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Bring The Troops Home Responsibly
I really, really, REALLY hate that this seems to be the talking point at the convention. "Barack Obama will bring the troops home responsibly." E-gad.
What the hell is that supposed to mean? It essentially concedes half of the Iraq war argument to the Republicans, because we've shifted from immediately bringing the troops home to bringing them home "responsibly". So if the media pushes the idea that bringing the troops home responsibly means leaving most of them there for the next few years, then it will ham-fist Obama's foreign policy. We should've stayed with "bring the troops home" (period) because this new talking point sounds weak, pandering, and defensive.
I despise it. Not to sound too crude, but can our party grow some hair please?
Comments (6)
It means that the Chenyepaths have put lots and lots of Americans in Iraq. After all the biggest USA embassy in the world is in Iraq.
Consequently, a withdrawal from Iraq requires that it be done in a responsible manner to ensure the safety of the folks irresponsibly sent there.
August 27, 2008 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. We have a long, narrow, essentially barely defensible exit route - there's simply too much of it to secure completely in any other way than by slowly and carefully backing out, while removing or disabling any militarily useful equipment at the same time.
Getting out is definitely a good idea. Keeping the term "force protection" in mind as we do is just good sense, and will keep some of our fellow Americans alive.
August 27, 2008 10:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ok. So let me ask this question. Were either of you saying this before "the Surge"? If you say that you were, I call shenanigans.
August 27, 2008 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
For several years, in various places, yes. I was saying things like that when we were outrunning our supply lines going in, in fact.
That you were not paying attention early on gives you no room to call anything. Like it was ever up to you anyway.
August 27, 2008 11:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been paying attention since the beginning, thank you very much. The vast majority of us in here, including our candidate, claimed before the surge that it would not work and we should pull out immediately. Now, apparently, we need to pull out "responsibly". If you were saying we needed a gradual pull-out at the time the surge was announced, then I congratulate you.
Hoever, your avatar "For what noble cause?" makes me doubt you ever thought anything other than what Obama thought at that same time.
That's my point, and yes, I call shenanigans on Obama...and you. I'm a voter and it is ABSOLUTELY up to me!
August 28, 2008 12:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
You are, to put it simply, full of shite. Responsibility means force protection and I have always said that is important. Here and elsewhere. Careful, orderly, and with an attentive rearguard.
Here's a clue, Sparky - they're not going to leave us alone there if we try to turn and walk away. We still have to look out for tens of thousands of American kids.
Contempt is too good for the likes of you.
August 28, 2008 1:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
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