Obama's decision on the troop numbers?

So I don't have much of an opinion on this, just because I've never been. I've been listening to the news about this, and have heard the different arguments so far. I see what John McCain and others are saying with their criticism about announcing a pull out date, allowing bad guys to just lay low. My non-military, out side of the loop opinion is that I see where they are coming from, but given the circumstances, Obama pretty much did what he had to do. It is a tough thing to lead in this global economy, and he can't really say, "We're going to try to pull out around this time frame, but no one tell Afghanistan, we don't want them to see our cards."

Basically just curious why this isn't being discussed here yet; and I'd like to see what you guys have to say. I'm glad they got close to the troop numbers that were requested though.

With limited knowledge of the situation I'd say that I like what he had to say. If the only fault to be found is the timeline, I'd say it's reasonably sound. I've been reading this allows the bad guys to "lay low" until we leave, but if thats the case I think it will be safer for our troups to go seek them out with drones and the alike.

Either way, I think we needed more troops and got em'.

It's over. As soon as he declared a time line, and if he sticks to it (he will, he's an idiot with no military experience), we won't be able to achieve what we wanted.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SA Friday

It's over. As soon as he declared a time line, and if he sticks to it (he will, he's an idiot with no military experience), we won't be able to achieve what we wanted.

---

It doesn't appear that he knows the history of Afghanistan, either. The Russians and the British (twice) tried to tame it, and went home- those that were left- with their tails between their legs. Another politician who feels he needs to use the military just because he can.

Just another instance where Obama proves he's extremely ignorant on matters military.

He may as well have stated that he wasn't going to send any more troops. They can't do much in a year that's going to have any effect on the situation.

He's an disaster for this country.

I just find it extremely amusing that our "commander in chief" thinks he knows better than all the generals who have been doing this for 30+ years and have years of education and experience on the matter.

How much more pig-headed can you be?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SA Friday

It's over. As soon as he declared a time line, and if he sticks to it (he will, he's an idiot with no military experience), we won't be able to achieve what we wanted.

---

Ditto. Obama just announced when the Taliban is going to win. This will work just as well as the bombing pauses during Vietnam did. As far as I'm concerned once Americans are put in harm's way that cause should be prosecuted to its fullest extent. No 'police actions', no half-measures. None of this crap about "We'll just do this" or "We'll leave on this date", or any other garbage that gives our enemies ANY sort of advantage.

We have the means to take care of these dirtbags, and then people like Obama say "Never mind. We weren't really serious." No wonder every two-bit tinpot dictator and taliban wannabe takes a shot at us whenever they want. They know that if they can make it politically incorrect or embarrasing, the U.S. Government will find a reason to do nothing. (There are times in the past they did it just because doing anything else would have been too much like work.) Pretty soon, every third world country will have nukes because nobody will do anything about it and they'll start telling us what we're gonna do, and threaten us otherwise. Then they'll whack us anyway. [Bang]

How many people have already forgotten the lessons of 9/11? Seriously? We're going to put the 9/11 guys on trial in a civilian court, completely ignoring all precedent, so some idiot like Eric Holder can play like the big boys? They should have had a military tribunal like the illegal combatants they are, and EXECUTED. Period. [Mad]

And waterboarding? Sleep deprivation? Loud music? Awwww, that's such a shame that we're being so mean to those poor unfortunates. Yes, we signed the Geneva Convention so we can't do anything really creative to make them talk, and that's fine. But I'd bet all the idiots out there complaining about how we're treating those scum would change their tune in a New York SECOND if it was them or one of theirs instead of Daniel Berg getting his head sawed off alive by those worthless cowards.

The best thing we could do for the Taliban, Al Qaeda and their ilk is terminate them with EXTREME prejudice. I'm all for putting those new, super penetrator bombs into their caves, using AC-130's on every taliban camp on the surface, and letting the Special Ops folks do their damn jobs! Because if those crackpots ever got hold of a nuke, rest assured it wouldn't bother them a single bit using it on us if they could figure out how, and they would eventually. I wonder how the liberals would try to sweep that under the carpet?

Flat out, it's better to fight this mess over there now, than over here later! I really don't want my kids and their kids having to deal with this mess. I'm sure they'll have their own without adding what should be ours to it. Look how well appeasement worked for Neville Chamberlain before WWII. Of course, Obama is already saddling them with enough debt for a lifetime.

I have a couple other areas I could rant about, but I'll save them for another time. Man, that felt good. I'll put the soap box away for a little while. God Bless America!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Troublco

The best thing we could do for the Taliban, Al Qaeda and their ilk is terminate them with EXTREME prejudice. I'm all for putting those new, super penetrator bombs into their caves, using AC-130's on every taliban camp on the surface, and letting the Special Ops folks do their damn jobs!

---

But what if one of the terrorists gets a fat lip?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Troublco

...and letting the Special Ops folks do their damn jobs!

---

Oh, sure. It's all fun and games until a terrorist gets a fat lip. Don't you understand that if we turn these special ops guys loose someone, maybe even a terrorist, might get seriously hurt.

First we put panties on their heads, then a fat lip. Next thing you know you warmongers are going to be saying it's OK to SHOOT them...with real bullets!

Jeez, Louise...

