WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Barack Obama said Sunday that his administration remains prepared to order strikes against "high-value" targets within Pakistan.
Obama reiterated a previous assertion that the U.S. military would pursue extremists within Pakistan's borders after consulting with the Pakistani government.
The U.S. policy doesn't change American recognition of Pakistan's "sovereign government," Obama said during an appearance on CBS's "Face the Nation." But the United States needs to hold that government "more accountable."
"This is going to be hard," he added. "I'm under no illusions."
Obama said his administration remains determined to weaken or destroy al Qaeda until it no longer presents a threat to the United States.
He added that his administration is prepared to constantly adjust its strategy in Pakistan and Afghanistan as necessary.
From CNN Politics
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Sounds like a "good" plan to me...finally, a "thinking" president, who actually wants to get the job DONE..Power to you pres Obama, and may the force be with you !!! God Bless America, and keep her safe...and OUR president !!!
are we expected to believe this is a new stance, that we have not been after high value targets in pakistan?!
Kill bin Laden and the job is finished! He should be able to be killed within a month if the US really commits to this cause. No foolin' around like what is being done in Iraq. If the plan is to play with bazookas, fireworks, and slingshots as has been the policy in Iraq, then Obama is continuing on a Bush course of action.
US is prepared to go to war with Pakistan. The great irony here is the crowd that preached about Iraq being a wrong war (it was) will fully support this, all because of who is sending the marching orders. Petty.
There's the answer to your question, Randy. A kool-ade drinker raises his/her ugly head...
to Randy "BO has not changed a thing."
Wake up and cancel the alarm clock. Sleeping and thinking nothing has changed will not make it so. Change has, is and will continue to happen, so
Wake up
The "Bush haters" have moved on and are busy supporting President Obama in his quest to undo the multiple failures that Cheney/Bush left behind when they vacated the White House. Redundant but to be stated again....Cheney/Bush dropped the ball big time in Afghanistan and our President is going in there to try and put the ball back into play...with victory as the goal this time.
The high value target in pakistan is.......Pakistan! It is without doubt the largest cesspool in the world.We send billions of dollars over there while they funnel it to the Taliban to use aginst us.No matter what their other beliefs there is not single a Pakistani w ho is in favor of an independent Afgahnistam.All of them view it as their colony and will not tolerate an indepndent afghanistan on their borders.
Sooner or later we will declare war on PAKISTAN or we will leave afghanistan in disgrace.I for one hope we declare war on Pakistan and change the name of the country to 7-11.
I suggest this plan has had limited success in the past. Most of the people killed by these attacks have been civilians. It seems we are following the Russian failed strategy in Afghanistan.
A possible solution is to work with the people of Afghanistan (which includes the Taliban) and improve there economical condition without interfering with their way of life.
Thanks
Salman
Randy says it all in one sentence. There is no change. King Obeyme has simply kept the Bush Policies in place in almost every critical area of government. What change? Oh yeah, he has made Bush look like a fiscal conservative. Bad change.
Good luck to the junior senator from the corrupt State of Illinois. And good luck to all of us when the Pakistani left gains control of the nukes.
As long Pakistan has Nuk so far no one can clean the mess from that area. We need to wash Pakistan's Nuk first before to do anything. The Govt. of Pakistan is feeding them and suporting them and using them as shield name of Taliban of Jihadi. Us must give permission to India to clean Pakistan and the US and NATO can clean Taliban. With joind hand Pakistan will be under control easier. Thanks
Oh, I get it, it's OK for Obama to go into Pakastain, but not for Bush.
Clear thinking people. Good to see you are honest and not a bunch of phony hipocritics.........
OMG! Imagine the uproar if Bush had proposed this. If BO does it, then it's "getting the job done" – as if Bush hadn't already eliminated 90% of al Queda. This does sound exactly like what Bush was doing all along.
Not going to lie, in terms of the war on terror, I am starting to appreciate president Bush.
