year, but Mr. Obama concluded that the situation required “more, sooner,” as one official said, explaining some of the central conclusions Mr. Obama reached at the end of a nearly three-month review of American war strategy.

… The new strategy draws heavily on lessons learned from President George W. Bush’s “surge” and strategy shift in Iraq in 2007, which Mr. Obama opposed as a senator and presidential candidate. Mr. Obama’s advisers are even referring to his troop buildup as an “extended surge.”

However officials said that Mr. Obama in his speech will give a time frame — something Mr. Bush did not do — for when the United States will start pulling the reinforcements out and begin turning over security responsibilities to Afghan forces one province at a time.

Mr. Obama’s aides would not say how specific he would be on Tuesday night about the time frame of the American presence. But clearly it would be well more than a year. That would take him to 2011 or 2012 — when Mr. Obama is up for re-election — before the troop levels would begin to fall again to fulfill the president’s oft-repeated assertion that he would offer no “open-ended commitment” to the Afghan government.

It is that date that is bound to be the focus of attention for his own party, at a time when many Democrats are openly opposed to sending more troops. Some have questioned how Mr. Obama can simultaneously argue for a troop increase and a relatively quick pull-back. But in interviews, administration officials said that without the accelerated deployment, there was little hope of being able to stabilize the situation in the region enough to start withdrawals.

“This is to speed the process,” one said.

If you haven’t watched the video of VP Cheney’s remarks blasting Obama for projecting weakness, go here.

Somebody needs to say it.

***

John Hood sums up The Obama Doctrine: “We Surrender” — Pretty Soon.

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Comments


  1. #1
    On December 1st, 2009 at 1:54 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    However officials said that Mr. Obama in his speech will give a time frame — something Mr. Bush did not do — for when the United States will start pulling the reinforcements out and begin turning over security responsibilities to Afghan forces one province at a time.

    In other words, how long the bad guys need to lay low.

  2. #2
    On December 1st, 2009 at 1:55 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

    Obama: Hurry up before I change my mind again!

  3. #3
    On December 1st, 2009 at 1:56 pm, letget said:

    I can not stand to watch or listen to this bho and I will NOT DO SO tonight. I feel so sorry for our wonderful military to have this bho as cic. I ask God daily to protect them from harm and return home safe to their families.
    L

  4. #4
    On December 1st, 2009 at 1:58 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

    when Mr. Obama is up for re-election — before the troop levels would begin to fall again to fulfill the president’s oft-repeated assertion that he would offer no “open-ended commitment” to the Afghan government.

    Johnny Cochran: “If he don’t commit, you must acquit!”

  5. #5
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:00 pm, tarpon said:

    Note they only plan on staying up until the 2012 election.

  6. #6
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:00 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    I’m sure the Code Pinkos will be disrupting Hillary’s statements to a committee with screaming and fake blood on their hands…

  7. #7
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:02 pm, no2pcbs1 said:

    the putz in chief is a disgrace and that he has to go to West Point and prove to all how clueless he is, is really pathetic. the wh joke lacks leadership skills and is no more qualified to be the cinc than any stray dog would be. this past weekend maureen dowd stated zero was complex, right, those with one functioning brain cell would think those with two are complex.

  8. #8
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:06 pm, granite said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 1:54 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    In other words, how long the bad guys need to lay low.

    You beat me to it.

    I was not in the service; but, I would think that the last thing you would want to do in a war is to give the enemy any information – intelligence – about your plans/strategy.

    If broadcasting that, and when, one will begin to pull troops out – before victory has been achieved – is not telegraphing vital intelligence to the enemy…I don’t know what would be.

    As a lay person, it still seems to me that anyone who presents such a timetable is simply not serious about winning a war.

  9. #9
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:06 pm, jamesgreenidge said:

    The Horrible Consequences of just “Bring Them All Home!!”
    The war has been presented wrongly to the American people. We don’t conduct a war based on polls but strategic necessity. The American people must be delivered cold the consequences of “bring them all home and let the natives take care of their own problems.” The American people must know the consequences of a Afghanistan falling then Pakistan with its nukes. That’s the MAIN justification that must be delivered to the American people because it most hits them at home and in family: A collapsed Pakistan’s nukes. Nukes falling in the paws of terrorists who’d have no scruples of shipping one ion the heart of a U.S. city and setting it off — and the ultimate blackmail of U.S. policies in the total domestic disruption after that. Most Americans DON’T get that. Most of our troops are aware of that. They know that they didn’t sign up to go to Disneyland and just help U.S. cities dig out of blizzards. They signed up to BE in harms way. They don’t have to be “rescued back home” like the kiddies of nervous mommies who are trying to snatch them out of a playground being lurked by a pedophile. Americans must comprehend why it’s better to lose relatively (precious) few lives in battle over there now than lose an entire city here — and the horrors and national repercussions of such an event later. Unfortunately, to the media and Dems that concept is science fiction. They’d rather sacrifice hundreds of thousands of lives here to score political points and appease and uphold some specious political philosophy of ‘peace’ (non-war) and appeasement. That’s fine if your enemies share your rational but in the real world most don’t. To back out of this war is beyond criminal. It’s eventual suicide. Yet, we might have to learn the hard way, God forgive us.

