The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says President Obama’s new surge-and-endgame strategy in Afghanistan will help military forces find a better focus for their mission.
** QUICK HITS. Defense Secretary Bob Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hit the evening newscasts on the East Coast to push the new Obama strategy on Afghanistan. They insist that the escalate now and begin withdrawing in mid-2011 plan can work by “lighting a fire” under the Afghan leadership, as Gates put it. … In another blow for gay marriage advocates, the New York State Senate voted 38-24 against legalization. Many had expected the body, in which Democrats have a one-vote edge, to pass the legislation. It’s certain now, incidentally, that there will be no gay marriage initiative on next year’s California ballot. Which is no surprise here. … In another blow for California’s far right, a campaign to recall a second Republican legislator who voted for the compromise budget early this year has failed. Opponents of state Senator Bob Huff didn’t even bother to turn their petitions in. …
** IN ADVANCE OF COPENHAGEN, SCHWARZENEGGER PRESENTS CALIFORNIA CLIMATE EFFECTS REPORT, GOOGLE APPLICATIONS, AND NEW TOP-LEVEL TASK FORCE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger this morning returned to the Treasure Island site in the middle of San Francisco Bay where he signed California’s landmark climate change legislation into law in the fall of 2006. (The site could be underwater with expected climate change.) There he appeared with Google CEO Erich Schmidt and a host of dignitaries to release a climate adaptation report, appoint a new task force, and present a new Google Earth application called Cal-Adapt, with which Californians can see how the risk of continued climate change could impact their communities.
Schwarzenegger and Google also unveiled an interactive fly-over video tour to highlight the risks of climate change in specific geographic locations throughout California.
You can access these Google Earth-based applications through visiting the state’s climate change portal at www.climatechange.ca.gov.
As for the new task force, Schwarzenegger has essentially added a task force of the Pacific Council, a foreign policy organization affiliated with the Council on Foreign Relations. The panel will focus on three areas of hazard: Increased wildfires and extended fire seasons, rising sea levels along 1,100 miles of coastline, and a diminished water supply caused by reduced snow pack in the Sierras and extended periods of drought.
Among the members of the new Climate Adaptation Advisory Panel are former Edison International CEO John Bryson, former EPA Administrator William Reilly, former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg, and former Governor Pete Wilson. Intriguingly, Wilson chairs the campaign of GOP gubernatorial hopeful Meg Whitman, who has vowed to repeal the legislation.
Asked by a local reporter if he’s worried about a lack of Republican support on the issue after he leaves office, Schwarzenegger quipped that there has hardly been any while he’s been in office. And, no, he’s not worried.
** OBAMA’S APPROVAL ON AFGHANISTAN STARTS OFF LOW AS HIS NEW STRATEGY BEGINS. I haven’t seen any polls yet on the reaction to President Barack Obama’s new strategy for Afghanistan, but he went into the speech last night with his lowest ratings on that issue.
According to the Gallup Poll, Obama had only 35% approval on Afghanistan. That was down from 49% in September and 56% in July.
The intervening event, of course, was the wildly flawed Afghan national election, which ended with President Hamid Karzai retaining his office despite widespread elections fraud.
The decline in Obama’s approval rating on Afghanistan is evident among all party groups, with double-digit decreases since September among Republicans (17 points), independents (16 points), and Democrats (10 points).
While a slim majority of Obama’s fellow Democrats approve of his handling of the issue, his new policy may not be well-received by Democrats, who have indicated opposition to troop-level increases in Afghanistan. The details of the policy will likely be more appealing to Republicans, who are supportive of putting more U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
The question about Afghanistan comes from a Nov. 20-22 USA Today/Gallup poll that also asked Americans to rate Obama’s handling of six other issues. The president registers less than majority approval for his performance on all seven issues, with Afghanistan his worst rating. His best rating is on energy policy, with 49% approval. …
But the decline in Americans’ evaluations of Obama on Afghanistan does not appear to have greatly affected their more general views of him, as his overall job approval rating — though down slightly since September — has not declined to nearly the same degree as his rating on Afghanistan.
President Barack Obama outlines his new strategy on Afghanistan and Pakistan in last night’s speech from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
** OBAMA TODAY. President Barack Obama is in Washington today.
Obama and Vice President Biden have received the daily intelligence briefing in the Oval Office.
At 9:35 AM Pacific, Obama and Biden have lunch in the Private Dining Room.
