You do understand that Obama wants to get our troops out of Iraq and send them to Pakistan; Afghan-

[jillan]

istan - right????

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=3434573&page=1

In a strikingly bold speech about terrorism Wednesday, Democratic presidential candidate Illinois Sen. Barack Obama called not only for a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, but a redeployment of troops into Afghanistan and even Pakistan — with or without the permission of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

"I understand that President Musharraf has his own challenges," Obama said, "but let me make this clear. There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again. It was a terrible mistake to fail to act when we had a chance to take out an al Qaeda leadership meeting in 2005. If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/08/01/the_war_we_need_to_win.php

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-obama2aug02,0,5330469.story

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/08/01/obama-would-take-war-on-terror-into-pakistan/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/01/AR2007080101233.html

http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php?Itemid=34&id=305&option=com_content&task=view


Pakistani protesters burn a U.S. flag to condemn U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama's remarks, in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday. Pakistan criticized Obama for saying that, if elected, he might order unilateral military strikes inside this Islamic nation to root out terrorists.

By Shakil Adil, AP


http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-08-03-pakistan-obama_N.htm






edit to add - I just don't want anyone thinking that Obama is going to bring our troops home....for good.

[pstans]

1. He wants to send them to Afghanistan and use them to find bin Laden

If he is in Pakistan and the Pakistani government won't do anything to capture him, except take our money, then he would order troops into the remote mountainous regions to get bin Laden.

[Life Long Dem]

2. Out of a place they never belonged into a place that needs them?

Hmmmm... Not a prob!

[DesEtoiles]

3. oh I believe you - if I had been recently lobotomized.

[jillan]

5. Honey - it came right from Obama's site.

[Radical Activist]

15. Please show where his site uses the word "redeployment" for Pakistan

because that isn't what Obama said.

[jillan]

17. Here -

The first step must be getting off the wrong battlefield in Iraq, and taking the fight to the terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

I provided the link in my OP.

[Radical Activist]

20. Nothing there about redeploying to Pakistan.

That's what I thought. You're spinning his words. You're implying an invasion of Pakistan that Obama never calls for.

[jillan]

24. Maybe you should read the whole speech -

I don't feel like cutting and pasting for you while the link(s) are right there.

[Radical Activist]

28. I have and your characterization of it is misleading.

Chasing someone into Pakistan isn't an invasion of another country, as you imply.

[jillan]

33. Maybe you need to call Evelyn Wood.

Here -

As President, I would make the hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. military aid to Pakistan conditional, and I would make our conditions clear: Pakistan must make substantial progress in closing down the training camps, evicting foreign fighters, and preventing the Taliban from using Pakistan as a staging area for attacks in Afghanistan.

I understand that President Musharraf has his own challenges. But let me make this clear. There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again. It was a terrible mistake to fail to act when we had a chance to take out an al Qaeda leadership meeting in 2005. If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will.

And Pakistan needs more than F-16s to combat extremism. As the Pakistani government increases investment in secular education to counter radical madrasas, my Administration will increase America's commitment. We must help Pakistan invest in the provinces along the Afghan border, so that the extremists' program of hate is met with one of hope. And we must not turn a blind eye to elections that are neither free nor fair -- our goal is not simply an ally in Pakistan, it is a democratic ally.

Beyond Pakistan, there is a core of terrorists -- probably in the tens of thousands -- who have made their choice to attack America. So the second step in my strategy will be to build our capacity and our partnerships to track down, capture or kill terrorists around the world, and to deny them the world's most dangerous weapons.

I will not hesitate to use military force to take out terrorists who pose a direct threat to America. This requires a broader set of capabilities, as outlined in the Army and Marine Corps's new counter-insurgency manual. I will ensure that our military becomes more stealth, agile, and lethal in its ability to capture or kill terrorists. We need to recruit, train, and equip our armed forces to better target terrorists, and to help foreign militaries to do the same. This must include a program to bolster our ability to speak

[DesEtoiles]

25. Honey - welcome to my ignore list!

[boston bean]

9. you're still around, congratulations! I mean it too!

[ErnestoG]

4. So you'd rather have the candidate who would keep them in Pakistan, Iraq AND Iran?

Like this person?

[panader0]

6. And that sign on the left translates: Go Hillary!

:sarcasm:

[ellacott]

7. You do realize that this is established U.S. policy

Even Joe Biden agreed with this.

[jillan]

8. I just don't want people to be misled into thinking he is going to bring the troops home.

on edit - this is not about Biden, this is about Barack. Biden was very upfront about his positions.

