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Gen. David Petraeus touted “significant” security progress in Afghanistan in a congressional hearing on Capitol Hill. He cautioned those gains are “fragile and reversible.”
“Moreover, it is clear that much difficult work lies ahead with our Afghan partners to solidify and expand our gains in the face of the expected Taliban spring offensive,” Petraeus said. But the “hard-fought” gains “have enabled the joint Afghan-NATO Transition Board to recommend the initiation this spring of transition to Afghan lead in several provinces.”
But an ABC News/Washington Post poll out today shows support for the near decade long war is dimming.
According to the poll, almost two-thirds – 64% -- say the war is not worth fight; 31% say it is. In addition, almost half -- 49% -- say they feel "strongly" that the war is not worth fighting. The opposition is a sharp change from early 2010, the last time a majority said the war was worth fighting.
In addition, about 73% said the U.S. should begin withdrawing a substantial amount of its combat forces from Afghanistan by the summer. But about 39% think that will actually happen.
AP Video
In the January NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, just 12% said the war has gotten better over the last three months, 18% said it has gotten worse, and 64% said it has stayed the same. That compares to March 2010 when 25% said it has gotten better, 22% said it has gotten worse and about half said it has stayed the same.
And with 2012 right around the corner, the Washington Post makes this point: "His [the president] approach to the Afghan war has not won over the independents or liberal Democrats who propelled his campaign two years ago...." And: "[T]he results suggest that the war will be an awkward issue for the president as he looks for ways to end it."
Leave a Comment:
Doesn't matter to me...President Obama believes he's doing the right thing fighting the Taliban, and I agree.
I continue to support President Obama's Afghanistan policy.
I so agree. One of the Few things i agree with him on . That and Continuing the Obama Tax cut Extensions..
It amazes me to watch Republicans support wars. On the one hand you guys say "We're broke". That's what Boehner has been saying. Yet on the other hand, let's spend money on war.
You probably have not thought much about "guns" and "butter" . Sometimes you can not afford both. So....you would prefer to spend money on guns and let our infrastructure fall apart. Yet you talk about a better life for your children...traveling down gravel roads because we can not affort to fix the pot-holes. That's crazy.
Let's talk about what the current leader of the free world supports and prefers, Ron.
From the last presidential campaign to the present...this is one of the few instances that President Obama has shown relatively consistent leadership.
Good for him.
Ron. So long as they do not have to pay for it. Conservatives will always support any endeavour they will take money away from the middle class to support the "the military industrial complex"
C'mon, Patrick-
What about what President Obama supports?
Mixed Bag,
How Dare you Bring up President Obama and his support for the Afgan War.. His sending another 30,000 plus American Troops to Afganistan. They always seem to get pissed because we dont Support what Obama Does. then they come on here and Complain we do. It doesn't matter what we believe They just Hate it..
Steve-
I just love irony...always have.
Anyway...
I have President Obama's back on this one.
I think the American people generally supported these wars but have grown war weary over these conflicts that drag on year after year. The afghan conflict has been going on for a decade with no realistic end in sight. Sure, Obama has declared some sort of timeline for troop withdrawal but when that time comes and we discover the Afghan troops are still not capable of taking over, then what? After all, most of them are illiterate, and still maintain tribal allegiances/animosities and may resort to fighting one another. I’m not confident the afghan government will survive after American troops have
left, which probably means it was all for nothing.
Regarding Iraq, most people believe the troop drawdown will continue so there’s not too much
anxiety there. It also remains to be seen if the Iraqi government can survive the increasing violence there after the last of the American troops have left.
As for Libya, I think most Americans are relieved that president Obama has chosen to remain
on the sidelines thinking “finally, a conflict that we didn’t feel compelled to stick our noses into”.
Odd how Feisty and Bev don't seem to chime in with their total support for everything Obama.
Ladies, what gives? Where is the love? You support your president 100% right?
Staying in Afghanistan is not worth the perpetual drain on lives and treasure. In the end, nothing is ever going to change in any meaningful way in a tribal mentality world. Additionally, saying we need to keep tax cuts and spend more on defense than all other countries combined just exposes one to being clueless on economic reality. If the deficit and debt stay out of control then there is nothing to stay around for. Fortunately, I can live anywhere worldwide and many places outside the USA are looking much more appealing. Bet the ranch I ain't the lone ranger.
No crap Sherlock. We have been in there so long that most American forgot what we are even fighting for in the first place. We should have given Afghanistan our full attention instead of starting crap with Iraq. Yes, I know people are going to say that Iraq had a horrible and vicious leader, but I am going to say it again...they did not commission people to fly planes into our buildings and kill innocent Americans. Deal with the people who shielded the master minds of 9/11 and then once that done, we can look into Iraq, but of course they got it backwards and screwed things up. Now we are paying for the never ending wars and limited nations building and as Ron said..the Republicans are crying that we are broke once funding of the wars are now on the books. You cannot have it both ways. BTW: Let's get the hell out of that place as safely and as soon as possible.
this must be a lie from conservatives...after all "Afghanistan is the right war"
From the Department Of Inconvenient Truths:
Afghanistan is "the right war".
