Worldfocus

12/03/2009 :: 07:09:55 PM
Big Smelly Says:

What a great decision! We voted for “Change you can Believe In” and got blackbush……How effing stupid can we get? The USA is TOAST

12/02/2009 :: 10:28:38 AM
Josh Says:

This is a bad decision. Getting involved in Afghanistan is in part what destroyed the SOviet Union, that and the horrible economy it was in at the time it chose to go in. SOund familiar? The United States will be destroyed by Afghanistan and other “brushfire wars” in the Middle-East. The Taliban may get stronger, but no matter what we do we will never be able to get rid of them.
There will always be people around to hate other people and thats life, American politicians should stp letting the belief of “American Exceptionalism” guide their decisions

11/28/2009 :: 04:46:38 PM
MUHAMMAD ABDULLAH Says:

” WAR IS A RACKET “[ GENERAL SMEDLEY BUTLER,USMC,RET. ]. ” AFGHANISTAN HAS PROVEN TO BE A GRAVEYARD FOR EMPIRES.” [GENERAL PETRAEUS].” THE GREATES ENEMY TO MANKIND IS THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX.” [GENERAL DWIGHT D.EISENHOWER].” THIS IS THE CRUSADES.” [GEORGE W.BUSH].IMPERIALISM AND ZIONISM ARE IN A WORLD WAR AGAINST ISLAM ANDMUSLIMS AND THE ATROCITIES BY THE OPPRESSOR ON 9-11-2001 WHO HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ATROCITIES OF 9 - 11 - 2001 SO THEY HAVE WAGED A WORLD WAR AGAINST ISALM AND MUSLIMS .dawah_ma_90221@yahoo.com-TAIF’TUL’ISLAM-P.O.BOX 338-COMPTON,CA.90223

11/25/2009 :: 07:07:14 PM
A.J. Milo Says:

According to an 11/24/09 editorial in the “Los Angeles Times,” the U.S. has already invested “eight years and $240 billion into the war in Afghanistan, with more than 900 U.S. military deaths so far…”. And what do we have to show of it? A corrupt Afghani president with little support of his people and a thriving opium poppy market! I say BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!

11/25/2009 :: 04:42:04 PM
brea Says:

BIGGEST MISTAKE THIS COUNTRY CAN POSSIBLY MAKE!!! Of course sending more soldiers to afghanistan maybe the only thing that helps save the economy. NOTHING and i mean NOTHING squanders money and resources like the military industrial complex! I have NEVER been more ashamed of this country in my life! The complete lack of leadership and will on behalf of our “leaders” is staggering. The citizens will pay for this mistake for perhaps decades to come!!

Please write your senators and congressman and TRY TO STOP THE INSANITY!!! Will we NEVER LEARN!!!

11/25/2009 :: 01:25:22 PM
Malc Says:

Yes, of course we should be sending more troops there. We should have sent them months ago.

If we leave and create a political vacuum in Afganistan, the Taliban & Al-Qaeda will grow unimpeaded and seriously threaten Pakistan.

We could well see Pakistan fall, and have dangerous terrorists in possesion of nuclear weapons. Then the entire world and especially the US would be in serious danger.

Pakistan could fall, India could fall, and we could lose entire cities and experience mass casualties.

War sucks, but we have to weigh the negative aspects of war against the alternatives.

It would be nice if we didn’t have to have police in our cities. We could save a lot of money (in theory) and no police would ever have to be killed. But that is an idealistic fantasy, and if it were implemented there would be chaos, death and suffering. The same is true of the world.

11/25/2009 :: 12:41:24 PM
karl kettler Says:

OUT NOW! They call themselves experts. Really? They are no more “experts than a five year old. Obama and his dysfunctinal ego maniacs might as well have flipped a coin. After eight years it’s time to call a halt to this absurdity and stop wasting American treasure and lives. As one Taliban leader recently observed in an interview”the more they send the more we kill.”