If anyone still believes Osama is still living in a cave,he should have his head examined.He really works for Israel.
It's reckless threats toward a nation like Pakistan that will be Obama's undoing.
seems as though the war to get bin Laden has gone into the "cold case files", probably all in the name of big defense contracts to keep funding the foolish debacle in Iraq and to help the economy over here. If bL HAS been relegated to the cold files, then the US war against terrorism is presently and has been a whole lotta...BALONEY!
US citizens would be better off to arm themselves and forget federal help against future terror attacks.
A thinking president? I'm not sure about you, but if I were president of a sovereign country like Pakistan, I wouldn't appreciate my country being bombed without some consultation. Does Obama not realize that Pakistan has an army that dwarfs both Afghanistan's and Iraq's? Plus the fact that they are nuclear capable? Does he also not realize that our deficit is going through the roof right now, and that potentially engaging us in a conflict with Pakistan will cost countless billions? We don't HAVE the resources to initiate another conflict in the middle east!
He isn't a savior, nor is this a "good" plan. He's merely a politician who was able to smile his way into the White House. From an economic standpoint he's already failed, and from a foreign policy standpoint he's about to make a huge mistake.
From a political standpoint he's in the clear because he can always rely upon the ignorance of the average American voter.
It is KILL or be KILLED. Seeking out the enemy even in another country is totally justified despite what these CRAZY Muslim countries say or do. Bush/Cheny were all talk and no do and went after the wrong enemy which cost us 4500 dead, 1400 wounded American soldiers/marines and untold BILLIONS os wated dollars. Go OBAMA you have our support.
In a perfect world this would work. In reality they will be faced with the exact same problem as in Iraq. Insurgents and al qaeda merging with the everday people. You strike a house and kill 10 insurgents and also kill a family with kids. The press picks it up and runs with it then you have the every bleeding heart demanding a stop. In a perfect world this plan would work.
Stop the Pakistan government and the ISI (their intelligence agency) from fooling us!! Make them acccountable, and ask them to DELIVER on the terrorists! The ISI has been playing a double game and the US has been taken for a ride! Unfortunately the PAK govt and the ISI enough are dumb enough to realize that if you play with snakes (terrorists) they occasionally BITE you!
Wow, David. Racist much?
isn't this the "unilateralism" and "going it alone" that the Bush haters were soooo against? Do you really want to hit targets in a nuclear armed state that is already unstable? THANK GOD for this president...Repubs will have the House AND Senate back in 4 years as well as the White House if he continues at this rate.
Well, well, well, Obama promised to get us out of Iraq. I didn't realize it was just to get us into a bigger war. What is this guy doing??? It's has become clear to me that he has no clue.
isn't it something to know..that the guy running the country is way smarter and tactical then you.
it's a nice change.
Too many comments about how we should "cooperate with the Taliban". The Taliban is not a legitimate Afghan government. They're warlords who've taken over the country. No, we shouldn't cooperate with them. That's ridiculous. And Pakistan is a country run by a military dictator as well. The freely elected Benazir Bhutto was assassinated by that government, so we have no obligation to cooperate with the Pakistan government either. We need to do what is in the best interest of ourselves and freedom in general. Those who live in Pakistan/Afghanistan for the most part are living in tyrannical conditions and would love to see THEIR leaders in place, not the dictatorships that are now ruling.
Killing Bin Laden would make another take over his spot and the same terrorism will continue. Our main aim should be is to eliminate terrorism not just kill one person and be happy. Our attacks should be so bad that any terrorist should have a run of fear in his/her veins to even THINK about causing any harm to any NATION.
i think it's refreshing to hear new plans and new goals for our country. The steps that he is willing to take to help the united states come together. it makes me feel more proud to be an american.