    James Greenidge
    Queens NY

  10. #10
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:08 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    In bringing the total American force to nearly 100,000 troops by the end of May

    Will any of them be issued ammunition?

  11. #11
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:08 pm, happyscrapper said:

    I would spit on that man if I had the chance.

  12. #12
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:13 pm, granite said:

    I read an article a month or so ago that said that B. Hussein Obama despises America.

    I agreed with that premise then; and the news since my reading the article has only strengthened my agreement.

  13. #13
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:18 pm, cicerokid said:

    Will any of them be issued ammunition?

    Yes, aloha. Rounds will be counted before and after “engagement”.

  14. #14
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:21 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    Will any of them be issued ammunition?

    Yes, along with the little cards with the Miranda Warning in Pashtu, Urdu, and Kazakh.

  15. #15
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:21 pm, Bob69 said:

    Regardless of what the O has to say, Military people are used to Wait, Wait, Wait..now hurry up.. It’s a way of life.

  16. #16
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:24 pm, tre said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:08 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Will any of them be issued ammunition?

    Of course not! If they hurt an enemy they’ll be court martialed!

  17. #17
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:25 pm, Hangfire said:

    President Obama has broken with a time-honored military tradition, and that does not sit well with the thousands of military men and women currently serving, and those that have previously served this great country.

    Once again, Mr. President, it’s

    Hurry Up and Wait, not Wait and Hurry Up. Got it?

  18. #18
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:33 pm, judybeth said:

    Most of you have already expressed my complete “aversion” to the sound of the POTUSA’s voice!

    He has left our European Allies in danger when he cancelled the defense shield to protect them from aggression.

    He has completely demoralized our Troops and fellow Americans with his Adm’s constant attacks against our exercising our Constitutional First Amendment Rights.

    They turn their “deaf ears” to our petitions against repressive taxation which will destroy millions of more jobs. AND JAIL American citizens who can’t pay higher taxes and insurance premiums!

    While the POTUSA continues to “shame us” in the eyes of the World, I am ashamed that he is suppose to speak on my behalf! He Does Not! jb

  19. #19
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:39 pm, Flyoverman said:

    Never have a Democrat on your flank.

  20. #20
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:41 pm, Wethal said:
  21. #21
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:42 pm, bradley said:

    Visualize this:

    President Roosevelt: “General Eisenhower, we’re giving you until November 1, 1944 to win the war. If you don’t, we’re pulling out.”

    General Eisenhower: “Yes sir. November 1. Did you carbon copy the Wehrmacht?”

  22. #22
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:42 pm, prendad said:

    Lies are the rule of the day for this administration. I do not believe anything that they say anymore. Obama and his staff of gooney birds (apologies to the gooney bird) had months to “brainstorm” over this troops issue. Then, just a few weeks ago Obama said that he “threw out all the options”. Then, after throwing out all the options that his staff took months to come up with, all of a sudden he amazingly comes up with a decision.
    Based on what? Awwwwwwwww, now Barry. Are you using that eight ball again?
    I see that Obama is commandeering the airwaves again for his announcement to the world. The world awaits his boring rhetoric. Guess it’s popcorn and a movie tonight while the MSM kowtows to their master.

  23. #23
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:43 pm, spaceycakes said:

    cicerokid said:
    …Rounds will be counted before and after “engagement”.

    I’ll be awaiting the requisite ‘Aliens’ Apone quotation from Rogue

    come in, Rogue

  24. #24
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:43 pm, sonofdy said:

    Will any of them be issued ammunition?

    Yes along with a ROE that almost ensures defeat.

  25. #25
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:51 pm, mom2jack said:

    This entire thing is a farce and I won’t watch it. Major decisions on military strategy don’t need to be aired in (another) prime-time announcement and broadcast to our enemies. The decisions should be made quickly, made with confidence, and communicated internally. Once again, it’s all about the Big O. Why does it matter how many troops there when our military commanders won’t let the troops fight a war? They tie their hands with PC crap and focus on the wrong objectives. Either fight the war or get out.

  26. #26
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:51 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    I see that Obama is commandeering the airwaves again for his announcement to the world.

    And pre-empting ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’!
    Any need for more proof of his contempt for America?!!!
    Aaaaaaaargh!!!

  27. #27
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:53 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:41 pm, Wethal said:

    CNN: Obama plans to pull out of Afghanistan after three more years. [Hey, just in time for the 2012 election!]

    Don’t worry…he will be toast long before 2012. Believe it. He is crashing and burning as we speak and this is only year one. Three more years and the American people will be desperate to get rid of this jerk…even the liberals are having buyer’s remorse.

