Post sees ambivalence in Prez’ words
You know a Democrat President is in trouble when the Washington Post suddenly comes to the same conclusions that we came to years ago. They compare his words of strength before coming to office in regards to a renewed commitment to the war against the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan and the words that come out of his mouth these days.
While saying that he was “confident that we can continue the work of meeting our objectives,” the president said his goal was to “responsibly wind down this war” and “bring our troops home.” He promised to “continue the work of devastating al-Qaeda’s leadership and denying them a safe haven,” but he made no mention of defeating the Taliban or of peace for the Afghans themselves.
Yeah, where have you been Washington Post? We’ve been saying that for years. No one in the current administration has been able to form the word “victory” on their lips in the past 3 years.
The U.S. official most able to work with the Afghan leadership, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, was abruptly pushed out of his post because of a hyped magazine article. Mr. Karzai is an erratic personality — but is it any wonder that he has grown increasingly resistant to the Obama administration?
And the Post led the charge for forcing McChrystal into an early retirement.
The president reluctantly accepted the advice of his generals that he adopt a strategy of counterinsurgency against the Taliban and send additional troops to carry it out. But he arbitrarily cut the number of troops sought by commanders; set an equally arbitrary deadline for beginning their withdrawal; and rejected the military’s advice that the pullout be staged after this year’s summer fighting season. Now his aides are reportedly pushing for further troop withdrawals next year, once again against the Pentagon’s recommendation.
And columnists in the Post cheered him every inch of the way and continue to push for an even earlier withdrawal.
As they watch these moves, Afghans, the Taliban and neighbors such as Pakistan can reasonably conclude that the United States, rather than trying to win the war, is racing to implement an exit strategy in which the interests of Afghans and their government are slighted.
It’s nice to see that the Post is making the same observations that this blog has been complaining about since the Fall of 2009. The Washington Post Editorial Board concludes;
If it’s evident that the president won’t defend the war, and is focused on “winding down” rather than winning, why should anyone else support it?
In other words, paraphrased from John Kerry’s 1971 declaration “Who wants to be the last to die for the Obama reelection campaign?”
Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Media, Terror War
The WaPo didn’t have a sudden epiphany. It merely wants to show the GOP that the WaPo can be fair and balanced. The GOP will swoon, order their martinis dry, and then check to see why the WaPo’s editors have covered the floor in plastic wrap.
Currently Obumbles is hovering around the 40 percent approval mark. Consider that if the MSM was doing its job rather than running interference for this administration, if not outright campaigning for him, his numbers would rightly be in the low 30’s, if not worse.
This is a glimmer by the WaPo in an “attempt” to be “fair”, but make no mistake, ladies and gents–this is about as critical of a Democrat administration as the MSM will ever get.
“Afghans, the Taliban and neighbors such as Pakistan can reasonably conclude that the United States, rather than trying to win the war, is racing to implement an exit strategy” to try to help out Baracka Obama in the fall elections. Fixed it for ya, WaPo.
Yep Jonn!
“The president reluctantly accepted the advice of his generals that he adopt a strategy of counterinsurgency against the Taliban and send additional troops to carry it out. But he arbitrarily cut the number of troops sought by commanders; set an equally arbitrary deadline for beginning their withdrawal; and rejected the military’s advice that the pullout be staged after this year’s summer fighting season. Now his aides are reportedly pushing for further troop withdrawals next year, once again against the Pentagon’s recommendation.” This paragraph is the money shot.
It is undeniable, even by his press allies which have been carrying water for him since before he was elected. Anyone who objectively followed his Afghan decisions kept coming to the same conclusion.