your guys to Afganistan

[margypops]

Okay we yelled at Bush , me too, when our troups wre sent to Iraq and kept there, , but so is it okay they now be sent tro Afganistan, so why is it so differabnt and how much is this going to cost..

[margypops]

okay okay I dropped an H....

[dominosarah]

I think we are going to pay a heavy price for sending more troops into that area.  Just scares me...........sara

[jollyman069]

my son in law spent 15 months in Iraq was in 4 roadside bomb explosions..he is 23 has TB(I andPTSD..he is on total disabitilkty and his life is screwed..has terrible nightmares my daughter finds him at night hiding thinking he is back in Iraq and all the Va does is try to shove more pills done his mouth...you are so right sara we have alreadyt payed a high price and it is just going to get worst

[margypops]

We have Europe asking why again, the UN , especially as the campaign OBama had was all about the war in Iraq and sending our boys home, now we are sending them out to Afghanistan again to search for Bin Laden, I cannot understand the double standard can someone explain...

[margypops]

Didnt mean to ignore what you said about your son in law mine went also 3 times, he didnt get injured Physically,   has PTSD  I am sorry about your boy.

[Cherie762]

scares me to Sara my sons probably gonna be there and how are we ever gonna get outta this recession/depression if we keep spending billions on war we shoulda invaded Afghanistan to begin with Bin Laden caused Sept 11 vengence should be with him Sadam did nothing to us yeah hes a piece of **** human ..so why dont we go after half the african and asian leader who treat their people poorley and oh yeah whys Castro gotten off the hook so long makes NO SENSE it is not about JUSTICE

[jollyman069]

sorry to hear your son had to do that 3 times and thenks ..these young men and women coming back many have problems that being taken care of by the VA and chei your right they didnt go after thre right person and i am amshamed i voted for Bush twice

[margypops]

So guys is it okay under the new President that we send a few thousand troops back to what we were  protesting about ,what is the differance now betwen Obama doing this and  Bush...Maybe I am missing something enlighten me please.

[April2]

What I don't get is why we didn't do this to begin with. We should have been actively searching for Bin Laden since he first attacked us. I don't think we ever should have gone in to Iraq.

[Barbarella]

When Obama was running for Prez he told the people what he thought they wanted to hear, but now he is the President and a different wind is blowing.

For example while he was campaigning he promised that he will withdraw our troops from Iraq within 16 months -  this will never happen and he already hinted it real strong that this is not possible.

Guantanomo Bay he will close in one year -  again, it will never happen because he doesn't even know where to put these terrorists.  Europe does not want them, Europe who screamed the loudest about how we "mistreat" these "innocent" detainees.  Nobody wants them not even Ft. Leavenworth.  "Signing" to have Gitmo closed and actually "deliver it" are two different pair of shoes.  Talk is cheap!

Obama is not doing anything different than Bush when it comes to the wars.  Except for kissing a.... on Al Arabya.  What did that get him?  Criticism from the muslim world including Iran that what Obama did on Al Arabya showed a "sign of weakness".  They hate us, we are the infidals, and no matter what Obama does or says will not make a difference or change their (radicals) hate for us.  Bin Laden's #2 man already called Obama all kind of names and criticized him for "leaving his muslim faith".

  

[April2]

Sounds like a politician to me. Should we be surprised? They all make promises they don't or can't keep. We just have to wait and see what happens, I guess. He is our president for at least the next four years.

[ILADVOCATE]

Actually of course we did try to invade Cuba in 1961 and it was a disaster. The Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban missile crisis brought us to the brink of a nuclear war. Anyway, Castro may be a despot in his own country but he hasn't ordered the deaths of thousands of innocent people around the world. And he is not president of Cuba anymore and will likely die soon. He is no longer of any importance. My main concern is the extension of the war from Afghanistan into Pakistan which does have nuclear arms and is making peace treaties in local areas with the Taliban. Its very hard for me to say because I support pulling the troops out of Iraq in the time frame Obama named but I can't say what's right to do as regards Afghanistan. We can't abandon the fight against terrorism but we can't put innocent American lives at risk. Anyway, in carrying over the same secretary of defense from the Bush administration Obama made it clear he would carry on the same agenda and from what I believe the generals requested more troops in Afghanistan. I certainly don't want to see more American lives lost (or innocent lives on the other side) but I can't say what is the right thing to do.

[dominosarah]

I still think they should of put Bush on one camel and Bin Laden on another and they should of met in the middle of the desert.............

[PlateletGal]

I've always supported sending more troops to Afghanistan. Of course I never supported the unjust war in Iraq, because it was quite obvious the real enemies and the real threat was along the Afghanistan/Pakistan border.  I'm not sure if people have been keeping up to date on the latest in Afghanistan, but we have no choice to get involved.  Pakistan has been giving into the Taliban recently and actually making deals with them !  In Afghanistan, the Taliban is trying to take over again and we cannot let that happen.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hGd2ZMkQDv13Yzbd62VRkk0SKRYQD96E5R280

[PlateletGal]

Your post is nothing but assumptions. I will just address your first assumption that Obama cannot withdraw troops from Iraq in 16 months.  Just last month Obama spoke with military leaders and asked them to draw up plans for a responsible U.S. troop withdrawl from Iraq.

