Obama's "Withdrawal" in Afghanistan leaves twice as many troops there as when he took office

[markpkessinger]

http://thinkprogress.org/security/2011/06/22/250807/obamas-troop-reduction-afghanistan/

[City Lights]

1. Does that mean his position on the issue is "evolving?" nt

[Walk away]

2. We are never getting out of there!

If he can't get us out you know that a Republican President is only going to make things worse. Looking at the likely scenarios I don't see an end to either of those wars.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[JoePhilly]

4. As a canddiate .. did he say there would be fewer?

As a candidate, he said he would ADD troops.

Why are so many surprised that he did exactly that?

[markpkessinger]

5. As a candidate, did he say we'd be there forever, even after killing OBL? n/t

[JoePhilly]

7. 1 month is now "forever" ????

When did Obama say that when we kill OBL, we leave?

You have THAT quote?

Obama did say that if Pakistan could not or would not kill OBL, he would ... HEY ... he did exactly that!!!

But where did Obama say "when I kill OBL, we leave" ???????

[markpkessinger]

9. If killing OBJ was not our objective, what is? n/t

And where has Obama promised a full withdrawal in 1 month?

[JoePhilly]

13. Killing OBL was never the only objective, and ...

Obama never said we'd leave in one month after such an event.

[markpkessinger]

16. Then what IS the objective?

Please, I'm all ears. And when that objective (assuming one even exists) is achieved, will it then be time to leave?

[JoePhilly]

18. The larger objective has always been ...

to make sure that the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan can not be used as the training ground for AL Qaeda and its leadership.

In the beginning, Bush had the chance to achieve this objective. But he squandered it.

That region, between Afghanistan and Pakistan, has been the primary safe area for Al Qaeda leadership.

Killing OBL has been a major step forward in that regard. And since then, the US has been taking out top leaders of Al Qaeda using what they learned.

Parallel to this ... the Taliban leaders have been able to hide in the same areas. They supported OBL. Now, they try to blend in.

SO killing OBL is a big step forward ... but will still need to catch top Al Qaeda / Taliban leaders and remove them.

I'd prefer that we get out of Afghanistan faster, we all agree on that ... but I don't want to do what Bush did ... ignore Afghanistan.

[markpkessinger]

23. And every day we remain there...

...we create more Taliban loyalists (and for good reason). So what is the end here?

[JoePhilly]

24. Can you back that up?

If we were discussing Iraq, I would agree with you.

Afghanistan is a very different place.

They don't want us OR the Taliban.

[markpkessinger]

25. Do you seriously think we're "winning hearts and minds" in Afghanistan? n/t

[truth2power]

20. pipelines. n/t

[markpkessinger]

12. Sorry, I've seen this song and dance before....

I'm old enough to remember Vietnam.

[JoePhilly]

15. Did Kosovo = Vietnam?

Does Iraq = Afghanistan?

Does Iran = Iraq = Afghanistan?

Does Egypt = Iraq = Iran = Afghanistan?

Or, to be brief ... are all middle east countries "the same".

Are their governments all at the same place?

Should we do what the Bush administration did, and pretend that Iraq = Afghanistan and that Saddam = OBL???

[Bluebear]

27. +

[ProSense]

10. Did he say we'd be there forever?

When?

This "more troops than when he started" argument doesn't make much sense. It's not a surprise he added more troops.

The withdrawal has to start somewhere, and 33,000 is a good start.

Obviously, more troop withdrawals are necessary to end the war. The faster the pace the better.

[Dept of Beer]

21. Agreed. He's never used such a straw dog argument like that.

Let's be happy that the number is less than it was yesterday albeit that it is still more then when he took office.

Good things have to start some place.

[xiamiam]

14. whether there is a reason or not..whether it makes sense or not..give me a break

that is not a legitimate defense..he said a lot of things on the campaign trail..most of which did not come to pass

[JoePhilly]

19. What BS.

The only people who are confused about what he said as a candidate are those who did not listen.

[Dawgs]

26. Just because he said it doesn't make it right.

Unfortunately, it seems that some are so overwhelmed by him that they don't know the difference.

[Vinca]

6. What really pisses me off is that whether we leave tomorrow or

10 years from tomorrow, the outcome will be the same. Dead and maimed American soldiers and billions of dollars spent for nothing.

[markpkessinger]

8. Exactly. n/t

[Bluebear]

11. Give that man a Peace Prize! nt

[KG]

17. +infinity

[Dappleganger]

22. Thank you for the reality check...

but with us in Libya, that still put us farther ahead wrt troops overseas.

[slay]

28. Woah man - stop like actually using facts to prove points

Seems so often here these days - especially in certain forums - the main goal is to spread ONLY pro-Obama propaganda - facts be damned! So thanks for posting some REAL facts about this whole Afghanistan bullshit Obama pulled last night.