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DAYTON, OH -- Responding to a question from the mother of an Army lieutenant serving in Afghanistan, Mitt Romney criticized President Barack Obama for failing to provide clarity on the United States mission there, and offered his own benchmark for when the US should withdraw its remaining forces from that country.
"How in the world can the commander in chief sleep at night, knowing that we have soldiers in harm’s way that don't know exactly, precisely, what it is that they're doing there," Romney wondered aloud Saturday before a crowd of more than 1,000 at a town hall event outside Dayton, Ohio.
Romney offered his most details comments on Afghanistan in months in response to a question from Vicki Chura, a mother from Dayton whose daughter is serving her second deployment with the 82nd Airborne at Bagram airbase.
"This deployment has been extremely hard not only for her, but for my husband and I," Chura said, emotion creeping into her voice as she asked what Romney would do to expedite bringing troops home. "Every email, every time we Skype, we hear ‘I want to come home now.’ There is no mission here. We have no definition of a mission."
Romney thanked Chura for her daughter's service, and for her family's sacrifice, and then proceeded to decry an unclear mission in America's ongoing conflict in Afghanistan.
"One of the things I've found most disturbing and hard to explain is how we can have our sons and daughters in conflict, risking their lives, and not have the president on a regular basis addressing the American people," Romney said. "Describing what's happening, describing what our mission is, describing what the goals will be, describing how much progress we're making or whether there were setbacks and informing the people of America that there are other Americans making enormous sacrifices for our purposes and for our liberty."
Romney offered his own narrow definition of the US mission in Afghanistan -- to prepare the Afghan military to defend the country itself, and to get out.
"[The] mission is to pass along to Afghanistan a security force there that is capable of maintaining the sovereignty of that nation such that we can get out and they can have the capacity to build their own nation," Romney said.
"We will not be able to hand on a silver platter their freedom. They will have to fight for that, earn it, keep the Taliban from taking it away from them," Romney said. "But we've given them that opportunity. We need to finish the job of passing it off to them, and bring our troops home as soon as humanly possible.”
Romney has staked out a hawkish position on foreign affairs, particularly in the Middle East. After the economy, it is the policy arena in which he most frequently takes on Obama.
In January he called the president's announcement of a timetable for a draw-down in Afghanistan "misguided and naive," and in December slammed him for failing to secure a status of forces agreement with the Iraqi Government.
This evening, the Obama campaign responded to Romney's criticism.
"Mitt Romney has no credibility to attack President Obama on Afghanistan. Under the president’s leadership, we are decimating al-Qaida and the Afghans are preparing to step up and take control of their security," Obama campaign spokesperson Lis Smith said in a statement. "Mitt Romney, on the other hand, has failed to outline any plan at all for what he would do in Afghanistan and has even made clear that he would leave our troops there indefinitely.”
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I ask the same thing everyday!
For someone who himself dodged the draft & whose sons have never served a day in their privileged life, he sure has some cajones talking about service to this country!
President Obama has done for in 3 years in regards to foreign policy then any of his predecessors!
Just ask - Osama bin Laden! ;o0
"Mitt Romney has no credibility …” {period}
I wonder does Mittens know that he has shown a complete lack of core conviction on any issue.
I would call that "disturbing"!
Wasn't is just a couple years ago that the repubs were complaining about there being a set timetable for the draw-down in Afghanistan, saying that it would "embolden the opposition to wait it out." Now all the sudden Romney wants the plan written in stone. Looks like Wind-Sock Willard has changed his direction once again.
Yo Feisty - You said it:
"Obama is done for......"
Mr. Let -it-All -go-to-Hell-and-let-God-sort-it-out' Romney would be a ** disaster on foreign policy.
President Obama is a great Commander-in-Chief and Romney knows it.
Bin Laden gone, Auto-Industry kicking Butt!
ON YORE BIKE ROMNEY, AND DON'T CALL US WE'LL CALL YOU.
bin laden is dead, and every candidate will say whatever you want to hear
to get your vote, then if and when he or she is in office, they will turn their
back on you and begin paying back the IOU's collected from the big money PAC
that supported them and THEIR cause.
Early voting in Ohio is already dramatically down from 2008. According to a spokesman for the Ohio Secretary of State, about a half million people had already cast ballots in the primary by this time in 2008, compared with 160,000 as of Friday (down 32%). Some county election officers report early voting to be 10% of what it was in 2008.
Feisty is just a s**t who needs birth control.
Or she probably had a hysterectomy already for PID.
Shelly,
What ever brings you some much needed comfort! ☺
The rest of us will continue to inhabit planet reality! lol
Mitt Romney does not have any foreign policy experience other than putting money in banks in Europe, so he really has no room to criticize anybody.
A hateful, closed mind is a terrible thing to waste...
The facts are out there for ALL to see... at least those who don't have a steel trap for a BRAIN!
Have another swig of your Hatoraide and let the adults talk politics, while you continue to feed at the kids table! ;o)
Too bad Romney didn't ask Bush the same question over the 7 years Bush prosecuted the 'war'.
Oh well, Romney's a little slow, he's expected to address why the civil war was fought when he's intellectually ready. Somewhere in 2026 the Romney campaign now predicts.
I declare a mission. Get to hell out of the Middle East, as it will save lives and money. Any time we seek to "assimilate" other peoples to our ways, we drop the ball. We fail to look at it another way--Imagine another country taking over the airspace of your country and sending more men with big guns to your neighborhood. That's what they see. Why should they trust us? I think the world has more to fear from our plutocracy, calling itself a representative democracy, but we don't actually decide.