11/25/2009 :: 11:21:01 AM
earle,florida Says:

I’d like to add two more important points about America’s Viet-Nam (another war America inherited?)War,and the USSR’s war with Afghanistan (note: USSR not Russia…go figure?). President Nixon finally relized he was in a winless war…so he secretly sent Henry Kissinger to negotiate with the Chinese to lay low until the United States could pull all of their troops out in what was to be percieved as a (no winner…no loser) “default war”! It worked ,and the Viet-Nam War was finished,america won? It wasn’t until forty-years later that the transcripts came out telling of Kissinger’s Plea Bargain(as usual the public yawned)with the Chinese. Next,…we have Afghanistan warring with the USSR’s military for more than a decade.The USSR capituated, and their army (attrition) decimated by alcohol abuse,addiction to heroin,and Post-Tramatic-Stress (PTS)which virtually destroyed their economy,thus leading to the USSR’s demise. Now,..let us not forget that the United States played a huge covert operation at wars end,… helping the Afghanistan military accomplish victory….but with a real cost of civilian lives in the final hours. Now…my question is this? What’s stopping the Russian’s from covert operations helping the Taliban,or the war-lords,…we’ll never know. Revenge is sweet…

11/25/2009 :: 10:50:11 AM
Jim Weekley Says:

Once again we the US are doing things 40 percent of the way. I personally think that the Karzai government is taking the US and it’s allies for a financial windfall ride. That government is corrupt and with their current inability to govern their country - why should we send another “token” force in to do a quite obsvious war envdeavor. If we’re going to so call stay until Afghansistan is secure it will take about 300,000 troops not to mention the billions of dollars on top of what we have already wasted over there. WE (US) got into that mess just like we did Iraq with the attitude that we could just walk in like a cake walk and every thing would be just fine and dandy - the problem is that we have exhausted our troops - these 4 and 5 tours are without conscience by our (US) political leaders as our politicians are sitting in Washington living one big party while the every day joe or judy is getting their ass shot at. It’s not that we could not actually win the war effort - it’s that we never really make the commitment to win in terms of stratgy, money and combat men/women. If we’re going to stay then we need to reintroduce the draft and demand that Europe (which has more to lose than the US) send in more troops - enought to actually do the job - this token piece meal approach will not get the job done. Jim @ USA

11/25/2009 :: 06:14:28 AM
RaeRae Says:

This is a ridiculous way to CONTROL UNEMPLOYMENT! Can you imagine what will happen to our UE rate is he actually brings the troops home, let alone send more? And talking about Afghan’s “corrupt” govt and trying to control is a laughable remark - maybe some other country needs to come here to control OUR corrupt govt. Why we keep sticking our nose where it doesn’t belong instead of taking care of our own people is way beyond me! More BS to substantiate that the “transparency” he lied about during the campaign days was all hot air. We need to worry more about keeping OUR country safe from those who are already here and put US at risk!

11/25/2009 :: 06:12:51 AM
moonroofmama Says:

This is a ridiculous way to CONTROL UNEMPLOYMENT! Can you imagine what will happen to our UE rate is he actually brings the troops home, let alone send more? And talking about Afghan’s “corrupt” govt and trying to control is a laughable remark - maybe some other country needs to come here to control OUR corrupt govt. Why we keep sticking our nose where it doesn’t belong instead of taking care of our own people is way beyond me! More BS to substantiate that the “transparency” he lied about during the campaign days was all hot air. Bring ‘em home, let that country deal with what they want, and keep OUR country safe from those who are already here and put US at risk!

11/25/2009 :: 04:06:20 AM
GUITAR MON PETE Says:

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA & GET OUT OF ALL WARS!!! LEGALIZE MARIJUANA–instead of protecting the Poppy Fields–LEGALIZE MARIJUANA–Sell the Weed to US–the Afghans will then be Our Friends–they want us OUT–they could make Good Money Selling US a Healthy Medicine–which would replace most of the POISONOUS Pharmaceuticals–even our DNR says they POLLUTE OUR WATER SUPPLY–then the Arabs would start to SMOKE–THE PEACE PIPE!!! If Obama can have His Friend & the Policeman to the White House for Beer & Cigarettes which are POISONOUS–why not have ALL WAR MONGERS for a PEACE PIPE SMOKE CONFERENCE??? MAKE LOVE NOT WAR!!! I know it will seem far fetched & silly to some people who do NOT Know or Understand Our Holy Weed–but MARIJUANA is a Great Medicine–just HEMP alone can CREATE JOBS & IS GREAT FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT–MARIJUANA IS A PEACE & LOVE SPIRITUAL HERB OF MOTHER EARTH!!! I’ve Made ALL My Violins, Guitars, Jewelry & Art Works of All Sorts that I Carve into Eagles & Roses & HummingBirds SMOKING!!! Smoking Marijuana is a Spiritual Blessed Peace Sacrament!!! 400,000 a Year DIE from Tobacco, 100,000 a Year DIE from Alcohol & Prescription Drugs each–NO ONE HAS EVER DIED–OR GOTTEN CANCER–from MARIJUANA– & now they are finding out that Marijuana is a CURE FOR CANCER–& MANY MANY AILMENTS!!! Many War Vets say that Marijuana is Good for their PTSD & Nightmares! Would you deny a War Veteran their Healthy Medicine? If you or a Loved One were Sick & Needed a CURE–would you deny them Marijuana? Take ALL the War Mongers–& SMOKE THEM OUT!!! PEACE & LOVE PEACE & LOVE PEACE & LOVE!!!

END ALL WARS — LEGALIZE MARIJUANA — PEACE & LOVE TO ALL !!!

PEACEFUL PETE’S DREAMS OF WORLD PEACE

11/25/2009 :: 02:14:18 AM
hasanhh Says:

No more troops. Who are we fighting anyway? Al Qaeda is kaput. Taliban is fragmented. There are several armed groups, most of them criminal bands. How many “enemy” have we killed or captured? It costs $1 million a year per troop to operate over there. We DO NOT have that kind of monies.! And what do US troops do? Pat and Pinch the women…so even the women are against US. There is a “national resistance” organizing there. And it is already projected it will cost over $1 TTTrillion in after war costs for the mamed troops. And most of our “aid” money lines the pockets of an Afghan kleptocracy plus the overcharges for civilian support costs who now number 1.1 contractors for 1 troop/marine. The US has over a thousand flag ranked officers and 23,000 colonels…and we can’t find anyone who can run a “better war” than this?.? “Yankee Come Home”…to LoL.

11/25/2009 :: 01:40:20 AM
Eugene Brown Says:

Is this another Viet Nam ! I don’t like to see our
Ladies and Gentlemen being used as cannon fodder, bottom line, what’s the exit strategy?

11/25/2009 :: 12:43:58 AM
PhilK Says:

For all those on this comment board giving an affirmative to additional war and troops surges, I say get in on armchair warriors! Go to Iraq or Afghanistan and fight for a conflicted and lying leadership that sends you out to fight on convoluted plans set forth without a delineation for what is victory. Do you all know that Al-Qaeda is verified to be in 12 other countries. Maybe we should invade them too? Let’s go broke and be on our knees to China. Sounds like a great plan, huh. Again the biggest threat to America is the corrupt plutocracy in business and their political servants in Washington.

11/25/2009 :: 12:34:19 AM
caaha18 Says:

I would say to president Obama even if America send 1000,000 more troops and stay there for another 15 years they will not win in this war ever, so you should take your boys out and keep your money for your jobless people.

11/25/2009 :: 12:18:48 AM
Eric Says:

Yes, we should send more troops. This is a war we did not ask for but it is still a war. Hiding our head in the sand by pulling out will only encourage attacks in the U.S.

11/25/2009 :: 12:12:34 AM
PhilK Says:

It probably is too late, I went to Iraq and nearly bought the farm in 2004. I realized, the powers at be don’t want any quick resolutions but long and drawn out conflicts in order to soak the honest hardworking taxpayers of America. Biggest threat to the United States and our way of life are the corrupt politicians in Washington and the super corrupt business oligarch on Wall Street.

11/24/2009 :: 11:50:43 PM
WhiskeyYankeeNovember*2 Says:

$515 billion / year is UN-SUSTAINABLE. Send no more. A 50,000 year old civil war cannot be stopped. Sorry Pakistan, your borders are porous, and we’ve no more money to help.

Stopping al Qaeda will REQUIRE a major reduction in our own addicion to others’ resources. Only that will end this “Bumper Sticker” War on Terror, Inc.