Uh-huh...sure it is.
Can we get an attribution on that quote?
Who said that, anyway...?
That would be the author of Bozobamacare, the socialist himself.
Well if we haven't fixed the problems there in ten plus years I don't see us fixing it anytime soon. While I agree we need to get rid of the Taliban we can't stay there forever. How many more years must we stay? I believe it is time to bring this to close. The President was handed a bag crap on this one. Thanks go out to "W" and his cronies.
Ron, you are soooo right on. Yup, the pro-lifers just love fetuses but have no problems mass murdering very conscious, very alive kids, by the thousands, and at the tune of mass funding the most greedy socialism program in this nation! The Repugs bomb every social program there is but just love diverting immense funding to support mass murder -- pro-lifers that love mass murder and despise all socialistic programs that support the have nots and the poor. Ahhh, so Christian. Yup, war loving with no problems of supporting the richest socialism program in this nation. And, this one nation under god has the most behemoth war and killing machine on the planet! "Thou shall not slaughter thy fellow man", right?
And, just like Iraq, this drain into yet, another rat hole, will solve so much, just like the mass murdering of Viet Nam and Iraq. Blowing up and bombing the Earth are so healthy for all, right, especially man's only home, the Earth! One nation under god, in the big business of killing, mass murder, stealing from the poor to give to the rich and bombing up the Earth! And, this Afghan war is all about, what??? And, the next war and the next??? With all the why's, enemies and reasoning shifting like the winds. All the glories and majesty of mass murder...onward, this nation under god. It's puke time.
It shouldn't matter if a president supports the war or not. The war against terrorism is a necessary action to keep them away from America as well as other allied countries. If America simply gives up on the war against terrorism the terrorist's will regroup and they will strike ten times as hard as they did on 9.11.01. The Taliban forces will not simply roll over and play dead because America says to. The only way that the Taliban forces will roll over and play dead is if we make them dead.
Right now there is a great uprising going on in the Middle East. Egpyt is revolting, Libya is revolting all against the same enemy that attacked us on 9.11.01. The Middle East has seen the freedom won through the tough and adverse struggle of the Iraqi's and they want their freedom as well. The more nation's that are free of radical religion's such as Islam and corporate rules that replace Constitutional Rights along with any other religion that forces it's religious laws on the citizen the less and less war will be present on this planet.
The only reason that wars are fought is because the enemy is left to regroup to attack again and again. If the enemy is wiped out to one man then all of the enemies strength and force has been defeated. This is not the the time to begin to wain on the war against terrorism. The enemy will not simply go away if we stop thinking about the war. When we stop thinking about the war it will only allow them easier access to our infrastructure, our way of life...our families.
There is no such thing as the 'right' war a war is always wrong...but until there is a Earth united under one cause and that cause being freedom and the choice for all based upon a person's singular choice there will always be war until those facilities that limit or outright deny a person their rights based on the very nature of being human and the right to be free are allowed to exist.
The enemies from World War II are still around and are present in America. They include those who sided with the anti-Vietnam war movement and effectively allied theirself with the Communist's. If you look back into Koch Knight's history you will see that they supported the Bolsheviks and the building of the Communist Russian infrastructure. I am quite certain that somewhere in the mix of the Vietnam anti-war movement their footprints will be found. Another enemy still present as well are the Nazi's of whom we took their beloved spoils of war per the rules of war. From those spoils America built a new world of which the sub-human Arayan felt entitled to be built under them. The largest spoil of war that we took was missile technology. Missile technology that turned into current day program's called Jaxa, ESA and NASA along with the other private space industries. These facilities belong to the victor of World War II and if you come along any person that says such facilities are a waste of time for any reason they are part of the Nazi attempt to destroy those facilities to ruin the glory of America for using these spoils of victory because it makes them see how truely inferior they really were, really are and will always be.
Then there are the Middle Easterner's who sided with Hitler during World War Two to try and break America into smaller Nazi states that when Nazi Germany won the war they would receive the spoils of war taken from America.
This is the main reason why America and the Allies must keep and press any advantage that the Allies can against nations that so deny their citizen's rights and freedom's except what they say they can do and when they can do it. If we relax now and forgett about the enemy your children will see war time and time again and because of the traitors during the Vietnam War that divided the country the same cowardness will carry through from those who would rather live under any circumstance and any flag as long as they didn't have to fight and someone had to fight for them or they could sell others to the enemy to guarantee their safety.
There are only three types of American in this country, The Patriot who lives by the Consitution of the United States of America, the enemy who uses corporate laws and rules to force their will over a group of people to deny them their rights and those that are neutral. The neutral can be categorized as the enemy because they may or may not side with the enemy unless they receive some grand reward for siding with the enemy.
