What Constitutional right does President Obama have to wage war for years in Afghanistan just because the President alone wants to, as well as to essentially colonize
Afghanistan indefinitely? President Obama breaks promises with no compunction, and no regard for Congress or for explaining to Americans. We truly have an imperial President now.
President Obama has become truly an imperial President, and I could not be more dismayed. There is more un-Constitutional arrogance in Obama than any President I am aware of.
President Obama has made sure America will be at war till at least 2014, when there is no possible Constitutional reason for America to be at war even now, and there is not even a pretense that Congressional approval is needed or that ordinary Americans have to in any way know what the President is committing us to. I am appalled.
NATO Agrees to Assist Afghanistan Past 2014
By STEVEN ERLANGER and JACKIE CALMES
NATO leaders, backing President Obama’s plan for a gradual phaseout of combat operations, agreed to control Afghanistan’s security until 2014 then assist with its logistics and training.
[President Obama has just made sure that America will be occupying and warring in Afghanistan beyond 2014, no matter the astounding cost, no matter the destruction, no matter that we are not Constitutionally at war with Afghanistan. We truly have an imperial Presidency.]
Holbrooke Says World Cannot Foot Entire Bill for Pakistan Flood Recovery as US Spends Billions on Wars in Iraq, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Pakistan calls for support from the international community as it struggles to recover from the worst flooding in its history. US special envoy Richard Holbrooke says the world cannot foot the entire bill for recovery as Washington continues to spend billions on the wars in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. We speak with British Pakistani political commentator, writer and activist, Tariq Ali....
U.S. Carries Out Four More Drone Strikes in Pakistan
By Amy Goodman
In Pakistan, the U.S. has carried out at least four drone strikes in the past two days in what has been one of the most intense barrage of drone attacks since President Obama took office. All of the strikes targeted sites in the North Waziristan region.
U.S. Carries Out Four More Drone Strikes in Pakistan
By Amy Goodman
In Pakistan, the U.S. has carried out at least four drone strikes in the past two days in what has been one of the most intense barrage of drone attacks since President Obama took office. All of the strikes targeted sites in the North Waziristan region.
Please let us simply leave Afghanistan, immediately and completely leave. As for Karzai criticizing the President, Karzai is only following the lead of American generals who have repeatedly criticized the President:
Top US Marine: Withdrawal Deadline Boosting Taliban Morale
By Amy Goodman
The top US Marine is questioning the Obama administration’s non-binding timetable for beginning a US withdrawal from Afghanistan next year. On Tuesday, General James Conway said the July 2011 target date is boosting the morale of Taliban fighters.
"In terms of the July '11 issue, you know, I think if you—if you follow it closely, and of course we all do, we know the President was talking to several audiences at the same time when he made his comments on July 2011. In some ways, we think, right now, it's probably giving our enemy sustenance. We think that he may be saying to himself—in fact we’ve intercepted communications that say, 'Hey, you know, we only have to hold out for so long.'"
Conway went on to say he thinks the withdrawal will be pushed back at least "a few years" because Afghan troops won’t be ready to assume full control.
Gen. Ordierno: U.S. Troops May Stay In Iraq After 2011
By Amy Goodman
The Army’s top commander in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno, admitted Sunday U.S. troops may stay in Iraq beyond the 2011 withdrawal date. Odierno made the comment on CNN’s State of the Union.
"If the government of Iraq requests some technical assistance in fielding systems that allow them to continue to protect themselves, some external threats, we could be here. If that’s what we’re talking about, potentially, we could be there (in Iraq) beyond 2011."
U.S. Drone Strike Killed Six In Pakistan
By Amy Goodman
In other news from Pakistan, at least six militants reportedly died Saturday in a US. drone strike in North Waziristan near the Afghan border. It was second U.S. drone attack since massive floods hit Pakistan in late July.
Just read in the Wall Street Journal that the “State Department said it will double the number of private security contractors it uses in Iraq as U.S. troops leave”
This is shameful duplicity but no surprise any longer since this is foreign policy under President Obama. We did not even mention General Petraeus promising that we will not be leaving Afghanistan or mention our bombing Pakistan even during the floods as Amy Goodman mentioned.
I am not the least impressed with President Obama's war policy which strikes me as more fierce and more expensive and more needless than that of President Bush. We are pulling some formal soldiers from a smashed Iraq, leaving behind other formal soldiers and mercenaries. The basic military budget of President Obama is now running at $812.9 billion yearly as compared to $737.3 billion for President Bush in 2008. * Why should I be the least impressed with President Obama on war policy?