At 10:45 AM Pacific, Obama receives the daily economic briefing in the Oval Office.
At 11:45 AM Pacific, Obama meets with senior advisors in the Oval Office.
At noon Pacific, Biden meets with Indiana Senator Richard Lugar at the White House.
At 12:25 AM Pacific, Obama meets with Indiana Senator Evan Bayh in the Oval Office.
At 1:10 PM Pacific, Obama meets with South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham in the Oval Office.
Obama and Biden are reaching out to relative centrists in both parties on national health care and AfPak.
And there are big congressional hearings today on the new strategy.
Defense Secretary Bob Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Hose Foreign Affairs Committee, the latter of which is chaired by Los Angeles Congressman Howard Berman.
Gates and Mullen argue that America will be in a position to begin withdrawing troops by the middle of 2011.
The response from NATO allies and from Russia to the speech has been positive so far.
As the dust settles in the aftermath of last night’s speech, I’ll have a column on the new Afghanistan strategy.
Obama, incidentally, ran last year on escalating the war in Afghanistan.
Here’s one window on the reaction of the Afghan people to Obama’s new strategy.
Obama is also monitoring the Iranian crisis.
Experts said two days that Iran doesn’t have the capacity to build and operate 10 new nuclear sites, thus greatly accelerating its nuclear program, as the Islamic republic angrily vowed to do in the wake of its censure by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Yesterday Iran complained about Russia and China adding their voices to the vote against Iran in the IAEA. Only three nations voted with Iran at the IAEA: Cuba, Venezuela and Malaysia.
Iran had previously complained about Russia’s refusal to provide it with supposedly promised S-300 anti-aircraft weapons, one of the most advanced systems in the world, and its failure to complete the Bushehr nuclear plant.
Today, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that there is no need for further negotiations and that Iran’s nuclear issue has been resolved.
I don’t think so.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signs California’s landmark climate change legislation on Treasure Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay in 2006. Participating via satellite is British Prime Minister Tony Blair. There in the non-virtual world are New York Governor George Pataki, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, and the authors of AB 32, California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and LA Assemblywoman Fran Pavley.
** FROM THE ARNOLD FILE. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in San Francisco and San Jose today.
At 11:30 AM, Schwarzenegger is on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay, where he signed California’s landmark climate change legislation in 2006.
There he holds a press conference with Google chairman and chief executive officer Eric Schmidt to release California’s Climate Adaptation Strategy final report, described as a first-of-its-kind comprehensive, multi-sector analysis to help the state manage climate impacts from sea level rise, increased temperatures, shifting precipitation and extreme natural events.
The event will be webcast live on www.gov.ca.gov.
At 2:30 PM, Schwarzenegger participates in a moderated Q&A hosted by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group at Sun Power Corporation in San Jose.
He’ll discuss a number of issues, including the state’s chronic fiscal crisis, education reform, water, and energy and the environment.
The state Assembly begins taking up education reform legislation needed to qualify California for big Obama Administration challenge grants.
And Assembly Democrats may vote soon on a speaker to succeed LA’s Karen Bass, whose term ends next year. The two frontrunners, both from Los Angeles, are John Perez and Kevin de Leon.
** HEADS SHOULD ROLL OVER OBAMA STATE DINNER SECURITY BREACH. It turns out to be shockingly easy to assassinate President Barack Obama.
In a fabulous show of security, it emerged late Wednesday that a pair of reality show contestants succeeded in crashing the Obamas’ first state dinner. One posted photos of the couple with Vice President Joe Biden and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, who she referred to as “Ron,” on her Facebook page.
Amusing though it may seem, this situation is very serious, and totally unacceptable. Heads should roll over this. … From my November 27th column.
** TONY BLAIR’S CAUTIONARY TALE FOR OBAMA. Tony Blair’s recent travails, last week over his bid to become the first president of the European Union and today with the start of Britain’s Iraq War inquiry, stand as something of a cautionary tale for President Barack Obama. Blair was long the favorite to become the first president of the European Union. But in the end, pilloried on the left for his leading role in the Iraq War and still not supported by the right, he was supplanted by a little-known Belgian bureaucrat.
Just as America had Obamamania in 2008, Britain had Blairmania in 1997. “Things Can Only Get Better” blared, as it were, the ubiquitous Blair campaign song.
