Where have we heard those words before? We heard those same words from the same people complaining today about President Obama's goal to begin removing troops from Afghanistan in 18 months (August 2011).
Who was it that wanted a date to begin withdrawing troops in Iraq? It was former President George W. Bush and Iraqi's president. This happened in 2007-2008 remember? He negotiated a complete withdraw date of 2012.
It was also President Barack Obama during his campaign in 2008. He promised to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq in summer of 2009. This withdraw is currently underway. By 2012, our combat troops will be out of Iraq if all goes as planned. This withdraw (timeline) is taking approximately 3 years to complete.
Since Obama's taken office, we rarely hear about the troops in Iraq, have you noticed that?
If we go by this same time line in Afghanistan, that means if we -begin- to remove troops from Afghanistan in August of 2011, it will be 2014 before we are completely withdrawn.
The Republicans are, as usual, making this plan sound like a, pack your bags and leave in the morning' withdraw.
During the talk shows after the president's speech tonight, I heard several times from prominent reporters and newscasters -- how can you claim to what to finish the job but turn around and say we're leaving in 18 months? Well, as I pointed out, it's not a get in get out situation. It will take a few more years.
Did you also notice that the President pointed out the following:
As your Commander-in-Chief, I owe you a mission that is clearly defined, and worthy of your service. That is why, after the Afghan voting was completed, I insisted on a thorough review of our strategy. Let me be clear: there has never been an option before me that called for troop deployments before 2010, so there has been no delay or denial of resources necessary for the conduct of the war.
The Republicans including former vice president Dick Cheney of course, have been accusing Obama of putting our troops in harms way, "Dithering" -- those claims have just been proven to be lies.
Obama said,when he first took office,
"we had just over 32,000 Americans serving in Afghanistan, compared to 160,000 in Iraq at the peak of the war. Commanders in Afghanistan repeatedly asked for support to deal with the reemergence of the Taliban, but these reinforcements did not arrive."
Did you note that Commanders repeatedly asked for support but it did not arrive? Who was in charge during those years folks; Bush/Cheney and the Republican Party -- that's who.
Now we're hearing people complain about the cost of this plan? Another 30 billion Obama says. Where were these complainers during the past 8 years? Did you hear their complaints while we spent billions in Afghanistan that president Bush declared victory in, yet we continued to keep troops there for another 6-7 years?
While I don't enjoy this war in Afghanistan, I do understand why we are there. I also understand the concern about it and Pakistan. What choice does the President have? If he were to pull out, he'd be accused of creating another Vietnam and of being a coward. If he stays the status quo, he'd be accused of putting troops in harms way. He has to try something. If it fails, at least thousands of the enemy will be dead or removed from power before that happens.
I happen to think and always have, we poked are arm in the beehive over there and now if we completely pull out -- they will swarm to our nation. The most we can do is contain them and that is what I believe Obama is hoping to do.