  28. #28
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:57 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:51 pm, Dexter Alarius said:
    I see that Obama is commandeering the airwaves again for his announcement to the world.
    And pre-empting ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’!
    Any need for more proof of his contempt for America?!!!
    Aaaaaaaargh!!!

    And all he will be saying is…Wa Wa Wa WA Wah Wa.

  29. #29
    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:59 pm, Hangfire said:

    POTUS should have his own channel. His administration is just a bad reality show, anyway.

  30. #30
    On December 1st, 2009 at 3:04 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    His administration is just a bad reality show, anyway.

    This is ripe for a ‘Biggest Loser’ joke, but I can’t think of one.

  31. #31
    On December 1st, 2009 at 3:04 pm, cheapseat said:

    the real shame of all these wars we are involved in is that we no longer fight a war to win, we fight a war to build the nation we are fighting against into a democracy. FAT F’ING CHANCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST! these people are liking the fact they live in the stone age, it proves their manhood. they get to club the women and take them back to the cave. we don’t need more boots on the streets to defeat these savages, we need a president with the gone’s to carpet bomb helmand province and a few others the way truman bombed germany and japan. when was the last time germany or japan attacked us or a neighbor? hmmmm. is there a lesson here?

  32. #32
    On December 1st, 2009 at 3:05 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 2:59 pm, Hangfire said:
    POTUS should have his own channel. His administration is just a bad reality show, anyway.

    Wouldn’t that be great? Then we could just program that channel off our TV’s.

  33. #33
    On December 1st, 2009 at 3:09 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    POTUS should have his own channel.

    He’s already got Comedy Central.

  34. #34
    On December 1st, 2009 at 3:12 pm, happyscrapper said:

    I hope every parent the the country tells their children exactly WHO is responsible for their missing Charlie Brown’s Christmas special tonight. There will be a lot of Obama-hating kids after this! Maybe there is hope for the next generation after all. Putting this announcement on all the channels is just plain stupid. There is NO NEED TO DO THAT!! It is just making everyone angry.

  35. #35
    On December 1st, 2009 at 3:14 pm, swede said:

    He’s already got Comedy Central.

    Not to mention ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC and CNN. What more does he need?

  36. #36
    On December 1st, 2009 at 3:25 pm, Flyoverman said:

    Not to mention ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC and CNN. What more does he need?

    Total control is what he wants.

  37. #37
    On December 1st, 2009 at 3:30 pm, Regulus said:

    So far, the emerging details of Hope-a-Dope’s “plan” indicate not a strategy, but a collection of rationalizations:

    - The moonbat crowd that now comprises the donk “base” was willing to ignore Hope-a-Dope’s “Afghanistan is the necessary war” mantra during the election campaign because — as with his claimed opposition to homosexual marriage — they assumed he was lying to fool the “rednecks and rubes.”

    - On the other hand, the rednecks and rubes haven’t forgotten the campaign promises, and are not in a mood to lose the war in exchange for a “decent interval” a la our abandonment of South Vietnam in 1974.

    - So Hope-a-Dope tries to nuance things by trying to offering to throw a bone to the “rubes and rednecks” while giving a wink-and-nudge to the moonbats by setting up our troops to fail with ridiculous rules of engagement.

    - In the end, what he hopes to accomplish is a “We-tried-it-your-way-and-it-didn’t-work” dismissal of those who want to win the war, followed by a God’s Hope-a-Dope’s delays are not God’s Hope-a-Dope’s denials” sop to his lose-the-war constituency.

    If he manages to pull it all off — making a head fake toward victory while simultaneously angling for defeat and retreat, fooling the “rubes and rednecks” while not overtaxing the patience of the moonbats — it’ll be his biggest caper since tricking the American People into putting him into the White House.

  38. #38
    On December 1st, 2009 at 3:34 pm, floridaobserver said:

    If he thought our troops in Korea were a great photo op, well, West Point surely is an even greater one. Maybe he’s going there because that is the one venue in which he knows he will not be booed. He makes me gag.
    Why not be presidential and do it from the Oval Office, for pete’s sake.

  39. #39
    On December 1st, 2009 at 3:35 pm, floridaobserver said:

    BTW, I don’t want to watch because my 2 kids are supposed to go to Afghanistan next year. He scares the bejeezus out of me. I don’t trust him as CIC. Or anything else, either.

  40. #40
    On December 1st, 2009 at 3:36 pm, Savage24 said:

    They should sent Eric Holder along to make sure the badies are properly mirandized.

  41. #41
    On December 1st, 2009 at 3:36 pm, SPCOlympics said:

    Since BO is telling the enemy how long to hold out before we withdraw, could he also be so kind as to tell the Republican Party how long they have to stonewall Obamacare before he gives up?

