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| Afghanistan |
| Looney Left Afghanistan solution: Pull out Troops, send more Community Organizers |
| 2009-04-21 |
| The Nation -- As we mark Obama's first 100 Days, there is much to celebrate--from repeal of the global gag rule to the passage of the stimulus and the Administration's pledge to close Guantanamo. The budget, a smart blueprint to build a new economy, will demand that progressives mobilize to take on well-funded lobbies intent on obstructing real reform. Yet, as I think about the most troubling aspects of these first 100 days, there are two areas which I fear could endanger the Obama Presidency: the bank bailouts and military escalation in Afghanistan. Americans deserve a real national debate about the Administration's plans in Afghanistan -its ends and means and exits--before undertaking such a major military commitment. That's why Brave New Films' work is so essential: with its new documentary Rethink Afghanistan and online debates such as the one CAP's Lawrence Korb and I had last week, BNF is fostering the kind of discussion, debate and dissent that Obama has said he welcomes. BNF's work--along with a network of bloggers, progressive leaders, magazines like The Nation, peace and justice groups--is sparking much-needed Congressional hearings on vital areas such as the role and goals of the US military in Afghanistan, oversight of contractors, transparent budgeting and clear metrics to measure progress toward a defined exit strategy. What's key at this pivotal moment is increasing the pressure for constructive, smart, effective non-military solutions to stabilize Afghanistan--and strengthen Pakistan's fragile democratic government. As I argued in the debate with Korb, I believe the more responsible and effective strategy moving forward is to take US-led military escalation off the table, begin to withdraw US troops and support a regional diplomatic solution, including common-sense counterterrorist and national security measures ( extensive intelligence cooperation, expert police work, effective border control) and targeted development and reconstruction assistance. |
| Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC |
| #6 Cute in theory, mojo, but you know that the survivors would just return with skulls full of fanatical conversion & a back-pocket full of citizenship paperwork. The last thing we need is to expose the feeble-minded to enemy indoctrination with a Stockholm Syndrome chaser. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2009-04-21 15:54 |
| #5 Well, it'd sure cut down on the excess Community Organizer population, which is a plus... |
| Posted by: mojo 2009-04-21 15:32 |
| #4 Send our excess leftists "down to the countryside" where they will "learn from the people". You've got to learn raw, unadulterated, from the source. No more of the bourgeois learning from books, it's time to live among the Afghans in the countryside and do as they do. Well, it's a thought. Heck, the hardcore Marxists at FARC have safe houses with plasma TVs and hot tubs...the only way to visit Afghanistan is with an NGO, with hot showers and satellite internet. |
| Posted by: gromky 2009-04-21 15:06 |
| #3 It certainly would improve OUR nation when the Hassan Chop starts. Just make sure all the commie organizers are sent there in one "surge". |
| Posted by: ed 2009-04-21 15:04 |
| #2 I think we should do this. Then force The Nation to move it's headquarters to Kabul... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2009-04-21 14:50 |
| #1 "expert police work" No concept of reality here. The Afghans can only wish they could have a police force 1/10th as good as the RAB. |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2009-04-21 14:48 |