US Withdraws Last Combat Brigade from Iraq, But 56,000 Troops Remain
By Amy Goodman
The US has officially withdrawn its last designated combat brigade from Iraq, two weeks ahead of a deadline for the withdrawal of some 14,000 troops. In a surprise announcement, the Pentagon said the last combat brigade crossed over into Kuwait earlier today. Although the withdrawal has been hailed as a major milestone in the Iraq war and an end to combat operations, most of the remaining 56,000 US troops are still trained in combat and will continue to carry out armed attacks. The Obama administration also plans to double its private military force in Iraq to an estimated 7,000 contractors. According to the New York Times, the bulk of the private military force will be deployed at five compounds across Iraq, where they’ll perform duties including operating drones, deploying reaction forces and operating radars to detect militant attacks. In an interview on Democracy Now! earlier this month, independent journalist Jeremy Scahill said the Obama administration’s withdrawal plan amounts to a rebranded occupation.
"What is essentially unfolding here is a downsized and rebranded occupation, Obama-style, that is going to necessitate a surge in private forces. The State Department is asking for MRAP vehicles, armored vehicles, for Black Hawk helicopters and for these paramilitary forces. So, yes, you can say that officially combat has ended, but in reality you’re continuing it through the back door by bringing in these paramilitary forces and classifying them as diplomatic security, which was Bush’s game from the very beginning."
Fine, fine essay.
Gates told Frattini the real story, not the cover story.
It appears that in private they level with other security bureaucrats, but then lie in public to Obama and the Congress.
-- Juan Cole
[[Precisely, and devastatingly so.]
What Constitutional right does President Obama have to wage war for years in Afghanistan just because the President alone wants to, as well as to essentially colonize
Afghanistan indefinitely? President Obama breaks promises with no compunction, and no regard for Congress or for explaining to Americans. We truly have an imperial President now.
President Obama has become truly an imperial President, and I could not be more dismayed. There is more un-Constitutional arrogance in Obama than any President I am aware of.
President Obama has made sure America will be at war till at least 2014, when there is no possible Constitutional reason for America to be at war even now, and there is not even a pretense that Congressional approval is needed or that ordinary Americans have to in any way know what the President is committing us to. I am appalled.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/world/europe/21nato.html
November 20, 2010
NATO Agrees to Assist Afghanistan Past 2014
By STEVEN ERLANGER and JACKIE CALMES
NATO leaders, backing President Obama’s plan for a gradual phaseout of combat operations, agreed to control Afghanistan’s security until 2014 then assist with its logistics and training.
[President Obama has just made sure that America will be occupying and warring in Afghanistan beyond 2014, no matter the astounding cost, no matter the destruction, no matter that we are not Constitutionally at war with Afghanistan. We truly have an imperial Presidency.]
There are a stream of reports that we have effectively abandoned the Pakistanis.
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/9/21/holbrooke_says_world_cannot_foot_entire
September 21, 2010
Holbrooke Says World Cannot Foot Entire Bill for Pakistan Flood Recovery as US Spends Billions on Wars in Iraq, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Pakistan calls for support from the international community as it struggles to recover from the worst flooding in its history. US special envoy Richard Holbrooke says the world cannot foot the entire bill for recovery as Washington continues to spend billions on the wars in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. We speak with British Pakistani political commentator, writer and activist, Tariq Ali....
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/9/10/headlines#7
September 10, 2010
U.S. Carries Out Four More Drone Strikes in Pakistan
By Amy Goodman
In Pakistan, the U.S. has carried out at least four drone strikes in the past two days in what has been one of the most intense barrage of drone attacks since President Obama took office. All of the strikes targeted sites in the North Waziristan region.
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/9/10/headlines#7
September 10, 2010
U.S. Carries Out Four More Drone Strikes in Pakistan
By Amy Goodman
In Pakistan, the U.S. has carried out at least four drone strikes in the past two days in what has been one of the most intense barrage of drone attacks since President Obama took office. All of the strikes targeted sites in the North Waziristan region.