11/24/2009 :: 11:47:38 PM
Charles Scudder Says:

No, we should not send any more troops to Afghanistan. I am willing to hear President Obama’s reasons for sending more Americans to their death Also, more innocent Afghanistees will die needlessly. Really, at bottom, I believe the military-industrial complex which President Eisenhower warned about is running our country. This is just wrong.

11/24/2009 :: 11:46:55 PM
Bob Fitch Says:

What we have is a man still in campaign mode who is indecisive, surounded by inexperience and looking to ruin our great United States. May God have mercy on America.

11/24/2009 :: 11:28:37 PM
john schwarzenbach Says:

We should stop all wars, we should leave Afghanistan tomorrow. We should contemplate life, not destroy it.

11/24/2009 :: 11:19:13 PM
P L Boulton Says:

Et tu Obama. You are no longer Bush light. You have become him and all the other failed war wager presidents. I am so blessed that my son won’t have to die over there so you can cover your you know what before you pull out. I just know in my gut that you know this is wrong, but you lack the courage to match your actions to your words. First you give away the public option in the first week, now this. I hope a stong Democrat will step up and challange you. I will not vote for you again. First time in my life I may stay at home on election day. At least when a right winger gets elected he does what he says he will. You are just another weak, negotiate at all costs (to the public) Democrat. You are a huge disappointment. You betrayed me on health care and now the war, lives, treasure. Unbelievable.

11/24/2009 :: 11:18:44 PM
Joanne Taylor Says:

An absolutely criminal (against humanity) decision. We deserve better from our president; and definitely we could use a Defense Secretary who can think outside the box. A bankrupt policy.

11/24/2009 :: 11:15:06 PM
Sandy Rappy Says:

No, sending more troops to Afghanistan will accomplish nothing positive. It will only create more enemies-including more Al Queda.
Al Queda has no country and they are in many countries. Only a police action with good intelligence will track down Al Queda-100,000 troops will not.
Having troops train Afghans would be great if those trained would be the good cops protecting people. Most likely those we train will end up as the bad guys oppressing all the Afghans especially the women.
Violence creates violence. Save the lives of our soldiers, bring them home.

11/24/2009 :: 11:13:58 PM
Erik Says:

we should absolutely NOT send more troops, as a guerrilla war is one that cannot be won. We’ve already lost too many American lives in both Afghanistan and Iraq. It’s time to bring our boys home.

11/24/2009 :: 11:12:22 PM
Patty Says:

Enough already!! We’ve wasted far too many lives and dollars on war’s destruction. Our country is falling apart at the seams. More killing is not the answer. Will we ever learn?

11/24/2009 :: 10:46:13 PM
Canon Howard J. Happ Says:

Having just now scanned the well-stated opinions above, I can only express the hope that The Episcopal Church will once again state its opposition to this engagement by our nation.

11/24/2009 :: 10:44:48 PM
marian Says:

Yes, we can not abandon Afghanistan to the oppression of the Taliban and Al Quaida. And we can not afford the spread of terrorism.

11/24/2009 :: 10:13:19 PM
JOE GERNIIMO Says:

OBAMA IS A FOOL. HE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY SUCKED IN BY THE MILITARY’S BLUFFING ARGUMENT USED IN KOREA AND VIET NAM; I.E ‘MORE TROOPS, PLS. OTHERWISE WE FAIL.’ IT IS ALL TOTAL BULL.
IN FACT, SEC CLINTON AND SEN KERRY ARE BOTH HOPING THAT OBAMA FALLS ON HIS FACE WITH THE THIS WAR. KERRY HAS ALREADY STARTED HIS ‘ANTI WAR’ SPEECHES AND CLINTON HAS DISPLAYED HER DISSATISFACTION.
BOTH CLINTON AND KERRY WILL MAKE A MOVE AGAI8NST OBAMA BASED ON THE WAR FAILURE. CLINTON WILL RESIGN WITHIN A YEAR AS HER PROTEST AGAINST THE WAR. KERRY WILL BECOME LOUDER AND LOUDER.
SINCE THE MILITARY’S CRY FOR MORE TROOPS HAS NOT WORKED ON THE PAST WHY THE HELL DOES OBAMA THINK IT WILL WORK NOW? IRAQ WAS NOT A SUCCESS AND IS DUE TO COLLAPSE SO DONT USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW ‘MORE TROOPS=SURGE’ WAS VICTORIOUS. OBAMA HAD PROMISED ‘BRING THE TROOPS HOME’-WHAT HAPPENED THERE? WE HAVE OVER 130,000 IN IRAQ. AS MORE AND MORE ARE DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN (IS THAT OUR 52ND STATE AFTER ISRAEL?) YOU WILL SEE THE TOTAL COLLAPSE IN IRAQ. WHAT WILL HE DO THEN-SHUFFLE THE TROOPS FROM ONE COUNTRY TO THE OTHER AND BACK?
IT S A SAD JOKE THAT THE PRESIDENT FALLS FOR THE EXACT SAME MILITARY LINE UNDER THE EXACT SAME FACTS AS BEFORE.

11/24/2009 :: 09:24:22 PM
brea Says:

o.k., o.k. on one condition and only one!
AFTER we’ve made it through a “Bankless Recovery”!

11/24/2009 :: 09:22:20 PM
Jackie Smith, Palm Springs, CA Says:

Get our men and women out! Support our troops ~ and BRING OUR TROOPS HOME!

They are a Tribal society and fully armed and decided on how they live. Give our help to women and girls somehow perhaps- but NO MORE!! NO MORE!!! NO MORE!! NO MORE!! NO MORE!! NO MORE!! NO MORE!! NO MORE!!

OBAMA KEEP YOUR campaign PROMISES . . . and not the empty promises you now tout! Who’s side are you on anyway???????? Hummm . . . I wonder????

11/24/2009 :: 09:19:59 PM
Marc Says:

Withdraw all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq! This is insane; these wars only enrich the military industrial complex. They destabilize the world. Let’s demilitarize and spend that money at home where it’s needed.

11/24/2009 :: 09:15:02 PM
brea Says:

THE SINGLE BIGGEST MISTAKE THIS COUNTRY IS MAKING!! UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DO WE SEND MORE TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN!!! I’ts just mind boggling that these people are our “leaders”!

11/24/2009 :: 09:14:24 PM
Krista Says:

We need to end all wars and occupations! War isn’t working . . .lets give PEACE a try!
NO MORE TROOPS…..and BRING ALL AMERICANS HOME!
END THE FEDERAL RESERVE TOO!
Let’s take back our power . . . POWER OF THE PEOPLE!

11/24/2009 :: 08:47:42 PM
Sue Dedrck Says:

No, I don’t. We’ve been there 8 years - has anything improved? I think not. Russia was there 15 years, the Brits were there, Alexander the Great was there and not one of them made any difference in the way the country operates. Do we think we are so much better than any of the others who tried? We are just wasting our precious troops and money on this thing. Also, the terrorists of 9/11 were mostly Saudis, were they not?

11/24/2009 :: 08:44:41 PM
Larry Kinney Says:

When will we ever learn? We can’t even define the mission with any clarity. How can one hit such a target? Tar baby all over again.

Let’s redouble our efforts to conserve energy so we won’t need the pipeline that was Cheney’s pipe dream.

11/24/2009 :: 08:37:50 PM
michael Says:

Absolutely not. We had our chance to eliminate Al Qaida after 9/11 and we destroyed Iraq instead. Killing thousands of innocent people on the scale of mass murder. Now we have a new president who is being goaded by the military and the republican party to make the same mistakes as the criminals in the Bush administration.
Our best hope is to sit down with the Pakistan and Indian governments and work out a joint military solution to eliminate this terrorist threat to THERE countries.

11/24/2009 :: 08:16:26 PM
LG Says:

The Congressional military industrial complex pulls the strings on their puppet Obama. The captain of the ship appears brain dead or perhaps this ship of fools is just rudderless. Little to gain by more US troops except death by 10,000 cuts. Time of leave Afghanistan!

11/24/2009 :: 08:16:11 PM
Susan Simons Says:

No. This war and the one in Iraq are compelling illustrations of “war is not the answer”. This is not just a slogan–it is a fact. What a shame to waste our human and fiscal resources this way!

