U.S. not winning in Afghanistan, Obama says

[babylonsister]

Holy mackaral, an honest president?


http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/03/07/us-not-winning-in-afghanistan-obama-says/

U.S. not winning in Afghanistan, Obama says
@ 1:23 pm by Michael O'Brien


President Obama said this weekend that the U.S. is not winning the war in Afghanistan, and that his administration is considering options to shake up military strategy in the country.

When asked in his New York Times interview if the U.S. is winning, Obama simply said, "No."

The president indicated that the administration is considering reaching out to some more moderate Taliban insurgents to seek reconciliation, mirroring a successful strategy in Iraq.

"If you talk to General Petraeus, I think he would argue that part of the success in Iraq involved reaching out to people that we would consider to be Islamic fundamentalists, but who were willing to work with us because they had been completely alienated by the tactics of Al Qaeda in Iraq," Obama said.

He also cautioned for patience, given the spate of difficult issues confronting his administration right now.

“Look, I wish I had the luxury of just dealing with a modest recession or just dealing with health care or just dealing with energy or just dealing with Iraq or just dealing with Afghanistan,” he said. “I don’t have that luxury, and I don’t think the American people do, either.”

NYT article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/us/politics/08obama.html?hp

[Deja Q]

1. What do we win in Afghanistan? Apart from Osama's head bronzed and used as a fancy hockey puck?

I'm not suggesting Afghanistan isn't an issue, but I think the American people have lost focus as to why we're there. If not Osama, then why? The drug war? G W B, as I recall reading at the tie, allowed several opium fields to go untouched (please correct me if I am wrong).

Especially with the Taliban regrouping, it's a legitimate issue. People just need a reminder. (I've heard enough on the radio to know it's not a phony threat)...

[vaberella]

4. It's not Osama or drug war...it's the rise of terrorism.

But then that's pointless because the terrorists that attacked us in New York were from Saudi Arabia and we didn't touch them. So...you're right, there's nothing in Afghanistan except for Osama and after 8 years we're not getting any closer to finding him.

[vaberella]

2. Key word "PATIENCE" . Key phrase, "I DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY...."

People on this board have no patience and want want want like petty children. I'm just glad Obama is communicating and I'm also glad with his transparency. He plainly said we're not winning and I get the feeling he's taking our troops out of Afghanistan and dumping Iraq. It's not worth losing money, effort and people in Afghanistan if we won't gain a damn thing as obviously we're not. So I'm glad that's on the table and an option.

As for a luxury that sums up everything...we don't have the economic luxury, the moral luxury, the social luxury, or the man power luxury to be wasting on these things when we have economic collapse and health care and so many other problems on our list. I think the best we can do is focusing on fortifying our home from these terrorists and think of a reasonable plan to address the issue. But this senseless war is not helping us out.

[Marsala]

3. We're in Afghanistan to keep the Taliban from taking over again and setting up more Al Qaeda

training camps. That is an intolerable outcome. Hopefully we will be able to get out of Afghanistan without that happening. Some sort of non-aggression pact with the Taliban that involves them keeping their gains but splitting from Al Qaeda would be okay, and may be the best we can realistically hope for.

[vaberella]

5. Al Qaeda training camps?

The terrorists who attacked us were on OUR soil not Afghanistan. Their passports were from Saudi Arabia NOT Afghanistan. All we have is Osama who we don't have physically and if he's still alive he's been living easy for 8 years and we're losing.

[Cha]

6. I'm so glad Obama is in charge now..

“Look, I wish I had the luxury of just dealing with a modest recession or just dealing with health care or just dealing with energy or just dealing with Iraq or just dealing with Afghanistan,” he said. “I don’t have that luxury, and I don’t think the American people do, either.”

[Clear Blue Sky]

7. Ask the Soviets how to win in Afghanistan...

[polichick]

8. imo taking out terrorists should be a CIA or special ops undercover mission...

It never should have been a war.

[Cali_Democrat]

9. kick for honesty

[old mark]

10. That comes in the "no shit" department.

The Soviets got their military ass kicked there, as did the British in the 19th century, and we will too if we stay long enough.

mark