[ellacott]

13. Why would anyone be mislead when this is the position he's had since the beginning?

As Biden, Obama was upfront about his position also. The quote you used was from the beginning of his campaign.

[Inuca]

14. He IS going to bring the troops home

or at least that's what's he is saying and I see no reason not to believe him. Except for the small number that will be sent to Afghanistan, and rightfully so.

[jillan]

31. But he is saying that he wants to send them to Afghanistan, and Pakistan if necessary.

I agree with him. I just want people to understand that is his plan.

[arewenotdemo]

10. You mean we SHOULDN'T find Bin Laden and Zawahiri?

That's been the Chimp's official policy for over 6 years.

I believe most Americans would disagree with it.

[jillan]

21. I'm not saying we shouldn't - I am just noticing that Obama supporters think he is going to bring

the troops home, and that's it.

[Inuca]

11. There is a BIG difference between

occupying a country (plus all the background we all know about the why, when, how long, etc.) and military actions that are precisely targeted and limited in scope. Any kind of military action makes me uncomfortable, but that's just my pacifist subjectivity talking, rationally I have to agree that some are justified.

Your title is misleading, Obama never suggested occupying Pakistan and sending 100,000+ troops over there, nor transferring them to Afghanistan.

[jillan]

19. He didn't say the number, but he did say this -

The first step must be getting off the wrong battlefield in Iraq, and taking the fight to the terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

[Inuca]

32. Yes, he did say that

Most of the anti-war political figures say that. It does not mean doing in Pakistan anything even remotely similar to what was done in Iraq. As to Afghanistan, it's a whole different story, I do not think anyone is advocating removing all troops from there, and many suggest that in short run more troops are probably needed. Sorry Pirhana, I really do not mean to be partisan here, I just do not see what is the point you are trying to make.

[Common Sense Party]

12. Shouldn't our troops be sent where they can do the most good?

Where their actions will be most likely to keep the U.S. safe?

Where the actual instigators and masterminds of 9/11 are holed up?

I'm no Obama fan, but this makes pretty good sense to me.

I think if you ask the troops, they'd want a mission that means something.


Go, Gravel!

[jillan]

22. Personally, I agree. I just want to make sure Obama supporters understand.

[REDFISHBLUEFISH]

16. Noticed you were a Biden fan, Me too. He was tops on Iraq war solutions.

[jillan]

29. Thankfully Biden is still chairman of the SFRC.

I think he will be a great asset to Hillary or Obama - whichever one wins.

[JoePhilly]

18. He'd be right to do so ...

Bush should have made sure we had OBL and Al Queda crushed there ... AND THEN rebuilt THAT country.

This should be JOB ONE.

I would not even mind a standing base there to allow us to be ready if terrorist groups emerge in other parts of the region. We had every right to go into Afghanistan.

[MadBadger]

23. I've never had a problem with us going into Afghanistan.

[jillan]

26. Me neither - infact we do need to get back there asap.

Things have gotten really, really bad over there.
Biden just had a hearing on it - and of course, I watched.

[calmblueocean]

27. Obama doesn't want to occupy Pakistan. Don't be misleading.(n/t)

[jillan]

30. Not occupy - but he wants to send our troops there.

I never used the word 'occupy', did I??

[ellacott]

34. He didn't say he'd send troops there n/t

[ginchinchili]

35. I have the distinct impression that we really have no idea what Obama would do.

He's a master panderer. Hillary's not much better, but Hillary is being called on it constantly and Obama never is. The press is pulling punches with Obama the same why they did with the little tapeworm Bush.

[earth mom]

36. Wake up people! This is what * & Co are ALL about! Terra Terra Terra!

Terrorists are a nebulous enemy-you can never "win" against them!

911 was MIHOP or LIHOP!!!

:argh:

[fujiyama]

37. This is simply misleading

Obama has basically taken the same position as Hillary and other leading Dems during the primaries that they would take troops out of Iraq, but use a number of them to stabilize Afghanistan and step up the hunt for bin Laden. Biden criticized Obama's comments about sending troops into Pakistan if cooperation was lacking but his criticism was less on the substance and more on the style.

And he's had to clarify his remarks about Pakistan more than enough times, but it's clear Obama views Musharraf with great skepticism, a big departure from the status quo - and a much needed change. I prefer this to the bullshit Hillary has spouted about Musharraf being "democratically elected" - the kind of great wisdom one gets with "35 years of experience".