Bernie Sanders VT--2016
And Obama served... when? In what branch? Oh that's right... He didn't.
You can't criticize one person for an action and then reward someone else with praise for identical actions without being a hypocrite.
Ah, you're clearly a model of "adult" sensibilities and reasonable discussion. We should all emulate you: demonize any position we don't agree with, belittle others for their stated opinion (rather than addressing the opinion directly), call other people children while using phrases like "hatoraide," etc. I'm sure these steps will enshrine American politics on a pedestal of maturity that will be the envy of the world...
Or... maybe you should just admit that you're a hypocrite, live with it, and move on.
"Republicrat, Democran: One Party System!" --Sage Francis.
And what the heck, I feel like quoting myself. I posted this on another thread and feel that it is important to repeat:
Ah, partisan hacks flapping their gums at one another, each pretending to be superior to the other, each proving that they aren't. Yep, it's another election year and the stupidity of the American voter is on full display.
"My side of the coin is clearly more shiny than your side, repuke."
"Nonsense, my side of the coin has the superior polish, libtard!"
Uh, fellas? In case you didn't notice, the coin is sitting in a pile of feces. Neither side is particularly bright.
Finally a chance to reply to the redhead before she gets collapsed by the community. Girl, you need to get some thoughts in your head. Ranting like you did about President Bush, but sucking up everything President Obama does is not thinking straight. Both did and have done good things. Both did and have done stupid things. The main question is: are we better off today that 4 years ago? Are you paying a decent price for gas compared to 2009? Is the economy better today than in 2009? Of course, you know the answers to these questions, but I feel you have some smart retort, rather than an honest answer.
Mitt- When you get elected President, here's what you need to say, "The United States completed it's mission in Afghanistan with the death of Usama Bin Laden and the decimation of the Talliban within the country. As this mission is completed as devised, we will bring the troops home. We will be leaving the equipment in country for the Afghani jobs program to rebuild their nation and complete the highways we started for them. Mr. Karsai, it's all yours. Good luck."
I am sure Mitt would ask Bush about what to do in Afghanistan if he were anywhere to be found. It is amazing how someone who was president for 8 years and who steered us into two wars and the biggest financial meltdown in 70 years, is nowhere to be found. But if I were him I would go into hiding too
Romney asking for clarity in Afghanistan probably means he thinks his wife has a Cadillac parked there and can't remember where it is...
Funny he should say that. It is EXACTLY what people have been asking of YOUR campaign sir. And furthermore do you assume to know more then the President concerning this matter? Hmm. Indeed. You were "oh sooooo right" about the auto bailout and how they would surely fail. Spot on it fact [sarcasm]. Of course we should listen to your "wisdom" and buy it. Because you are selling it are you not?
Cheers
Does Romney have a plan for Afghanistan? If so what is it? Back in January He criticized the President for talking about a timetable for leaving there. Does He now want us out sooner? Does He want us to stay longer? I think He doesn't know his ass from his navel regarding foreign policy, or, much of anything else relative to governing this country. An aside now. Why are we in Afghanistan? I don't know. Seems though, the powers that be, believe we need to maintain a presence there. Why? I don't know. I can guess it is because of Iran, and the innate instability of the region as a whole. Longer term though, I would guess we are spreading ourselves more globally in preparation to better contain China, or, to wage a more effective war with that country at some time in the future.
When has President Obama served his country? For the past three years he has served as the militaries Commander in Chief and never has the military enjoyed more successes in any sitting Presidents term as they have under the Obama administrations first four year term. It is very inspiring to see our military achieve victories as consecutively as they have under the current administration.
Mac--You're on fire tonight. A finer set of questions couldn't better be asked. I think those in power will keep us war if the pretender conservative were elected.
Maybe Romney doesn't get out much or suffers from caffeine depravation. The President, while campaigning, promised us that he would wind down Iraq and step it up in Afghanistan. Did that, had a surge, drew down the surge and set a timetable for withdrawal. The job's done and he'll surely get my vote.
Good evening, friend.
The republican party continues it's unhonorable ways. What a joke they have become this last decade. Embarrassing.
They all scare me! not one of them, not even our chief is in touch with America. they just feed us a ration of BS and we are supposed to be happy with that?
Want out of all wars? Vote for Ron Paul... DUH!
No...Joo - so sorry, but Mr. Obama is gettin shown the door my Romney. Thank you.
So, how's the weather in your fantasy world, justoneguy? Romney is the GOP's #1 loser and he has a date with failure in November.
You people argue with nothing in your bag.
Obama has the "edge" because he has been successful and highly praised by respected sources for his attention to and changes in foreign policy in the last three years. Romney has no experience, but what did he really say here anyway? Nothing...
He complained that Obama wasn't clear, then stated Obama's clear message and called it his own.
So he essentially agrees with Obama, but uses a planted mother's story in the audience to make a false point.... gotta admit, that was some cool "foreign policy" he pulled off there! LOL
error
Romney is right, the current Coward in Chief is clueless. The only parts of his military and foreign relations strategy that's working are the ones from the Bush Administration that he's decided to keep......that's after campaigning against them because they were supposedly so bad.
Yeah, so bad Odumbo is still using them and/or has extended those policies. Funny how GITMO is still open, the Patriot Act is still in place, and military surges are still in vogue. Not to mention Obama wouldn't have been able to get his cousin Osama without the information gained by water boarding KSM......which Obama condemned.....but still took the credit for the results. Obama is a flip-flopping hypocrite.
I will be happy to answer your questions;
YES I am...
Straw man argument, we all know the President does NOT control the price of gas. Nice try though!
