Pipeline Debate Rages On

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Thursday November 05, 2009 · 11:35 AM PST

2009/11/05 · 11:35

On the topic of International relations and foreign policy it is always important to keep an open mind. The "truth" can be a tricky thing and an intelligent person must always be willing to alter his positions and change his mind on an almost continuous basis.

Foreign policy between countries will almost always have at least two points of view competing for legitimacy. I remember being told that if any side in a pragmatic discussion of foreign policy between nations brings up religious claims to justify their point of view they have lost the argument. The same could be true for the diary Jerome a paris just posted on pipeline conspiracy theories.

Jerome is a great writer who I think should be on the Front Page as a staff writer on Kos. On this topic he misses the mark though. I'd be willing to say that anyone who brings up the words "conspiracy theories" in a debate on pipelines is trying to A) demonise the other side B) trying to justify a weak argument.

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Dr Marcos

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Monday October 26, 2009 · 3:21 PM PDT

2009/10/26 · 15:21

First time I/P diary and will try keep it short. In fact it's not much I/P as it is just /P. News coming out of the holy land Monday night is that Palestinian President Mohmoud Abbas has told Obama in a phone call that he is resigning.

Haaretz

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told U.S. President Barack Obama that he intends to resign his post, Channel 10 television reported on Monday.
According to the report, the Palestinian leader told Obama during a telephone conversation last week that he sees no chance of advancing the peace process with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in power.

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Dr Marcos

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Wednesday October 07, 2009 · 5:25 PM PDT

2009/10/07 · 17:25

Something is rotten in Washington DC. As the days begin to get colder again, Washington seems to be swimming against the current on yet another issue.

During a 90-minute discussion, Mr Obama did not show his hand on possible troop increases. But he did make clear that that the war would not be reduced to a narrowly defined counter-terrorism effort in the border areas with Pakistan, a strategy that has been linked with his Vice-President, Joe Biden.

Source: Time Online (UK) Oct 7th 2009

This suggests that Obama has ruled out "The Biden Plan" for Afghanistan, which, at the end of the day was the only sensible plan to extract NATO troops from Afghanistan. The Biden Plan was smart, pragmatic thinking, a compromise between staying the course and withdrawal. It would have targeted Al Qaeda and the foreign jihadist base while reaching a stalemate with the Pashtun tribes.

With the rejection of the Biden plan there is limited options left. All of which involve more war in a country in which "victory" is an mirage.

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Poll

73 votes Show Results

What would YOU advise?

73 votes Vote Now!

What would YOU advise?

Full withdrawal of US/NATO forces as soon as possible

23 votes

Withdrawal of most troops. Leaving Special Forces to target AQ

25 votes

Maintain the status quo (no decrease or increase of troops)

5 votes

Escalate by 40,000 as McCrystal says

17 votes

Let's attack Iran. We could like Totally win 3 wars at the same time.

3 votes

Apocalypse Now Redux: Afghanistan Part 3

Dr Marcos

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday September 27, 2009 · 3:04 PM PDT

2009/09/27 · 15:04

This is the third in a three part series looking at the war in Afghanistan from 3 different angles. The first part found here looked at the Taliban's gains in light of a new report that found the Taliban have a presence in 80% of the country.

The second part here looked at the infighting between NATO countries and how the alliance may not hold.

This third part will be looking at the American side of things, what it's choices are going forward and the battle Obama could be facing right now with his military.

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"I'm not interested in just being in Afghanistan for the sake of being in Afghanistan or saving face or, in some way – you know, sending a message that America is here for the duration."

President Obama on NBC's Meet the Press via Politico

Poll

39 votes Show Results

What do you think?

39 votes Vote Now!

What do you think?

Withdraw from Afghanistan Now

22 votes

Withdraw combat troops leave Special Forces

11 votes

No Withdrawal or No Escalation leave the same amount of troops

1 vote

Escalation of troops.

2 votes

Dunno.

2 votes

Other (see comments below)

1 vote

Apocalypse Now Redux: Afghanistan Part 2

Dr Marcos

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Tuesday September 15, 2009 · 1:01 PM PDT

2009/09/15 · 13:01

This is the second in a three part piece looking at the war in Afghanistan from 3 different angles. The First part found here talked about Taliban progress in light of new info showing that they have a heavy presence in 80% of the country.

Side Note Sorry I'm late with this planned to write the 3 parts over Friday/Saturday/Sunday excessive alcohol/laziness however derailed that plan :D

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"I do not see indications of a large al-Qaida presence in Afghanistan now," McChrystal told reporters at the Dutch Defense Ministry, where he met military officials.

(Google News 11th Sept '09)

Dr Marcos

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday September 11, 2009 · 6:33 PM PDT

2009/09/11 · 18:33

One of the most common defences for continuing the Afghan War that I hear on Daily Kos is that if we withdraw the troops, the Taliban will return to power again. It's a good point (but not one I agree with). So is this one by Sec of Defence Robert Gates.

Robert M. Gates said in an interview broadcast this week that the United States would not repeat the mistake of abandoning Afghanistan.

Washington Post 9th September

Now this is a view that I'm sympathetic with. Even if I disagree with it. I mean it sure sounds like a very logical, reasoned argument right? And I can understand why fellow Kossacks have this view. But this view misses or obscures some fundamental things.

Afghanistan 2007

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The Internation Council on Security and Devolopment.

That 54% area in red is the area with a heavy Taliban presence. The Pink is substantial Taliban and the Grey is the area with a Light Taliban Presence.

Dr Marcos

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday September 02, 2009 · 8:21 PM PDT

2009/09/02 · 20:21

While US and NATO troops are fighting for their lives in Afghanistan, you can be rest assured that the US government have the best and the brightest manning the US Embassy in Afghanistan right?

Wrong. Under the fold: I give you the US Embassy, Afghanistan.

(Warning Images of a Sexual "Staff gone Wild" Nature)

RSS

Pipeline Debate Rages On

Updated: Holy Crap has Palestinian Pres Resigned?

Obama's Afghan Policy. A Strategic Failure.

Apocalypse Now Redux: Afghanistan Part 3

Apocalypse Now Redux: Afghanistan Part 2

Apocolypse Now Redux: Afghanistan Part 1

Afghan US Embassy's Mercenary Armor Group Staff Gone Wild Pics