My grandpa served in World War II aboard the U.S.S. Basilan and I can tell you America has become as sissy since those days.
Is America a sissy or is America a giant?
A Giant Sissy, except for our Brave Troops and the Generals and Politicians that send them to their deaths.
Mr. Bag
"It is time to turn the page. When I am President, we will wage the war that has to be won, with a comprehensive strategy with five elements: getting out of Iraq and on to the right battlefield in Afghanistan and Pakistan;"
from Oboneheads own website...hmmm...any more questions?
DHuth
It shouldn't matter if a president supports the war or not. The war against terrorism is a necessary action to keep them away from America as well as other allied countries.
The enemies from World War II are still around and are present in America. They include those who sided with the anti-Vietnam war movement and effectively allied theirself with the Communist's.
+++++++++++++++++
To call you an imbecile would be an afront to every imbecile in this country. Your post is utterly ludicrous. To blindly follow your goverment into war is rediculous. The men and women who have served this country did so, not to protect greedy corperations, but to protect the American people's rights and responsibilities. We, as Americans, have the right to challenge our government's actions, be they at home or aboard.
I, for one, demonstrated against the Vietnam War. It was immoral and wrong, the result of a short sighted foreign policy by both Dem and rethuglicant Presidents. I also opposed the invasion of Iraq BEFORE it took place. I supported bushie with the invasion of Afghanistan. However, we can no longer afford to sink countless US dollars and lives in the cesspool that is the ME. bushie screwed the pooh on that fight.
I am neither a communist nor a sissy. I spent 26 years in the Army, having been one of the last draftees this country had. Unfortunately folks like you seem to think you are the only ones who know all the answers and the name calling begins when a person doesn't agree with you. People like me understand something you don't: YOU are the problem, not those who exercise their freedoms.
Skor
you mean like liberals murdered 5 million civilians ,men , women and children and 63,000 American soldiers in Vietnam?...I thought that was what you meant...nice try with the libbie diatribe and babble , but fail
claiming military service like some of the libbie Demodorks is very uncool....oh and people are challenging this government and their behind closed doors created healthcare scam and ponzi scheme, as well as the obvious stupidity of throwing money around like a Chicago pimp
reading your fifth grade posts is "puke time"...hahha
Remember Vietnam. Speaking as an Australian we sent hundreds of our finest to that country and they were killed. America sent thousands and they were also killed. Look at Vietnam today (don't even bother to think about what the communists did to their own people then the U.S. pulled out) and consider this, was it worth it? What's really different about Iraq and Afghanistan? Some say that you're keeping the world safe by restricting activity over there, I say bull@!$%#. No country can keep this up forever, spending billions of dollars and sacrificing the country's finest youth. You really have two choices, either get out and prepare for a battle in your cities when they strap their suicide vests on or, declare war on those countries that support terror. Do whatever is necessary to win it and then it might be worth it. Pussyfooting around and considering the feeling of the U.N. while conducting a holding operation is definetely not worth it, in my opinion.
"Is America a sissy or is America a giant?"
America is over-extended and can no longer afford to be. I get that you're still really, really scared of communists, but the rest of us have moved on and no longer live in 1977.
According the the President, troops will start leaving later this year, but they won't fully withdraw until 2014.
Grey Ghost-
As a U.S. Vietnam veteran...I agree with you.
Presidents Kennedy and Johnson were, sadly, the architects of the Vietnam War.
And...
Neither did what was necessary to win.
Sadder still, Vietnam represented no serious direct military threat to the citizens of the United States.
Nearly 3000 ordinary U.S. civilians died in the 9/11 attacks...and the people who planned and executed those attacks did so from a safe haven in Afghanistan.
"Do whatever is necessary to win it..."
From your lips to God's ear.
I hope President Obama is listening too.
Mixed Bag, Please bring them home safely. I have three young men who I love dearly who are at Bagram AFB, Tikrit,Iraq and the green zone in Bagdad. However one feels about these wars our military needs our support.
You sound like my own mom many, many years ago.
I hope your loved ones return safely to you as well, lisa.
ALLEGEDLY planned 9/11 in Afghanistan. The money man for the operation ran the ISI in Pakistan.
If we were allowed a subpoena empowered security clearanced investigation into 9/11/2001, we would never have had to put ourselves in Afghanistan in the first place.
Again with the 9/11 truther "it was a Darth Cheney inside job" nonsense??
I think the antenna on your tin foil hat needs an adjustment.
Again with the Tinfoil.............is that they best refutation of the lack of a real investigation into 9/11 that you got?
The FACT that we haven't been allowed an investigation with subpoena power and security clearance is not in dispute by anyone who is sane and informed.
OK - how about Paul forgot to take his meds again ?