11/24/2009 :: 08:09:57 PM
Mark Says:

Haven’t enough of our sons or daughters been killed or had body parts blown off for what ? This war is unwinable, and is rapidly turning into an other Viet Nam. The Afghan government is corrupt and incapable of carying on any momentum even if we are successful in generating it. When something like 15% of our population is “food insecure” maybe the money could be better used in the USA !

11/24/2009 :: 08:04:35 PM
Mark Says:

Haven’t enough of our sons or daughters been killed or had body parts blown off for what ? This war is unwinable, and is rapidly turning into an other Viet Nam. The Afghan government is corrupt and incapable of carying on any momentum even if we are successful in generating it. When something like 15% of our population is “food insecure” maybe the money could be better used in the USA ! The American people, the congress and the Vice President are against the war. Maybe the President should be as well.

11/24/2009 :: 08:00:33 PM
BYRON H COHEN Says:

Yes, we do need to send more troops in order for the troops already there to be safer and to function more effectively. I have very high regard for President Obama’s judgement and I believe he sees clearly how to procede further until this conflict is finally resolved.

11/24/2009 :: 07:58:51 PM
Robert Daigle Says:

We should absolutely not be sending more troops to Afghanistan. Rather, we as a nation need to do a total review of the terrorist threat to our country, and develop a thoughtful list of strategies for effectively dealing with that threat. The idea that we can effectively defend ourselves from terrorism by going into another country and trying to make all of it’s residents behave like we want them to - is utterly preposterous. If we eliminate 99.9% of all terrorists in Afghanistan, there would still be enough left to perpetrate another attack on the scale of Sep 11, assuming our homeland security is still lacking. Although there are valid goals of nation building and humanitarianism associated with our efforts in Afghanistan, I contend that our severely struggling economy cannot support them, and that the very real needs of so many Americans should be a higher priority for our nation’s scarce resources.

11/24/2009 :: 07:56:16 PM
JanetPlanet Says:

I was heart-sick when U.S. troops were sent to Iraq, and I am heart-sick that we have troops in Afghanistan, and that our president plans to send more. How many U.S. troops have been lost already in Iraq and Afghanistan? NO,NO, NO! Please bring all our boys home! (And what exactly did O’Bama do so early in his presidency to deserve the Nobel PEACE Prize?

11/24/2009 :: 07:54:56 PM
Arshid Nabet Says:

Why does United States wants to control any country? We just need to punish those who were responsible for 9/11. I do not support sending 34,000 or more troops. This is a wrong policy.

11/24/2009 :: 07:49:28 PM
Kay Patane Says:

As a sister, mother and grandmother pleads, bring our boys home. This is a hopeless and senseless war, whose government will not give the support needed, nor whose people want us there. Get us out now, Mr. President! I agree with #8 above

11/24/2009 :: 07:44:48 PM
Margo Says:

I do not think we should be sending more troops; the government is corrupt, they have diverted money not for the intended use, & I am so sad about our young men dying to “save” a dictatorship. another example of a politician saying something to get elected and then going back on his promises. I have decided that ALL politicans are alike!

11/24/2009 :: 07:44:14 PM
David Smith Says:

Defense of the United States from terrorist attack does not require our military to remain in Iraq or Afghanistan. We would do more to improve our station in the world by financing and sending skilled volunteers to repair the damage done by natural disasters, to build habitats, schools, medical clinics, making communities whole, instead of blowing them up.

11/24/2009 :: 07:43:08 PM
shbz Says:

Obama wins Nobel Prize when he wins the war of terror in middle east. US must fight with Iran, Afghnastan, Pakistan as long as it can to get rid of these terrorits groups, or they will destroy the world peace

11/24/2009 :: 07:30:55 PM
trish hanerfeld Says:

I would ask president obama to not send any more troops. bring our boys home. eight years, enough already. let that country help themselves. all i see is our children dying or coming home maimed and screwed up in their minds. end this ridiculous war now. it’s been going on long enough.

