Speaking today following a meeting with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta dismissed the recent polls showing a supermajority of Americans opposed to continuing the occupation of Afghanistan, saying that the US already has the “best strategy” for the war and will continue on with it despite what the polls say.
“I think the American people understand why we’re engaged in Afghanistan. 9/11 represented an attack on our country,” Panetta said. The poll actually touched on this, with a majority of respondents saying that since the death of Osama bin Laden they aren’t really clear what the “mission” of the occupation is anymore.
“Polls are for dogs,” insisted Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay, saying he considered 9/11 to be “an attack on Canada.” Canada has withdrawn most of its troops from Afghanistan already, but has a small training team still on the ground.
Panetta’s predecessor, Secretary Robert Gates, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton both mocked the idea that public opposition could have any impact on the war. The Obama Administration’s stance has not changed, despite massive protests in Afghanistan and overwhelming opposition among US voters, but with elections coming up the war may well become an issue, in Congressional races if not the presidential vote.
So no matter what we want, we don't have a say. Can we send these idiots to the front now?
No but one could possibly start polling from the rooftops at some point in the future.
“I think the American people understand why we’re engaged in Afghanistan. 9/11 represented an attack on our country. The square root of 2 is approximately 1.414. In 1934, Oskar Heil build the first field effect transistor."
Random utterances with no relationship altogether, with two statements of facts.
Ms Clinton's dismissal of public opinion in matters of public policy reveals a contempt for democracy and a great faith in our sham democracy with its system of two corrupt, 1%-serving, warmongering parties. Eventually the 99% are going to catch on and vote en masse for another party, which appears to be the only real hope.
Its been a constant theme of the DubyaObama era for high ranking officials to hate democracy. This comes straight from the top, as Obama and Hillary have made very similar statements to the effect that what the American people think doesn't matter. The highest officials in the land are of the consistent opinion that we are just supposed to pay our taxes to fund these wars, send our children off to die or be maimed in these wars, but otherwise shut up because what we think doesn't matter to them. King George III would be so proud of these people.
A new Congress without Republicans and without Democrats, and a new President who isn't Romney, Santorum or Obama would solve this problem. We can end this in 2012
Citizens? Voters?
Just dip us in purple ink.
“I think the American people understand why we’re engaged in Afghanistan. 9/11 represented an attack on our country,”
9/11 was actually done by Saudis not the Afghanis, one needs to know that US and EU military is not coming home from Afghanistan because the country that is occupied is good strategic area to attack Iran, other central Asian country, and above all the war planed with China. What his saying is the plan that they have to start the 3rd WW. If not Afghanistan is a hostage taking situation for US government to argue the 9/11 for ever and having a place handy in case of starting the war with Iran.
911 was done by the Saudis. wrongooo, try the USSA's ally " Mossad "
I did try your saying, I found out that they were working with Saudis, UAE, the Jordanian Kings and Mossad as well, I also found out that FBI actually have a file on those whom were on a roof of a wan having a laugh and dancing in direction of twin buildings before the impact,, later they found out that the wan is belongs to a moving company and that the owner of the company is a mossad agent. I also found out that nationality of those who orchestrated the 911 are Saudis not Afghanis national. But US went into Afghanistan occupying it for last 10 years, read the Paul Wolfowitz idea in how and what US needs to do to preserve the US interests and Dick Cheney, the AIPAC and their version in occupying, starting wars with rich in Oil where the Oil will pay for the devastation's created by US.
Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence.
Napoleon Bonaparte
Of course, incompetence is not a word that can be used to describe Mr. Panetta. He is obviously one of the best and brightest in the American political system. A long term congressperson who rose to positions of power within the Congress, and then moves over to the Executive branch and rises still further there. It would be a very sad mistake to believe that a person like Mr. Panetta is incompetent.
Being one of the best and brightest in the American political system is not currently a ringing endorsement of one's abilities nor one's capacity for making sound decisions.
I met this guy back in 1985 or 86 during a campaign dinner in Salinas California arranged by the Filipino community. I was there that night because my x wife was Filipino American. The guy was kissing asses to get their votes for the state congress seat. I am sure he’s smart guy but no matter how smart you are you need to be in the circle to be able to reach these high positions he got starting from the Clinton and up. As much as Obama or anyone with high wings in D.C the statements he’s been making these days are made by Teleprompters. He’s a servant of (THEM) after all.
The 'best strategy' for whom is what we need to ask. Look at the smiling faces in the photo accompanying this article. These ravaging vultures see their rewards coming from the banks and armament and mercenary providers they work for. No wonder we don't matter. And the idiot Canadian MacKay couldn't even use an original pun. John Diefenbaker, once a PM there, used that one 55 years ago. Ha ha ha indeed.
9/11 represented an attack on our country.
Which could have been more effectively avoided by tightening border controls, restricting visas and removing "visa-overstayers", rather then a decade long occupation of some backward remote country.
True that. We should have started with the dual-citizens of that turd in a sea of Arabs called Isreal.
No argument there Johnny. I have long been on record as opposing dual-citizenship. I also would end all foreign aid to Israel and kick AIPAC out of town.
"Polls are for dogs" and pols (i.e. politicians of the kind presented here) ARE dogs. As evidence, note that male dogs tend to go around pissing on pieces of territory to identify it as theirs, the same behavior implied here. These policies disapproved of by the people belong to the pols who create them and profit by them. Insulting the people who disapprove is the same as pissing on them the way dogs do on what they consider their territory.
At least he's being candid. We already know the politicians and elites don't give a rat's ass about what we want or need, now, they're admitting. All pretenses of democracy and all that fuzzy crap have been dropped.
One of the many reasons I am an anarchist.