Obama is just continuing what the Bush government had planned in the last 2 years so, there is nothing new here. The only merit Obama has in all this is to have kept Robert Gates as Sec Def and NOT reverse this strategy of striking in Pakistan when needed. And by the way, to answer those who believe that Bush has failed because he did not capture or kill Bin Laden: Al-Quaeda is a decentralized organization. They don't need Bin Laden to operate. He is just a symbol, maybe a powerful one but just a symbolic figure nonetheless. So the war on terror is much more complicated than "go in, kill a guy and get out."
Finally, after frittering away the past several years on the misguided adventure in Iraq, we are back to where we should have been from the start.
If the Iraq misadventure had not forced us to divert our resources away from Afghanistan, we would have been able to stabilize the place by now and not allow the Islamic extremists to re-group and re-strengthen and spread their tentacles futher inland into the Pakistani heartland.
Better late than never, even though this time around, we are facing a much more motivated, strengthened and re-supplied enemy, who are well entrenched in the inhospitable mountain regions.
We need to thank the Bush/Rumsfeld/Cheney/neo-con idiots for this situation, who frittered away the world's goodwill by moving into the Iraq mis-adventure and lost the key momentum gained in Afghanistan. The fact that they were able to hoodwink the American public to go along with it, (while leaving Afghanistan undone) was definitely a masterful act.
To those Bush-lovers who are griping that Obama is now doing the same thing Bush did, you couldn't be more wrong. Bush went into Iraq and justified it with 9/11–that's pretty disconnected. Obama is doing now what Bush should have done then. I believe that if Bush had stepped up the war in Afghanistan and entered Pakistan rather than entering a completely different country, his approval ratings would have gone through the roof. But, no, this is hardly the same situation–Bush misled the American people by justifying Iraq with 9/11 and WMDs. Obama is going after proven safe havens of those who carried out 9/11.
Some change, Bush did the same thing.
Of course those of you who lives in major cities on the East coast might use some precaution the next time you get into a taxi, the driver might have had a relative killed in Paksitan by a Predator missile strike and might be looking for a little payback.
I'm glad to hear that the president is willing to defend this nation. If terrorists want to try and hide in Pakistan we will come get them. It's about time other country's and terrorist start realizing that America will come get you if you threaten us. Mabey the United States should just cut off ALL aid to these countries who harbor terrorists
We have no other option but strike in Pakistan. Pakistani army is playing double game – it takes money from us and supports Taliban and other terrorists to fight against us. Actually we should be in Pakistan where the terrorists have safe heavens.
I wholeheartedly support the President's policy. While I revere Pakistan's sovereignty as a nation, its feet must be held to fire to ensure that it does not fund, support, or harbor terrorists on its soil and does everything in its power to eradicate these public enemies.
salman aziz: The Taliban murdered thousands of our citizens. We are not inclined to offer ransom and bribes to murderers. Terrorism is not going to work with us. Sorry – maybe if Afghanistan decided to leave the 13th century, we could talk.
I think president Obama is right. Time has come for Pakistan, a country whose GDP will collapse without American aid, to show some sense of maturity and stop sponsoring terrorism. Islamic terrorism has changed colors since the war on terror began. Instead of hiding in this caves of Afghanistan it now hides behind the sovreignity of Pakistan. If we want to deal with the terror in real terms we stop thinking that the Pakistan Government will take care of it itself with foreign aid. Is there an effective Government in Pakistan? Has there ever been...
At least he's going after them where they are rather than attacked a random country and causes them to surface there (Iraq).
Good job for a REAL President. People, stop being morons. This is a HUGE change from Bush's policies, remember, all Bush did was get the entire world pissed off at us and then bully them, while Obama actually engages them. You know, if you talk to someone, you look them in the face and speak to them (Obama's tactic) not just do what you want, or they will fight back (Bush's tactic). Educate yourselves, you embarass the US as citizens when you act like you never went to school.
Obam is turning out to be a disaster. His two faced policy decisions will come back to haunt him in the next election cycle.
