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Michael Goldfarb

Sunday, April 27, 2008

More Obama on FNS

Chris Wallace asked Obama if he would vote to confirm Petraeus as commander of CENTCOM. Obama responded:

Yes. I think Petraeus has done a good tactical job in Iraq. I think as a practical matter, obviously that’s where most of the attention has been devoted from this administration over the last several years.

I was also a big respecter of Admiral Fallon, who Petraeus is now replacing and I think it was unfortunate that the administration wasn’t listening more to the observations of Fallon that we have to think about more than just Iraq. That we’ve got issues with Iran and Pakistan and Afghanistan and our singular focus on Iraq I think has distracted us.

My hope is that Petraeus would reflect that wider view of our strategic interests.

Obama has no choice but to pretend that Iraq is a tactical sideshow with little relevance to our broader conflict against Islamic extremism. This is why he praises the 'good tactical job' Petraeus has done in Iraq but in the same breath falsely asserts that the general hasn't viewed Iraq in the 'wider view of our strategic interests.' Though ignored by most in the media, just two weeks ago Petraeus explained, in his opening congressional testimony, how Iraq fits into our broader conflict with al Qaeda and why success there will strike a significant blow against Islamic extremism:

As we combat AQI we must remember that doing so not only reduces a major source of instability in Iraq, it also weakens an organization that Al Qaeda's senior leaders view as a tool to spread its influence and foment regional instability. Osama bin laden and Ayman al- Zawahiri have consistently advocated exploiting the situation in Iraq, and we have also seen Al Qaeda-Iraq involved in destabilizing activities in the wider Mideast region.

Why does this matter? Obama opposed the surge and went even further by voting to cut off funds to American combat troops in the field. Had Obama prevailed, the surge wouldn't have happened, our enemies in Iraq would be on the offensive, and an energized al Qaeda leadership would be declaring victory over America.

Obama can't let this -- that the surge has been critical to our overall war -- become the narrative, so he will do everything possible to diminish the value of our gains there when talking with voters and downplay the consequences of his own reckless withdrawal policy. This is exactly what he did on Fox today.

Obama is half right about all the above, just like the author of the piece was.

Biggest problem for Obama will be to select a SecDef he'll listen to better than he has been, thusfar, listening to Gates who clearly stated the reason that Fallon was leaving had nothing to do with strategic or tactical disputes within the Joint Chiefs or CENTCOM.

Like all Presidents, if he wants to fight, or switch, he'll need the help and concurrence of a VERY large coterie of military experts... which is why I'm not real concerned about his loose-cannon-ness in that department; especially since he himself acknowledges this.

quote:

and an energized al Qaeda leadership would be declaring victory over America.

Oh no! Not a declaration of victory! I suppose that following that declaration they'd kick us out of our houses and make us all into Muslims..

I love how conservatives keep talking about "victory." McCain qualified his "100 years" remark by saying he meant we could be there that long after we "defeat" our enemies there. They make it sound like the ultimate overtime game.

The thing I like about Petraeus is he is a soldier, not a politician, and he doesn't sugar-coat his assessments. He said some things that many conservatives need to absorb and understand. He said "we cannot kill our way to victory" in Iraq. And when asked if "victory" in Iraq would make us safer, Petraeus stunned everybody by saying "I don't know." There was silence in the room after he said that--they aren't used to honesty on Capitol Hill so they don't know how to act when confronted with it.

quote:

Originally posted by Pete Kirkman:

quote:

and an energized al Qaeda leadership would be declaring victory over America.

Oh no! Not a declaration of victory! I suppose that following that declaration they'd kick us out of our houses and make us all into Muslims..

I love how conservatives keep talking about "victory." McCain qualified his "100 years" remark by saying he meant we could be there that long after we "defeat" our enemies there. They make it sound like the ultimate overtime game.

The thing I like about Petraeus is he is a soldier, not a politician, and he doesn't sugar-coat his assessments. He said some things that many conservatives need to absorb and understand. He said "we cannot kill our way to victory" in Iraq. And when asked if "victory" in Iraq would make us safer, Petraeus stunned everybody by saying "I don't know." There was silence in the room after he said that--they aren't used to honesty on Capitol Hill so they don't know how to act when confronted with it.

Typical liberal, rooting for the enemy in one breath and spreading lies about McCain in the next. Towing the party line with the 100 year statement huh Pete?

Let's hear one of those "President Bush and Republicans caused 9/11" (-Pete) theories sport!!!

quote:

Let's hear one of those "President Bush and Republicans caused 9/11" (-Pete) theories sport!!!

