WTF?

Obama back in March:

“So I want the American people to understand that we have a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in the future”

Obama today, via Bob Woodward at the WaPo:

National security adviser James L. Jones told U.S. military commanders here last week that the Obama administration wants to hold troop levels here flat for now, and focus instead on carrying out the previously approved strategy of increased economic development, improved governance and participation by the Afghan military and civilians in the conflict.

The message seems designed to cap expectations that more troops might be coming, though the administration has not ruled out additional deployments in the future. Jones was carrying out directions from President Obama, who said recently, "My strong view is that we are not going to succeed simply by piling on more and more troops."

"This will not be won by the military alone," Jones said in an interview during his trip. "We tried that for six years." He also said: "The piece of the strategy that has to work in the next year is economic development. If that is not done right, there are not enough troops in the world to succeed."

Jones delivered his message after a 30-minute briefing by Marine Brig. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson, who commands 9,000 Marines here, nearly half the new deployments Obama has sent to Afghanistan.

But the kicker is later in the article when a discussion for more troops is held and Jones makes clear what Obama's message would be should commanders in the field seek more troops to fulfill Obama's promise to the American people:

Now suppose you're the president, Jones told them, and the requests come into the White House for yet more force. How do you think Obama might look at this? Jones asked, casting his eyes around the colonels. How do you think he might feel?

Jones let the question hang in the air-conditioned, fluorescent-lighted room. Nicholson and the colonels said nothing.

Well, Jones went on, after all those additional troops, 17,000 plus 4,000 more, if there were new requests for force now, the president would quite likely have "a Whiskey Tango Foxtrot moment." Everyone in the room caught the phonetic reference to WTF -- which in the military and elsewhere means "What the [expletive]?"

Nicholson and his colonels -- all or nearly all veterans of Iraq -- seemed to blanch at the unambiguous message that this might be all the troops they were going to get.

Jones, speaking with great emphasis to this group of Iraq veterans, said Afghanistan is not Iraq. "We are not going to build that empire again," he said flatly.

In other words... the promise to America made in March by Obama was bullsh*t. 

Jules Crittenden speaks for me when he writes:

Too bad. It’s something American troops have dealt with before and will most earnestly endeavor to deal with now. Maybe they can pull it off. The United States military, after all, has proven remarkably resourceful, resilient and adaptive not just in these wars but in all the wars it has fought. It would be helpful this time, going into this difficult task, if the Commander in Chief’s attitude toward the expertise of the men who will to the heavy lifting was something other than “What the f*ck?”

Comments

[chuck aka XtnYoda]

Well... at least the dude admitted that the president would just flip the military off... like candidate Obama flipped off Hilary in the campaign... in the middle of a public speech.

Real class.

[SpideyTerry]

"In other words... the promise to America made in March by Obama was bullsh*t."

What? A promise by Obama just being bullsh*t? Everything I know is a lie!

;)

Seriously, it sucks that the military has to put up with that big-earred buffoon.

[brutally honest visitor]

Let me be brutally honest... Obama's 3 checkmate moves!

1. Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation
2. Mullah Omar and/or Osama bin's head (by July 4th 2011!)
3. Healthcare reform squeaks through

Middle East's long-lasting (I.e. most stable thus far) peace will be in place! And the economy will heal itself by 2012!

Keep this post & just watch!

-- I voted for Reagan & I'm not Black! :)