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Obama to Announce Afghan Strategy Tuesday at West Point
Posted:
11/25/09
President Obama will deliver a speech about the direction of America's eight-year war in Afghanistan at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the U.S. Military Academy, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs announced Wednesday. While Obama is expected to announce a troop increase, Gibbs also indicated a strategy will be announced to ultimately get U.S. troops out of a country they have been fighting in since 2001.
"The president does not see this as an open-ended engagement," Gibbs said.
"The president does not see this as an open-ended engagement," Gibbs said.
Addressing the nation's future Army officers at West Point affords the commander-in-chief the opportunity to speak directly to the men and women tasked with carrying out an increasingly dangerous policy that has been losing public support back home.
The president has mulled his options for a new strategy in Afghanistan since his top commander there, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, earlier this fall called for a 40,000-troop increase. Reports have been circulating that Obama will order 25,000 to 30,000 additional U.S. troops, and call upon NATO allies to add 10,000 more.
Noting that the cost of keeping a soldier in Afghanistan is approaching $1 million a year, the president's spokesman reminded reporters Wednesday that Obama has previously stated: "We are not going to be there forever. It is unsustainable."
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Lynn Sweet
Lynn Sweet is a columnist at PoliticsDaily.com and writes the Daily FLOTUS blog on Michelle Obama. She is also Washington Bureau Chief of the Chicago Sun-Times.... moreRelated Articles
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Comments (47)
oilriggas
11:25AM Nov 25th 2009
Hey BO,
You can give your speech there, but I am almost certain that no one listening will ever vote for you again.
You can give your speech there, but I am almost certain that no one listening will ever vote for you again.
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(13)
(13) 
jrotced02
11:49AM Nov 26th 2009
oilriggas
11:25AM Nov 25th 2009
Keep dreaming! President Obama is the elephant dancing amongst the Republican chickens.
11:25AM Nov 25th 2009
Keep dreaming! President Obama is the elephant dancing amongst the Republican chickens.
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(-3)
(-3) mickey72868
11:34AM Nov 25th 2009
oilriggas, you're quite wrong; I'll vote for him again. At least he's TRYING to clean up the mess made by the last 2 draft dodging white Southerners who previously held that office and screwed up our country.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-14)
(-14) libslie0066
12:42PM Nov 25th 2009
You conveniently ignore the tax evading crooks that are now in our Cabinet and appointed positions in the White House. Why?
RATE THIS COMMENT: (4)
(4) BOstinks
12:54PM Nov 25th 2009
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!STOP MICKEY MOUSE,HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!
YOU'RE KILLING MEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!GO BACK TO DISNEYWORLD,THE WORLD OF FANTASY,WHERE YOU BELONG HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!
YOU'RE KILLING MEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!GO BACK TO DISNEYWORLD,THE WORLD OF FANTASY,WHERE YOU BELONG HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(0)
(0) Al
2:16PM Nov 25th 2009
Hey....Are you advocating war with the south, or just misinformed
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) dhartson
11:53AM Nov 25th 2009
The military has no respect for him. They just don't! Just like Clinton.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (12)
(12) Rheinhart Moxon
4:56PM Nov 25th 2009
Ahh... Clinton!! The Savior of Kosovo!! They just erected a staute ti him in Pristina... no one will ever do that for Shrub (though maybe they will plant a bush in his name, perhaps?).
Rember how Republicans were demanding that Clinton have "an Exit Strategy" for kosovo? Weird how those very same Republicans NEVER demanded an "Extit Strategery" from Dub - just let him lie and lie and lie about the cost of his attempt to out-do Pappy in the 'War Hero' department.
Clinton won a war with few American deaths at little cost to the taxpayer. Dubya on the other hand didn't win two wars and a cost to the yet to be born taxpaer of trillions!
Moral - Never send a Republican spoiled-brat to do a mans work!
Rember how Republicans were demanding that Clinton have "an Exit Strategy" for kosovo? Weird how those very same Republicans NEVER demanded an "Extit Strategery" from Dub - just let him lie and lie and lie about the cost of his attempt to out-do Pappy in the 'War Hero' department.
Clinton won a war with few American deaths at little cost to the taxpayer. Dubya on the other hand didn't win two wars and a cost to the yet to be born taxpaer of trillions!
Moral - Never send a Republican spoiled-brat to do a mans work!
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-6)
(-6) john black
10:57PM Nov 30th 2009
So now you speak for the entire military?
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-1)
(-1) Luette
12:13PM Nov 25th 2009
Can you beleive THIS---Can you BELEIVE this garbage--?? Navy SEALs who secretly captured one of the most wanted terrorists in Iraq -- the alleged mastermind of the murder and mutilation of four Blackwater USA security guards in Fallujah in 2004 -- are now facing criminal charges stemming from the suspect’s bloody lip.--gee Obama, guess we shouldnt even CATCH the sob's now for fear of them needing a band aid...and you wonder why our Military is DEPRESSED? Get this muslim lover out of the W H ..NOW
RATE THIS COMMENT: (10)
(10) Alex Lekas
12:21PM Nov 25th 2009
of course, it's believable. Haven't you heard? They're not combatants anymore; they are just like every other accused criminal, worthy of rights and privleges that Americans in the system get. Sarcasm aside, unbelievable that someone actually wants to punish guys who caught a killer.
Let's just put the question on the table: given this set of circumstances, what is the likelihood of US troops capturing al-Qaida suspects as opposed to simply killing them. Dead guys don't whine about "he hit me". What are we becoming when the perpetrators are treated with kid gloves? That sound you hear is the laughter of all the weird beards echoing through the caves as they read stories like this.