Who said this?

Pete has in previous posts, mostly to get a rise out of PA, Auggy.

quote:

Originally posted by Kevin Cline:
Pete has in previous posts, mostly to get a rise out of PA, Auggy.

Yep. Worked like a charm, too. You can't say anything bad about his precious party without hacking him off. And it doesn't matter how many times I dis the Democrats--in PA's mind--if you aren't a Republican, you are a loser/liberal DemoRat.

Interesting how he accuses me of "rooting for the enemy" when all I did was repeat what Petraeus said. And "spreading lies about McCain" is rich, too. The 100 year remark is his--have you seen the video? McCain said it, and the follow-up was his too. PA says he can't stand McCain because he isn't conservative enough, but his knee starts jerking anytime ANY Republican is criticized.

It's not a funny joke. 9-11 isn't a joke.

It's no joke. Fu_cking Republicans and their foreign policy that put troops in Saudi Arabia and trained Afghans in guerrilla tactics to fight the Soviets are the key ingredients that created Osama bin Laden and gave him a reason to attack the US. That, combined with criminal negligence by the Bush administration in protecting this country allowed 9-11 to happen.

Dismiss it as a crazy theory if you like. But the truth is out there to be seen by anyone willing to open their eyes.

Now I am confused. Kevin says Pete came up with the bizarre theory "mostly to get a rise" out of me and Pete agrees but adds it is "no joke."

Can it be both?

The only joke around here is you PA, and it's a bad joke.

Nothing bizarre or theoretical about it. But I framed it specifically to goad you and other right-wingers. Foreign policy isn't the domain of one party exclusively, so with that in mind Democrats have to share in the blame for the failures that led to 9-11.

Nonetheless, it sounds crazy to you, because you've been trained to think Americans can do no wrong--unless they are liberal. And you think the terrorists attacked us for reasons that have nothing to do with our foreign policy--because we are the good guys, aren't we? So if they attack us, they must just be crazy. Right?

quote:

Originally posted by Pete Kirkman:
Nothing bizarre or theoretical about it. But I framed it specifically to goad you and other right-wingers. Foreign policy isn't the domain of one party exclusively, so with that in mind Democrats have to share in the blame for the failures that led to 9-11.

Nonetheless, it sounds crazy to you, because you've been trained to think Americans can do no wrong--unless they are liberal. And you think the terrorists attacked us for reasons that have nothing to do with our foreign policy--because we are the good guys, aren't we? So if they attack us, they must just be crazy. Right?

"Framed it specifically to goat (me)" ?!?!
Not sure how saying this or anything else radical (and typical for you) is "goating me" or as Kevin put it, "getting a rise out of me."

You are saying you believe it (wow!) yet you are so sophisticated that the WAY you said it GOT ME! WOW PETE! YOU GOT ME! YOU'RE SO CLEVER YOU!

Actually,, you are an idiot Pete! Plain and simple!

"President Bush and Republicans caused 9/11" (-Pete) is the dumbest thing ever said here and all your friends can say is, 'well, I guess he said it to get a rise out of PA!' I sincerely hope they believe this is why you said it because it's pretty darn stupid!!!!!

predicted Pete response: "refute it then you chickenkawk blah blah blah."

Why?! It's dumb! I guess I need to argue with the rest of the nut/radical conspiracy theorists or somehow what they say is true by default as well!!!

I am going to be like the rest and pretend it was only said to "goat me" or "get a rise out of me.' I'll give you that out Pete, because I really hope you aren't that stupid.

The word is "goad", not "goat" Mr. smarter-than-everybody.

THat's your defense? It's "dumb" to say Bush was somehow in any way responsible for what happened on 9-11?

If some think-tank published a screed saying it was liberal policies that allowed terrorists to operate freely or that Bill Clinton had advanced warnings that Al Qaeda was going to attack but did nothing, you'd break your arm trying to paste it here as fast as possible.

Predicted PA response: See! You said something about Clinton so you must really support him!!!

As for "the dumbest thing ever said here" I think you are giving me too much credit. I mean, the King of Rohan deserves some consideration, along with a few incomprehensible Moonglow remarks and one or two drive by posts. Then we go back to Catalystic Converter, Dems Hate America...there are many far more deserving than I.

Besides, you are only calling it a stupid comment because it flabbergasts you. How could anyone say something so awful about such a wonderful and caring group of people?

quote:

"getting a rise out of me."
goating me".

Sounds to me like PA is into beastiality!Or interspecies copulation!