So you're trying to say that we have or haven't had a subpoena empowered investigation? It is a fact that we have not. The question that first must be answered is,"Why not?". The second is, "Why are you ok with that dereliction of duty?"
Combatting ignorance and apathy are important duties of any citizen of a free society. Are you saying that you don't care that 3000 Americans were killed to justify an invasion of Iraq, which had nothing to do with 9/11/2001, and Afghanistan which only played a tangential role in the deception of 9/11, which obviously made a fool of you, because you believed the Bush administration story?
You know, Paul...
This is just the sort of issue that might appeal to Glenn Beck.
You really should contact his staff.
Your unwillingness to answer the basic question of whether we have been allowed a properly empowered investigation into 9/11/2001 indicates that you know that Bush/Cheney had , and still have, something sinister to hide. And it appears that you want them to be able to get away with it.
Paul,
Why didnt the Democrats that Held both Houses of Congress and the White House have those Hearings? I mean perhaps they were involved in it too..
Paul!
Pay attention!
Glenn Beck doesn't love Bush or Cheney...
This is your chance...contact his staff.
They'll listen...
Too Funny: You ask all these partisan questions about 9/11 investigation, but sabotage your ability to get the answers to your own disingenuous questions. I would be happy to find out whomever was behind the plot, and prosecute them for it, Democrat or Republican, they're all criminals after a thorough investigation has taken place.
Oh my...
I wasn't joking at all, Paul.
Hey Paul, I have the Robot Death Pigeons from Mars on line two for you, they say they are coming for you tonight to adjust the chip in your brain and they would like you to move your car out of your driveway so they can more easily land their ship.
Paul the 1st attack on the World Trade Center by the muslims was in the 90s when Clinton was President. Was that an inside job as well??? Take your time to answer Radar, I'm sure it will be a doozie. Were Willie and George in cohoots? Did they divvy up after they left office? Let's here your conspiracy theory.
It would seem to me that Paul has no theory, just a desire for information. If the proper investigation had taken place and it was found that Al Qaeda was soley responsible I think Paul would be happy with that conclusion. I don't think he wants or necessarily believes it to be an "inside job" just that a proper investigation should have taken place. It would have just cleared a whole bunch of things up. Wouldn't you all agree.
Why didnt the Democrats that Held both Houses of Congress and the White House have those Hearings?
Actually, Steve, the White House was rethuglicant from 9/11/01 unitl Jan 09 and they controlled both chambers of Congress from 9/11/01 until Jan 07.
I am not saying that radicalized Muslims don't exist, they do. But what you all fail to realize is that we make use of them. We have informants working with them to get them started on acts of terrorism and actually enable them to execute their attacks. Low level radicals don't know who is calling the shots, they have just been brainwashed into hating the west and Americans. The 1993 attack on the WTC was an event the FBI was well aware was going to take place long beforehand. Our informant on the "Blind Sheik's" plot asked his handlers if he should replace the real explosives with inert material so that no one would get killed. He was told to to leave the live explosives in the van. Osama is Orwell's Goldstein of 1984.
Paul,
seek psychiatric help.
I get where you're coming from Paul.
Amazing isn't it Adam. They are so caught up in their Partisan political thinking, brainwash really, that they can't step back and look at 9/11 objectively. Sad.......
Good. bring back the troops. we're broke because of unnecessary faux wars(wmd)....mission already accomplished. I can see the oil running in my bathroom sink.
Support is waning because we're getting tired of being screwed by the Afghan government and the Taliban-supported Pakistani government. Pull all of our troops out of there and create a "no-travel" zone to and from those countries or any country from which they may attempt to enter the U.S. Finally, stop giving those jerks my money.
It is time to get out! Does anyone really think that a few more drone strikes or control of another mountain pass is going to turn Afghanistan into a stable democracy? We have proven our point and accomplished our goals. If you attack the United States or harbor our enemies then we will bring it to you and yours. There is nothing left to do. Bring the troops home and let's conduct our nation building in the US. The only benefits from this war are going to the military industrial complex and the Karzai government.
BJones, the Only point made is that if you attack America, we'll throw a few Bombs your way & then "Tucktail & Run" to attack the latest weekened Dictator, ala Bush/Cheney!
This Islamic Terrorism could've been taken care of Swiftly, if Only we'd hadda a President with Balls, unlike George Walker Bush, who wanted to defend Daddy's Honor, instead of America's Honor!
This is The Reason I supported Candidate Barrack Obama for President & I personally don't think he's yet Punished the Taliban or Al-Queda enough! I personally would prefer him to build our Troops up & attack inside Pakistan's forbidden regions.
We need to let Pakistan know once & for all, as Bush would say "Your either with US or against US".
Thier call!
Rick, then why don't YOU join up and go fight the war since you seem to like it?
Bethcat, no doubt You were right there along with Bush/Cheney, being led around by the Nose about Iraq!
