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Gibbs: No 'Open- Ended Conflict'
Though no definite plans have been set forth, the still-to-be-determined strategy for Afghanistan will include careful consideration of troop withdrawal once the area has been stabilized, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said. Gibbs spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday, en route to Alaska before continuing on to Asia, emphasizing that Afghanistan is a not a forever war. “It’s important to fully examine not just how we’re going to get folks in, but how we’re going to get folks out,” he said, adding that President Obama will not commit to an "open-ended conflict." Obama continues to seek advice and counsel regarding the next step on Afghanistan, though Gibbs predicted that a decision would be coming sooner rather than later.
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These kinds of statements from Gibbs just prove that Obama and his staff are profoundly ignorant about the nature of war.
Once a war is started, it typically continues until one side or the other wins or loses. No war is open-ended.....the conflict ends when one side is military defeated or loses the will to fight.
By focussing on an exit strategy instead of a victory strategy, Obama is signaling he has lost the will to fight in Afghanistan. The smartest thing now would be to get the US troops out as quickly as possible.
I take it you are paid to make the comments Plant? You comment on EVERY story. I guess if I was being paid to piss people off on the Daily Beast I'd do it too. You are a real piece of sh** - congratulations
Without people like plant on here what would you libs be doing? pumping each other all day long?
Plant, there really can be no "victory" strategy in this brainless conflict. However, I do agree about the ignorance of Obama and his staff. His first serious blunder was to declare Afghanistan a "must win" situation for the U.S. That foolish statement boxed him in; and now he seems to be pulling back on the rhetoric. I support withdrawal now, but I am growing increasingly wary of a commander in chief who can't sort good from bad advice and then act upon it.
Plant only comments on stories where he can blame Obama for something. Even for a war that's seven years old.
Kev:
Like many liberals, you can't do math.
The war started in late 2001. It is now late 2009. That means the war has been going on for EIGHT years, not the seven you erroneously claim.
Cheers!
Plant- You have complained incessantly for weeks about how "Obama should just get out".
Now your complaining that he is actually forming a plan to outline the specifics of what has been/needs to be accomplished and how to withdraw our troops safely without causing complete collapse of an already fragile Afghan nation.
"Focusing on an exit strategy...signaling he lost the will to fight".
Are you serious? I wish 8 not 7 years ago, as you pointed out so clearly, I wish we would have had a Commander in Chief who would have actually had ANY plan about what to do after we "kick the door in on a country" with "all our guns blazing".
I think a lot of soldiers families across our nation share my wish...
Once again the Plant's selective memory fails to remember that Afghanistan was one of Bu$h's crown jewels in his open ended crusade on terror. He does not recall that this was a completely different kind of war where the enemy has no state to affiliate himself with and that we would chase him any where in the world that he runs. It sounds to me that unless we were to try to and accomplish the military overthrow of the whole world, as the ill defined scope of this military excursion imply, the war was doomed for failure from it's inception.
when the whip, Obama criticized Bush for fighting in Iraq instead of Afg. Obama said that Afg. was the necessary war. Obama said that AFg. was a must win war. Obama had a stategy for fighting the Afg. war in March and again in Aug. Now that his hand picked general has given Obama his requirements for winning the war that
Obama put him to fight, Obama, now faced with doing more than making beautiful speeches, and voting "present", becomes spineless.
Planty - - What are the "sides" you seem to be talking about? Iran wants to keep the Taliban out of power in Kabul. Are the Iranians going to "lose" the war, because the US makes such a mess out of it?
Yes, Arm-chair Field Marshall Plant, because you are so much more verse in "the nature of war and warfare" than Sun Tzu or Von Clausewitz that we and Pres. Obama should listen to your advice on the war in Afghanistan.
Give me a break. You aren't in the situation room, you have no idea of the conditions on the ground, nor information on our own strategic position and assets. It's easy to direct a phantom army from your chair with no regard for cost or people's lives. It's all together a different matter when the blood and treasure of our nation is on the line, and you aren't the one that will have to write letters home to someone's parents about why their son and daughter isn't coming home from Afghanistan. At least our president is thinking about the end game instead of mindlessly sending in troops like LBJ did in Vietnam, or start a 2nd war before we were finished with the first like like GWB.
I agree with your closing statement Plant. But Obama taking his time to preserve the life of as many soldiers is 100 times better than Bush' unilateral move (with no exit plan) to wage war in 2 nations. The war in Afghanistan was worth it to get the Terrorist networks. But Millions were wasted in Iraq (who had no standing army). etc. I have cousin fighting in Afghan. and I want him to make it back - Alive and in tact.
gibbs to taliban: If you want to win, just accept an open ended conflict.
laughorcryagain - - Are you forgetting your geopgraphy? Iran is bang next door to Afghanistan, and many Afghans speak a dialect of Persian (or Farsi). Iran is trying to keep the Taliban out of Kabul. Is that hard to comprehend?
No war is open-ended..--- Plantagenet
What about Palestine -- what about the "War on Drugs" the "War on Terror" ??
WWI continued into WWII --- 30 years war --100 years war ???
Plantagenet has his 5 cents of nonsense to put in as per usual.
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http://www.creative-i.info/?p=11781
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Housebird - Our Plant seems unable to comprehend a strategic situation other than in terms of American participation. Surely he doesn't think Iran will relocate itself to some other location on the planet. (?)
Obama needs to heed the advice of Gorbachev, and encourage Iran and other countries to take a larger role while the US starts withdrawing its troops.
Amen.
What exactly is the mission in Afganistan. Why, I ask again can the Afghan men not protect the country? Not all of them are n the Taliban,
kscr14 - It is worth bearing in mind that there are a number of private armies in Afghanistan, operating under various warlords. This is how the Taliban were defeated.
The Financial Times reports that Obama is finally getting around to asking the Chinese to increase their involvement in the effort to bring minimal stability to Afghanistan. Iran has been helping too, but getting no credit whatever for so doing.
Eric {{There's not a pardon I wouldn't give} Holder has stated Khalis Sheik Mohammed and four other terrorist's are on their way to NY for trial. After the terrorist shooting in Fort Hood, this is a great idea, let's put NY in harm's way. Great timing.
Who is running this administration a group of pre-K kids. {idiot's}
Next to planty, winston blows some annoying smoke; there is no good smoke btw.
It's good to see that the WH is getting beyond the initial "war of necessity" rhetoric; one can hope.
ukeman The truth is starting to absorb, gotcha thinking. Maybe you are suffering "buyers remorse".
Still no definite plans, thanks press weasel. Obama has had time for 22 campaign fund raisers and a trip to Denmark for the Olympics besides all the lame health care speeches with no specifics. Seems like the commander and chief isn't multitasking too well and making this the number one priority. Our troops should either be brought home or a decision made immediately re troop levels and strategy.
Every day you can see Obama either see Obama making a speech on TV, campaigning or flying somewhere. One would think that with all the problems we have, and our unheard of deficiet, he would be in the WH working to solve our problems, or cutting back on the spending as he as said we must do, but I believe I understand WHY he said that WE must cut back--it was so HE could have more of our money to fly around the country on.
The BBC in America (on PBS) broadcast yesterday that every additional 1000 US troops sent to Afghanistan will cost $1 billion per year. How in blazes can this make any sense whatever? Other countries can put troops into the field at one or two percent of the US cost.
Thank you.
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