Obama Adviser Bashes McCain on Afghanistan
Note: Forgive my absence (if you even noticed). Vacation beckoned.
The Obama campaign justifiably sees an advantage in the renewed interest in the NATO-led efforts to defeat the Taliban and its Al Qaeda allies in Afghanistan. Obama called for a more muscular effort in Afghanistan in a speech on Aug. 1, 2007. Read the speech here: http://www.barackobama.com/2007/08/01/the_war_we_need_to_win.php He advocated at least two more combat brigades for the Afghan theatre and said if the U.S. had actionable intelligence that could lead to the capture or killing of Usama bin Laden, the U.S. should attack — even if the Pakistani government, led by Gen. Pervez Musharaf, objected.
John McCain yesterday endorsed a two-brigade beef-up of NATO-led forces in Afghanistan. But he had a hard time explaining where the troops would come from. The options, obviously, are limited: the U.S. and NATO. McCain is not prepared, as Obama is, to move troops from Iraq to Afghanistan almost immediately upon taking office. Increasing NATO committments is tricky, for a variety of political and miliatry reason — especially if the U.S. is not seen as lifting a heavier load on the ground in Afghanistan.
That is the backdrop for a very aggressive argument from Dr. Susan Rice, a senior foreign policy adviser to Obama’s campaign, that McCain’s new plan for Afghanistan is, in a word, inept.
This is Rice from this morning’s conference call:
“After years of denying it was a problem, yesterday, John McCain woke up and discovered Afghanistan. His speech was surreal and demonstrated once again that he is out of touch and divorced from reality, both in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has no credible plan for either conflict and its resolution. He wants to stay indefinitely at high troops levels in Iraq, regardless of the situation, whether it’s improving or deteriorating. At the same time, he says he wants to surge in Afghanistan without reducing our presence in Iraq, which the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says is impossible. And he wants to balance our budget by 2013 in part, on the basis of troop withdrawals from Afghanistan and Iraq, which he opposes. The whole thing is utterly illogical. He also can’t decide whether he wants US troops, NATO troops, or both to fill the void in Afghanistan. He said all 3 at different times yesterday. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs has been very clear: while NATO can and should do more, NATO alone can’t fill the gap that exists and the US is going to have to do more if we’re going to take the situation in Afghanistan as seriously as we ought to. For someone who likes to portray himself as someone who “knows how to win wars,” John McCain ought to explain how he intends to do so without knowing where his troops are going to come from. But this is just part of a larger pattern. We saw yesterday the real difference in the national security priorities that Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain would pursue as president.”
Strong medicine from team Obama. Also a clear signal, if one were still necessary at this stage of the campaign, that it will cede nothing to McCain on national security and, in fact, pounce when the moment allows. McCain’s Afghanistan remarks were revised several times yesterday and aides readily admitted they moved up the Afghanistan speech to respond to Obama’s big speech on Iraq, Afghanistan and other national security priorities. The question of where additional combat troops for Afghanistan will come from is not minor. McCain’s fumbled response appeared to undercut his muscular declaration yesterday: “I know how to win wars.”
With Obamas war of hatred against America in full swing, and escalating, there isn’t a whole lot of humor going around about his presidential dreams these days. Being Americas greatest enemy from the inside isn’t anything anyone can find a happy future in. And America is only beginning to pay the price for his life in Washington DC that is still only speculation at best.
I totally agree with everything said. If people would actually listen to and/or read the transcripts of Senator McBush, its clear that he doesn’t have a clue what the hell to do. Afghanistan should have always been our #1 priority, ending the life of O’Binny Boy is the only reason we should be at war, except Iraq, where oil and making allot of money is. However, Backstabbin Obama isn’t much better, but, at this point in the rhetoric, he seem to be the most coherent.