Now that the Bill has comein, not quite what Bush/Cheney led You & other's to beleive it would be, Now ya wanna just call it Quits in Afghanistan. Typical Republican, "Rah,Rah,Rah" about Bull$h-T, but never about the Serious stuff.
Has all them barrels of Oil been delivered to American Refineries yet "Free of Charge" or better yet, a down payment of the cost for Saddam's Pistol!
Nevermind, you don't getit anyways!
bjones -"Bring the troops home and let's conduct our nation building in the US. The only benefits from this war are going to the military industrial complex and the Karzai government."
I could not agree more. I've heard 2011 become 2014 and now 2016, maybe. For some reason, Pres. Obama seems obsessed with continuing Bush's folly indefinitely.
Kentucky English sure is wierd...
We should bring the troops home. If you look at the percentage of our money going to defense and in turn to the Karzai regime, it doesn't take a genius to realize we can save a bunch by coming home. This instead of trying to cut the deficit by messing with a piddly 12% of discretsionary funds. We need to look at the heavy hitters and take an honest reevaluation of what we want, what we need and what we can really afford.
Pull out. If they threaten our interests, bomb 'em. If they threaten them again, bomb 'em again. When were done, we can open a new industry, glow in the dark glass oil containers.
Nuke the mountains between the "stans" and be done with 'em for a VERY long time to come.
Agreed. Would also make the opium dealers/users easier to track,
Just look for the glow in the dark.
You could follow that glow right back to CIA headquarters at Langley.
Probably to Crawford, TX too !
Most of the heroin finds its way to Russia from Afghanistan. The Russians have complained to Obama that the military presence of American troops has aided the heroin dealers who were always hounded by the Taliban presence.
Your Truth, if America woulda had a President with Balls at the time we were Attacked, Nukenem woulda been the CoupdeGras.
Instead we can all pay to go see Saddam's Pistol in the near future Library of Bush, after we pay out the butt for the Ignorance American's demonstrated at the time.
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Doggies!
Saddam's Pistol belongs to America, not Bush. it should go to the Smithsonian and never to the Bush Library.
Ricky
do you mean balls like JFK and LBJ had?...you know , the balls that murdered 63,000 American soldiers and 5 million civilians?...just wondering
I can't seem to Recall Vietnam Attacking America's Homeland, but do continue living in LaLaland overtaxed, if thats what getsya thru the day!
"Vietnam Attacking America's Homeland"
exactly...so why did those two of superior intellect attack them and murder those soldiers and people?...hmmm
LOL, you Liberals hate war and you talk about nukem them!!!!! Classic............
General Petraeus sounds like he does nothing but watch General Westmoreland press conferences from the days of the Vietnam War. Its always the same story, making progress, could be setbacks and we need more time and troops. Anyone alive during Vietnam could give this assessment and not skip a beat. Were wasting American lives looking for someone were not going to find and maybe we really don't want to find him. If Americans were allowed to see pictures of our sons and daughters being packed out of that region, this thing would be over by the next election. Ever notice how this country makes great strides as the election approaches. Elections seem to be the greatest fears of our officals.
 To think that 9/11/01 was some sort of an inside job gives way to much credit to our government. It just isnt that smart.
Should we get out of Afghanistan? I have to wonder just exactly what it mis we are trying to accomplish there. First we went in to overthrow the evil Taliban, then we say that the very same Taliban should have a say in running the country. Our government went in with the intention of overthrowing the Taliban, and now we are doing "Nation Building" in that country while our very same government is failing in infrastructure, education, and various other maladies. Either go in to win, or stay home. The idea that we should not bomb certain locations because they may be sacred or whatever is getting old. You simply cannot conduct a "Politically correct" war.
Yes of course, the NSA, the NRO, the DIA, the CIA and the military are all just chock-full of incompetents.
Yellow cake from NIGER, please!
You bleeding heart types who want to end the war just amaze me! If the war was stopped, how are we supposed to justify the hundreds of billions of dollars to Lockheed, Northrup Grumman, Boeing, Raytheon, KBR and Blackwater, among others? Who cares about the deficit from this spending? We can squeeze grandma's Medicare coverage a bit more to ensure necessary bonuses for the patriotic, selfless CEOs of our glorious defense contractors.
I dig the Ironic Sense of Sarcasm! Digs too deep for many to see, probably.
Upping the ante in the Afghan war is about as retarded as it gets. A complete embarrassment no matter how it turns out. The supposed greatest military force the world has ever seen and it's 10 years into a battle with a small group of insurgents who have no army, navy, air force or marines. A real head shaker.
We're not even bothering to use our best weapons against them.
Ooohhh...oh yeah!
Tell us more, Paul...
Some sanity, really??? You know how the insurgency works? hmmmmmmmmmm..........thinking no.
Best weapons Paul? Our Soldiers, Marines, Seamen, and Airmen are our best weapons. Unless you know different let us know.........I must had missed something
You miss a lot.