Please let us simply leave Afghanistan, immediately and completely leave. As for Karzai criticizing the President, Karzai is only following the lead of American generals who have repeatedly criticized the President:
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/8/25/headlines#3
August 25, 2010
Top US Marine: Withdrawal Deadline Boosting Taliban Morale
By Amy Goodman
The top US Marine is questioning the Obama administration’s non-binding timetable for beginning a US withdrawal from Afghanistan next year. On Tuesday, General James Conway said the July 2011 target date is boosting the morale of Taliban fighters.
"In terms of the July '11 issue, you know, I think if you—if you follow it closely, and of course we all do, we know the President was talking to several audiences at the same time when he made his comments on July 2011. In some ways, we think, right now, it's probably giving our enemy sustenance. We think that he may be saying to himself—in fact we’ve intercepted communications that say, 'Hey, you know, we only have to hold out for so long.'"
Conway went on to say he thinks the withdrawal will be pushed back at least "a few years" because Afghan troops won’t be ready to assume full control.
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/8/23/headlines#7
August 23, 2010
Gen. Ordierno: U.S. Troops May Stay In Iraq After 2011
By Amy Goodman
The Army’s top commander in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno, admitted Sunday U.S. troops may stay in Iraq beyond the 2011 withdrawal date. Odierno made the comment on CNN’s State of the Union.
"If the government of Iraq requests some technical assistance in fielding systems that allow them to continue to protect themselves, some external threats, we could be here. If that’s what we’re talking about, potentially, we could be there (in Iraq) beyond 2011."
[The Obama occupations will continue on.]
Fears of advances by al-Qaeda
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/8/23/headlines#2
August 23, 2010
U.S. Drone Strike Killed Six In Pakistan
By Amy Goodman
In other news from Pakistan, at least six militants reportedly died Saturday in a US. drone strike in North Waziristan near the Afghan border. It was second U.S. drone attack since massive floods hit Pakistan in late July.
[Shame beyond shame.]
Kathleen :
Just read in the Wall Street Journal that the “State Department said it will double the number of private security contractors it uses in Iraq as U.S. troops leave”
This is shameful duplicity but no surprise any longer since this is foreign policy under President Obama. We did not even mention General Petraeus promising that we will not be leaving Afghanistan or mention our bombing Pakistan even during the floods as Amy Goodman mentioned.
I am not the least impressed with President Obama's war policy which strikes me as more fierce and more expensive and more needless than that of President Bush. We are pulling some formal soldiers from a smashed Iraq, leaving behind other formal soldiers and mercenaries. The basic military budget of President Obama is now running at $812.9 billion yearly as compared to $737.3 billion for President Bush in 2008. * Why should I be the least impressed with President Obama on war policy?
* http://www.bea.gov/national/nipaweb/TableView.asp?SelectedTable=108&ViewSeries=NO&Java=no&Request3Place=N&3Place=N&FromView=YES&Freq=Qtr&FirstYear=2005&LastYear=2009&3Place=N&AllYearsChk=YES&Update=Update&JavaBox=no#Mid
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/8/19/headlines#1
August 19, 2010
US Withdraws Last Combat Brigade from Iraq, But 56,000 Troops Remain
By Amy Goodman
The US has officially withdrawn its last designated combat brigade from Iraq, two weeks ahead of a deadline for the withdrawal of some 14,000 troops. In a surprise announcement, the Pentagon said the last combat brigade crossed over into Kuwait earlier today. Although the withdrawal has been hailed as a major milestone in the Iraq war and an end to combat operations, most of the remaining 56,000 US troops are still trained in combat and will continue to carry out armed attacks. The Obama administration also plans to double its private military force in Iraq to an estimated 7,000 contractors. According to the New York Times, the bulk of the private military force will be deployed at five compounds across Iraq, where they’ll perform duties including operating drones, deploying reaction forces and operating radars to detect militant attacks. In an interview on Democracy Now! earlier this month, independent journalist Jeremy Scahill said the Obama administration’s withdrawal plan amounts to a rebranded occupation.
"What is essentially unfolding here is a downsized and rebranded occupation, Obama-style, that is going to necessitate a surge in private forces. The State Department is asking for MRAP vehicles, armored vehicles, for Black Hawk helicopters and for these paramilitary forces. So, yes, you can say that officially combat has ended, but in reality you’re continuing it through the back door by bringing in these paramilitary forces and classifying them as diplomatic security, which was Bush’s game from the very beginning."
Likud Vows it will Not Arrive
What Israel has been doing to the Gazan people is beyond any shame. Now though there is a massacre in international waters.
Sad and intolerable.