  42. #42
    On December 1st, 2009 at 3:38 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

    Dexter Alarius said:

    However officials said that Mr. Obama in his speech will give a time frame — something Mr. Bush did not do — for when the United States will start pulling the reinforcements out and begin turning over security responsibilities to Afghan forces one province at a time.

    In other words, how long the bad guys need to lay low.

    Exactly.

  43. #43
    On December 1st, 2009 at 3:54 pm, vatodio said:

    When you are at war, you don’t plan the exit strategy until you have killed the last enemy soldier / terrorist and won the war.

    Our clueless buffoon is more concerned with political ramifications at home than our soldiers’ lives and well being on the battlefield.

    My prediction:
    Very soon, we are going to blame the Afghan corruptions and start the withdrawal.

  44. #44
    On December 1st, 2009 at 4:14 pm, SpeakEasy said:

    His handling of the Afghanistan war shows his contempt for and lack of respect for the military and the military leaders he appointed.
    If conservatives can win BIG in 2010, we can neuter this mutt.

  45. #45
    On December 1st, 2009 at 4:42 pm, Flyoverman said:

    30,000 soldiers learning how to administer Miranda Rights in Arabic prior to deployment.

  46. #46
    On December 1st, 2009 at 4:49 pm, RedDog said:

    But in interviews, administration officials said that without the accelerated deployment, there was little hope of being able to stabilize the situation in the region enough to start withdrawals.

    Stabilize the “situation” by doing what exactly, that would allow the troops to turn around and leave so quickly? I assume you plan to use tactical nukes. So that means the troops would be traffic cops keeping civilians out of the target areas. Good thinking Chief. I didn’t think you had it in you.

  47. #47
    On December 1st, 2009 at 4:57 pm, Truesoldier said:

    I see that Obama’s plan calls for withdrawing troops starting in the summer of 2011. So if it takes 6 months to get the surge troops to Afghanistan in full force that will take them till the summer of 2010. In other words the troops have a total of 1 year to get things completely under control before Obama yanks the carpet out from under them.

    Of course if I was the Taliban/Al Qaeda I would be thanking Allah right now for the gift that is Obama.

  48. #48
    On December 1st, 2009 at 4:59 pm, Truesoldier said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 3:36 pm, SPCOlympics said:
    Since BO is telling the enemy how long to hold out before we withdraw, could he also be so kind as to tell the Republican Party how long they have to stonewall Obamacare before he gives up?

    That’s just it, Obama actually cares about Obamacare so there will be no timelines as he is in it to the bitter end.

  49. #49
    On December 1st, 2009 at 5:35 pm, Jeff2161 said:

    According to the Morning Call’s, Capitol Ideas, instead of looking at the Charlie Brown Christmas tree, kids will be looking at Barack Obama. Try explaining this one to kiddies all over the United States especially the one in your own household who loves Charlie Brown and was bobbing his head in the car yesterday to the theme by Vince Garabaldi. Anyhow, instead of hearing “Peace on earth good will towards men,” children will be hearing, “We will deploying 30,000 men.”

    I don’t think that this is some sinister plot though to remove the Christmas story from the airwaves. Is the Obama administration really that smart? No, but his approval rating will go down lower than it is. First the Grinch says he won’t deploy troops, now at Christmas time he is. Is he trying to boost ratings.

    “Your a foul one Mr. Grinch. Your hearts an empty hole.” Let’s all send Obama the Grinch coal for Christmas.

    I was hoping for a Vince Guaraldi Trio fix tonight…

  50. #50
    On December 1st, 2009 at 6:00 pm, T-Bone said:

    They ask for 40,000 troops or we will lose the war. He gives them 30,000.

    How does that work again? A guy who has never been in military makes the decision that the military is wrong? Does sending less mean we will still lose, it will just be delayed? I don’t get it.

  51. #51
    On December 1st, 2009 at 6:20 pm, Truesoldier said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 6:00 pm, T-Bone said:
    How does that work again? A guy who has never been in military makes the decision that the military is wrong? Does sending less mean we will still lose, it will just be delayed? I don’t get it.

    This is nothing more than an attempt to please all sides (which never works). He is sending more troops, so he can look like he is tough on terrorists (meanwhile he is coddling them and giving them rights that they should never have) at the same time setting timetables so he can tell the antiwar left that he is working on getting us out of the war.

  52. #52
    On December 1st, 2009 at 7:14 pm, purealchemy said:

    Who besides me refuses to watch tonight?

    Wanna bet money on whether he uses the word “victory”?

  53. #53
    On December 1st, 2009 at 7:21 pm, Laree said:

    Lawrence Eagleburger on Your World with Neil Cavuto video, He doesn’t think this troop build up is a good idea it isn’t even nearly enough to stabalize the region and he isn’t the only one who thinks so many have doubts that 30,000 troops can do much of anything inside of Afghanistan.