YES! Didn't the Dow just pass 13K? Wasn't it at 6K at the end of 2008?
Obama/Biden to continue moving this country forward!
keep dreaming kook.
Now there is a false argument. But what can you expect from Feisty? She's just Obama's main paid propagandist on the blogoshere. The only reason the DOW is where it is at is because the FED has printed sooo much money that the only place for it to go is into the market. The flood of printed money has devalued the market so far that the 13K value of the DOW is worth about 9K in 2008 dollars.
Of course, propagandists like Fiesty want you to ignore the fact that the unemployment hasn't improved no matter how much Obama manipulates the numbers. They want you to ignore the fact that the devalued dollar has driven real inflation up, food and gas prices are through the roof no matter how much Obama manipulates the numbers by ignoring food and gas prices. They want to thump their chests and crow about killing Osama all by themselves when the only reason they were able was because of all the prior work and policies of Obama's predecesors that he and they fought against every step of the way. They want you to ignore the fact that you are not any better under Obama than you were under Bush. The Obama Administration wants to throw you some condums and useless healthcare and tell you what a great and caring leader he is.
Fiesty can polish Obama's presidential staff and try to tell us how much better off everyone is all she wants. Everyone with half a brain out here in the real America know the truth and it has never come out of Feisty's mouth.
Classic example of a serious Ditto Head! lol
Absolute proof of idiocy on the looney left. Of course you're doing better than 4 years ago.....Barry's got ya on food stamps and your welfare check is bigger!
George bush single-handedly invaded Iraq for lower gas prices according to Bono and every other loon marching in NY & Washington......'member???....now they say the Presidents hands are tied....awww, yeah right.
The Dow.....lmao, seriously, this one takes the cake......when the Dow goes up what happens to those "Evil Corporations"????
I used to think it was easy to be a looney lib because you said/did whatever made you feel good....now I appreciate how hard it must be......you have to keep track of all of your flip flops and hypocrisies....losers
Awwwwww...fiesty..you sure can rile those tighty righties up!! lol They fear you and it shows by their hate filled diatribe. They also fear President Obama because he is the "other".
Keep on strokin'.
Mike ,69/Libs ,or do you mean Liberals,politically? We mainly comment on politics , because that is where our opinions may be accepted. In an oligarchy the comments are, naturally , against the power structure, which is not received happily by them nor their sycophants . That does not mean that you should fall back on the standard response. We are trying,probably without success, to have you think for yourself.
The question is not whether we are better off now, the question is would we be any better off/same position now had we elected Crash McCain and Silly Sarah....you answer that for yourself.
The question is how do we put up with all you rightwingnut liars? Romney, Santorum, Gingrich, and even Ron Paul, the guy with two first names.
All rightwingnut liars.
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
I will be happy to answer your questions;
Umm...sorry to post so late, but it's NOT at 13K any more - gas prices are unexcusable and foreclosures are at an all time high...sorry for your pitiful prez feisty & friends....
Fiesty.....how does it feel to have your very own "groupie" you must have really got to him?????
Hey "Hate Fiesty" get a life ...
justoneguy .... not sure exactly how gas prices and foreclosures relate to Roamys lack of credibility when it comes to foreign relations policy or defense policy....but since he has neither I suppose the question is moot in any event.
What exactly is his "clarity" in respect Afghanistan, it is easy to claim that the lack of clarity is disturbing....but you then need to clarify what one is going to do the clarify a position or situation, as he has no idea what is happening in Afghanistan, he would probably be better off keeping his comments to himself.
One of my loved ones just returned home from his second tour Bagram AFB he said it was a nightmare. I hope we can bring home our young men and women as soon as possible. I only wish we could take all the women of Afghanistan out of there too.
Many Afghan women who are widows- or have had their young children or relatives killed by the weapons of your military and its machines- might want to rip your hair out of your head and do you great harm, because, they do not share the emotional detachment you have from the US invasion.
DOU 44, I am not emotionally detached from the horrors of war. I am concerned what will happen to the women if the Taliban re-imposes strict Sharia law.
So Feisty, how about you give us the complete rundown of Obama's active military duty. What branch did he serve in? Where was he deployed or stationed? Where did he take basic training. What rank did he attain, besides the TITLE "commander in chief" that comes with the Office. Sitting in a chair, giving approval based on the intelligence and risk and work and sweat of our military, and just saying "go" doesn't make Obama any kind of seasoned military hero. I'm talking about what you seem to think makes him one of the guys in the trenches. They're the ones who took out Bin Laden. Who risked their lives. The hunt for Bin Laden didn't start when Obama took office, it's been ongoing since 9/11 to find and take him out. Obama deserves credit only for taking the advice of the men in uniform. Obama said that his living in Kenya and Indonesia, as a CHILD, qualifies as foreign relations "experience". Any grunt on the ground anywhere in the world has more foreign relations experience than that man. Does Romney? I don't know, but he most certainly doesn't have LESS than Obama had. And he most certainly has far more economic, governing and management experience than Obama had..or has. Is Romney perfect? No. Better? Oh yeah.
Romney is my hero, but... but...
He complained that Obama hasn't been clear with his message (he has), then, when asked, repeats Obama's clear message.
Such insight. (sarc)
I can give a little clarity. Afgainistain is located between two nuclear armed states. One is in violation of the non-poliferation treaty and the other sells the technology.
Ubama has been clear about the mission Apologize for anything that happens whether it is our fault or theirs. Insist that our soldiers not fire to defend themselves unless there are no women in the general area (1 mile) During guard duty make sure your weapons are unloaded. The most important thing don't carry your own bible into the country or the US military will burn it but leave their sacred book alone.