“Everybody voted for him. He wasn’t a politician; he was a craze.” That’s how the title character puts it in the deliciously vicious roman a clef novel by former Blair friend Robert Harris, The Ghost (as in ghostwriter of the ex-prime minister’s memoirs), which was was being made into a movie by Roman Polanski when he was arrested in Switzerland. … From my November 24th column.
** MAD MEN: THREE SEASONS ON AND LOOKING FORWARD. … From my November 21st essay.
** THE INEVITABLE FLUKE THAT IS SARAH PALIN. … From my November 17th column.
** OBAMA IN FLUX. … From my November 13th column.
** MAD MEN‘S SENSATIONAL SEASON FINALE. … From my November 9th review.
** OBAMA’S OFF TO A VERY GOOD START. … From my November 4th column.
** OBAMA: RIDING WITH HISTORY. (NOTE: As Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States, this column was the featured column on the top of the front page of the Huffington Post.) … From my January 19th Huffington Post column.
** 24/7 LIVE TV NEWS FEED FROM RUSSIA TODAY. Russia has re-emerged as one of the world’s great powers. Click here for a live TV news feed on your computer, bringing you English-language, jargon-free, fast-paced coverage of global and Russian news from the Russia Today channel. You probably already know about CNN International, BBC World, and Al Jazeera. Russia Today, which also features culture, entertainment, and sports, is based in Moscow and is owned and operated by the TV Novosti division of Russia’s state news agency, RIA Novosti. While it’s quite foolish to expect to see, say, criticism of Vladimir Putin on Russia Today, the channel is very interesting nonetheless. With U.S. cable news chattering away as it does, this sort of respite can be informative. The NWN live link to RT does not constitute an endorsement of the channel’s views. It’s presented as an otherwise unavailable new media window.
** 24/7 LIVE TV NEWS FEED FROM AL JAZEERA. With the US entangled in two wars in the region, it’s valuable to keep up with news and perspectives from the leading Middle Eastern-based TV news network. Based in the Gulf Arab state of Qatar, Al Jazeera is very influential and more than a bit controversial. Click here for a live TV news feed on your computer. The NWN live link to AJ does not constitute an endorsement of the channel’s views. It’s presented as an otherwise unavailable new media window.
** SCHWARZENEGGER’S CALIFORNIA. Here is my series of five columns on the governorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger for the Los Angeles Times in debate last fall, prior to the global economic meltdown, with Pulitzer Prize-winning former Times reporter/editor Bill Boyarsky, whose columns are also included. Among them is what I’m sure is the first piece examining Schwarzenegger’s legacy as governor of California. Since he will actually be governor of California until 2011. No technology known to be disruptive to the space/time continuum was used in its preparation. You can listen to my recent video webchat with Schwarzenegger here.
** TRACK GLOBAL AND NATIONAL ENERGY PRICES IN NEAR REAL TIME VIA BLOOMBERG ENERGY MARKET WATCH. Having crashed over $147 for yet another record on July 11th, 2008, crude oil is trading around $78 per barrel.
This is up about $44 from the low of $34 per barrel prior to enactment of the Obama economic recovery program, reflecting a low point in global economic activity.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum. You can send me a private tip by clicking on the “Contact” button in the upper right.
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| Comments (46) |
I hope the plan is as good as Obama’s speech.
I don’t think the reporter knows what’s going on all over Afghanistan.
Tony Blair sounds very good at the California bill signing.
Doesn’t he always “sound” very good?
That’s Arnold high water mark, isn’t it?
Jonas Blane says:
December 2, 2009 at 9:12 am
Tony Blair sounds very good at the California bill signing.
Barack gave a great speech. The plan is to train the Afghans and have them do the work of keeping Afghanistan safe.
Jonas Blane says:
December 2, 2009 at 8:59 am
I hope the plan is as good as Obama’s speech.
Who does?
Jonas Blane says:
December 2, 2009 at 9:02 am
I don’t think the reporter knows what’s going on all over Afghanistan.
Pakistani intelligence.
It was called Vietnamization when Nixon tried it.
> Capitol Boy says:
December 2, 2009 at 9:44 am (Edit)
Barack gave a great speech. The plan is to train the Afghans and have them do the work of keeping Afghanistan safe.
Jonas Blane says:
December 2, 2009 at 8:59 am
I hope the plan is as good as Obama’s speech.
It’s the core of his legacy.
