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November 13, 2009
Barack Obama Demands Exit Strategy in Afghanistan
Barack Obama has demanded the inclusion of an exit plan in the new US strategy for Afghanistan.
White House officials said that in a meeting with Pentagon chiefs Mr Obama had made clear he wants his decision on troop reinforcements to offer a strong suggestion of when and how responsibility for security would be turned over to the Afghans.
After two months of discussions with his advisers he rejected all four options they had touted on the number of troops to be sent, in a surprise move that risked provoking further allegations of “dithering”.
While he is still expected to announce that he is sending reinforcements, Mr Obama insisted that a broad framework for handing over control of security to the Afghan army is written in, as he sought to warn Afghan leaders - and reassure the US public - that the mission is not "open-ended".
Robert Gibbs, the White House spokesman, said on board Air Force One, said: “The president believes that we have been there for eight years, and we're not going to be there forever. And it's important to fully examine not just how we're going to get folks in but how we're going to get folks out.”
The move followed a forceful intervention about the troop build-up from General Karl Eikenberry, the US ambassador to Kabul.
In two classified cables and comments he made to Mr Obama by video link late on Wednesday, he came out firmly against bolstering the American presence unless President Hamid Karzai seriously addresses corruption, and argued that more US troops would only make the Afghans more dependent.
As the US commander in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007, Gen Eikenberry’s views will carry extra weight, as well as annoying his successor, Gen Stanley McChrystal, who has requested a “surge” of up
Tensions between the White House and the Pentagon over the deployment have already bubbled to the surface. Senior presidential advisers have accused generals of leaking the misinformation that Mr Obama has all but decided to dispatch more than 34,000 additional troops, in a bid to force his decision. There are currently 68,000 US military personnel in Afghanistan.
Wild Thing's comment........
I sure wish Osama would give us HIS an exit strategy from OUR White House and go and get lost!
I guess the troops will have to wait an added 2 months for Obama to get his exist strategy as well. It has taken him this long to decide he does not know what the heck to do yet.
Posted by Wild Thing at November 13, 2009 03:50 AM
Comments
Here's an exit strategy for obama, We win, they lose then we leave.
"War is the solution the enemy has chosen".WTS
Posted by: Mark at November 13, 2009 11:10 AM
A petulent child stalls and stalls and stalls to go to bed. Once his parents have reached their breaking point they are willing to negotiate just so the immature little brat will go to bed. The parents have been worn down and are in a subservient position to negotiate. That is what this a--h--- is doing. Now that he has primed the pump he wants a "date certain" as the witch used to call it...I just knew he was stalling till he could manipulate the playing field. He must be removed.
Posted by: jan at November 13, 2009 11:18 AM
Morning all, not much English spoken around here in the Soviet, that and I'm surrounded by females, I surrender!!!
Exit Strategy, hasn't that been the strategy since 1945? The strategy of WWII was to get the United States on a war foundation as much to help our ally as to bolster the industrial economy. The choice of allies was as dismal as the choice of leadership. War employed everyone in some facet, and fortunately we and our allies won, sort of. Since that event the practice of engaging in non declared wars has been our downfall, we've become the U.N.'s policeman. Go, bleed and die but for God's Sake don't win, it might offend a Communist or a Muslim. I agree with Mark, there are only two options win or lose, losing means forever being vigilant and in fear.
Posted by: Jack at November 13, 2009 12:15 PM
I wish obama and company had an exit strategy to get their liberal asses out of the White House. Most of us here know that wars and even battles are not fought on a timetable. You can bet your butt that the Taliban's only timetable is to survive long enough to wait us out. obama is playing right into their plans.
Posted by: TomR at November 13, 2009 04:46 PM
That would be great Wild Thing---I would help him move. On another note, I finally got around to visiting some of your personal pages and I must say I was impressed and very greatful for the sharing. I've seen the movie "Hard Times" several times as I like Charles B. and have a fondness for New Orleans as I lived there for a number of years. I often wondered who the imported fighter was and why I hadn't seen him in other films---now I know. I too have a great love for dogs and have a small shih tsu named professor and have always had dogs and suffered their loss over my many years. The page on Israel was impressive. I have been a support of the Jewish state since my teen years long ago. I suppose two old movies helped me along that path "Exodus" and a lesser know one "Lisa" with Delores Hart and Stephen Boyd. After reading your pages I can certainly better appreciate your site and know where you are coming from. Again thanks for the insight to your life.
Posted by: Ron Russell at November 13, 2009 07:09 PM
Remember after the TET offensive, which we won, in spite of what Cronkite said.
Many of the No. Viet. leadership was for retreating back across the demarkation line. Others saw the weakness of the American Politicians and the influencce the Press had on the masses. They saw the protests in the streets, the disrespect for the troops, and they said let's wait them out, eventually they will capitulate.
We all know how that ended.
Here we are again.
One of the ways to help win anything is to know what you are up against and plan accordingly. That is if you want to win. Obama and the Leadership of this Country know what we are up against here and are not up to the task. The Taliban knows what we are all about with this CSCIS, and is acting accordingly. I hate being on the losing side, guys like Obama, Kerry etc., obviously don't.
Posted by: SEAN. at November 13, 2009 08:16 PM
Mark, yesss that is the best
exit strategy.
Posted by: Wild Thing at November 13, 2009 11:27 PM
Jan, well put thank you!
Posted by: Wild Thing at November 13, 2009 11:28 PM
Tom, I agree sooo much.
"Taliban's only timetable is to survive long enough to wait us out. obama is playing right into their plans."
Posted by: Wild Thing at November 13, 2009 11:31 PM
Ron, thank you so much for taking the time
to do that, I appreciate it. That is neat
that you have a shih tsu those are such
cute dogs.
Thank you too for sharing about "Hard Times".
And also for what you shared about my Isreal
page. Thank you for your kindness Ron.
Posted by: Wild Thing at November 13, 2009 11:36 PM
SEAN, yessss I agree, you al did win the
TET offensive. I agree too with what you
shared, here we go again.
Posted by: Wild Thing at November 13, 2009 11:38 PM