Change we can believe in? hardly...
I think I've heard this exact same line for the past 8 years! So is this the "change we can believe in" preached by Obama? Just another example of our political reality math: Democrat = Republican!!!
To those itching to pull the trigger on yet another country, please have '3 Cups of Tea' to better appreciate the root causes of hatred and possibly a better approach to eradicating terrorism on a more sustainable basis.
It's Sunday and too much kool aid! It was President Obama's idea to go after high value targets in Pakistan; not President George Bush.
President Obama too heat for saying he would go after those targets during the nimination process last year.
The Republicans, including John McCain came out strongly and spoke out about that idea. It was not long after President Obama said those words that President Bush began doing exactly that.
To the poster who wrote it was President Bush idea, you are wrong and it makes no sense writing anything about President Bush in this article.
It was President Bush who pulled our forces out of Afghanistan and ran to Iraq in the first place. If Bush had completed the war in Afghanistan and caught or killed those responsible for 9/11; our people would have been out long ago.
Keep drinking your kool aid but in the mean time, get common sense or shut up!
At least he's going after Al Qaeda where they are rather than attacking a random country and causing them to surface there (Iraq).
Glad to see BO continuing the war in the Middle East. I was worried during his campaign that he was going to pull out the troops if he got into office. Fortunately, that was just a campaign ploy to lure liberals.
Terrorism is an IDEA. It's not something you can fight with military and bombing runs. You fight ideas with ideas!
Going to war with Al Queda and the Taliban is exactly what these organizations want because they know they can then have more influence on the surrounding populace. Look at how many Iraqi's turned to Al Queda after the US invaded.
Declaring war on an idea. Ridiculous. America has a powerful propaganda machine. We need to be using that to battle Al Queda, not our military.
I did not vote for Obama or McCain. I do, however, agree with Obama's approach to Afghanitan.
The funny part, though, is that all the Bush/Republican haters who cry about illegal wars, crimes against humanity, war-mongering, and so on...are now completely supporting Obama's surge.
So I guess they weren't for peace, they were just against a political party.
Its peoples' complete lack of objectivity that will prevent anyone who claims to be alligned with a political party from ever viewing something neutrally and then making an enlightened decision. Instead, people will automatically oppose whatever one party does and blindly support the opposite without truly considering either side
The equation is maddeningly simple. They (Arabs, Taliban) want us dead. We need to kill more of them. Enough so that the losses become unacceptable to their man on the street. This is not peculiar to any one administration or party. The side that kills the most of their enemy wins. Any questions ???
Well, well, well, Obama promised to get us out of Iraq. I didn't realize it was just to get us into a bigger war. What is this guy doing???
_______________________________________________
He's fighting the war that should have been fought instead of the mistake that was Iraq. Obama never said that he was against wars ... he said that he was against dumb wars.
I did not vote for Obama, but I am please to see he has the courage to
fight a war to keep our country and the world a safer place.
I know he is going against his anti-war campaign rhetoric.
I assume it all changed when he began to read the same security briefs
Bush and his team were getting.
These people have been fighting with each other and among themselves for hundreds of years. You remove one from power and another will rise to take their place as has always happened in the past. To do nothing to protect the U.S. is foolish but to expect to rid yourself of the threat these type of people are capable of is foolish also. So many have been taught since birth to hate the Western influence that they are willing to do anything to destroy it. Getting to Bin Laden can and should have already happened but do not expect the threat to weaken with his removal for long. It has become a popular opinion that NOW we are there to protect our oil intrests. When we pull out there will still be a threat and there will still be extreme turmoil there. This is the way it is and the way they are. Some things you cannot change. Instead of pulling our troops out it seems we are about to get even deeper in. God be with and watch over our troops until we can get them home.
