Obama says he will not rush Afghanistan decision

Tuesday 27th October, 07:00 AM JST

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Wolfpack at 07:44 AM JST - 28th October

More troops are dying in Afganistan because Obama has put more troops in the country. McCain and most of the mainstream republicans want even more troops in the country.

The US put more troops in Iraq and the number of troop deaths declined dramatically. President Obama has no plan now - and he can't make up his mind what to do next. Obama needs to get some courage and make a decision and get things turned around. One gets the impression that he is afraid to increase the number of troops because of opposition from his base. That is not how to lead during a war. He needs to stop campaigning for re-election and get the situation in Afghanistan under control.
zurcronium at 10:16 AM JST - 28th October

Wolfpack,

you statements represent the selective narrow spinning that the rightwing just loves. The facts are that the surge was put in place after years and years of failure. And it took months and months to plan for the surge. Fact is that the reduction in violence was achieved not by more troops in Iraq but by bribing various groups to stop killing americans.

Your last statement about re-election is really choice given that Rove planned the Iraqi invasion to win in 2004.

Given the years of failure and hundreds of thousands of needless deaths in the two failed wars the republicans have nothing to say with credibility on these matters. As is so often the care the democrats have to fix what the republicans have broken. But still the republicans blather on as if they didnt cause this whole massive problem in the first place.
sailwind at 10:34 AM JST - 28th October

As is so often the care the democrats have to fix what the republicans have broken.

So start fixing and quite dithering. Is that so hard?
USAFdude at 11:28 AM JST - 28th October

sailwind

So start fixing and quite dithering. Is that so hard?

Of course not, cream puff! Once the C-in-C has made a decision based on all the information, he'll let you know. Well, he'll let US know; you can read about it on the news.
sailwind at 11:40 AM JST - 28th October

USAFdude,

I look forward to reading about his wise 'decision' on the news sometime in the future. Im lucky I should be around to actually hear it not like these 55 Americans.

The casualties bring to 55 the total number of Americans killed in October in Afghanistan.

I wonder if his 'decision' would have been two months ago when his General on the ground requested more troops, how many of these 55 would still be with us.
USAFdude at 11:52 AM JST - 28th October

sailwind:

I wonder if his 'decision' would have been two months ago when his General on the ground requested more troops, how many of these 55 would still be with us.

The tragic answer is, none of them. Neither President Obama's decisions nor the timeframe in which he makes them could prevent either helicopter accidents or inhuman extremist scum from committing atrocities.

Patience, Grasssmoker, patience... Wouldn't wanna play into the enemy's hands like bush the Impotent "Cowboy", now would we?
adaydream at 12:10 PM JST - 28th October

WilliB I remember what he said. I also heard him say he'd bring the troops home. There's no need to send 1000s troops to Afghanistan if they aren't needed. Whatever is the correct amount of troops, I'd rather see the right amount sent in then some super amount, that should be able to come home instead of serving a 3rd or 4th tour overseas fighting this war that will go on for another 10 years by some experts.

If we're going to be involved in this war for that extended time, then we have to start giving our men some kind of break. You can't keep sending the same men to combat over and over without some significant break. < :-)
techall at 12:27 PM JST - 28th October

@adaydream:

In war the "right amount" is to overwhealm the enemy. Supremacy in the field. Ask any marine.
SuperLib at 05:20 PM JST - 28th October

SushiSake: Superlib, it seems like my point sailed completely over your head. :-)

Did it? I figured that you were against the war in Afghanistan but you like Obama so you won't publicly disagree with the man. Instead you make up some stuff about "reminding us about Republicans" so you can criticize US policy without having to mention Obama's name. That's to say you've muzzled yourself from criticizing Obama even when you disagree because you're too afraid of the right-wingers.

Wasn't that the point of your message?
Sarge at 09:55 PM JST - 28th October

Taka313: "I think what we are seeing from Pres. Obama is the absolute polar opposite of "you go to war with the Army you have; not the Army you want"

Scenario 1: Pres. Obama: I want an Army that achieves victory without killing or injuring any civilians: until then, we ain't going to war."

Scenario 2: Pres. Obama: Dang, I don't want defeat on my watch! Heck with the Nobel Peace Prize, we're going to war with the Army we have!
hudagree at 09:20 PM JST - 30th October

Nothing really wrong in principle to look at all sides before a decision. There are some personality types however that have a hard time making a decision and the wait seems endless. Obama may fit in to this personality type. He needs to step up and voice it soon.
ca1ic0cat at 01:30 AM JST - 31st October

The commanders on the ground have already given their recommendations of what is necessary. Any other opinions are just uninformed politics. Either give the commanders what they asked for or get out. No more dithering! Show some leadership, for pity's sake.
dasyhard at 05:43 PM JST - 31st October

ca1ic0cat: You're definitely on the money, either give the 4 star the 40,000 troops or pull out completely. Why is Obama thinking less or a partial of that amount? He doesn't want to risk any more lives but what about the troops on the ground? I don't understand the rationale behind his intent. Can someone please enlighten me if I'm missing any facts.
mtimjones at 03:21 PM JST - 1st November

Obama's indecision is planned. By dithering on troop assignment, he placates those doves that voted him into office. In the end, Obama will fail in both wars and lead the U.S. in the worst economic environment since Jimmy Carter.
bluecactii at 08:56 PM JST - 1st November

Why rush? It's not like people are dying