11/24/2009 :: 07:27:03 PM
James Dotson Says:

The parallels with the failure of the Johnson administration in Vietnam are clear. Added to that expansion of this war in a time of deep economic distress is foolhardy at best. The American people are already suffering and Washington responds with more war in a country where we have no pressing national interest. Once again Washington fails the people and supports the military industrial complex. You can’t fool all of the people all of the time.

11/24/2009 :: 07:23:19 PM
Charles Porter Says:

We should not send more troops. We should concentrate on personnel removal. That would send a message that they need to get their house in order.
Consider the waste of lives and money expended in the questionable wars!
We have to pose the question, whose war is this?

Charlie Porter

11/24/2009 :: 07:22:26 PM
Janet Says:

Thomas Friedman has it right–as long as we don’t have a cooperative partner in the gov’t of Afghanistan we are doing harm to the U.S. and Afghanistan w/ our presence. They don’t want us in their country and that alone makes us less safe at home in the U.S.. Meanwhile our infrastructure gets weaker and our ability to protect our homeland near impossible. Obama has become a miserable, cowardly disappointment.

11/24/2009 :: 07:19:58 PM
CB Says:

YES. We must cover Afghanistan, and regime change in Iran, before (Alqada, Hamas, Heszbollah) attack America again. These groups are very dangerous, and they get supported by Iranian terrorist regime. We can not lose middle east. Russia, and China are getting economicy so rich out of Iran and middle east, US needs to get its terroritis back from Russia. We lost middle east in 1979 during Jimmy Carter and his poor foreign policy. Now we are paying back after 30 years. Time to do anything US can to get rid of Iranian regime, then we will have control in Afghnastan, Iraq, and pakstian.

11/24/2009 :: 07:16:23 PM
vivienne wilkinson Says:

Anyone who watched The Bill Moyers program Sunday 22 November would be horrified to see Johnson sliding into the Viet Nam war despite his frank appraisal of further involvement as catastrophic. I had hoped Obama’s vision was at least as astute as that regarding Afghanistan. I am so sad that we are sliding down the slippery slope toward a hopeless war

11/24/2009 :: 07:14:00 PM
John Pitre Says:

Although the Nobel Peace Prize tied Presidest Obama’s hand there’s no need to send additional troops. Look at what Hernandez Desoto did in Peru against the terrorist group Shining Path without any bloodshed at all. Go to http://www.powerofpoor.com as seen on PBS last week.

11/24/2009 :: 07:12:22 PM
abql Says:

yes, definitely i support these and more - there’s nothing remotely progressive or liberal about abandoning Afghanistan AGAIN to the Taliban - they are the fascists of our age and they’ve given no indication of having changed any of their goals or their ability to forge credible negotiations - Pakistan tried that only last spring and the agreement lasted less than a week!

11/24/2009 :: 06:52:52 PM
CT Blossom Says:

Bin Laden said the US will fall from war $$$$ as did the USSR.

War is Terror. It makes more enemies.

Follow the $$$ China wants Iraq’s oil piped through Iran and Afghanistan so they lend US $$$ and we do the dirty bloody work and pay for it.

Respect does not come from fear (terror)

Quagmire

11/24/2009 :: 06:46:49 PM
guy laurent Says:

no I don’t think President Obama should send more
troups why spend more lives and more moneys for a war
we cannot win.

11/24/2009 :: 06:43:31 PM
Gloria Says:

this is a foolish decision. We have no interests in Afghanistan,the government there is corrupt and the country is a collection of feudal lords. What will we gain and what does finish the job mean?

11/24/2009 :: 06:33:27 PM
Sylvia and Bob Farrington Says:

We are terribly disappointed that President Obama
made this decision. All we can think of is so many lives wasted and so many more wounded, and of course, so much moremmoney that we do not have.
We should not be nation-building there, or anywhere. If they want to live with Taliban, it is not our concern. We are walking in the footsteps of the Russians who finally gave u p.
Remember?

11/24/2009 :: 06:25:10 PM
Faisal Abdus-Salaam Says:

From what i know of the plan it sounds like it may make some temporary progress. This war is not winnable in the long run. The president is making more of a political move than a milatary move. We are in quick sand and i pray we get out as soon as possible. On top of everything we can’t afford this war. America is on a slippery sloap. The way i see it since 911 we have played into the hands of those who attacked us. The best part of the presidents plan are the exit ramps. I pray he uses them!