This war has lasted 10 years, during which only about 3 have we shown any commitment to getting the job done. President Bush acted like an excited groom to be when he first prosecuted this war. The first year was very successful. We got the taliban out of power and established an new government. Then, like a guy who finds the little sister is a little sexier and might put out now, he went chasing after Iraq, while still keeping troops in Afganistan. 7 years later and President Bush leaves with job not done. President Obama has to take over, like a second husband. He had to clean up the mess left in Iraq and now had to finish the job in Afgahnistan. It aint pretty. No one has been able to rule in Afghanistan for more than a few years since the Ottoman Empire. That is a reason the jihadists went there.
"Then, like a guy who finds the little sister is a little sexier and might put out now"
hahaha...you just described your hero Bill (gotta cigar?) Clinton to a "T"...thanks
Duh,
You're clueless bro.............you been watching MSNBC's military experts that retired in the 90s?
 Afghanistan is not a party issue. We have had our military in foreign lands for over 10 years, longer then WWI and WWII combined. Like in the days of Vietnam the American people want our sons and daughters out of Afghanistan and out of Iraq and Saudi Arabia as well. We have 48,000 non combat troops in Iraq and Obama moved many of our COMBAT troops in Iraq a few feet inside the border of  Saudia Arabia not back home to the states. Obama then claimed he had moved all combat troops out of Iraq.  For those of you posting Republicans favor staying in Afghanistan you are wrong. Further, Obama promised he would end the war in Afghanistan WHEN ELECTED. That has not happened. Obama has since promised he will bring our troops in Afghanistan home July 2011. Hopefully Obama is not lying a second time.
Those were his stated intentions. They were always subject to adjustment in the interest of National Security.
Paul, Obama is a liar. I care that our soldiers are dying and people voted for Obama who would not have if they knew he was not going to end the war inAfghanistan. Islam and sharia law are offensive to me. example Muslim men marry a child as young as one year old and have sexual intimacy with the child. At 9 years the Muslim man can consumate the marriage. They can have 4 wives. They can and do perform honor killings of their own children. Behead their wives for asking for a divorce, and stone them for adultery. Muslims cut off peoples hands for shoplifting or stealing. We donot belong in such a culture where captured soldiers face fates worse then death. What is worse, Obama lived in Indonesia, he went to school there, he is familiar with sharia law and yet we are still in Afghanistan .
From age 6-10, he was in Indonesia. how religious were you at that age? his father was more an atheist than a Muslim, as was his step-father. I am no fan of Islam, or Sharia law, but Christian men are allowed 4 wives, just not at the same time. To my way of thinking we could have finished the Afghan war in three years by offering the women and children safe refuge from their "men".
Chris, Indonesia didn't have sharia law then (and doesn't now though there is a push for it), he was six, and his father and mother weren't religious.
"From age 6-10, he was in Indonesia. how religious were you at that age?"
For me, if you're Catholic you were very religious and muslums are the same....
Ian,
Indonesia is the largest Muslum country in the world..........
Chris,
We been in Korea since 1950 and the War is not over there, so you're 10 year BS is BS. The troops went to Kuwait, not Saudi. If you think Combat troops are out of Iraq, keep dreaming.
Here's a question to you Liberals, what happens in Iraq at the end of 2011?
Same as here, 2012. That was easy.
Enough nation-building or playing world savior! Rome is burning and if we are going to make serious in-roads into our unfathomable debt ($14+ TRILLION) before we start gouging our own citizens, entitlements, more taxes, etc...I suggest we stiff the rest of the world. You know they sure as hell aren't going to come to our aid if and when we go belly-up bankrupt.
Yeah, we have to cut Social Security because we have to pay billions upon billions without end for "National Security". The DOD budget is huge. $5.4 billion for a nuclear submarine. Tell me why?
The Afgan War is totally useless and without end. Get out! Kharzi insults us daily. Let him fight his own war. Declare victory and leave. The problem belongs to the Russians and the Pakistanis. At the same time, leave Iraq.
But on the way out the door, rescue the courageous people of Libya from a murderous dictator. It will take very little. About two weeks and Qaddafi is toast!
?????? Rescue the courageous people of Libya? Did you support the Iraq War? Because Saddam killed more people........
It seems that everyone thinks that they have the solution to this problem, but in reality no one does.
Instead of saying yeah we should not be there, one should be saying how fortunate of us to have a volunteer military. Yeah we all have a right to express our opinions, but it is also our duty to thank those that risk their lives for this great country (and yeah it is great and if you don't think so go live somewhere else for ten - twenty years). Soldiers could be reading this forum and if they see how Americans, back in their peaceful homes, show no backbone and no support for them then that is demoralizing. You dont have to support the war, but show support to the troops by not bashing what is occuring their with your wisdom. The soldier doesnt play politics, but if you think you have a better plan to what should occur over seas then write to your congressmen/women and the President.