> Capitol Boy says:
December 2, 2009 at 9:42 am (Edit)
That’s Arnold high water mark, isn’t it?
Jonas Blane says:
December 2, 2009 at 9:12 am
Tony Blair sounds very good at the California bill signing.
We’ve not heard the last of Tony Blair here …
>#
Jonas Blane says:
December 2, 2009 at 9:12 am (Edit)
Tony Blair sounds very good at the California bill signing.
#
Len says:
December 2, 2009 at 9:32 am (Edit)
Doesn’t he always “sound” very good?
A lot of Afghanistan is very remote, with little if any communications …
> Jonas Blane says:
December 2, 2009 at 9:02 am (Edit)
I don’t think the reporter knows what’s going on all over Afghanistan.
Bill, thanks for pointing this out, especially for those too young to have lived through Viet Nam. I doubt if Obama’s plan will be any more successful in Afghanistan.
Bill Bradley says:
December 2, 2009 at 10:11 am
It was called Vietnamization when Nixon tried it.
> Capitol Boy says:
December 2, 2009 at 9:44 am (Edit)
Barack gave a great speech. The plan is to train the Afghans and have them do the work of keeping Afghanistan safe.
Secretary Gates said today that the US is not only looking at the ANA and the ANP but also at partnering with local security forces at the district level. He acknowledged that there has been too much of a focus on the central government in Kabul. He wants to encourage local security structures but balance that by having these entities accountable to and working with the central government. This is reassuring as I think there needs to be a more profound shift in focus toward the tribal leaders in Afghanistan, in the short and long term, militarily and politically.
I still think that it is a fools paradise to think that we can build up an Afghan National Army that is going to be effective as a national force. We need to get down to the local level and put a lot more effort there into building partnerships with local security forces.
Bill Bradley says:
December 2, 2009 at 10:08 am
I believe it’s called Vietnamization. Knowing that the Taliban are largely intractable foes, like the Viet Cong, he’s trying to create a space in which Afghan forces are built up.
NATO nations are on board with the new plan.
Additional video today on the hearings?
I hope the O doesn’t escalate in Afghanistan and ignore Iran. That’s the opposite of what he needs to do.
Yeah, that worked real well…
Bill Bradley says:
December 2, 2009 at 10:11 am
It was called Vietnamization when Nixon tried it.
> Capitol Boy says:
December 2, 2009 at 9:44 am (Edit)
Barack gave a great speech. The plan is to train the Afghans and have them do the work of keeping Afghanistan safe.
Yeah, when does that Polanski flick get released, anyway?
Bill Bradley says:
December 2, 2009 at 10:12 am
We’ve not heard the last of Tony Blair here …
>#
Jonas Blane says:
December 2, 2009 at 9:12 am (Edit)
Tony Blair sounds very good at the California bill signing.
#
Len says:
December 2, 2009 at 9:32 am (Edit)
Doesn’t he always “sound” very good?
Hey, the glitch is gone, again…
Where’s Scharzeneger?
Cool Schwarzie webcast when it started, I want those Google apps.
Does anyone remember an address – I call it, affectionately, the ‘Augean Stables’ speech – that vice presidential candidate Biden delivered to a group of Barack Obama’s biggest supporters and donors, most of them community leaders in their own right, just a couple of weeks before the election?
If you don’t recall what I’m talking about you can blame it on the vast majority of the media/blogosphere/punditocracy who collectively wouldn’t know a classical reference if it knocked them upside their heads nor could they demonstrate the capacity to understand a word Biden says or anything he does if their own bloody lives depended on it. They inaccurately dubbed this incredibly important address as the ‘Mark my words – Obama will be tested by an international crisis’ speech as they completely missed the entire gist of what Biden had said that night.
Biden talked about the incredible mess, on the order of magnitude of the Augean Stables, that the next President – and, at that time it was fairly clear that Obama would emerge the winner – would inherit and he warned the select audience that tough decisions were going to have to be made, particularly with respect to foreign policy. He asked them to remember how they feel now and to realize that when these tough decisions are made, President Obama is going to need their support more than ever. He pleaded with them to use their strong voices in their respective communities to garner support for the new administration as it tackles the very complex and difficult challenges that it would surely be facing.
Biden went on to warn them that the decisions made by the new administration may not always be the popular decision but that they would be sound decisions – popular decisions are often not sound ones, he added – that would command their vocal and public support.
