Just Foreign Policy wrote:
Just Foreign Policy News, February 2, 2009
From: Just Foreign Policy [info@justforeignpolicy.org]
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 5:08 PM
To: Tom Chambless
Subject: Just Foreign Policy News, February 2, 2009
Summary: 1) Obama seems unlikely to widen war in Afghanistan
Anne Gearan, Associated Press, Saturday, January 31, 2009; 12:00 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/31/AR2009013100355.html
1) Obama has done little since taking office to suggest he will significantly widen the war against the Taliban, writes Anne Gearan for AP. Obama said he wants to add troops to turn back the Taliban, but has not gone beyond the 30,000 additional forces already under consideration by the previous administration. Those troops would double the U.S. presence, but amount to a “finger in the dike,” Gearan says.
Fourteen days. Obama has been in office fourteen days. Two weeks!
Obama has also done little since taking office to cure cancer, invent warp drive, and solve the Great Train Robbery.
Everyone just chill out.
You know, this is a trade mark of the Associated Press. They are mere alarmists doing whatever they can do to help promote the right-wing agenda. This little article is a scare tactic designed to add fuel to the fire of the right-wing talk machine. The Associated Press cleverly disguises their fake alarmism as main stream news. The statement charging that Obama “has not gone beyond” the 30,000 additional troops is insinuating that common wisdom says he must deploy more than that number to be effectual. The truth is the verdict is still out on how much effect that number of additional troops will have.
Debunking the AP:
Remember, the 30,000 troops aforementioned is an increase, not total. The Bush administration may have considered adding troops in Afghanistan, but Bush did not ever mention removing that many troops from Iraq to accomplish that mission. The Associated Press leads you to believe Obama is just following through with Bush’s plan – not true. In September 2008, Bush ordered half of the 8000 troops scheduled to rotate out of Iraq to be redeployed to Afghanistan – in February 2009, after he leaves office. This addition of only four thousand troops, far less than Obama’s number, was his “quiet surge” plan. Now, after January 20th, that ball is in Obama’s court.
Debunking the AP’s Petraeus mystique:
Also ahead is Army Gen. David Petraeus’ wider survey of both the Afghan and Iraq wars and other issues in the Middle East. Petraeus, military architect of the troop increase of U.S. troops in Iraq, is not likely to recommend a similar one in Afghanistan.
The Associated Press talks like the great General is about to give an edict from on high and the world will quake. President Obama will guide General Petraeus and the good General will fight the war(s) in accordance with Obama’s policies, guidelines, and objectives.
Just Foreign Policy News,Anne Gearan,Associated Press,President Obama,war,Taliban,additional forces,Army Gen. David Petraeus
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