Obama Lauds ‘On Track’ Afghan War
No Mention of Myriad Reports Pointing to Worsening Situation
In a carefully choreographed rubber-stamping, President Obama appeared today to promise the continuation of the Afghan War in its current form, insisting that the war is “on track” and that major progress is being made against al-Qaeda, despite officials confirming repeatedly that virtually no al-Qaeda have been in the country for years.
The vague claims of “progress” came with a five-page summary which made even more vague claims of progress, and both carefully ignored the grim Pentagon report to Congress just three weeks ago, as well as the equally grim, but classified, CIA report on the war.
Likewise no mention was made of the very public reports from groups like the Red Cross reporting the situation at its worst in decades, nor the open letter from top experts calling for the US to settle with the Taliban and leave as soon as possible.
No, today was the day for the administration to try to convince the American public that the continuation of the war is anything but what it really is, a disastrous commitment to a disastrous policy. Facts, clearly, have no place in such an attempt.
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paulBass
December 16th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
"No, today was the day for the administration to try to convince the American public that the continuation of the war is anything but what it really is, a disastrous commitment to a disastrous policy"
who is there to convince? when was the last antiwar rally that was more than five people?
Andron
December 16th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Its mind blowing how these people can trundle out the same old half truths and expect the whole world to believe them.
Either Obama , Clinton, Gates and Co are really , really stupid (which I don't believe for an instant) or they are twisted individuals who are only interested in their own image whilst killing and murdering innocent people with impunity.
They are all War Criminals and should be brought to Justice as soon as possible in the name of all humanity.
Johnny_Warbucks
December 16th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
He he he… Another piece of conflicting news from the "which way did they go, George?" archives. Just this morning, I was reading in the corporate media how the troops are withdrawing from Afghanistan by July for sure. Talk about one hand not knowing what the other is doing. But such in the case when you have entities from from every corner pulling 'news' out of their asses.
andy
December 16th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Obama is "on track" to get the boot in 2012. Then the Republicrats will do their once every four years, smoke and mirrors routine, and put forth a new puppet on a string, to amuse and fool the gullible American sheeple, (perhaps a woman this time).
Steve Hogan
December 16th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Yeah, we're on track all right. We're on track to go over the cliff. Don't look down.
free atlast
December 17th, 2010 at 6:55 am
O = W
VietnamWarVet
December 17th, 2010 at 8:36 am
$158 BILLION more for an unwinnable war – but – NO $14 BILLION for seniors on Social Security.
Afghanistan is indeed the "graveyard of soldiers and of empires" – only a very arrogant and stupid leadership of America would continue to fight a war that can not and will not be won – whatever 'winning' even is?
Russ
December 18th, 2010 at 11:50 am
I read your link to the red cross and I didn't see where they said it is at its worst in 20 or even 30 years. I also don't see where the US armed forces can be blamed for Taliban attacks on civilians.
I've read what the local Afghanis say about the Taliban who have been attacking them in the boarder areas with Pakistan.
"The same mountainous landscape and isolated villages are what attracted the Taliban to Nuristan
The Taliban moved in because the geographic location is good" said Sabur. Our district is bordering pakistan, they come easily and not even afghan taliban.
Mountains make it easier for them to hide.
The Berg-e-Metal villagers have no way to fight the Taliban; worn down by poverty and neglected by the gov., they surrender or flee, they have no other choice, he said.
Western backed security force s have repeatedly tried to wrest control of Matal from insurgents, but then they leave. Abdul said
"The Taliban are like pirates who attack and take what they want," said Ghulum Allah, another elder in Kabul, said, punctuating his remarks with angry, animated gestures. "The situation is very bad. Nobody can go there. In 2 villages people have survived by eating mulberries."
Back up in koran-wa-Monjan, sham shullah, explained that the families that surrender their homes and food to the taliban, about half the 2,000 families, wind up trying to appease the insurgents-feel they have no other options.
"We ask them, Why do you support the Taliban? They say, what are we supposed to do? They come here and replace the Afghan flag with the Taliban flag. They have huge weapons. They are everywhere in the mountains and there is nowhere to go."
Shah Shullah sighed and looked across the river into the mountains. "Of course, maybe they will follow us here too, and come at night and kill us and go back.
And with that, he and the other elders settled in to wait for the helicopters."