There is a wrong perception that the Afghans cannot be defeated. But it is wrong. In the past, Alexander the great, Nadir Shah, Taimur Lane, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, British have all defeated them. The Afghans were Buddhists (the true religion of peace) before they were conquered by Muslims and forcibly converted to Islam. Right now, the Taleban are winning because of the massive double game by Pakistan. The Nukes of Pakistan should be taken out; the source of revenues through poppy sales to the Taleban should be neutralized, then peace can come to that region.
They've been killing high-valued targets for last 8 years and the problem is still not solved. Until US realizes killing people to save your ass won't solve this issue. Stopping one war and starting another is not a way to deal with this. Obama will fail in Afghanistan as Bush failed in Iraq.
What a fancy way to say "we are continuing with yet another Bush plan"
Obama the Diet Coke of change
Negotiations I think is the only solution to this problem, however the intelligence and tagerted military strikes should not end to hit the key targets.
Just by doing military strikes, US has gained negative perception in the region since it has killed a large number of civilians. By bringing development and prosperity within the region, US can eliminate all terrorists.
The president needs to be careful as Pakistan, like Iraq, is a very volatile country that has a lot of tribal areas not controlled by govt. If US angers these groups, it may create a bad situation in Pakistan and also the neighboring countries.
Obama, please think before doing anything. Our faith and wishes r wid u.
give the guy a chance! He's done the best possible job that anyone could do right now. Don't tell Me McCain, or anyone else you wanted to be president would be doing any better. He just needs time!
BO is just leaving his options open. He needs somewhere to lob a few cruise missiles when he gets caught with some intern, as he learned from Bill.
Yeah, right. BOH has conceded to other countries at every point – the latest is telling North Korea that we have no intentions in interring with their launch of a test missile. But he's going to attack places in Pakistan. A country that is not at war with the US. The only way that will happen is if Pakistan asks us to bomb some village.
I want all of you experts to PROVE that we cannot fight two wars in two countries where we are fighting people in dresses. get off your podiums the US Military can fight two wars at the same time probably can fight 10 wars at the same time. Thank God you guys weren't around when WW2 started. You cowards would have all been sitting there crying trying to figure out what to do. We have over 1 MILLION troops, to think we cannot deploy somwhere around 200k of them in the Middle East is just plain ignorant.
A world economy with global mobility will require us to have a global police force – bad guys are bad guys and will eventually threaten all of us. We need to think of this as one planet – not a country or even region specific as some still cultures still do.
Bush did not fail because of his lack of "pursuing" or "killing" Bin Laden. He failed period as a human and a president. Which in turn leaves President Obama still getting criticized for the mistakes of the last 8 yrs of the Bush reign. We as a nation can only hope that President Obama will make the right decisions based on continual input bye the voice and cries of the American people. God bless this great nation.
I'm starting to have a lot misgivings about the decision I made at the polls back in November of 2008. It's kind of like being an employer and hiring someone, only to realize shortly thereafter you've made a mistake. The problem is, we can't fire this employee for 4 years.
Obama is doing things intelligently not like this moron Bush.
Those arrogant but incompetent bushies have zero accomplishment to show for 8 years in office.
I love the comments: "this is nothing new, it's the same thing Bush did"..."imagine if Bush had done this, you liberals would've crucified him". Can't have it both ways, people. Those of us who have been paying attention know that this was Bush's policy, and no, we didn't crucify him for it. The criticism of Bush in Afghanistan was that he didn't do enough. This policy was discussed ad nauseum on the campaign trail, it's old news...wake up.
debbie – how is Afghanistan a bigger War than Iraq? You're completely wrong. And Obama didn't start either war – Bush started them both. Obama is just continuing to go after America's real enemies in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It's you who doesn't have a clue. Sorry.
Randy and Scott AZ: The Afghanistan campaign is one thing Obama said he would NOT change – except to refocus on it and put more resources there where Bush did not. He never said he'd withdraw from Afghanistan or anything – and why should he? The people who attacked us are still hiding there and in Pakistan.
stephen – you don't know what you're talking about. Every US attack in Pakistan is sanctioned by the Pakistani government altho they don't admit it. In fact US drones are based in Pakistan!