McCain doesn’t seem as adept at foreign policy as he claims to be. Given his mistakes lately,(Referring to Chechozlavakia–please forgive the spelling—that hasn’t existed in 15 years, not knowing which Muslim group in Iraq is aligned with Iran, and having to constantly be corrected by Joe Liberman) I feel we would be in big trouble if he is elected, as he has shown his “Expertise” of foreign policy—his “Strong Suit”—is really that weak. It seems Obama has more of a plan, conceived with much stronger rational thought. Oh and that part about McCain knowing how to win wars….he has exactly as much experience winning wars as Obama….zilch. We only have 1 win under our belt…the first Gulf War, which he was in office during, but didn’t have any control over it.
Nice surprise, seeing an honest assessment, devoid of GOP spin, in a FoxNews report (even though it’s a blog entry).
Kind of makes one’s mind explode, reading a comment, like “Freedom_Road” before me.
Other than just repeating what you’re told to think, please post ACTUAL facts, that prove “Obamas
war of hatred against America.”
Pretty amazing the abject ignorance, by so many Americans.
Ya want to disagree with Obama’s policies, cool. But all this fictional garbage… you’ve been blessed with a brain, why not use it some time, rather than just repeating lies you’ve been told to repeat?
This only proves General Clark’s comment about what would be a qualification to lead our nation to be a true statement. Military school and marriage to money only proves John McCain is privileged and calculating. Can he really win a war or just cause more animosity between America and other nations with his bullying, ill conceived ideas? I’ll take someone without military school but with sound judgment to lead my country.
This BS about Obama “hating America” and being its “greatest enemy” is pathetic, meaningless, drivel fostered by illogical propaganda artists the likes of Limbaugh and Hannity. Obama, not McCain, is the one who unequivocally states that we will not have a permanent presence in Iraq. THAT is the pro-American, pro-freedom stance. We should not be shackled to that country forever. Obama is the one who, almost one year ago, said that we need more troops in Afghanistan to finish that fight where terrorists ACTUALLY WERE. That is the pro-American stance, and that is the mark of an intelligent man who doesn’t simply follow the party line. Americans will come to realize that Obama has the more sensible plan for bringing these wars to a responsible conclusion, as well as improving international relations–both of which are fundamental to making our nation more secure.
What Madam Rice seems to ignore is our history as an occupation force, we’ve always kept troops in countries we conquered. We’re still in Japan, Germany, Iraq, etc., there’s no use trying to pretend we don’t or shouldn’t. The whole concept of occupation covers more than just waltzing in and bombing the hell out of the enemy, after they’ve been beaten we build them back up. We don’t colonize as the Brittish did, we kick their butt and turn them into democracies… It’s not as simple as where are the troops coming from. If Madam Rice and Sen Obama don’t realize that then we’ve got a hell of a big problem if he should luck out and win the White House…
Rics: “Obama called for a more muscular effort in Afghanistan” and “He advocated at least two more combat brigades for the Afghan theatre”.
Please enlighten us. What does Obama mean by a more muscular effort in Afghanistan? And where are his additional combat troops for afghanistan going to come from?
What a load of a BS. Not too long ago Obamessiah voted to cut off funding for the war in Afghanistan. Now he’s complaining it’s not being prosecuted aggressively enough. According to Obamessiah the surge in Iraq is working after all, just like he always thought it could. And we’ve always been at war with East Asia. No wonder Obamessiah disabled Google caching his website.
The posture taken by the current administration, as well as that of McCain, is a recruiting poster for al qaeda. A new approach can win the day; diminish the interests of foreign terrorists and make Americans SAFER domestically and abroad!
Much of the rest of the world’s population hates the current government of this country. Middle eastern conflict is one of the main ingredients in the stew of $5/gal. gas. The world is hoping that Sen. Obama is elected as he has signaled there would be an end to a bullying foreign policy and a return to coalition mindset.
‘Comment by freedom_Road’ – you are absolutely out of touch. You have a serious attitude of hate problem! Read the report once again before you make any comments. The point here is that McCain is clueless and he is fast loosing his bearings. I am as old as he is; but he is lossing it every minute of the hour. I am a 70 year old republican and an ex-marine but the truth is, McCain has not got what it takes to be US Commander-in-chief. Obama has it, he has sounder judgement than McCain – any sober-minded American can easily see this- The world knows this better than most of my sick white folks. Obama is patriotic to an extent that he put his life on the line for what he stands for to be the truth despite fierce crticisms – the war in Iraq was and is a DUMB WAR!! MY VOTE WILL GO FOR OBAMA.