That's the same BS rehetoric that war mongers have been using for decades. People can still respect, appreciate and support our troops without giving up the right to comment on public policy. You think that the professional, experienced and all-around exceptional troops of the US army are "demoralized" by posts on a discussion board? How about seeing your best friend blown to pieces by an IED or shot in the face by a sniper? Our troops are fully able to handle those situations but you think we should treat them with kid gloves when it's time to talk about the whole reason they are there? You have no clue what you are talking about...
You obviously have no idea what you are talking about either. This board is just one snapshot of what is occuring in this country. I never said not to publicly critize, but I am saying have respect for those who risk their lives. I have not yet seen one person talk about supporting the troops. There job is unfathamable and you think you know exactly what they go through, then you are a joke. yeah I think they should be treated with respect and dignity and to not place them in the same boat as the politicans, so if need be treat them with kid gloves.
Then what exactly are you saying? It's OK to criticize public policy but just not too much? Who is it you think is not treating the troops with respect? Do you see a single post on this board that portrays the troops negatively? Do you see any protests on their arrival home? Your insinuation seems to be that people who don't think we should be in Afghanistan are somehow demoralizing and disrespecting our troops. It's an old, tired political argument that doesn't serve any purpose.
Do you see an America were when soldiers come home there is a welcome home parade? I have heard of stories were people protest them when they come home. How about at soldiers funerals. The protests there about how God does not love them. Do you see this?
I am not entirely for the war in afghanastan, we had a great opportunity but politics came in to play. Though I am not crazy about the war, I dont go around saying it is a waste, for our soldiers are there and for them to give up something so great, but it is a waste, I say IT IS NOT A WASTE. do you see what I mean? I hope you do. I dont want this post to sound like a tit for tat, I just give a great deal of respect for soldiers who risk everything
The only people protesting funerals are those westboro baptist church freaks, no one can reasonably think that they represent anybody but themselves. I agree that the troops should be respected but I don't see how that relates to comments about the overall purpose and cost of the war in Afghanistan.
I do think that the war is not being reported on or talked about enough. A few welcome home parades would be nice and some sacrifice on the part of the common citizen would be even better. Maybe I was too harsh in some of my comments but I do think this war is something that we need to be talking more about, not less. It seemed like your initital comment was meant to chill debate or to paint those that disagree with you as un-american. I apologize if that was not the case...
Well I hope that is the case with the funeral protests. I am just saying though that when a couple friends of mine came back from overseas, a few people, each time, and yes a few, were very rude! They said that that they were told that what they fought for was nothing. They never heard anyone say thank you!
Look I am 21 and yeah I may not see or know too much, but I dont liken the fact of when people critize a war so harshly and equalize it as a waste. People have died for a cause of a war on terrorism and yes that is the cause of this war. Unfortunatly, politics have now entered this cause.
On the money issue, I just believe that if the troops are there then we should be giving them everything they need to protect themselves. Yeah this is not going to effect the entire cost of the war. It is unfortunate that politics are playing such a dirty trick, which I think we can agree as to this is the case of why it is expensive, but the soldier cannot really complain. I just feel that people should be careful and be more aware as to what they say.
I dont know if what I said makes sense, but I hope you can understand my jist.
The Real Truth-123
Well I hope that is the case with the funeral protests. I am just saying though that when a couple friends of mine came back from overseas, a few people, each time, and yes a few, were very rude! They said that that they were told that what they fought for was nothing. They never heard anyone say thank you!
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So, people acted like jerks to your friends, and were extremely rude. That's an indictment on all Americans on discussion boards? Do you know how many Vets post on Firstread/Newsvine? That's preaching to the choir. I am even willing to bet that those who disagree most ardently (I'll use Feisty and Spanky as an example) would agree that showing respect to our troops after returning from a warzone is warranted. Most people I know believe that those people at Westboro Baptist Church are idiots, and hope that some unfortunate incident befalls them. Take your pick on those. I just hope for mass laryngitis on funeral days.
However, thanking them is not something everyone will do. Some do it silently. Some not at all. This is America, and that's their right. Even if it does evoke darker feelings in some of us that people feel disrespectful to our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines.
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Look I am 21 and yeah I may not see or know too much, but I dont liken the fact of when people critize a war so harshly and equalize it as a waste. People have died for a cause of a war on terrorism and yes that is the cause of this war. Unfortunatly, politics have now entered this cause.
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Politics are a large part that this has gone on the way it has. And in the real war zones, we can't just go to a foreign country, blow it up, chase people across the border to another foreign country and shoot them dead. We can, sure, but then we will deal with diplomatic fallout. Afghanistan and Pakistan are officially considered allies, and walking into their back yard to chase people and shoot them is usually something that's not considered friendly behavior.