"This is going to be hard," he added. "I'm under no illusions."
Great quote from a neophyte Mamas boy..............Great leadership just what we want to hear. This guy sis a disaster.
Can't we simply drop enough bunker busters to collapse all those tunnels in that area. Obviously we can't go in all of them but we should be able to collapse them. End of hideout.
SOOO many "experts"!
Where's the "change"?
Terrorism an idea? Terrorism is an idea that is then put into action. If terrorism were only an idea, the twin towers would still be standing.
Afghanistan is what Bush SHOULD have addressed, not Iraq. We have no choce but to dismantle and destroy Al Qaeda and the Taliban entirely wherever they are. Killing Bin Laden alone is not the answer since others will fill the leadership void.
I think Obama deserves a lot of credit for going after extremeists where they are, at the source. Unlike Bush who totally dropped the ball and followed dollar signs when he attacked Iraq, who had nothing to do with 911 or Al Qaeda. Iraq was cursed with oil, bush & company's greed, and American debt. On top of it all there have been at least 650,000 Iraqis killed for 'freedom.' For anyone who defends Bush's policy, please justify this number to me. If you cant do that, how about justifying our $300,000,000/day cost to fund that war?????????
Ok guys here's a lesson:
Pakistan and Afghanistan are NOT middle east
Eric- how true! Furthermore, the concept of a moderate Taliban is an oxymoron. At the end of the day, any fundamentalist followers of Islam believe that those who don't believe as they do are infidels and deserve to die. Negotiation is not an feasible nor realistic option.
WOW. I love reading the liberal view of the world now that BO is the president. Can he do no wrong?
For you bush haters: Bush got rid of a horrible dictator who kill hundred of thousands of his own people in Iraq, threatened us time after time. I am one who is proud of what he accomplished.
BO: Yes Iran, we love you. We won't threaten you anymore. We want to hug you and pretend that you won't build nukes and kill the infidels.
just be relieved guys that your president understands the issue in the 'ghan and is willing to fight it, hoorah!!!!
T, you're wrong. The vast majority of Americans supported US actions in Afghanistan after 9/11. It's Iraq that most people opposed. Do not conflate the two. If anything, all the Bush supporters who heartily agreed with GW's actions in Afghanistan and Iraq and are now against what Obama is doing – they are the ones who are being partisan hypocrites whose concern is not America's real best interests.
here's another point:
If I have Osama in my pocket, would I give him up and afford to lose billions in aid. Nope. Keepin Osama in safe place pays the Pakistanis a lot !
Think of the money, always
Great Obama, Strong President. He is not only strong in the economics but also strong in defence. Did I hear someone say Obama will be a one term President ? Nah. We are even going to call for the amendment of our constitution to make him President for 20 years. I Love it.
It's utterly amazing. This guy in his deceitful campaign for the office he now holds repeatedly castigated W and his group for their war mongering and world domination ideas. Now, as if we are all idiots that have oompletely forgotten how this chump got into office, he is proposing to "invade" a (suspiciously) neutral country to kill selected high priority targets.,
So, what;'s new? Nothing but socialism and deceitful oppression, not to mention the suddenly quick movement of the new guy and his group to take America into the world of socialism quickly.
Wake up, America....
Clear Pakistan and you've broken the backbone of Taliban. Pakistan should be wiped out completely, clear out all the nukes and take over their military bases. Bring peace to the world!
He's fighting the war that should have been fought instead of the mistake that was the Iraq war. Obama never said that he was against wars ... he said that he was against dumb wars.
This fool better be prepared foe the secalation of a war with Pakastan, and the reprocussions that go along with it! Just think, none of this may have been needed if Clinton was so much of a coward in dealing with terrorism!