11/24/2009 :: 06:20:18 PM
Walter Mead Says:

No, I think the political and military situation is hopeless. The more troops we have in Afghanistan, the more we will be seen as a foreign invader, the more American military personnel and Afghan civilians will die.

11/24/2009 :: 06:16:41 PM
donna endicott Says:

unequivocally opposed to adding more troops to an illegal war resembling Viet Nam

11/24/2009 :: 06:14:00 PM
randy Reece Says:

No! I think the U.S. really should only have Half as many troops there as NATO Forces.

11/24/2009 :: 06:04:39 PM
Susan M Says:

Yes, I think we should commit more troops, however this is my suggestion to President Obama: I think that it would be wise for President Obama to honor our military. If one serves two years in the military and potentially sacrifices their life for service you receive an military associates degree, if you serve four years in the military services you receive a military bachelors degree, if you serve six years on the military you receive a masters military degree and if you serve seven years in the military you receive a doctorate military degree. These degrees would be equivalent to any degree at the university level in every state. We would finally set the slate clean that we don’t treat our military like inferior products and if they risk their lives we will pay them back with what they deserve. These degrees would be regarded higher than an Ivy League education and the public opinion would honor them in the same regard. It’s time we wake up to the reality that something must be done. The degrees would be across the board, no exceptions. Our military should never return to this country after risking their lives without gaining dignified and accomplished lives.

11/24/2009 :: 05:46:21 PM
Faith Says:

I do not think we should send troops to Afghanistan. In fact, I think we should get out of there. How can anything be accomplished with no government there? For an analysis of the situation read: ‘Hot, Flat and Crowded’ by Friedman. He says it very well.

11/24/2009 :: 05:44:34 PM
heather Says:

Outline the goals and the timetables for reaching those gaols. Set a plan for removal of the troops if the goals are not met. Don’t barter with the wolrd using the lives of Americans unless you’re ready to walk away if your demands aren’t met

11/24/2009 :: 05:42:35 PM
stash polski Says:

We are in a situation where we cannot and will not succeed in our goals in Afghanistan. This war has cost us and will continue to cost us many men. Russia was there for almost 10 years. The Soviets grossly underestimated the huge cost of the Afghan venture—described, in time, as the Soviet Union’s Vietnam–to their state. Why do we feel we can do what Russia was unable to accomplish.

11/24/2009 :: 05:20:32 PM
Trish Says:

I think that the endeavor may be worthwhile, but only if it is fully paid for by increasing taxes on the wealthiest 5% and voted on as a fully funded military action. Otherwise, we simply cannot afford it.

11/24/2009 :: 05:12:23 PM
chris Says:

another ignorant president that believes Peace is found through War!

11/24/2009 :: 04:15:37 PM
Robert A. Kehl Says:

Mr. Obama’s decision is pure politics. Large scale combat operations in south Asia are harmful to the security and economic health of our nation. The military industrial complex still rules. Still crazy after all these years.

11/24/2009 :: 01:42:37 PM
Larry Says:

I think a distinct time-table of 2-3 years needs to be established…during which time the American & other NATO forces can accomplish what they may…then all NATO (INCL. American) forces physically exit Afghanistan. Period!

11/24/2009 :: 01:26:35 PM
earle,florida Says:

President Obama had telegraphed his decision long ago when he rejected a past campaign promise. Thus,… Feb/09 commitment to bolster troops in Afghanistan determined that he should/would be a “Warring Presidential Enabler”! He will commit tens-of thousands very coyly,… but ironically the number that McChyrstal wanted will be surpassed by thousands once the final tally is told by mid/2010. PS. President Obama voted present on all controversial issues during his short tenure in the US Senate,… (Noteworthy: United States borrors from Japan,and China to pay for our wars while the Russian’s,Indian’s,Chinese all on the periphery of Afghanistan…that should be concerned…go merrily on their way wheeling,and dealing,…while America will be in a morass (Viet Nam) for another decade,…what gives ?…time to wake up America before it’s to late?)