In early February (source below), Obama drew criticism from a couple of generals because he wanted to keep his pledge to withdraw all troops from Iraq in 16 months.

Obama is smart. He has already stated that if the situation in Iraq changes, then he will have to go back to the drawing table and come up with another plan. But as it appears now, our troops will be home from Iraq in 16 months.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/02/generals-seek-to-reverse_n_163070.html

[Barbarella]

Time will tell, we'll see.  Its now leaning toward 23 months.  Obama who never wore the uniform should pay attention at General Petreaus and others who are actually in theater.  I know, I know he is our commander in chief,  with no experience.... except for  communtiy organizer and a few short year as a Senator which he spent most of the time campaigning. THAT is what scares me.

We'll see one year from now if Guantanamo Bay will be closed, and 16 months from now if all of our troops have been withdrawn from Iraq and sent back to the U.S. and not sent to Afghanistan instead.  They need 30.000 troops in Afghanistan, so far Obama agreed to send 17.000 from the States, where do you think the other 13.000 will come from?  There will be re-routed from Iraq to Afghanistan IMO.

We'll see, if I am wrong I will admit that I was wrong, but I am not holding my breath.

[HelpinUtah]

Personally, I believe that when Obama was briefed on the middle east - that's when he changed his tune.  We aren't sitting in the oval office hearing all the real details!  But, what's interesting is that experts say they think Bin Laden is actually hiding in Pakistan - so where do we go?  Some others say they think Bin Laden has died by now - kidney or liver problems?  So, who knows at this point.  

I do feel badly for our boys and girls who have died, suffered from the wars, but I'm thankful that they were willing to serve their country.  They are brave men and women!  I'm proud of them and whether you agree with the wars or not - they are to be honored for their service!  

[PlateletGal]

The Bush administration has known all along where Bin Laden was hiding... this is nothing new. A few months ago, an elite officer who served in Afghanistan questioned a decision made by his superiors (and probably George W. Bush). They knew where Bin Laden was... but this officer was told to not go ahead with the mission in an attempt to kill Laden.

source: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/02/60minutes/main4494937.shtml

We shouldn't criticize our commander-in-chief for "lack of experience", especially when Bush hardly served (AWOL) and considering the fact that Bush had never been out of the country until after he became president. Obama never supported Bush's war in Iraq and that was a wise decision.

What I'm concerned about is the troops. After 5 1/2 years.... they are exhausted and I'm concerned about their mental status. You know how many soldiers have killed themselves because of PTSD ? Many of these soldiers aren't comfortable with discussing their mental health status with their commanders. I agree with HelpinUtah.... despite our political differences, we need to support these brave men and women who are fighting for our country !  

[Barbarella]

But 68% of our military in an ANONYMOUS Poll said that they would vote for McCain.  

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/10/military_poll_100508w/

[Barbarella]

Check this one out:  SIX OUT OF TEN SERVICEMEN PREFER BUSH OVER OBAMA.  Hooah!!!!!

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=80340&sectionid=3510203

[PlateletGal]

I'm not sure why this is relevent or what this has to do with the war in Iraq or Afghanistan ????

[Angelinthemorning]

I agree completely with you all.  It's time to start looking at our troops.  I know many friends who signed up for National Guard to get their schooling paid for that are now over in Iraq.  NEVER do I hear them grip or complain about what they're doing for our country.  They just want to come home!!!  I personally think we need to start focusing on those who are part of our country (our troops).  They will be the ones suffering long-term consequences of this war!!!  

[Barbarella]

Just wanted to point out how most of our military people feel about Bush and Mc Cain compared to Obama since so many Civilians think that Bush is evil, Hitler, war monger, and the list goes on and on and on.  

You need to do some research about which countries President Bush has visited BEFORE he became president:

QUOTE: According to Bush staffers, George W. Bush had visited these countries
before becoming President:

Bermuda
Canada
China
Egypt
England
France
Gambia
Israel
Italy
Mexico
Scotland

[ILADVOCATE]

First of all people who compare Bush to Hitler are people I wouldn't take seriously. Yes I am liberal but I'd never compare a president of the United States to perhaps one of the most evil dictators in history. Again Obama incorporated not just the secretary of defense but many of the staffers in the Bush administration from the armed forces. He respects their decision and is willing to negotiate. Now as for those countries you listed Bush visited what specifically is your point? What did he do there? All of those countries are our allies. They could be visited for a vacation, public relations, etc. Trying to figure out what you are trying to point out. Yes McCain was more of a hawk so of course he's prefered among the military but Obama did incorporate many of them into the current government which is a historical rarity. I believe that shows he is a negotiator and whatever one's political perspective that gives me more respect for him in itself.