Lack of clarity. Now that is a good one. How about this for clarity. Our military is being utilized to safe guard and guarantee pipelines and resource rights. Nation building is to build access roads and other supporting facilities. There is just no way to tell this to the tax payers.
I would have thought, that the military would have had clarity about their mission, before they invaded Afghanistan.
It IS very sad that Obama has all of those troops in Afghanistan, including his 'surge' of an additional 30,000 soldiers exposed to danger, without bothering to explain the mission or attempt to defend it with regular updates on the purpose and progress.
It just seems like Obama is ignoring the sacrifice of our brave soldiers and leaving them to 'fend for themselves' until his self-imposed 'deadline' to give up and go home.
Sorry Aggie, I have to confess, I am not fluent in Birtherism...
Have a nice day!
Dou44
If you are so concerned about the civilians killed in Afghanistan, tell the Taliban to stop dressing in civilian clothes and firing from behind schools and civilian areas. The Americans, NATO and the UN have used all feasible tactics to avoid hitting civilians.
The Taliban intentionally draw fire to soft targets so they can use the bodies of civilians as propaganda for thier Islamic Jihad. Even worse, they attack the mosques and celebrations of the Shia Muslims with the same terror tactics as they attack the Americans and NATO.
The only reason the Americans are still there is that the Taliban refuse to participate in the economic building of a new Afghanistan. The insist on returning to the old barbarism that gives them power.
lt. chura can resign her comission any time any place but liberals only WHINE rather than stepping up !
Mitt will never leave afganistan and he will start 2 more wars. Listen when he speaks. he said we should be in Syria, and Iran. I would be very afraid if he is pres, another 4 trillion on unwanted wars!
Charles:
What I see is an invasion of a sovereign country by the United States military. They shouldn't be there. They aren't invading our country. For that matter, we're not even driving back a third-party invasion. Our country needs to stop trying to be conquerors.
So, Feisty where did I say ANYTHING about where Obama was BORN? He said himself, and I am only repeating what he said...that AS A CHILD, he LIVED in Kenya and Indonesia. Do you see anything in what I just repeated that says he was BORN in either of those countries? I see you are extremely fluent in spinning, and seeing things that just aren't there.
Sorry babe, you flunked at comprehension and making accurate conslusions. And, yes, I WILL have a very nice day.
Aggie::: And just when did the war in Afghanistan start? Who was the president then? What was the real reason for his starting the war?
As for Osama bin Laden, I can remember your savior saying that he didn't care about finding binLaden. But then, that joker was a Texan? No more a Texan than his papa. At least papa had a military career. The Joker's military career was not much more than a political career while in uniform. Wonder how he got away with that. Oh that's right, he was a son of a bush.
Tweet::: Quote--"I would have thought, that the military would have had clarity about their mission, before they invaded Afghanistan." It should have, but then George W Bush didn't have any true clarity about why he sent our guys to Iraq either. The war in Afghanistan started on 7 October 2001. That is Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
Aggie...How does Romney have more experience than President Obama??? Romney served only one term as the Governer of Mass. President Obama was an Illinois State Senator for 8 years and a US Senator for 4. That's FOUR years for Romney and TWELVE for Obama. How does Mitt have more experience????
As for the bashing of President Obama over the "clarity" in Afghanistan...YOU have NO idea what is being discussed between the COC and the generals. Maybe the generals aren't being clear as to the mission. Just because you or I don't know what's going on doesn't mean the President isn't being clear. He's just not announcing it to the entire world. It, in my opinion, would be bad strategy to tell the world what our plans are.
The only experience Obama gleaned in the Chicago (Machine) Senate was experience in corruption. And he didn't complete 4 years as a U.S. Senator, he spent most of that time campaigning. And he rarely voted when he DID show up. He came into the WH with no experience in economics, business, budgets. And the only jobs he created was recruiting his Acorn posse.
Are you kidding me? He has announced to the world when we will be pulling out of Afghanistan. All the Taliban has to do is wait for the announced time to roll around and then move back in. Many Americans scratch their heads and wonder WHY is he telling those plans? If, as you say, the generals aren't being clear as to thier mission...isn't their mission supposed to come from the COC? Not the other way around? Giving Americans updates on the war, does not translate to giving out classified information....or what should be classified information, like when we're pulling up stakes and moving out.
And he campaign "promise" to close Gitmo....now they're building those detainees a $250,000.00 soccer field. Doesn't sound like he has plans to close it anytime soon, does it? How many victims of Obamanomics could be helped with that 250 Grand? Spending that on the enemy while cutting our own military's money. How much sense does THAT make? Just WHO is he protecting and helping more, Americans or our enemies?
I just do not feel safe or protected by this man. His background and history is well guarded, his friends and mentors and supporters are subversives, racist, even some are now in prison. You all can bash Bush all you want, at least he was up front, exposed his warts and all, no mystery about WHO he is or who he represents.
Aggie, you make too much sense! Despite you trying so hard to educate these folks, it's not 'taking.' No troubles! Might just make the taking of the WH this November even more delicious: the left has convinced themselves (and continue to reject all information to the contrary) that Obama will win. They have no idea what's coming! (Well, unless the dead rise up to vote again...and again...and again... well that's the wild card.) I enjoy your comments.
President Obama had 12 years of experience (8 years as an Illinois State Senator and 4 years as a US Senator) before becoming elected as POTUS. As for your complaint about him not actually working, but campaigning, he's not the only one that has done it. Michelle Bachmann did it, Ron Paul did it...just recently. Where are your complaints about them??? What about when McCain, Kerry and others ran in the last election. Did you complain about their lack of working due to campaigning??? Probably not, since they are not Barack Obama.
