On foreign policy, Bush was right
Don't take my word for it, ask President Obama.
On Iraq, Obama has gone from "We're going to set a date and bring our soldiers home" to "We'll pull out our troops when they are no longer needed (then send them to another war)." In other words, we'll get out of Iraq when we win the war. Some small contingent will likely stay for a very long time, perhaps 100 years. We've only been peacefully occupying Germany for 64 years.
On Afghanistan, it appears we need a "surge"; an increase in troop levels to knock down the violence. It's the same type of thing that helped us get Iraq under control. Fortunately, Obama actually has troops to use, they are the ones that aren't coming home from Iraq.
Before January 20th, Bush was wrong to allow the war in Afghanistan to spill into Pakistan. But Obama is now not just letting the war spill over, we are openly and actively fighting in Pakistan. The Obama machine is floating trial balloons to see if the American people would support taking over Pakistan if it appeared the Taliban was about to take over first. The response is something like, "We're a little tired of taking over third-world countries then fixing them up. What? They have nukes? It's Bush's fault? Woo Hoo! Let's start a new war! That will be a change." I'm pleasantly surprised Obama is willing to flex some military muscle.
Obama now doesn't seem to think we have anything to gain and might have quite a bit to loose if we allow some photos to be released. I dunno, six months ago, Bush was a monster for even considering keeping them under our hat. Now, Obama thinks it was a good idea. So good in fact, he's willing to defy a court order to release them. Bet he wants the interrogation memos back too.
The detention center at Guantanamo Bay is to close, but nothing else will change. Apparently, the only thing wrong with it is the location. OK, I have a really, really hard time with keeping folks indefinitely without charges. It's totally un-American; it's anti-American. I didn't think we should do it. I don't think we should continue to do it, but I don't know what else to do. Without some kind of plan for the next step, we should stand pat.
So I thought the closing of Guantanamo Bay would be more than symbolic. It isn't. For a few prisoners (why do they call them detainees?) they will get the same military tribunals that Bush instituted. The rest will be held indefinitely without charges. All will be held somewhere else, maybe Montana. Nothing will change except the weather. (I don't know why I'm surprised that a guy who can't select a dog also can't figure out a way to try these folks, then imprison them.)
I'd be really happy if the folks in Montana got a prison full of these guys. It would employ about 3% of the townsfolk, which would really bolster the economy. I think it would be cheaper in the long run to use this facility too. So it's a win-win. However, don't tell me stuff has changed when really it's pretty much the same. Here's a thought, Mr. President, have some plan of action and consider the consequences before you whip out your pen and sign an executive order.
On Iraq, Obama has gone from "We're going to set a date and bring our soldiers home" to "We'll pull out our troops when they are no longer needed (then send them to another war)." In other words, we'll get out of Iraq when we win the war. Some small contingent will likely stay for a very long time, perhaps 100 years. We've only been peacefully occupying Germany for 64 years.
On Afghanistan, it appears we need a "surge"; an increase in troop levels to knock down the violence. It's the same type of thing that helped us get Iraq under control. Fortunately, Obama actually has troops to use, they are the ones that aren't coming home from Iraq.
Before January 20th, Bush was wrong to allow the war in Afghanistan to spill into Pakistan. But Obama is now not just letting the war spill over, we are openly and actively fighting in Pakistan. The Obama machine is floating trial balloons to see if the American people would support taking over Pakistan if it appeared the Taliban was about to take over first. The response is something like, "We're a little tired of taking over third-world countries then fixing them up. What? They have nukes? It's Bush's fault? Woo Hoo! Let's start a new war! That will be a change." I'm pleasantly surprised Obama is willing to flex some military muscle.
Obama now doesn't seem to think we have anything to gain and might have quite a bit to loose if we allow some photos to be released. I dunno, six months ago, Bush was a monster for even considering keeping them under our hat. Now, Obama thinks it was a good idea. So good in fact, he's willing to defy a court order to release them. Bet he wants the interrogation memos back too.
The detention center at Guantanamo Bay is to close, but nothing else will change. Apparently, the only thing wrong with it is the location. OK, I have a really, really hard time with keeping folks indefinitely without charges. It's totally un-American; it's anti-American. I didn't think we should do it. I don't think we should continue to do it, but I don't know what else to do. Without some kind of plan for the next step, we should stand pat.
So I thought the closing of Guantanamo Bay would be more than symbolic. It isn't. For a few prisoners (why do they call them detainees?) they will get the same military tribunals that Bush instituted. The rest will be held indefinitely without charges. All will be held somewhere else, maybe Montana. Nothing will change except the weather. (I don't know why I'm surprised that a guy who can't select a dog also can't figure out a way to try these folks, then imprison them.)
I'd be really happy if the folks in Montana got a prison full of these guys. It would employ about 3% of the townsfolk, which would really bolster the economy. I think it would be cheaper in the long run to use this facility too. So it's a win-win. However, don't tell me stuff has changed when really it's pretty much the same. Here's a thought, Mr. President, have some plan of action and consider the consequences before you whip out your pen and sign an executive order.
WOW, First is, Training camps in Pakistan have always been there, go into the FATA and see,Spent a few days in both country's and we should have stayed where it started but who remembers that, I do, I was there. If you think for a second the Paki Govt does not like our money you're wrong, they help promote the issues but not going in a certian area, because they dont want to be dead, give me a ticket and lots of ammo, I am there. I love ya bro but a little off course, so is everyone else who watches the news.
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