  54. #54
    On December 1st, 2009 at 7:22 pm, ssnark said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 3:30 pm, Regulus said:

    So far, the emerging details of Hope-a-Dope’s “plan” indicate not a strategy, but a collection of rationalizations:

    Spot on the money. There isn’t a real strategy there. It’s just a show stunt for looks kind of like “surfers” who show up with a board, take ages to wax it just right and never get further out than the shore break.

    In the end, what he hopes to accomplish is a “We-tried-it-your-way-and-it-didn’t-work” dismissal of those who want to win the war, followed by a “God’s Hope-a-Dope’s delays are not God’s Hope-a-Dope’s denials” sop to his lose-the-war constituency.

    On December 1st, 2009 at 4:49 pm, RedDog said:

    Stabilize the “situation” by doing what exactly, that would allow the troops to turn around and leave so quickly? I assume you plan to use tactical nukes. So that means the troops would be traffic cops keeping civilians out of the target areas. Good thinking Chief. I didn’t think you had it in you.

    I wish! But it’s more like what Regulus has concluded. It’s a photo-op that is timed for one year where afterward he’ll be able to say “I tried, but it was hopeless. It’s all that guy McChrystal and that other guy Petraeus’ fault. I’m innocent!”

    On December 1st, 2009 at 4:57 pm, Truesoldier said:

    Of course if I was the Taliban/Al Qaeda I would be thanking Allah right now for the gift that is Obama.

    Durn Straight there! In fact the announcement was just in time to make afternoon and evening prayer in Afghanistan and evening prayer in Pakistan. I wonder if he timed it that way?

    I may have to beg to come out of retired reserve status just so that I can stand at my son’s side when we’re pulled out before we can be effective at anything and have to watch in humiliation and defeat when the people of Afghanistan go through what the people of Vietnam and Cambodia did.

    With no outlet to the sea, I wonder if they’ll be ‘hang glider people’ trying to escape the slaughter?

    (Many, many epithets and expletives deleted.)

  55. #55
    On December 1st, 2009 at 7:39 pm, swede said:

    purealchemy said:
    Who besides me refuses to watch tonight?

    Sorry, can’t help it. It’s like driving by a car wreck.

  56. #56
    On December 1st, 2009 at 7:43 pm, 24Klady said:

    If anyone doubts for a NY minute he wouldn’t allow the number of our men and women in the military to be killed on the scale of Vietnam – he’d have no problem with that. It’s his supporters that scare him silly. Ten can gather protesting against the war and he goes weak kneed. Let 1-2 million gather to protest his spending and he doesn’t see them.

    I’d rather suffer a root canal than watch him tonight. It’s either Nancy Grace or re-runs of Hank Hill. :(

  57. #57
    On December 1st, 2009 at 7:48 pm, zyzzyg said:

    ” . . . our men and women in uniform will now be sent scrambling. Wait, wait, wait..now, hurry up!”

    Not that Pres Obama has handled this situation well, though I wonder what our men and women uniform were doing in Afghanistan for seven years.

    Hurry up? Maybe. We dithered and lost focus in Afghanistan for seven years, and I suppose a change in strategy and a positive move forward to end this conflict (hopefully) after less than one year of an Obama Presidency might be a welcome change.

    And, as for VP Cheney he has yet to be asked the questions that matter. Yep, he can take Pres Obama to task, but he should be asked why did it take seven years for his administration to bring our efforts in Afghanistan to a successful conclusion? Why was the war put off budget? Why during fiscal year 2004 was that war not funded and required a further additional supplemental? Why did we get into bed with Pakistan when they were on our SOL? Why did we say little or nothing when Musharraf arrested lawyers, fired Judges and made deals with terrorists?

    VP Cheney has every right to voice his opinion but his continued assertions vis a vis what was done on his watch deserve answers.

    And, the big one. When Cheney was Sec Def under Pres Bush 41 what made him change his mind about invading Iraq when he said doing so would result in that country spinning out of control into several different pieces?

  58. #58
    On December 1st, 2009 at 8:01 pm, Republicanvet said:

    But in interviews, administration officials said that without the accelerated deployment, there was little hope of being able to stabilize the situation in the region enough to start withdrawals.

    What they really meant:

    We have to hurry and get these baby-killing terrorists over there now, then have enough time for our controlled media to start reporting constantly how good everything is going over there, then we can yank a couple hundred out early so Obowmao can look brilliant for suggesting the surge, planning their every movement, then we will keep up the media coverage and dangle through 2012 whether we should pull them out.

    The media coverage has GOT to be good enough to suggest our illustrious cinc planned better than Bush, cleaned up his mess and won this war.

    Oh, and our media better keep these whining terrorists off the front page so the public can be convinced….no matter how bad it gets.

  59. #59
    On December 1st, 2009 at 8:14 pm, T-Bone said:

    Not that Pres Obama has handled this situation well, though I wonder what our men and women uniform were doing in Afghanistan for seven years.

    Uh…fighting?

  60. #60
    On December 1st, 2009 at 8:25 pm, zyzzyg said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 8:14 pm, T-Bone said: #849808

    Uh…fighting?