Bush told everyone when we would end the Iraq war. Did you have a problem with that??? Bush signed a freaking contract with them stating when we would leave. President Obama simply upheld that agreement when we vacated. Where is your complaint against Bush??? Oh, I'm sorry. His name isn't Barack Obama. You can call him every name in the book, I don't really care, but if you think that Bush or any other president in our history has been honest with us, you are wrong. You only know what you have been told. We don't know if it's true or not. Bush's reasons to go to war in the first place were less than honest, but you seem to be overlooking that little detail. WMD's??? Really??? You're actually buying that??? You're concerned with a $250,000 soccer field??? Bush's Medicare Part D is costing us TRiLLIONS!
It's pretty obvious that no matter what you are told, you are unwilling to listen. I have no problem listening to your point of view. Do I think President Obama is perfect? Absolutely not. I am, however, not going to verbally bash him via the internet or anywhere else. I am not the president (Thank God!) and have no idea what it is like to run this country. Until the day I am, which will be never, I will respect anybody regardless of party.
Pau, McCain, et al, campaigned, yes. BUT they have served many, many terms. They've had years of serving in the Senate. Not just ONE partial term.
Medicare is for the AMERICAN people, not for terrorists.
Bush didn't "lie" about WMD's. He got the approval of Congress and U.N. on the same evidence. There had and was at that time evidence of WMD's....Hussien had USED bilogical weapons, he wouldn't allow inspections, so it was a pretty logical conclusion. And I agree, neither should HE have announced a withdrawal time from Iraq. But Bush is gone, time to stop blaming him for everything that Obama campaigned very hard to "inherit" and has made far worse.
bunnyb7...I have been listening, and it scares me what I hear.
ron paul (who served) = troops home now, ALL troops, saving $1 trillion a year. Mitt/Rick/Newt/Obama (all the same) = more wars, more debt, more of a military being commanded by a president who didn't serve and has no real idea what they're talking about ...
Reading Romney's statement, is he really calling for the president give miitary briefings, or daily news summaries of the war?
He then give a bunch of platitudes and general statements of "I will bring the troops home" "we cannot give them their freedom on a silver platter"????"they have to fight for it and earn it"
This is what happens when Romney does not stay on script and just wings it.
Northstar, not only that, Romney bemoaned the end of the Iraq War, asking why we were leaving there. Typical GOP rhetoric - 'We shouldn't leave 'that' country without a military presence,' then blaming the President because 'we are still there, why aren't we out of there yet.' Bunch of fence-riding faux cowboys shooting in every direction hoping to hit something.
Very good Fantomdog, he said we should be in Iraq also and it is a terrible thing leaving that place. I pray for Syria a lot but they still need to do it themselves.
Hey Aggie-345886:
What was Dubyas' rank in the military?? Hiding under the family name in the "Teaxas Air guard". It seems from what I have read that his main job while he was "in the service of our country" was getting drunk. And what was his clear direction for getting us in Afganistan or Irag??
I think it was more about making sure that Cheneys' "Haliburton friends" would get those lucrative no-bid contracts. When Dubya got into office there was a budget surplus. Dubyas' policies, tax breaks for the rich, and 2 wars are what bankrupted this nation. Then he passed it off to Obama. Maybe you should take your F**k**g blinders off.
Of course the debt grew. There was a war. Obama would have (in fact, I think he did) apologized to the people who came on our soil and murdered over 3,000 of our American citizens. And our Congress and the U.N. approved of going to Iraq using the same intelligence Bush was given. Just the fact that Saddam threw out inspectors, and wouldn't allow inspectors in to investigate the possibility of him having nuclear weapons, and he ignored somewhere in the ballpark of 10 orders, is enough to figure that where there's smoke there's fire. Those weapons were no doubt skirted out of Iraq and into Pakistan or elsewhere when it was evident that we were invading. Those weapons could be dismanteled and hidden in any number of places under the vast deserts of the Middle East. Bush also passed off $1.89 gal gas to Obama too. And they blamed Bush at that time for gas going all that "high". I paid $3.99 a gal today. But don't blame Obama, like you all did Bush. Obama and Chu want to see the price get up to European prices, so they can probably MANDATE that we all buy $50,000.00 electric cars, the size of a golf cart. So they can give more money to their green energy failing companies, or put toward algae research as fuel, which even if it does work, won't be available anytime even in the distant future. Obama would rather buy oue oil from George Soros. Whatever Obama "inherited" from Bush has only gotten WORSE under this administration. And they whine about Congress now that the Reps. have the majority because they try to keep Obama from borrowing and spending even more money. And brainiac, those tax breaks resulted in more revenue.
Oh, and Bush's rank in the military..don't know exact rank, but being a pilot, he would have been an officer. Getting drunk, whatever you say, beats snorting coke in the back seat of a car.
I see that President Obama is planning on meeting with Netanyahu this coming Monday and the topic will be Iran. What would Willard like the president to say to Netanyahu?
Let me guess.
Whatever you want Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, Romney has no deep thoughts on Afghanistan as noted in this article above. The same Mitt Romney who supported a war in Iraq.
A word to the wise: keep Republicans' hands off of our nation's foreign policy. They're stupid and cowardly when it comes to these things. Just keep them far far far away. Like they do with their own sons. Right Willard?
