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Kristol: All Hail Obama!
Weekly Standard Blog ^ | March 27, 2009 | Michael Goldfarb

Posted on 03/27/2009 2:00:11 PM PDT by Captain Kirk

I asked the boss for a reaction to the Afghan speech. He said he would have framed a few things differently, but his basic response was: "All hail Obama!"

(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: afpak; bho44; bhogwot; kristol; neocons; oefsurge
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To: KevinDavis

Cmon now. We need to withdraw and feel the pride we felt when the leftists pulled the plug on Vietnam, though we never lost a battle. Of course, the leftists preferred and still prefer the communists over the US.

But just for the target practice alone, Afghanistan is worth it.

NATO: 10 Taliban killed in Afghan raid - Senior commander among targeted militants

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61537

33 Taliban killed in clashes with NATO forces

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\03\19\story_19-3-2009_pg7_48

Five killed in Mirali drone attack

http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=142901

Massive military operation disrupts Taliban staging ground

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090321.wafghanmis0321/BNStory/Afghanistan/home

Afghanistan: Coalition forces kill 12 militants

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/03/07/afghanistan.militants.dead/

US missile strike in Kurram agency levels Taliban training camp

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/03/us_missile_strike_in.php

NATO Troops Kill Senior Taliban Commander

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123779326176512221.html

Let’s hope every jihadi on the planet chooses to fight in Afghanistan.


41 posted on 03/27/2009 2:51:33 PM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: pissant
From Captain Kirk's link in Post #18:

He clearly believes that an effective counterterrorism approach requires an effective counterinsurgency strategy, aimed not only at killing bad guys but at strengthening Afghan civil society and governing structures, providing the necessary security to the population so that it can resist pressures from the Taliban, and significantly increasing the much-derided “nation-building” element of the strategy. The United States, he argues, has to help the Afghan people fulfill “the promise of a better future,” by rooting out government corruption, helping the elected government provide basic services, fighting the narcotics trade, and, in general, advancing “security, opportunity, and justice.”

In other words, it's not even a "war" anymore. The U.S. military is effectively functioning as a well-armed Peace Corps. And these "neo-con" dingbats are perfectly comfortable with this -- because that's what they've ALWAYS been about.

42 posted on 03/27/2009 2:58:51 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (I'm out on the outskirts of nowhere . . . with ghosts on my trail, chasing me there.)
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To: pissant

As much as we would love to see Afghanistan a free settled country, it’s history begs the question. They don’t call it the empire killer for nothing.


43 posted on 03/27/2009 3:00:17 PM PDT by WVNan (Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.: Sun Tzu)
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To: Alberta's Child

So you prefer that we leave Afghanistan and let the jihadis overrun the still too weak national government there? LOL. As for not being a war, see post 41. There’s alotta dead goat f*****s even since Ears took over.


44 posted on 03/27/2009 3:01:30 PM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: WVNan

Yea, and Iraq couldn’t be won either.


45 posted on 03/27/2009 3:02:26 PM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: Snickering Hound

“Eine Volke, Eine Reich, Eine Obama”


46 posted on 03/27/2009 3:03:39 PM PDT by Signalman
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To: pissant

If Afghanistan is a threat to the U.S., then turn it into a smoking ruins and hit the road.


47 posted on 03/27/2009 3:04:50 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (I'm out on the outskirts of nowhere . . . with ghosts on my trail, chasing me there.)
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To: Captain Kirk

Obama lies every which way but at least in this speech the heavy hand of reality and the military facts were self-evident.

It may be due to the underlying seriousness of the matter. What was illuminating was the reference to Al Qaeda operations targeted at the West from there right now.

He clearly wants it on the record that he recognizes that reality and is at least formulating a strategy to take that on. But for how long and at what cost. I don’t believe that commitment was stated. I did not listen to the whole thing though to be honest.

It was my first attempt to even listen to Obama. I usually avoid it entirely. The nature of the subject matter was the only reason. That and to see who else from the military side was present for it. Because that’s important too.


