Thom's blog - Thursday December 16th, 2010

You need to know this. President Obama released his Afghanistan war strategy review this morning. In it – the President claims the timeline for troop withdrawal in July of next year is still on track – though the pace of withdrawal is still uncertain. A US military presence is expected to be in the region until at least 2014. Most of the news is good - we've taken more territory and knocked off most of Al Queda. But the review summary warns that many of these advances can quickly unravel if more is not done to combat insurgents coming across the border from Pakistan. In addition – there is little acknowledgment within the report of how corruption in the Afghan government continues to undermine US efforts. Which raises the question of exactly what we are fighting for in the country? Are US troops dying to prop up a corrupt Karzai government? Americans think so according to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll that shows disapproval of the war at an all time high – 60%. While President Obama may point to individual targets that show improvement – the war as a whole is deteriorating. That’s because – despite the whitewashing in the strategy review – 2010 was the bloodiest on record for the United States. And that’s after more than 9 years of sustained combat in the country. Listen to the American people Mr. President – and listen to the final words of your chief diplomat, Richard Holbrook – Stop this war!

Comments

WhiteBear's picture
WhiteBear 15 years 36 weeks ago
#1

This should be proof positive that Obama needs to replaced on the Democratic ticket for 2012. His delusional and criminal expansion of the Afghanistan war has made the situation much worse and he continues to back away from promises of a hard withdrawal timetable. There is no quantity or quality of SPIN that can redeem president Obama or justify another four years of his "leadership". His tax sellout to the rich elites without a fight or debate has awoken many to the truth. He's weak, incompetent and cowardly. I realized almost two years ago his true nature when chose to "complete" the Bush/Cheney Régime war agenda in Afghanistan. I wish he would resign now.

Thom's Blog Is On the Move

Hello All

Thom's blog in this space and moving to a new home.

Please follow us across to hartmannreport.com - this will be the only place going forward to read Thom's blog posts and articles.

From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
"Thom Hartmann is a creative thinker and committed small-d democrat. He has dealt with a wide range of topics throughout his life, and this book provides an excellent cross section. The Thom Hartmann Reader will make people both angry and motivated to act."
Dean Baker, economist and author of Plunder and Blunder, False Profits, and Taking Economics Seriously
From Cracking the Code:
"Thom Hartmann ought to be bronzed. His new book sets off from the same high plane as the last and offers explicit tools and how-to advice that will allow you to see, hear, and feel propaganda when it's directed at you and use the same techniques to refute it. His book would make a deaf-mute a better communicator. I want him on my reading table every day, and if you try one of his books, so will you."
Peter Coyote, actor and author of Sleeping Where I Fall
From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
"Thom Hartmann channels the best of the American Founders with voice and pen. His deep attachment to a democratic civil society is just the medicine America needs."
Tom Hayden, author of The Long Sixties and director, Peace and Justice Resource Center.