Mitt has nothing else to offer, he's blown every subject so far. He wants to be presdient so badly that he has lost all perspective. How dangerous our lives would become if he were presdient. He knows nothing about nothing. He is as silly as they come. Let him sing again that keeps him off topics that he knows nothing about.
Romney to Netanyahu; Some of my best friends are Jews.
Past Presidents gave the American people briefings on what our missions in previous wars was. What their sons and daughters were risking their lives for. The reason Obama doesn't is because he doesn't know or care. He's busy campaigning, golfing, vacationing, out gathering big buck campaign money. Obama approved the Iraq War. And the majority of the Democratic Congress approved. What will he tell Netanyahu? "Go back to the borders of the 1960's."
The trees are the right height in Israel...
The trees are the wrong height in Iran...
Herein lies our new found foreign policy... tree height.
I never thought of that before, but I think he's right!
Aggie-345886
Wrong.
Past presidents had the opportunity to both report news out of the war zone and to frame each event to support their own notions. With today's information and news cycle, no president will have that opportunity again... we get the raw stuff delivered to our phones just seconds after it occurs.
I'm so glad you have such insight into what Obama cares about and doesn't care about... do you have a link or something to support your new-found intelligence?
Besides, judging by actions, I wouldn't really conclude that the GNOP has any lock on "caring".
Even Bush, for all of his issues, seemed to genuinely care at times... much more than the current batch of wanna-bees.
LMarcT
Observation gives one a lot of insight. Are you saying Obama doesn't have an "opportunity" to keep people informed about the war? C'mon...he has the whole Fourth Estate ready and willing to give him any media forum he wants. And they rarely, if ever, stifle his "notions".
Like Obummer is a foreign policy guru. He doesn't start any wars. Horsepuck. Were we flying kites over Libya? And yes we had observers on the ground there. Oh, what do we have here, Special Forces in Africa, whatever for. Iraq, he just sat on his 3rd point of contact and watched, time table already set in place by W. Oh but of course he was blaming him anyway, so that makes sense. Iran? He's probably massaging Ben's sac right now begging him not to strike until at least November. That leaves Afganistan. Operations have objectives, once objectives are met, Operation over. If the objective was to get OBL, then mission accomplished. Bring the boys(and girls) home so they can start patroling our southern border where the last war(on drugs) still wages on.
Pat in Boston, The presidents meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu is going to be very important. Many the most important meeting these two leaders have ever had. I will also be watching the Presidents speech to AIPAC tomorrow. I hope for all our sakes that this meeting goes well. The is so much at stake.
lisa, this is the moment that explains why we voted for Barack Obama. We didn't want a leader who was going to parrot the neocons like Romney does.
Here's hoping we see the leader the world admires and who have put much faith in at such a time. Don't pay attention to the pundits. Please. Don't pay attention to them. They are dangerous as we have seen from past experience.
Pat in Boston, I don't really pay attention to the pundits. What I would like is to see careful analysis of the ramifications of a strike on Iran.
In other words, what happens when the s!ht hits the fan.
Is this guy for real!!!!!
Obama got handed a pile of crap abandon by Bush and had to make hard choices this guy is incapable of understanding with out a being handed a policy paper from some adviser like the Blunt- Rubio piece of crap.
There is a plan and strategy in place even if I don't like it it is in place so again no alternative, just spreading santorum from his mouth!!
Simplton, the fact of the matter is - the Republicans are complaining that the President isn't cleaning up their crap fast enough. That's their argument. They're incompetent on so many levels and it's hard to fathom why anyone would vote for them. Yet we see them on tv Sunday mornings all over the place as if they have something intelligent to bring to the table. They don't.
The media is still the old boys club and will be until we see someone like Rachel Maddow really take them on with intelligence and facts and as someone who is unwilling to believe their nonsense. She actually does journalism, she actually does her homework, instead of just letting statements go unchallenged.
Rush Limbaugh apologized today for his statements last week. It appears his sponsors told him to either apologize or his show was finished. So he offered a weak apology. I hope he gets sued.
Pat, The GOP complaining about their own mess is a oxymoron to the nth degree. It is akin to Obama using a microwave oven they're standing in front of, after years of the GOP using a regular stove, and yelling 'HURRY UP!'
Just a thought - Who do the republicans get their talking points from?
"The national government will maintain and defend the foundations on which the power of our nation rests.
It will offer strong protection to Christianity as the very basis of our collective morality.
Today Christians stand at the head of our country. We want to fill our culture again with the Christian spirit.
We want to burn out all the recent immoral developments in literature, in the theatre, and in the press -- in short, we want to burn out the poison of immorality which has entered into our whole life and culture as a result of LIBERAL excess during the past years."
-- Adolf Hitler
So republicans, who's wearing the funny mustache now?
Everyone who understands how the GOP IS the fascist part please repost this ad nauseum. The voting public needs to be educated to exactly who they would be voting for.
Thank you.
By the way, "liberal" has meant very different things in different time periods. Liberal in 1860 in the south meant treating black men and women as human beings. Liberal in the 1900's meant advocating the enfranchisement of women. Liberal in the 1960's meant advocating civil rights. Apparently today liberal means supporting a woman's right to choose and gay rights.
We're in a constantly changing world and the reality is that most, if not all, of the old-world views were rooted in bigotry, xenophobia, homophobia, misogyny, superstition, and ignorance. Even religion, which many espouse to be a revelation of morality, condones gratuitous violence and terrible atrocities for the purpose of pleasing God. To be conservative on social issues, especially in the absence of credible scientific evidence, is to apotheosize superstition and ignorance in the place of rationalism and intellectualism.
