Comments on: Abdullah Pulls Out Of Afghan Runoff

By: DaMav

DaMav — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:46:18 +0000

I'm still waiting for someone to explain how Obama is either living up to his campaign promises to improve the situation in Afghanistan through the magic of diplomacy he claimed had been ignored. Or for that matter to do anything at all there superior to what Bush did. All I see is failed diplomatic initiatives by Obama, the adoption of a strategy in March that he is now dithering on, and whining about a mop.

Is the bottom line that the only thing that Obama can do is to blame Bush?

By: Father_Time

Father_Time — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:17:41 +0000

It's just hatred from conservatives against anything not labeled conservative. Vindictive, scream out at the President wanton heathenism respecting nothing but their own failed ideologies.

By: Father_Time

Father_Time — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:13:01 +0000

Stupid Bush put us there then dumped the whole mess on the next administration because he failed to get bin Laden by trying to operate on the cheap, the vindictive prick. Republicans cannot take responsibility for failure it seems. The Republican's created bin Laden under Ronnie Raygun to begin with.

Obama/Clinton foreign policies have been nearly perfect. Bush/Raygun/Ford/Nixon total foreign policy failures.

By: JeffersonDavis

JeffersonDavis — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:44:19 +0000

Could it be?
No way!

We AGREE on something?
Wow.

Throw in a one month non-stop bombardment of all taliban positions prior to pullout and I'm in.

By: HemmD

HemmD — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:06:02 +0000

I agree it is now time to move on. The US has a history of backing tin pot dictators who mouth democratic rhetoric, but who rule through bribery and fraud. Al Qaeda has moved to Pakistan, the Taliban controls much of the country, Kasai stuffs ballot boxes, and Poppy production is up 30% . All the original goals set out for going into Afghanistan are no longer viable.

Perhaps DaMav or others on the right can rationalize why years under Bush was not dithering, but the reasons that led us to this country no longer apply. Time to go.

By: DaMav

DaMav — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:50:40 +0000

re: Afghanistan
It's remarkable that for all the Sturm und Drang leavened with copious bolts of bombast, the Obama/Clinton foreign policy doesn't seem to be doing any better with foreign policy than the much maligned George W Bush. Aside from being given a shiny object by the Norwegians, of course.

Obama claimed he was committed absolutely to the Afghan War. He was going to show us how it was done. He was going to use "diplomacy" to bring more troops in from Europe -- FAIL. He was going to enlist the help of Iran -- FAIL. He was going to pursue a strategy of Counterinsurgency -- DITHER.

Blaming Bush for deciding to prioritize Iraq may make the left feel better in some way but it doesn't address the fact that this is now Obama's Presidency and he is bungling it badly, despite the solid support of Republicans for his policies during most of the past year.

It is indeed fortunate that Bush left him a relatively stable situation in Iraq with a basic outline for withdrawal which Obama has managed to follow pretty much down the line. Imagine the mess if Obama had succeeded in blocking the Surge and was applying 'Smart Diplomacy' in Iraq as well!

By: Father_Time

Father_Time — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:36:51 +0000

OK that’s it. Exit stage right.

No need to stick around Afghanistan anymore. Pull out the troops and end our involvement in this whole mess.