48 posted on 03/27/2009 3:15:10 PM PDT by romanesq
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To: Captain Kirk

As before, it is the Pashtun Taliban that is hosting “foreigners” from Al Qaeda who happen to Arab, Uzbekis among others.

Shoot, I think there are even Chechens there.

So when someone references the Taliban coming here, it’s apparent what their meaning is in this regard. No one expects Mullah Omar to be on our shores, but his people are certainly helping make it possible for Al Qaeda.


49 posted on 03/27/2009 3:17:11 PM PDT by romanesq
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To: Alberta's Child

That is what the no war crowd keeps missing. It is no longer “Afghanistan” that is a threat. Afghanistan was a threat, because the Taliban controlled 3/4 of the country and they allied themselves with AQ and other sundry terrorists. And it was from his spread in Afghanistan that OBL was able to conduct his business. The business of training jihadis and sending them out to US soil as “students”, tourists and the like.

It is my sincerest hope that the jihadis continue to pour into afghanistan from all around the world. It is their death trap.


50 posted on 03/27/2009 3:17:59 PM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: Captain Kirk

Don’t worry, Obama will wuss out, just like you.


51 posted on 03/27/2009 4:19:10 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Charter Member, 58 Million Club)
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To: pissant

bttt


52 posted on 03/27/2009 8:38:13 PM PDT by 1035rep ("The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.")
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To: SaxxonWoods

How will Kristol wuss out? Will he turn against Obama’s war?


53 posted on 03/28/2009 7:25:34 AM PDT by Captain Kirk
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To: pissant
I said they have been mopping them. Meaning wiping them out. Have been doing it since we got there.

Wonderful news! If true, we can declare victory and get out right? At the very least we can both oppose Obama's decision to send in even more troops at a time when we can't afford it.

54 posted on 03/28/2009 7:29:32 AM PDT by Captain Kirk
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To: Captain Kirk

“At the very least we can both oppose Obama’s decision to send in even more troops at a time when we can’t afford it.”

I support the decision to send more troops. Obama should have sent more than he did. We can fight them there, or we can fight them here. I prefer to fight them there. Evidently, there are some who prefer to hide under their bed.


55 posted on 03/28/2009 9:41:14 AM PDT by DugwayDuke
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To: DugwayDuke

Fight who? The Taliban? It is the only group we are fighting there now and, correct me if I am wrong, they never attacked us over here. Finally, if you want to send our troops everywhere to fight Islamists, why don’t you demand that Obama send troops to Somalia....which is now the one greatest crisis in Africa.


56 posted on 03/28/2009 11:53:26 AM PDT by Captain Kirk
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To: Captain Kirk

How long have we been in Korea?


57 posted on 03/28/2009 11:56:15 AM PDT by Mr Rogers (Obama - Making Jimmy Carter look like a giant!)
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To: WVNan

They don’t call it that because Afghanistan can’t be conquered. They call it that because it is one big mud pit, and therefor no one wants to keep it.


58 posted on 03/28/2009 12:02:14 PM PDT by Mr Rogers (Obama - Making Jimmy Carter look like a giant!)
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To: Captain Kirk

“Fight who? The Taliban? It is the only group we are fighting there now and, correct me if I am wrong, they never attacked us over here.”

The Taliban gave the terrorists safe haven and a base to conduct their planning. They refused to turn over the terrorists after 9-11. They allowed chemical and biological test facilities to be established and operated to give the terrorists new weapons. They are just as guilty as those who flew the planes.

If the Taliban are allowed to retake Afghanistan, they will welcome back their terrorist buddies and Afghanistan will once again become a staging ground for more attacks.

“Finally, if you want to send our troops everywhere to fight Islamists, why don’t you demand that Obama send troops to Somalia....which is now the one greatest crisis in Africa.”

One battle at a time. It will be a long war.


59 posted on 03/28/2009 12:16:03 PM PDT by DugwayDuke
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To: Captain Kirk
Here's Kristol and Kagan at Obama's car:


60 posted on 04/01/2009 7:53:56 PM PDT by Jim Noble (They are willing to kill for socialism...but not to die for it.)
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