God help us all (no pun intended) if we go on believing we "got it right" on social issues the first time around.
lisa,
I abosutely agree about the meeting Obama has scheduled with Netanyahu. The last thing we need is more destabilization in the Middle East .
Northstar DFL, This is the scenario that really scares me. I don't believe this issue is getting the attention it deserves. I would hope to see some analysis on the Sunday morning shows. The public has the right to know what the ramifications of a strike on Iran would be.
"How in the world can the commander in chief sleep at night, knowing that we have soldiers in harm’s way that don't know exactly, precisely, what it is that they're doing there," Romney wondered aloud...........
Well Willard, the face of the GOP put OUR troops there many years ago without a "plan" but now you say that YOUR President needs to clarify what the mission really is.
What did Bush say when he sent OUR Troops there in the first place? Please look back at the "facts" and stop with the Revisionist History of the Great George W. Bush! OUR President is trying to get us out of that cat box of a country but has been blocked by (almost) every Republican because of the "we will stop at nothing to ensure Obama is a one-term President"!
I'm just saying......................
Wiow republican people wow. The only thing thats scary is so many people/republicans are so blind. I am asking everyone to just pray. Wow!
I would but I am a godless lefty wanting to destroy America and my grand-children's future so I don't think the Republican's Gods will listen to me.
Simplton.
I personally look at the positive's of being a godless lefty, like not having imaginary voices in my head telling me what to do,such as run for president .
Romney is a big joke. He has no shame. Unbelivable!
What a wanker you are Mutt RoMoney. Sure you can state lots of ideas from the outside looking in. Lets see, how would you apply a business model to this?
Yo Feisty - You said it:
"Obama is done for"....... He has done so much to destroy the United States that I hardly know where to start. His Socialist policies with regard to medical care are a joke. This will lead to wholesale euthanasia as in Holland. Our debt ceiling has grown like topsy during his administration. Unemployment figures are distorted because those people whose benefits have expired are no longer counted as "unemployed". We are borrowing from China to give money to the Muslim nations - how ridiculous is that (particularly Pakistan). Yes, Obama's name will go down in history as the president who destroyed America.
You are sick person Shel Rama . Are you on that stupid morning pills like all GOP? Just dont get it ,what a shame!
Shel Rama, I'm sure what I post below is what you really want, isn't it. Get your faux-mustache and glue ready.
Who do the republicans get their talking points from?
"The national government will maintain and defend the foundations on which the power of our nation rests.
It will offer strong protection to Christianity as the very basis of our collective morality.
Today Christians stand at the head of our country. We want to fill our culture again with the Christian spirit.
We want to burn out all the recent immoral developments in literature, in the theatre, and in the press -- in short, we want to burn out the poison of immorality which has entered into our whole life and culture as a result of LIBERAL excess during the past years."
-- Adolf Hitler
So republicans, who's wearing the funny mustache now?
Everyone who understands how the GOP IS the fascist part please repost this ad nauseum. The voting public needs to be educated to exactly who they would be voting for.
Thank you.
Fantomdog please don't vote. I thought the dems were so loving and caring about people. Maybe if your mother was a lib she would have aborted you and you wouldn,t have to worry about insulting others.
For Mulligan Mitt and his Gop/T-Pers to comment on the Afghan problem is why American needs to only look back an administration ago and realize that the repubs with their failed policies are the reason why we're in this $h!t-hole in the first place. No more "War-Machines", and yes, it's time for America to take care of itself. Lets spend the money on ourselves and let the Afghanis tend to themselves. And if or when they decide to become a nation of law abiders and not some third-world country rebels and dope growers. Then we will be the first to help them. And "NO" we do not need to be there anymore "Bin-Laden is dead". Besides they don't like us and don't want us there anyway. So now, let them be about what they know. And just to remind all of you about this man "Mulligan Mitt" he went to France instead of fighting for his country. "He went and hid in France"... That should say it all.
Go figure then go vote...
Then why did the democrats vote overwhelmingly wirh the republicans to go to war in Afghanistan after 9/11? Why have they continued to monetarily support the war every time funding comes up for a vote?
Methinks thou dost protest too much - as Shakespeare would say.
Tammy, when there was a collective mindset where emotion was concerned, in ALL of America at that time, was there really a reason not to? Oh wait, Congress wasn't privy to the lies the Bush administration had at the time concerning WMDs. Why aren't YOU angry about that?
fantom -
FYI - Congress had access to the exact same intel that the President had as he was using the exact same intel that Clinton was using when he was saying that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction- your 'lie' is out there for all to see.
You did not, however, answer my second question of why the democrats continued - and still continue - to fund these wars.
You do seem to have the liberal talking points down pat however.
Please learn to reason things out for yourself and use sources for you information from more than Huffington Post or moveon.org.
Incorrect Tammy the president security clearance is higher than those in congress. Most democrats didnt want to be labeld as "against the troops" which i personally disagree with. Beyond that the info the president was privy to at the time indicated that no WMD could be located in Iraq, the WMD they had were used quite unsuccessfully against the kurds, they had no means of delivering any WMD and thier ability to aquire or create WMD within Iraq was greatly diminshed. This info was release in 2006 but Bush/Cheney had this info prior to the Iraqi invasion.
Romney apparently needs a history lesson, his buddy Bush started these wars on lies with no clarity, did he ask him how he can sleep nights. Romney is an a@@. I can't believe I have to go vote for this cast of clowns the repubs have given us. There will be a democrat pres till the end of time if these are the quality of people they can scrounge up for us to vote for.
Mitt Romney is complaining about a lack of clarity?