Everytime I initially have misgivings about something this administration has done – especially in the realm of foreign policy – I am reminded of Biden’s warning…President Obama’s speech last night is one of those times.
I’m thinking that there is a lot going on that we don’t know about and that President Obama could not speak publically about…at least, not yet. We may have to reserve judgement on this new way forward in Afghanistan and wider region for a while longer yet.
The Admiral makes good sense in that news clip.
Mister Bradley, how I do wish the President could deploy the Mobile Infantry to Afghanistan. A few on-the-bounce cap troopers could handle the situation nicely.
Science fiction aside, it should never be a no-brainer to deploy troops. It’s a decision that should be made thoughtfully and methodically.
Don’t encourage him on the “Starship Troopers” thing.
lol
I’d better get Google Earth to try this.
** IN ADVANCE OF COPENHAGEN, SCHWARZENEGGER PRESENTS CALIFORNIA CLIMATE EFFECTS REPORT, GOOGLE APPLICATIONS, AND NEW TOP-LEVEL TASK FORCE.
I recall that. It was what I called the “big mess” speech.
Elizabeth Miller says:
December 2, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Does anyone remember an address – I call it, affectionately, the ‘Augean Stables’ speech – that vice presidential candidate Biden delivered to a group of Barack Obama’s biggest supporters and donors, most of them community leaders in their own right, just a couple of weeks before the election?
Speaker Karen Bass threw her support behind Assemblyman John Pérez. He will be the next Speaker.
I trust the President. I hope he isn’t making things worse.
Elizabeth Miller says:
December 2, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Does anyone remember an address – I call it, affectionately, the ‘Augean Stables’ speech – that vice presidential candidate Biden delivered to a group of Barack Obama’s biggest supporters and donors, most of them community leaders in their own right, just a couple of weeks before the election?
If you don’t recall what I’m talking about you can blame it on the vast majority of the media/blogosphere/punditocracy who collectively wouldn’t know a classical reference if it knocked them upside their heads nor could they demonstrate the capacity to understand a word Biden says or anything he does if their own bloody lives depended on it. They inaccurately dubbed this incredibly important address as the ‘Mark my words – Obama will be tested by an international crisis’ speech as they completely missed the entire gist of what Biden had said that night.
Biden talked about the incredible mess, on the order of magnitude of the Augean Stables, that the next President – and, at that time it was fairly clear that Obama would emerge the winner – would inherit and he warned the select audience that tough decisions were going to have to be made, particularly with respect to foreign policy.
Where’s the Big Flash?
… In another blow for California’s far right, a campaign to recall a second Republican legislator who voted for the compromise budget early this year has failed. Opponents of state Senator Bob Huff didn’t even bother to turn their petitions in. …
No gay divorce initiative, either
.
>there will be no gay marriage initiative on next year’s California ballot
What new video today?
Holidays, and non-holidays.
What a consolation …
> Clutch J says:
December 2, 2009 at 8:41 pm (Edit)
No gay divorce initiative, either
.
>there will be no gay marriage initiative on next year’s California ballot
Shocked.
> Capitol Boy says:
December 2, 2009 at 7:16 pm (Edit)
Where’s the Big Flash?
… In another blow for California’s far right, a campaign to recall a second Republican legislator who voted for the compromise budget early this year has failed. Opponents of state Senator Bob Huff didn’t even bother to turn their petitions in. …
Bass’s move indicates something, perhaps else.
> marcos leon says:
December 2, 2009 at 6:04 pm (Edit)
Speaker Karen Bass threw her support behind Assemblyman John Pérez. He will be the next Speaker.
Yes, Starship Troopers to Central Asia. That and a few nova weapons will do the trick.
> Vladimir Bierko says:
December 2, 2009 at 3:21 pm (Edit)
Mister Bradley, how I do wish the President could deploy the Mobile Infantry to Afghanistan. A few on-the-bounce cap troopers could handle the situation nicely.
Science fiction aside, it should never be a no-brainer to deploy troops. It’s a decision that should be made thoughtfully and methodically.
Very well stated!
> Elizabeth Miller says:
December 2, 2009 at 1:35 pm (Edit)
Does anyone remember an address – I call it, affectionately, the ‘Augean Stables’ speech – that vice presidential candidate Biden delivered to a group of Barack Obama’s biggest supporters and donors, most of them community leaders in their own right, just a couple of weeks before the election?