Let's just put the question on the table: given this set of circumstances, what is the likelihood of US troops capturing al-Qaida suspects as opposed to simply killing them. Dead guys don't whine about "he hit me". What are we becoming when the perpetrators are treated with kid gloves? That sound you hear is the laughter of all the weird beards echoing through the caves as they read stories like this.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (8)
(8) John padrick murry
6:13PM Nov 25th 2009
i agree with he doest like one of his brothers going on trial.This is nothing but BS.
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(3)
(3) gvpal52
4:03AM Nov 26th 2009
When gates learned of this he made a secret trip to the front in Afghanistan. My guess is that you are right, they decided not to send anymore here. You have the right to one last breath. Judge Dread style justice. Thanks for the information bang! Obama's abuse of the law will bring out the cold blooded killer in some people over there, the sad part is they have to live with it because of This nightmare of a president. One more cowardly politician trying to micro manage a war to protect there votes. Obama is already soaked in blood up to his neck.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (1)
(1) libslie0066
12:38PM Nov 25th 2009
Judge rules for Secretary of State in underage voter case October 23, 2009
Thurston County Superior Court Judge Anne Hirsch ruled today that the Secretary of State had not violated federal requirements for voter registration procedures in a complaint brought by the Evergreen Freedom Foundation.
In June 2008 the Freedom Foundation filed a complaint on behalf of volunteer researcher Bob Edelman against Secretary Reed for violations of the Help America Vote Act. HAVA requires states to create and maintain an accurate statewide voter registration list.
Mr. Edelman discovered more than 16,000 registrations between January 2000 and March 2008 by people who would not have been 18 by the next election, which is the legal age for voting. Records show that 108 of these individuals unlawfully voted 127 ballots over the same time period, including four in the February 2008 presidential primary. EFF requested that the Secretary of State adopt procedures to prevent ineligible registrations from being accepted and added to the statewide voter registration database.
Thurston County Superior Court Judge Anne Hirsch ruled today that the Secretary of State had not violated federal requirements for voter registration procedures in a complaint brought by the Evergreen Freedom Foundation.
In June 2008 the Freedom Foundation filed a complaint on behalf of volunteer researcher Bob Edelman against Secretary Reed for violations of the Help America Vote Act. HAVA requires states to create and maintain an accurate statewide voter registration list.
Mr. Edelman discovered more than 16,000 registrations between January 2000 and March 2008 by people who would not have been 18 by the next election, which is the legal age for voting. Records show that 108 of these individuals unlawfully voted 127 ballots over the same time period, including four in the February 2008 presidential primary. EFF requested that the Secretary of State adopt procedures to prevent ineligible registrations from being accepted and added to the statewide voter registration database.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (1)
(1) libslie0066
12:40PM Nov 25th 2009
Hope most of the so called progressives on here get used to the term Climategate. The entire Global warming scam has been exposed, with investigations coming soon. Its about time.
This administration has so much contempt for this Nation is unbelievable.
This administration has so much contempt for this Nation is unbelievable.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (8)
(8) BOstinks
12:42PM Nov 25th 2009
Thank you MR.B.O.,for the diligence you have shown in this matter as you have shown in every other matter,except of course your #1 goal and that is shoving healthcare down our great country's throat.We really appreciate you hanging our troops out to dry during your difficult time of decision.You truly are the greatest pres ever,we worship your awesomeness.All hail the big b.o.,all hail
RATE THIS COMMENT: (7)
(7) libslie0066
12:45PM Nov 25th 2009
Yes, despicable to say the least. Who does he work for?
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(2)
(2) dumbasademocrat
12:59PM Nov 25th 2009
He is going to file suit against Al-qaeda and the Taliban , going to use his superior intellect and knowledge of the law to win a judgement against them. Them take possession of all their assets ! That will teach them to mess with Big O ! Try winning a war when all your guns and mules have been seized by the sheriff !
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) shazzman47
1:14PM Nov 25th 2009
Damn : Mickey spoken the truth NICE!!!;As for the rest yes i just dont get why it is B.O. fault that we have troops in another bloody mess that was the mastermind of the people who where in office before him. Keep it up !!! I like muslims, jews, gentiles and these are races; are all different color get your fact straight before you run off at the mouth. Go ahead with the right wing attitude, and did know your the president of last .tried to give the homeland security to his Tailban brothers . Man you people are trip ..GET YOUR FACT TOGETHER BEFORE YOU MAKE UNTRUTHFUL REMARKS !! Also for you (Dip caca) that is the Commander in cheif of the Military so you know just like this bogus war we in ..They will obey his direct orders and Dim-wit I still say go get bush rumsfeldand cheney and put them on the front line of this mess since it all started with them lying.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-8)
(-8) Karen
1:15PM Nov 25th 2009
At least they have a plan on hot to fund this.
Two top Democrats say they want to impose a new tax on the wealthy to finance any increase in U.S. troops for the Afghanistan war.
Obey's proposal would be a "graduated tax" on income. It reportedly would start at 1 percent for low-income earners and rise to 5 percent for high-income earners. He's calling it a surtax because it would essentially be a tax on income that is already subject to federal income tax.
This is the link....
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/23/lawmakers-propose-war-surtax-pay-troop-increase-afghanistan/
Two top Democrats say they want to impose a new tax on the wealthy to finance any increase in U.S. troops for the Afghanistan war.
Obey's proposal would be a "graduated tax" on income. It reportedly would start at 1 percent for low-income earners and rise to 5 percent for high-income earners. He's calling it a surtax because it would essentially be a tax on income that is already subject to federal income tax.
This is the link....
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/23/lawmakers-propose-war-surtax-pay-troop-increase-afghanistan/
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