Obama is a terrific con artist. He is good at it, don't you think? The new boss like he old boss is on the lookout for new wars. No country is safe from the US war makers.
As the US unleashes its' violence from the air, how many have been killed so far on Obama's watch? Oh, and how is all this good for the environment?
Gary, we're all happy Saddam is gone. We're not happy that Zarqawi and other Al Qaeda terrorists came into Iraq to take his place, killing more people in a shorter amoun t of time than Saddam did. We're also not happy that it's costing 1 trillion dollars and thousands of U.S. lives when we really should have been fighting Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda didn't come to Iraq until AFTER the US invasion. Bin Laden still has not been captured. He's the one who attacked us, not Saddam.
When are you people going to wake up and realize that there is no difference between most Republicans and Democrats? They are all beholden to big business and the international elites. A good start would be to abolish the Fed (a group of private bankers, not part of the government) which has been stealing our money since 1913. Also remember that the second amendment is a hedge against tyranny. Steal the money and then steal the guns. This is the plan, but you can help stop it.
The Pakistan issue has always been the one issue I most associated to Obama's Naivety. Of course you go after targets in Pakistan. those of you touting how great this is should know this policy hasn't changed. What has changed is telling the Pakistani people America will dictate policy to your government. You have to give them plausible deniability. This is a recipe for disaster and can only result in another Pakistani government being brought down. The Pakistani government is being squeezed from both sides and if they are seen as kissing the ring of America they will be overthrown. The result will be one of two things: nukes in the hands of the new radical government or America embroiled in a REAL civil war.
It's just as stupid and just as much of a huge waste of money we don't have to be in Afghanistan. Maybe someone can explain to me what the goal is (other than capturing one man) . So even if the unbelievable happened and the Taliban gave up (they won't) what would that accomplish? The end of terrorism? I think not. Terrorists are not in any one place. HELLO? 9/11 was planned in THIS country. This is unbelievable that a man that thought Iraq was such a mistake turns around and compounds it with this one. I thought this guy was supposed to be smart. NOT!!
Good Job Obama. You're doing what Bush should have done. Because of Iraq and Bush's deal with Pakastin, Al Queda is now stronger today than before 9/11. Thank you for cleaning up yet another Bush disaster.
It;s a big difference btw "building a democracy in Iraq" Bush-style and actually pursuing Al-Quaeda and the terrorists. We should restrict our goals to what is needed and necessary, not "converting" to western-style democracy various countries that don't want it. Hope they get Osama if he's alive and bring down the terrorist groups.
Is lam is the problem. Saudis are using the oil revenue to finance the Madarsas and Americans are greedy enough to sell/supply the arms to the Pakistanis and talliban(so called moderate) to be used against American soldiers and later against Indians in Kashmir.
Have we not learned anything from history? Why does the president think we can send thousands of troops to a country and people that have never been defeated in the modern era?
Did we not learn from the Soviet Union's attempts to invade Afghanistan? How many troops are we willing to send to their deaths in an "attempt" to defeat terrorism? As a military veteran I am completely appalled that a president that compaigned "change" is continuing this war on terrorism. The only way you may be successful in a war on terrorism is to make it a global effort.
I thought we had learned our lessons when we elected a new president. He is sending the largest force to Afghanistan that we have seen in many years. Why does the American public seem ok with this? If it had been the Bush Administration promoting this there would be rioting in the streets. As responsible citizens we must not allow our president to continue with this policy. He is not going to "finish the job," he is continuing the mistakes of the Bush Administration. He believes he can win...and that is one scary concept.
The only outcome will be a worsening economy, American spririt, troop morale, government debt and the most important...American deaths. We are repeating history with this invasion, and make no mistake about it, this is an invasion. How do you believe the rest of the world views this? It is complete arrogance and ethnocentrism by administrations to think we have the right to tell others how to live and run their own societies. Hopefully we will learn this before our own downfall becomes evident.