I’m not applying these titles to either candidate, but a fool with a plan is better than a genius without one. “Staying the course” is not a plan, when there was no initial plan for that course…
Obama is a juvenile playing an an adult world. Only a green inexperienced “KID” makes plans and decisions on what he is going to do without even learning what the situation is. He lays out plans and makes decisions for Iraq and Afghanistan and hasn’t even visited to see what the conditions are? That’s something a middle schooler, or high schooler gets scolded for, acting without thinking or investigating the situation making “BONE HEADED” decisions. I can’t believe people actually think he’ll do a good job, he has no skills or experience to speak of and his inane planning only emphasizes his gross deficiency in any leadership capability. You all that think Obama is so great, would you hire someone to manage your money who had no experience, no applicable skills, just had good ideas and could make a pretty speech? If you are honest you’d say no way. Making decisions on what you will do and plans for what you will do having never been in touch with what is actually going on proves he is not fit for the office of president.
Freedom_Road -
WHAT? War of hatred against America? Define that. My definition would be the shredding of the bill of rights, and the constitution as toilet paper, the blatant corruption of the Justice Dept., treasonous betrayal of under cover intelligence assets, dubious no bid contracts, missing truck loads of money, and on and on. This is what you prefer? This is what you are advocating by default. You say “speculation at best”, do some research, Obama for his time has accomplished more than “the other guy” in the realm of benefit to the average workin man.
Freedom_Road -
WHAT? War of hatred against America? Define that. My definition would be the shredding of the bill of rights, and the constitution as toilet paper, the blatant corruption of the Justice Dept., treasonous betrayal of under cover intelligence assets, dubious no bid contracts, missing truck loads of money, and on and on. This is what you prefer? This is what you are advocating by default.
Its criminal for America to waste resources in Iraq when our infrastructure-like the failed levees in the midwest–needs rebuilding. Anyone who agrees to this unpatriotic waste of resources should consider moving to Iraq as a service to true Americans.
Looks like Obama’s been 100% right all along.
Reminds me of a poem:
Poor old Flip-Floppin’ Obama-Copyin’ George W McCain
Used to be a maverick but now he’s just the McSame
Went with all the lobbyists cause they promised him some gold
Now you can’t tell him from Junior Bush except he’s twice as old
I did take notice of John McCain’s remark that one should formulate once’s strategy after visiting Iraq and not the other way round. For the record McCain has been to Iraq eight times. Leadership is about judgement at a strategic level . The war should never have been waged period. Increasing surge levels is a tactical response – not strategy. Visiting Iraq at best will enable refining our tactics there – not formulate a strategy. You can visit as many times as you want as McCain has done and be none the wiser. Case in point – McCain not knowing whether Al-Quaida are Shias or Sunnis. Now that’s a strategic blunder. A simple google search would have edified our fighter pilot from 30 years ago. You can’t substitute judgement & insight for blundering our way in Iraq like a bull in a chinashop not knowing where the exit is.
John mccain is an idiot, and does not know a whole lot about foreign policy. God help us if he becomes our President. If we elect him, after an opportunity to elect a genius like Obama, then I wouldn’t know what to say.
War of hatred against America. Can’t we just discuss issues instead of hallucinating?
The only way a reasonable person will support such idiotic policies are if they are brain-dead.
The truth of the matter is that Mccain and his neocon friends who are supporting him enjoys lying and being lied to. Mccain hasn’t made any sense on anything he has said about foreign policy and/or domestic policy. He doesn’t have any foreign policy experience that shows he has any more experience than the next person. Being a POW during Vietnam isn’t creditable as foreign policy leadership. That experience only gives him credit as a patriot. That’s it.
We’ve spent the last eight years with a president who insist on lying and misleading the American people. We don’t deserve to be treated like dummies in a wax museum.