If you don’t recall what I’m talking about you can blame it on the vast majority of the media/blogosphere/punditocracy who collectively wouldn’t know a classical reference if it knocked them upside their heads nor could they demonstrate the capacity to understand a word Biden says or anything he does if their own bloody lives depended on it. They inaccurately dubbed this incredibly important address as the ‘Mark my words – Obama will be tested by an international crisis’ speech as they completely missed the entire gist of what Biden had said that night.
Biden talked about the incredible mess, on the order of magnitude of the Augean Stables, that the next President – and, at that time it was fairly clear that Obama would emerge the winner – would inherit and he warned the select audience that tough decisions were going to have to be made, particularly with respect to foreign policy. He asked them to remember how they feel now and to realize that when these tough decisions are made, President Obama is going to need their support more than ever. He pleaded with them to use their strong voices in their respective communities to garner support for the new administration as it tackles the very complex and difficult challenges that it would surely be facing.
Biden went on to warn them that the decisions made by the new administration may not always be the popular decision but that they would be sound decisions – popular decisions are often not sound ones, he added – that would command their vocal and public support.
Everytime I initially have misgivings about something this administration has done – especially in the realm of foreign policy – I am reminded of Biden’s warning…President Obama’s speech last night is one of those times.
I’m thinking that there is a lot going on that we don’t know about and that President Obama could not speak publically about…at least, not yet. We may have to reserve judgement on this new way forward in Afghanistan and wider region for a while longer yet.
I believe in 10 weeks, at the Berlin Film Festival.
> Jack Aubrey says:
December 2, 2009 at 11:29 am (Edit)
Yeah, when does that Polanski flick get released, anyway?
Bill Bradley says:
December 2, 2009 at 10:12 am
We’ve not heard the last of Tony Blair here …
>#
Jonas Blane says:
December 2, 2009 at 9:12 am (Edit)
Tony Blair sounds very good at the California bill signing.
#
Len says:
December 2, 2009 at 9:32 am (Edit)
Doesn’t he always “sound” very good?
He won’t ignore Iran.
> Jack Aubrey says:
December 2, 2009 at 11:26 am (Edit)
I hope the O doesn’t escalate in Afghanistan and ignore Iran. That’s the opposite of what he needs to do.
Indeed. And we’ll see with regard to those 5000 troops …
> Horst says:
December 2, 2009 at 11:09 am (Edit)
NATO nations are on board with the new plan.
Well, it’s not “strategic hamlets,” but it’s also not new …
An army (as distinguished from police) is, by definition, centrally controlled.
> Elizabeth Miller says:
December 2, 2009 at 10:59 am (Edit)
Secretary Gates said today that the US is not only looking at the ANA and the ANP but also at partnering with local security forces at the district level. He acknowledged that there has been too much of a focus on the central government in Kabul. He wants to encourage local security structures but balance that by having these entities accountable to and working with the central government. This is reassuring as I think there needs to be a more profound shift in focus toward the tribal leaders in Afghanistan, in the short and long term, militarily and politically.
Well, it should be more successful, as Afghanistan as a whole need not fall to the Taliban, even if we withdraw most troops. But I doubt it will succeed across the country.
> larry says:
December 2, 2009 at 10:40 am (Edit)
Bill, thanks for pointing this out, especially for those too young to have lived through Viet Nam. I doubt if Obama’s plan will be any more successful in Afghanistan.
Bill Bradley says:
December 2, 2009 at 10:11 am
It was called Vietnamization when Nixon tried it.
> Capitol Boy says:
December 2, 2009 at 9:44 am (Edit)
Barack gave a great speech. The plan is to train the Afghans and have them do the work of keeping Afghanistan safe.
The Vietnam analogy is being taken way too far, here somewhat but especially elsewhere.
We were willing (almost literally) to destroy Vietnam in order to save it from Communism. By any measure–deaths, destruction–the impacts of our bombardment of Vietnam and “pacification” efforts there dwarf by several orders of magnitudes our drones and army tactics in Afghanistan.
Perhaps the real reason Obama is sending more troops to Afghanistan is because it’s next door to Pakistan, which is the base of Al Qeada and key offshoots, nuclear, unstable and threatened by radicals. Should that nation’s weapons fall into the wrong hands, the world would have on its hands perhaps the gravest situation since 1962.