Comments on: The Surge: Now You Know

By: Ashley St.Claire

Ashley St.Claire — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:49:50 +0000

“The Surge”
December 6, 2009 by politicalsnapshots.wordpress.com
“The Surge”
The war in Afghanistan is also a continuation and expansion of the corporate welfare policy of the Bush administration, which interestingly is not only wholly accepted by President Obama, but is raised to a higher level (surge). The more private contractors sent to Afghanistan, the better for the bottom line (surge) (profit). The more the merrier. Bush or Obama, as always, the interest of the corporate elite is paramount.
The decrease in violence in Iraq was not a result of President Bush’s strategy of sending 30,000 more troops to Iraq (surge), that President Obama is so desperately trying to duplicate, but it was mainly a result of the U.S. government’s payment of about $10 a day to about 70,000 Sunni insurgents.
During his speech to the nation explaining his reasons for the Afghanistan “surge”, the president said:
“So, no, I do not make this decision lightly. I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is the epicenter of violent extremism practiced by al Qaeda. It is from here that we were attacked on 9/11, and it is from here that new attacks are being plotted as I speak. … In the last few months alone, we have apprehended extremists within our borders who were sent here from the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan to commit new acts of terror. And this danger will only grow if the region slides backwards, and al Qaeda can operate with impunity. We must keep the pressure on al Qaeda, and to do that, we must increase the stability and capacity of our partners in the region.”
I thought I was listening to President Bush. Word for word the same message, but, a different messenger, one who is more articulate. He also used Bush’s tactic of scaring the American public, the danger to America “is no idle danger, no hypothetical threat”. The only thing missing from his speech was that, he didn’t use the threat level colors. It is too early in his presidency; we might still see him use the threat levels in the future.
The president’s troop” surge” in the Afghanistan war has made his Conservative Republican friends temporarily happy, but members of his own political party and the American citizens at large are not supportive of his so-called “surge”. While America is facing a massive unemployment, millions of citizens without health insurance, the country burdened with cumbersome and chocking growing debt, to say the least, the president’s choice of the Afghanistan “surge” at this particular moment, seems to be unwise.
Professor Mekonen Haddis.

By: Proud Liberal 1947

Proud Liberal 1947 — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:48:56 +0000

To say I was disappointed at the location for the Military Industrial Complexes win on the War for Profits, then sit their and listen to the same speech given yet again almost verbatim was disheartening.
One thing I can say after the location and the speech given I do know now and can say with Confidence that the military Industrial Complex in running the War.
Nothing the Media says or the Administration says can convince me other wise.
If this speech had been delivered to America in a AMERICAN CITY NOT a Military Academy with the Troop cheap PHOTO OP of the pass, the reference to fear Mongering 9/11 yet again, and if that speech would have contained the same enthusiasm as hos past speeches I would have believed him. I have been sold down the river to satisfy the Military Industrial Complex and Socialized Corporate America. Prove me Wrong.

By: Johnson

Johnson — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:53:25 +0000

This picture is one worth adding too: http://winstonscat.blogspot.com/2009/12/cadet-reads-before-obama-speech.html

By: Wes

Wes — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:31:07 +0000

Rachel,
I am saddened that your response was to lash out. I have a life. I am a disabled vet. I do not know what can be said that can make you see that the cadets are not your enemy. You assert that the qualifications to get into West Point are less rigorous over time, or that the curriculum is made easier as war goes on? That is an absurd statement. That is like comparing the academy to the…. what was it? The Connecticut firefighter advancement exam? These men and women are leaders. They are above average to say the least. The very characteristics that founded this country and are pioneering space. Once again, I mentioned how long they had to sit before the speech. I guess it makes no difference to you. You are in-mature and in so many words have proven that you are pompous.

By: Hans D. Stroo

Hans D. Stroo — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:14:15 +0000

The disdain you all show for the Officer corps is disgusting to me. You all can grouse about how these people are the bottom of the barrel, and nothing could be further from the truth. They have some of the most brilliant teachers and undergo some of the most demanding curiculuum of anyone. If anything, it would appear that these cadets are less brawny and more brainy than generations past.
Either way, some of you come across like unhinged liberal scumbags, and from the United States military I have one loud and clear message: go suck a knife.

By: mad_nVT

mad_nVT — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:51:29 +0000

Doesn’t seem that these cadets would be worried about death in Afghanistan, so I don’t see the “anxiety and the look of fear.”
For any one of these guys (male and female) the odds of getting killed in battle is very, very low. And they are young people in their early twenties, so of course they don’t plan on being injured at all, not even on the radar.
If they are worried, it is not worry for personal safety.

By: lytom

lytom — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:41:14 +0000

Perhaps all is pointless and the same question comes up again and again “where have all the young men gone?” All Obama’s words are not worth anything, but the horror they are making.

By: lucaites

lucaites — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:23:11 +0000

I don’t mean to be churlish, but do you have any evidence to support that … without question? And I’m not sure I follow the assumption. Do you mean to suggest that the very nature of the war would discourage folks from applying? If so, I’m somewhat skeptical of the claim. Many who would apply for a career in the military would not be opposed to war on its face–though I can imagine that they might oppose a particularwar–and so I wouldn’t think that this would work as a generalization. But again, I’m curious as to what you base the conclusion on. Thanks. JLL

By: jtfromBC

jtfromBC — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:49:19 +0000

Obama loves his rhetoric, and his speech on the Afghan surge was topped by a rhetorical flourish:
“Our cause is just, our resolve unshaken”.
He is of course wrong on both counts.
“Karzai comes directly from the Bush camp and was put in place because of his role with Unocal in developing the Trans Afghanistan Gas Pipeline project. That remains a chief strategic goal. The Asian Development Bank has agreed finance to start construction in Spring 2011. It is of course a total coincidence that 30,000 extra US troops will arrive six months before, and that the US (as opposed to other NATO forces) deployment area corresponds with the pipeline route.”
http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/

By: Molly

Molly — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:25:05 +0000

At one point, there was a wide shot of the front of the room from the back of the room. Someone with a white shirt and dark pants was moving along the row of seats as Obama spoke. I bet that’s what they are tracking.
As to the nodding off, I figured it was because the room was warm and it was right after dinner. ZZZZzzzzz……