You and I were definitely on the same wavelength, Sturtle.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Troublco

Ditto. Obama just announced when the Taliban is going to win. This will work just as well as the bombing pauses during Vietnam did. As far as I'm concerned once Americans are put in harm's way that cause should be prosecuted to its fullest extent. No 'police actions', no half-measures. None of this crap about "We'll just do this" or "We'll leave on this date", or any other garbage that gives our enemies ANY sort of advantage.

We have the means to take care of these dirtbags, and then people like Obama say "Never mind. We weren't really serious." No wonder every two-bit tinpot dictator and taliban wannabe takes a shot at us whenever they want. They know that if they can make it politically incorrect or embarrasing, the U.S. Government will find a reason to do nothing. (There are times in the past they did it just because doing anything else would have been too much like work.) Pretty soon, every third world country will have nukes because nobody will do anything about it and they'll start telling us what we're gonna do, and threaten us otherwise. Then they'll whack us anyway. [Bang]

How many people have already forgotten the lessons of 9/11? Seriously? We're going to put the 9/11 guys on trial in a civilian court, completely ignoring all precedent, so some idiot like Eric Holder can play like the big boys? They should have had a military tribunal like the illegal combatants they are, and EXECUTED. Period. [Mad]

And waterboarding? Sleep deprivation? Loud music? Awwww, that's such a shame that we're being so mean to those poor unfortunates. Yes, we signed the Geneva Convention so we can't do anything really creative to make them talk, and that's fine. But I'd bet all the idiots out there complaining about how we're treating those scum would change their tune in a New York SECOND if it was them or one of theirs instead of Daniel Berg getting his head sawed off alive by those worthless cowards.

The best thing we could do for the Taliban, Al Qaeda and their ilk is terminate them with EXTREME prejudice. I'm all for putting those new, super penetrator bombs into their caves, using AC-130's on every taliban camp on the surface, and letting the Special Ops folks do their damn jobs! Because if those crackpots ever got hold of a nuke, rest assured it wouldn't bother them a single bit using it on us if they could figure out how, and they would eventually. I wonder how the liberals would try to sweep that under the carpet?

Flat out, it's better to fight this mess over there now, than over here later! I really don't want my kids and their kids having to deal with this mess. I'm sure they'll have their own without adding what should be ours to it. Look how well appeasement worked for Neville Chamberlain before WWII. Of course, Obama is already saddling them with enough debt for a lifetime.

I have a couple other areas I could rant about, but I'll save them for another time. Man, that felt good. I'll put the soap box away for a little while. God Bless America!

---

+1 [Beer]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sturtle

But what if one of the terrorists gets a fat lip?

---

Okay, you brought it up, so while I'm at it, I know a few Navy SEALs who damn well ought to be DECORATED for only giving the walking whale turd a fat lip, and not killing him in some creative, painful, interesting fashion as I'm sure they were almost compelled by their training and dedication to country to do.

Of course, while I'm sure they could have, I'm equally certain that they really wouldn't need to use those nasty, environmentally harmful, politically incorrect bullets to do it.[Twist]

I raise my beer (right now, while I'm sitting here) to those guys. And desperately hope that someone somewhere does the right thing for them.

Now quit making me pull my soap box out!

pardon my french, but obama is a fucking clown shoes president.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Elhuero

pardon my french, but obama is a fucking clown shoes president.

---

[LOL]

I am mostly playing the devils advocate, but I noticed one thing here. All of you are fully pissed at President Obama. All well and good, and I agree for the most part, I think he should listen to the boots on the ground and the generals to make military calls, as they know what the hell they are doing and he doesn’t. I think we should be in it and win, hard and fast. I think we should prosecute this war with extreme levels of prejudice as that is the only way to deal with the scum that act like they do to Americans and to their own people. I have no mercy for them, period.
That said, the boots and the ground and the generals called for more troops and they are getting more troops, that is just basic, not going into details of numbers and which troops, but he sent 30,000 of them. There were people who said he shouldn’t send more troops, the Democrats, his party and his support in office, who he went against!

Fundamentally he went with people who we agree with and against people we disagree with. That’s a big win. Honestly, what could he do politically, economically, militarily that would make you happy?

Next up the exit date, it’s not just the Taliban that heard that. Every military recruiter and 17 year old not sure of what to do with himself did to, and like it or not, most of them aren’t wild about jetting off to Afghanistan, and neither are their parents. Next up, the stock market, our deficit and our economy heard it too, and they need some help and an end date WILL help. Finally, it was heard by every young mom and dad in afganistan away from their families. I cannot see how this can hurt moral overall. It was also footnoted with an “it depends” which makes me think, it’s not for the Taliban at all, but for mom at home and the enlistment rates and the US working people and the troops out there for their 4th round who want to see their kids.
Stratigicaly, I do see the problem for sure.


In terms of negotiated settlements, this one is not making the democrats too happy, why so pissed? Just something to think about.

I'm in fulll agreement with the first several posts to this thread.

Publically announcing a timeline and exit strategy is just poor military strategy. It's sad that he had to take so damned long to make his (politically motivated, I assure you) decision to send more troops as the Commanders in the field requested - with American lives at increased risk the entire time because there just aren't enough folks to meet the mission AND to cover their backs.

I think he did the worst thing he could do, and in the wost way. We should NOT be sending this many troops or setting time lines. What we should be doing is sending the right troops, with NO rules, and we would not need a time line.

obama is the Neville Chamberlain of our time