    Yep, and they are still fighting. But, are they winning? Why has it taken seven years?

    Address the dithering and lost focus of the past seven years.

  61. #61
    On December 1st, 2009 at 8:33 pm, zorro said:

    Has anyone heard the Chicago Thug (a pretend Commander in Chief) mention Freedom and Liberty? I hear him saying I, me, my…. I hear him saying peace and responsibility…. I do not hear him saying what America has stood for since our inception, Freedom and Liberty.

    Ohhh, there, he said it, Freedom.

  62. #62
    On December 1st, 2009 at 8:38 pm, corkie said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 8:25 pm, zyzzyg said:

    Yep, and they are still fighting. But, are they winning? Why has it taken seven years?

    I’m sure they’re sorry for not fighting fast enough to please you.

    Feel free to tell them the appropriate amount of time required to completely and permanently suppress gorilla opposition forces.

    Also, feel free to provide them with your definition of winning when you ask them if they are.

  63. #63
    On December 1st, 2009 at 8:40 pm, corkie said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 7:48 pm, zyzzyg said:

    We dithered and lost focus in Afghanistan for seven years,

    Think about when you think that “dithering” started.

  64. #64
    On December 1st, 2009 at 8:44 pm, DBNinKY said:

    Address the dithering and lost focus of the past seven years.

    Karl Rove already did, and quite nicely; jump over to NewsBusters and read the entire exchange.

    BTW – that dithering has reentered the American pop-lexicon is a testament to the former VP’s authoritative presence and ability to affect public discourse.

  65. #65
    On December 1st, 2009 at 8:46 pm, corkie said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 7:48 pm, zyzzyg said:

    It’s amazing that you’re not embarrassed by many of your questions in this comment.

    For example:

    When Cheney was Sec Def under Pres Bush 41 what made him change his mind about invading Iraq when he said doing so would result in that country spinning out of control into several different pieces?

    I’m sure if you think real hard that you might see a difference between: 1) a recently battered regime promising to fully comply with UN resolutions; and 2) a regime which was allowed to strengthen much of its capabilities and emboldened by eight years of sissy treatment.

  66. #66
    On December 1st, 2009 at 8:59 pm, Elm Creek Smith said:

    … The new strategy draws heavily on lessons learned from President George W. Bush’s “surge” and strategy shift in Iraq in 2007, which Mr. Obama opposed as a senator and presidential candidate. Mr. Obama’s advisers are even referring to his troop buildup as an “extended surge.”

    To paraphrase Dr. Peter Venkman: “‘Scuse me Egon? You said the surge was bad!”

    ECS

  67. #67
    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:03 pm, T-Bone said:

    Some people can’t make the connection that the Al Qaeda terrorists we fought in Iraq are the same ones we are fighting in Afghanistan. Same war, same enemy, different battlefields. They are in Somalia, Algeria, Morocco, Pakistan, Indonesia, etc. Islamic jihadists are not cemented to Afghanistan.

    We are still fighting them all over the world in many different ways, militarily, economically, politically, socially. Sometimes we have more success than other times.

    My thought is that the biggest reason it will take time is we don’t have the world behind us on this like they need to be. They won’t send troops, they won’t help finance, they won’t stand up and denounce our enemy.

    It didn’t take much for them to denounce President Bush and cause problems for him, but they have real difficulty confronting and causing problems for murderous Islamic terrorists who seek global domination and a worldwide caliphate.

    Of course, Democrats in the US invested their heart and soul to destroy President Bush every step of the way. They undermined him in world opinion and made it very difficult for him to get the cooperation he needed. The terrorists were having a field day recruiting to fight the evil Bush. That image was driven and perpetuated by Democrats in the US for political gain during a time of war.

    Absolutely shameful.

  68. #68
    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:06 pm, Elm Creek Smith said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 7:48 pm, zyzzyg said:

    Well, gee, ziggy! I guess you didn’t realize we were busy winning the war against the insurgents in Iraq at the same time.

    ECS

  69. #69
    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:07 pm, zyzzyg said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 8:44 pm, DBNinKY said: #849831

    Karl Rove already did, and quite nicely; jump over to NewsBusters and read the entire exchange.

    That was Rove, and why doesn’t VP Cheney do it? Why hasn’t the poster who I addressed the question to, do it? Why don’t you do it?

    BTW – that dithering has reentered the American pop-lexicon is a testament to the former VP’s authoritative presence and ability to affect public discourse.

    Yep, I agree, there are words that inflame passions and emotions, to wit – dithering.

    I’d like to hear VP Cheney address the seven year dithering of his administration. It is fine to talk of another dithering, but when will VP Cheney be taken to task for his dithering? Why isn’t he asked about it when he comments about Pres Obama? It is about seven years of an administration doing something versus less than a year of another administration doing something.

    Think about it, some 2500 days versus about 341 days.

