President Barack Obama will reportedly announce tonight that he is going to reduce our current 100,000 troop level in Afghanistan by 30,000 — by November 2012. That date may seem familiar. It is the next election day.
Like many who have been critical of this war, this strikes me a too little and too late. Do not mistake me. I am happy to see a one-third withdrawal, but this would just reduce levels to the personnel levels before the “surge.” No one imagined we would still be in the country, at alone with 70,000 troops, in 2012. We will still be gushing billions of dollars for a country that is openly hostile to the United States and has accused the U.S. of stealing money and destroying their nation.
These numbers will be a mix of combat and non-combat troops. The Pentagon wanted non-combat troops only but Obama at least held the line on that point and ordered some combat troops to be included.
Under the plan, 10,000 troops will be withdrawn by the end of this year. Secretary Bob Gates and Afghan war commander Gen. David Petraeus wanted a drawdown of between 3,000 and 5,000 troops this year — and no combat troops.
However, the public is increasing angry over the wars and polls show a many citizens want to be entirely out of Afghanistan. Nearly three-quarters of Americans polled this month said they support the United States pulling some or all of its forces from Afghanistan. With the unpopularity of the latest war in Libya, Obama is paying a high political price for continuing to spend billions at a time when he is calling for cuts in domestic programs.
The timing of the withdrawal with the November election is remarkably dumb. It conveys a connection between Obama’s political strategy and the war. This war has been grinding on for years despite growing opposition. Yet, the Administration picks November 2012 as when it will finally call for a partial withdrawal. That decision only came after every polls shows the President losing votes on the issue. The appearance is one of a cynical calculation with lives in the balance. This may be unfair and the date is a total coincidence but the optics are perfectly horrible.
Source: CNN
I listened to Diane Rehms on NPR- since Obama was elected he sent 52,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. This was done in two waves- the surge was 30,000 but an additional 22,000 were sent before then (but after inauguration).
I am frustrated. Who can I vote for if I am anti-war? No one in the democratic or republican parties. Ron Paul would try to withdraw- but then Congress would run it by Committee.
I truly believe that the war(s) will continue- despite lack of citizen support. I do not believe any President could end the wars or that any democrat or republican Congressional majority could be elected to support that policy.
the troops will be flown out of afganistan in november, however there will be a short (we hope) layover in libya.
obama will be running on hope and change again in 2012. only this time we hope he’ll change.
This nation has adopted a veritable culture of war at home and abroad, all cloaked in euphemisms. And both the economic costs and the cost in lives are borne largely by the least powerful in society. Imperialism has always presaged decline and consoling ourselves with the myth of American exceptionalism will not provide us with immunity from the truths of history.
Watching the speech now; so much BS I feel like it will drown me. “…punish our enemies and adhere to the rule of law…”, ack, ack, suffocating… can’t type….didn’t say anything about bringing the 50K troops in Iraq home- ever….. ack, ack, ack….
That he is in league with that dastardly Satan comes as no surprise, Watson, but I thought our arch-nemesis at least had the demonstrated scruples to avoid such vile villains as that treacherous Cheney. Curses, Moriarty! Your evil knows no depth in depravity!
(Buddha Is Shaking His Fist In The Air)
Sw. mom-
You are absolutely correct. No reason to be in Afghanistan or Libya and even less reason to still be in Iraq. They all have corrupt leaders and all want us out. The American people want us out. The soldiers want us out. Who wants us to stay? Barack Obama, John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Joe Lieberman, Dick Cheney, David Petraeus, The Defense Contractors, and Satan. (Oh- and Professor Moriarty).
Jill, thanks!
Swarthmore, you are correct that Obama did not campaign on ending the Afghan war, but now that we have disposed of OBL, there is no reason to stay and lose lives and Billions of treasure.
henman, There is no reason to be there.
puzzling-
Yup- It’s the old shell game.
Sw. mom-
“Obama campaigned on increasing the troop levels in Afghanistan in order to catch Osama Bin Laden and destroy Al Qaeda.”
Osama Bin Laden is dead(*). Who do we have to kill to get the remainder of the 100,000 troops out of Afghanistan? The invisible man with the invisible “weapons of mass destruction”? The Boogie Man? Professor Moriarty?
(*) Pending confirmation by Orly Taitz.
This troop reduction is like a retailer that doubles prices just so they can have a 50% off sale.
If anyone was paying attention, Obama campaigned on increasing the troop levels in Afghanistan in order to catch osama bin laden and destroy al qaeda. Guess people heard what they wanted to hear.
“ThinkProgress has assembled the following graph showing that if the reductions are carried out as planned, the United States would still have far more troops in Afghanistan than it did when Obama came into office and more than at any point during former president George W. Bush’s administration:”
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2011/06/22/250807/obamas-troop-reduction-afghanistan/
rafflaw,
I’m very glad your son is home.
Now that my son is home from AFghanistan, I am especially concerned that too many sons and daughters will be left in that god forsaken country. When I look at my son’s pictures, the country looks like the moon with more people on it.
He is so transparent!!!!
We aren’t going. We have twice as many mercenaries as US army. We have Vatican III as a base of occupation. Too much money in weapons (the drone program just got an cool 5 billion, too bad it wasn’t twice that, but heh, it’s the age of austerity!). Too much money to be made in the drug trade which again fuels the black budget. Too much mineral wealth to pass up. And don’t forget the pipeline and location, location, location.
It’s really horrible because we are ruin both nations. People are dying for this cruel folly.
HenMan, I love your letter!
Mr. President,
When you leave the White House on January 20, 2013, please leave your Nobel Peace Prize behind. It will give future visitors to the White House a good laugh.
Best wishes for a long and happy retirement.
Love,
HenMan
To little, too late. We should get the hell out of Afghanistan, there is no good reason to remain, only specious, hackneyed arguments from the “Wise Old Men” of foreign policy, who are not self-aware enough to realize that they are part of the MI Complex industrial machine. Always follow the money.
Today in Endless War
G. Greenwald
{Quote:
Even after all 30,000 troops are withdrawn, roughly 68,000 troops will remain in Afghanistan, twice the number as when Mr. Obama assumed office.
So even under the most “aggressive” withdrawal plan the President is considering — one that he and media outlets will undoubtedly tout as a “withdrawal plan” (the headline on the NYT front page today: “Obama to Announce Plans for Afghan Pullout”) — ***there will still be “twice the number” of American troops in that country as there were when George Bush left office and Obama was inaugurated.*** That’s what “withdrawal” means in American political parlance: doubling the number of troops fighting a foreign war over the course of four years
End Quote}
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/index.html
Of course he will….and so did bush…..or was that cheney…the puppet master…