Look at it this way, if Canada was fighting a war against supposed terrorists who hid here, and they fired a missle and killed them, and maybe happened to hit a few other people, how would you feel? How would you feel knowing people may cross the border here, and make others a target? I'm not trying to be rude or flippant, but our "collateral damage" statement is used far too often, with far too many bodies for the "host countries" to be comfortable with.
So why do people cricize the war? This was a festering mess that many believe could have been solved easily and quickly had we decided to keep focus. We didn't. Instead we split our troops across two warzones and haven't had a decisive victory in either. There will be a lot of criticism in war, no matter which side you are on, whether you are fighting it or reading about it.
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On the money issue, I just believe that if the troops are there then we should be giving them everything they need to protect themselves. Yeah this is not going to effect the entire cost of the war. It is unfortunate that politics are playing such a dirty trick, which I think we can agree as to this is the case of why it is expensive, but the soldier cannot really complain. I just feel that people should be careful and be more aware as to what they say.
I dont know if what I said makes sense, but I hope you can understand my jist
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Yeah, I would like to give them everything they need. I would like for them not to have to purchase body armor on their own dime, but to say that "politics are playing such a dirty trick" is a statement that smells of idealism. Most politics does involve back door deals before a vote is called, and someone is always getting screwed so someone else can have their way. That's the way it goes, and the way it has been, and probably the way it always will be. Politicians have been involved in wars as long as recorded history and politicians have gone on.
People need to be aware and careful what they say, but they also need to say what they believe openly. I would much rather deal with soldiers returning home getting criticized by idiots than I would having our collective mouths shut because we might offend soldiers who are returning home, soldiers who took an oath to defend the right for me to open my big fat yapper and say whatever I please, within reason.
Everyone knows that Osama bin Ladin IS NOT IN AFGHANISTAN, he's not hiding in caves.. the guy is not stupid. MOST likely he's with our "buddies" the Pakistani or in a guest house at Preston Hollow Dallas, TX or at the Crawford Ranch.
A war we can't win being funded with money we don't have.
Goodness me, I can't possibly fathom why support for it might be waning....
You mean the 'Mesiah' is having a hard time selling this war? He campaigned on this being the very place we should of sent troops from the get go! But Obama is having a hard time selling anything these days! I can't wait to see him in real campaign mode! What will he run on?
It sounds like your life is really sad.
He never wanted to go to Afghanistan in the first place he even voted NO to invade Iraq (because he values life's), it took him a couple month to make that decision while your DB Republicans couldn't wait for it while criticizing Obama for waiting too long. I am sure there will be nobody happier then Obama to bring most of the troops home starting this summer. Here you have...., so "no" what ever you trying to pull here will not work, people in America are done with lies that right and people like you feed us on the daily bases hoping that we "that' stupid, dont know and remember.
We cant afford to have troops everywhere.
Maybe Afgstn is a good fight. But then do we really need 70K troops in Germany ? do we need 11 carrier groups, 8 small carriers, more than 30 nuclear submarines ?
We cant afford it all, so we have to prioritize.
We spend more on defense than all the rest of the world combined. That is quite a large tax on our economy and we need to realize we cant afford it.
This is what broke the UK and every empire before, it costs a lot to have troops everywhere.
What about the 40,000 troops stationed in Japan. I say bring those troops home. Re open some of the bases here in America. That should boost the economy of many of our cities and towns.
James
He never wanted to go to Afghanistan in the first place he even voted NO to invade Iraq (because he values life's), it took him a couple month to make that decision while your DB Republicans couldn't wait for it, criticizing Obama for waiting too long. I am sure there will be nobody happier then Obama to bring most of the troops home starting this summer. Here you have...., so "no" what ever you trying to pull here will not work, people in America are done with lies that right, and people like you feed us on the daily bases.
Reality is a bit&% ! We do not need to be fighting this war. It is a waste of time , money and, most importantly, the lives of young American soldiers. The war, in the long run, will accomplish nothing, absolutely nothing.
As soon as American troops are withdrawn, Afghanistan will revert back to their old warlord ways, with chieftains each staking out their territories and ruling over them with an iron fist.
Get out now. Do not spend another single life on this wasteland. It is madness to do otherwise.
We chose not to win. The whole point of "endless war" is to bankrupt the beast of progress. "Mission Accomplished".
Afghanistan: "the place where empires go to die". We can't win there, the rules of engagement have made our soldiers fight with both hands tied behind their backs. If the Soviets couldn't force them to submit after 10 years of fighting with NO RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, then how will we win there? Winning hearts & minds is a pipe dream. The civilians are glad we provide security and services, and know we mean well (for the most part) but they still don't want us there. Yes it will probably be a blood bath when we leave, but that place cannot be stabilized, much less civilized. So the blood bath will be inevitable and our presence just delays it, but we will never prevent it. we are just flushing our money down the toilet, and reinforcing negative perceptions about America in the process.
The Russians should have nuked the place on their way out.