    Yes, take Pres Obama to task, and take VP Cheney to task. I have no problem with either. Do you?

  70. #70
    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:16 pm, zyzzyg said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:06 pm, Elm Creek Smith said: #849851

    Well, gee, ziggy! I guess you didn’t realize we were busy winning the war against the insurgents in Iraq at the same time.

    You have got to be kidding me.

    Please tell me you are not making excuses for dithering and lost focus in Afghanistan on Iraq, who had nothing to do with 9/11? Insurgents in Iraq? Who were they insugent against?

    That is a question, not an assertion.

    You raised the issue of Iraq. And, while you are thinking about an answer, know that the world was on side and supportive of our going into Afghanistan but was reluctant about supporting us going into Iraq.

  71. #71
    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:17 pm, T-Bone said:

    The poster ditto others posts. It’s a no brainer except to those who must perpetuate the Bush is a bad man mentality to make them feel rightous since they believed the Democrat propaganda being spewed by various Democratic leaders, including Obama, who was against the surge before he was for it. It’s hard to come to grips with the fact they were simply wrong.

  72. #72
    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:21 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    It’s hard to come to grips with the fact they were simply wrong.

    It’s also hard for them to discover their fearless leader lied to them to get elected. Today it’s officially Obama’s war. And they already gave him a Peace Prize.

  73. #73
    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:21 pm, T-Bone said:

    but was reluctant about supporting us going into Iraq.

    Wrong! See, theres the problem, they can’t accpt the truth at face value. The UN authorized military intervention in Iraq. It had a little something to do with 17 unheeded UN resolutions. What was that last one? UN 1441 or something like that.

  74. #74
    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:27 pm, Republicanvet said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 8:44 pm, DBNinKY said:

    Address the dithering and lost focus of the past seven years.

    Karl Rove already did, and quite nicely; jump over to NewsBusters and read the entire exchange.

    Binky….uh….linky…please.

  75. #75
    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:38 pm, Republicanvet said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:21 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    It’s hard to come to grips with the fact they were simply wrong.

    It’s also hard for them to discover their fearless leader lied to them to get elected. Today it’s officially Obama’s war. And they already gave him a Peace Prize.

    And why shouldn’t it be his war? The left always said it was the one that should be fought, until a clueless nitwit was elected, and the left suddenly decided they weren’t serious about what they were spouting.

    Hence, the dithering by said nitwit.

    …and his continued undermining in every manner possible other battles against terrorists.

  76. #76
    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:51 pm, T-Bone said:

    But the world loves him! Oh yeah, how about some troops, or money, or even vocal support?

    Allowing Islamic terrorists to flourish is not good for any country in the world. (and that includes Islamic countries)

    We need to change the dynamic that its ok for jihadis to kill non believers. Its still prevalent in the teachings of Imams in mosques all over the world including right here in the US.

  77. #77
    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:52 pm, zyzzyg said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:21 pm, T-Bone said: #849866

    Wrong! See, theres the problem, they can’t accpt the truth at face value. The UN authorized military intervention in Iraq. It had a little something to do with 17 unheeded UN resolutions. What was that last one? UN 1441 or something like that.

    There is doing the right thing for the wrong reason, doing the right thing for the right reason, doing the wrong thing for the right reason, and the doing the wrong thing for the wrong thing.

    I prefer doing the right thing for the right reason. Going into Iraq was the doing the right thing for the wrong reason. Yes, go into Iraq, but don’t say it is being done because of 9/11, that was the wrong reason.

    Yep, Iraq was a bad actor and we had them on lock down. Think of the no fly zones.

    You are welcome to change the subject, but you have yet to address the questions from post #849819

    Yep, and they are still fighting. But, are they winning? Why has it taken seven years?

    Address the dithering and lost focus of the past seven years.

    Talk all you want about Iraq, but when is VP Cheney going to be taken to task over the decisions of his administration?

  78. #78
    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:52 pm, zyzzyg said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:21 pm, T-Bone said: #849866

    Wrong! See, theres the problem, they can’t accpt the truth at face value. The UN authorized military intervention in Iraq. It had a little something to do with 17 unheeded UN resolutions. What was that last one? UN 1441 or something like that.

    There is doing the right thing for the wrong reason, doing the right thing for the right reason, doing the wrong thing for the right reason, and the doing the wrong thing for the wrong thing.

    I prefer doing the right thing for the right reason. Going into Iraq was the doing the right thing for the wrong reason. Yes, go into Iraq, but don’t say it is being done because of 9/11, that was the wrong reason.

    Yep, Iraq was a bad actor and we had them on lock down. Think of the no fly zones.

    You are welcome to change the subject, but you have yet to address the questions from post #849819

    Yep, and they are still fighting. But, are they winning? Why has it taken seven years?

    Address the dithering and lost focus of the past seven years.

    Talk all you want about Iraq, but when is VP Cheney going to be taken to task over the decisions of his administration?