Just amazing to hear from these Republican Presidential candidates except for Ron Paul which no other candidate can even debate in front of millions of people with when it comes to foreign policy and our national security interest. Quite the opposite! They rhetoric is really 'inflammatory' when it comes to Iran, Syria and what occurred in Libya. Their failed policy has not worked in the past and definitely will not work in the future. I implore everyone on this blog and those who read the above article to view the past Republican Presidential debates and see where each current candidate stand if you have not been following the debates thus far. Then listen carefully to what candidate Ron Paul states. If his foreign policy rationale doesn't click with you as being the most consistent then you really need to seek help.
What it lacks is an end. END the warfare state. Ron Paul 2012 and our troops would be returning in February 2013...
Ron Paul is the only consistent one in the bunch. Ron Paul 2012!
didnt bush start this conflict ?
No, Bush did not start the conflict - CONGRESS did!
You see, according to the Constitution, the President does not have the power to declare war, only the Congress does.
But keep on blaming Bush if it makes you feel better.
Actually, Tammy, Congress did NOT declare war on Afghanistan. In fact, they haven't declared war since WWII. Congress has voted to fund the war, but they never officially declared war. The war was started entirely on Presidential power.
bunny -
Please read the Constitution. You will find that the President has absolutely no authority to start or declare war, that power is reserved to Congress. Then go back to the time right after 9/11 and read about the Congressional actions of the time. Congress did- in fact - declare war against terrorism at that time. Then, about a year later, they declared war on Iraq - accepting the argument (based on the then current intel) that Iraq was harboring the Taliban and had weapons of mass destruction.
Bush did urge a vote to take place and recommended going to war, but even he did not overstep his Constitutional authority like Obama did with Libya.
Tammy...I don't need to read the Constitution. I know that only Congress can declare war. Congress has not OFICIALLY declared a war since WWII. Bush gave a speech to Congress where he spoke of declaring a war on terrorism, but that in no way is an actual Congressional declaration of war on Afghanistan.
Bunny and tammy Who gives a crap who declared war on who. ridiculous.
May be someone should tell Mitten's who started the war in Afghanistan while at the same time devoting most of are precious resources to Iraq (that had absolutely nothing to do with 9/11)
And thank all of the brave soldiers that have served in in both.
Hey Obama, time to get out of Afghanistan!!!!
yea, that's what the mission needs, you gutless wonder..."clarity"
this guy is the biggest pussy I've ever seen run for president.
You must be forgetting our current President.
Blamo, our CURRENT President, with the expert and precise operation of a Navy Seal team took out OBL when President Bush said he wasn't concerned what he was doing any longer. But don't worry about that meaning something to the families of those lost during 9/11, since it obviously means nothing to YOU.
fantom is correct of course, but my comment about Romney is so true. this guy is the biggest coward I've ever seen run for president. He will not take a stand on anything unless it's been poll tested.
romney gave the biggest pussy answer you could possibly conceive when asked about afghanistan.....the mission need "clarity". Gee, thanks Captain Obvious.
Got to ask. Which memeber of the Seal Team was our president?
I am thoroughly sickened by the execution-style murders of our US commanders and service-members over the burning of messages sent by militant extremists in the conviscated Muslim books. We need to with-drwal all of dedicated service-members , before more innocent Americans are murdered. Let the Muslim Alla CVuiltists, keep screwing their donkeys at nigt without us having to watch with our night-vision and then have them do their animal sacrifices and murders of innocents. They do not deserve our help to build their infra-structures, harbor and employ their immigrant relatives and educate and improve their childrens' quality of life. Not one more American life can be lost in this war, we need to concentrate on improving the quality of life and education of Americans within our borders, for the next decade. N0 More USA BIG BROTHER EFFORTS, CASH OR RESOURCES OUTSIDE OUR BORDERS!!!!!!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH MUSLIM, WELFARE LEECHING< ARROGRANT PIGS AND GET OUT OF DETROIT & THE USA & GO BACK TO YOUR STINK HOLE HELL-PIT MUSLIM COUNTRIES !!! You have proved our effotrs to help abroad are futile.
The mission was always clear: Permanent US bases in Asia near Russia, Iran, and China and Bagram is that base as it is huge. This policy goal was started in the early 1980s when the US furnished weapons to Pashtuns to kill young Russian soldiers. That the immediate ground match is not working out well does not mean the US policy of maintaining that huge base at Bagram is US occupation for 10 more years.
The correct answer would have been.... there will be no more monetary support to any foreign country and there will be no more occupations......
From the office of the President-"Mitt Romney has no credibility to attack President Obama on Afghanistan. Under the president’s leadership, we are decimating al-Qaida and the Afghans are preparing to step up and take control of their security," Obama campaign spokesperson Lis Smith said in a statement. "Mitt Romney, on the other hand, has failed to outline any plan at all for what he would do in Afghanistan and has even made clear that he would leave our troops there indefinitely.”
And the reply is-"[The] mission is to pass along to Afghanistan a security force there that is capable of maintaining the sovereignty of that nation such that we can get out and they can have the capacity to build their own nation," Romney said.
Well, it seems pretty clear to me what Romney wants to do. And as per usual, Obama and his spokeswoman ignore the obvious and say whatever they will. I wonder what they will say when the American people voice their opinions in November-hopefully it will be goodbye.
Barbara, Mittens saying that is pretty funny, since that is what President Obama's agenda ALREADY is, concerning the withdrawl. I suppose you conveniently forgot Mittens saying we should not leave Iraq, either, and chastised President Obama for withdrawing there. Sounds like Mittens is a fence-rider and can't make up his mind about anything but where the wind blows. You on that same fence?