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Not Nearly Enough On Afghanistan (Michael Rubin on Obama's speech)
Pundicity - Michael Rubin ^ | Dec. 1, 2009 | Michael Rubin

Posted on 12/01/2009 7:17:45 PM PST by nuconvert

Announcing the results of his administration's first policy review on Afghanistan more than eight months ago, President Barack Obama declared, "I want the American people to understand that we have a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in the future." To achieve those goals, the president explained, "we need a stronger, smarter and comprehensive strategy." Unfortunately, the strategy Obama announced tonight will not achieve it.

(excerpt)

What Obama fails to understand, however, is that the surge is not only a military strategy, but a psychological one as well.

Iraq's surge succeeded because Bush convinced Iraqis that he would not subvert his commitment to victory to politics. Bush's actions showed insurgents had misjudged the U.S. and that Bin Laden was wrong: The U.S. was no paper tiger. Iraqis, no more attracted to al-Qaida's extreme vision than ordinary Afghans are to the Taliban, believed America to be strong. Rather than make accommodations to the terrorists, Iraqis could fight them. The Sunni tribesmen believed that the U.S. would guard their back, and let neither al-Qaida nor Iranian proxies run roughshod over them. For Iraqis and Afghans, it is an easy decision to ally with militarily superior forces led by a commander-in-chief with a clear and demonstrable will to victory.

Obama is not Bush. By declaring his commitment finite, he removes the psychological force from his surge.

(Excerpt) Read more at michaelrubin.org ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; michaelrubin; obama; zotorama

1 posted on 12/01/2009 7:17:46 PM PST by nuconvert
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To: nuconvert

Ah, thanks for reminding me I missed Bambi’s speech, oops, I mean teleprompter reading.

FUBO


2 posted on 12/01/2009 7:22:12 PM PST by Nervous Tick (Stop dissing drunken sailors! At least they spend their OWN money.)
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To: Nervous Tick

Imagine if Obama would use half the psychological chit on Al Queda and the Taliban as he does on the American citizenry...


3 posted on 12/01/2009 7:24:40 PM PST by Freddd (CNN is not credible.)
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To: nuconvert
...we have a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in the future

Whew! I am so relieved that now we have a clear and focused goal. So that means, to kill all of al Qaeda and Taliban? Or to kill 80% of them? Or to kill everyone who hates the Great Satan? Oops, that would kill Pakistan. Maybe just to kill bin Laden? Maybe the clear and focused goal is more nation-building, to convert all the al Qaeda and Taliban to democratic capitalists? To fight until we have keg parties and raves in Afghanistan? Until the opium poppy is banned? Until Afghan women equal Afghan men? Until there is a McDonald's at every tribal compound? I am somewhat unsure of this clear and focused goal.

4 posted on 12/01/2009 7:26:33 PM PST by Sender (It's never too late to be who you could have been.)
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Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: nuconvert

He wants to say at the 2012 convention, soon there will by no US troops in Afghanistan. If the following year the Taliban take over again, he will shrug, and say, well we tried. Now here is what we can do to improve out national health care system.......


6 posted on 12/01/2009 7:34:36 PM PST by RobbyS (Pray with the suffering souls.)
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To: shaft29

??

is this directed at nuconvert?

for posting the article?

without comment?

curious


7 posted on 12/01/2009 7:52:49 PM PST by kralcmot (my tagline died with Terri)
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To: shaft29

“you” being me? Obama? Michael Rubin?


8 posted on 12/01/2009 8:05:11 PM PST by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
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To: kralcmot; newconvert

This blogger shaft29 has been spewing her invenctive on at least three threads. Been reported, I thing she’s been blocked. Ignore.


9 posted on 12/01/2009 8:15:11 PM PST by ArmyTeach ( Speak the truth, right the wrong, and follow the King.)
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To: kralcmot; shaft29

>> is this directed at nuconvert? for posting the article?
without comment? curious

You see this cat Shaft29 is a bad mother—
(Shut your mouth)
But I’m talkin’ about Shaft29
(Then we can dig it)

s/He’s a complicated man/women/bisexual/hermaphrodite
But no one understands him/her/it but his/her/its woman

shaft29 since 2007-12-01 (Just your typical black woman.)

Happy Anniversary, Shaft29!


10 posted on 12/01/2009 8:17:10 PM PST by Nervous Tick (Stop dissing drunken sailors! At least they spend their OWN money.)
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To: nuconvert

Zer0 won’t be happy until there are helicopters on the roof of the US Embassy in Kabul.


11 posted on 12/01/2009 9:02:05 PM PST by Slings and Arrows (Jew, conservative, and proud supporter of Israel.)
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To: Sender

The countless cadets falling asleep! Priceless! Vital mission yet leaving in 2011...Picture perfect for the setting of West Point. No credibility! He and his minions are Jokes! It is evident each time he has to assemble the High School Class Officers.


12 posted on 12/01/2009 9:03:32 PM PST by RetAF_fedUP (It more import to find out how the two VA jerks got into the WH!)
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To: nuconvert
 

"Either you are with us or you are for the terrorists."
~~George W. Bush

13 posted on 12/01/2009 9:08:34 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: RetAF_fedUP

Obama relies on the MSM camera view to project his power. He chose poorly in betting on the West Point Cadets to cheer his genius.


14 posted on 12/01/2009 9:26:23 PM PST by Sender (It's never too late to be who you could have been.)
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To: Salvation

You are so right!


15 posted on 12/01/2009 9:33:07 PM PST by RetAF_fedUP (No moral value held dear by the American people obliges public servants ever to sacrifice innocents)
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To: Sender

Ill gotten power is no power at all. Walls fall and so will he tumble! You couldn’t be more correct with his supreme choice of venue! Utter genius! Received like tepid watered down jello!


16 posted on 12/01/2009 9:44:56 PM PST by RetAF_fedUP (No moral value held dear by the American people obliges public servants ever to sacrifice innocents)
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