  79. #79
    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:54 pm, floridaobserver said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:21 pm, T-Bone said:
    but was reluctant about supporting us going into Iraq.
    Wrong! See, theres the problem, they can’t accpt the truth at face value. The UN authorized military intervention in Iraq. It had a little something to do with 17 unheeded UN resolutions. What was that last one? UN 1441 or something like that.

    Absolutely! Obie speaks of a coalition in Afghanistan like it was his idea and totally ignores the fact that there was a huge coalition of forces in Iraq. It was NOT Bush’s war, it was the UN’s war.

    I watched the speech and can’t believe he can tell lie after lie with such a straight face, knowing we do have darn good memories of how Iraq went down.

    And he ignored the fact that HE diverted funds for the troops recently to help build a Ted Kennedy memorial and that congress over the years has put ridiculous ROE’s into place that have caused so many of our troops to be killed in Afghanistan.

    Obama is a disgrace.

  80. #80
    On December 1st, 2009 at 10:23 pm, T-Bone said:

    You are welcome to change the subject, but you have yet to address the questions from post #849819

    You must be a liberal. They like to skip over things that don’t meet their preconcieved view. Or maybe you just missed it. I answered here:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:17 pm, T-Bone said:
    The poster ditto others posts. It’s a no brainer except to those who must perpetuate the Bush is a bad man mentality to make them feel rightous since they believed the Democrat propaganda being spewed by various Democratic leaders, including Obama, who was against the surge before he was for it. It’s hard to come to grips with the fact they were simply wrong.

  81. #81
    On December 1st, 2009 at 10:25 pm, T-Bone said:

    I forgot, you really have to spell it out for liberals.

    Many others answered your ridiculous questions and I concur with their assessment.

  82. #82
    On December 1st, 2009 at 10:40 pm, Blackstone said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 9:16 pm, zyzzyg said:

    You raised the issue of Iraq. And, while you are thinking about an answer, know that the world was on side and supportive of our going into Afghanistan but was reluctant about supporting us going into Iraq.

    Would you mind explaining what this has to do with anything? If you’re still all bent out of shape over liberating Iraq, take it up with the current VP and SecState, both of whom voted for the Iraq war as Senators. This kind of “b-b-b-but BUSH” does nothing to excuse Obama’s pathetic behavior on Afghanistan. Bush was busy winning a war in Iraq (and still managed to keep Afghanistan under better control than it is now). Obama’s busy fighting a war on Fox News (and losing).

    Disagree with Bush’s actions all you want, but at least he had something to show for it. What’s Zero’s excuse?

  83. #83
    On December 2nd, 2009 at 5:38 am, zyzzyg said:

    On December 1st, 2009 at 10:40 pm, Blackstone said: #849905

    Disagree with Bush’s actions all you want, but at least he had something to show for it. What’s Zero’s excuse?

    It is not about agreeing or disagreeing with Pres Bush, it is about taking VP to task for his assertions.

    VP Cheney is taking Pres Obama to task over taking so long to make a decision on Afghanista. Well, I would like to know why did it seven years for his administration to do what what was done in Afghanistan.

    And, what does VP Cheney have to show for our seven years in Afghanistan? We are still there. Following VP Cheney’s blueprint, would that mean we could still be there for another seven years? He had 2,550 days and Pres Obama has had 340 days. How does he explain that?

    Yep, you can agree or disagree, but I would like to hear more of VP Cheney’s story as he takes Pres Obama to task.

  84. #84
    On December 2nd, 2009 at 8:57 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    Wait, wait, wait..now, hurry up!

    But then that is every Army in history. “Hurry up and Wait” is taught in year two of ROTC. Bush did it.


    Remember: If you must Feed the Trolls feed them to the alligators

  85. #85
    On December 2nd, 2009 at 10:38 am, DBNinKY said:

    Why don’t you do it?

    You’re the one w/ the questions, go out onto the I-net and find your own answers! They’re there – if you can accept them.

    And BTW, here’s a question for you, via K Rove: While he was in the Senate, just what was Obama doing to ensure a quick and easy victory in Afghanistan?

  86. #86
    On December 2nd, 2009 at 10:45 am, DBNinKY said:

    “Well look, first of all, they, resources were sent as they were needed, but I would remind you this, President Obama is in no position whatsoever to criticize what President Bush did. Because in 2007, President Obama, then a member of the United States Senate, voted against war funding for Iraq and Afghanistan. If this was so vital, then why did he not speak out? He was chairman of a committee overseeing NATO. He could have easily called a hearing to say, ‘I’m concerned about this issue.’ He did not.”

    http://newsbusters.org/blogs/geoffrey-dickens/2009/12/01/rove-fires-back-lauer-charge-bush-administration-took-its-eye-ball

  87. #87
    On December 2nd, 2009 at 3:16 pm, corkie said:

    zyzzyg, nobody, including Cheney, needs to answer meaningless questions.

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