The goal is to defeat Al Qaeda and promote a healthy democracy in Pakistan because if society there is healthy then recruitment for Al Qaeda wll dwindle. They recruit off of hate, this is why they didn't want Obama to win because they could then point to America and say that they are racist, look at how they treat their own citizens and inspire hatred in people who are poor and have no one else to turn to but them. You can be sure that they did not want Obama to win so that they can continue to label Americans ad inherently evil.
Now that President Obama is sending more troops to Afghanistan, isn't it ironic now that the republicans in Washington and their supporters around the country are the party of "cut and run"? I don't like our troops to be referred to as a paper tiger. They would be behind Bush 100% if he was the one making this move. Hopefully if Bin Laden wants to use that term paper tiger again, he will direct it towards the repubs of the U.S. I don't want this country revert back to being a safe haven for terrorists to conduct their training and launching attacks from, and the Taliban to take control again brutilizing women and girls. Besides Pakistan has nukes, and god forbid if Al Qaida gets their hands on them.
Guys ! Please understand there is a difference between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan is stable country, with all its institutions working. Pakistan has democracy functioning and pakistan is a nuclear state.
Afghanistan is an unstable country because of Soviet era and internal political issues. The wars in Afghanistan has been going on and on for last three decades.
I think Terrorists are trying to de-stabilize Pakistan and isolate Pakistan so they can get more recruits. I believe stable Pakistan is obligatory for the peace in the region and for the stability of US at this very moment.
I wonder if President Obama and his closest advisors on Afghanistan have read the book by David Kilcullen titled: "The Accidental Guerilla?" I hope that they have. If they haven't, I hope that they will. And, if we are going to be honest with the American people, we need to tell them that a decision to continue in Afgfhanistan will in all likelihood involve a minimum of 10 more years of direct U.S. and allied involvement. This is the decision that the American people must make as the Army belongs to them. It is their sons and daughters who will bear this burden and it is the American people who will pay the costs. The American people need to let their elected representatives know how they feel about our continued involvement in Afghanistan. And, I would hope that many of them will do so after reading the book recommended above. This will help them in understandig the nature of the war and in making an informed decision as to whether it should be continued.
Untill America stop giving there intelligence to pakistan nothing is going to work.Pakistan ISI is very much mixed up with taliban and al qaueda..They do not want to kill this golden goose.They are black mailing this country so they can get more military aid which they are ultimately going to use against India.Pakistan is the one who created taliban and alqaida and it is law less country with nuclear bombs.Sooner or later they are going to give this device to enemy of Israel .They have ruined their country since independence with rivalary with India.USA should find out permanent route to supply for its forces.This great country should not depend on any intelligence from pakistan.
This is not a situation where we have to defeat the Afghan people- they are on our side/we are on their side. We are not trying to topple a government. This is not an attempt to conquer the country- their government has wholeheartedly endorsed the approach. The mission is not to take the country, but to save it. You are comparing apples to oranges.
Unfortunately Pakistan's Intellgence Service founded the Taliban. IF we consult with the Pakis before launch who are we hitting? Probably not valuable Talibaners
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Looks like President Bush was right all along .
Nintendo war. Triggering weapons from half a world a way is no way to win hearts and minds in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The president should know better than to continue to enrage average (not fundamentalist) people in the region by belligerently insisting that the U.S. has a right to drop bombs anywhere he decides is a 'high value target.' The reality is that the U.S. will not be able to acquire anything resembling certainty about the 'value' of targets unless it has a lot of well trained, culturally informed spies all over the region. There's very little to suggest that this type of covert footwork is being done. Instead what we are told are 'high value targets' may be about as sure as the poor men who were rounded up by opportunistic warlords and sold to the Americans as 'enemy combatants' in 2002.
Pakistan and US were fighting against Soviet Union in Afghanistan. That is why Pakistan's ISI and US founded Taliaban.
To begin with, let me tell you folks that US's policy towards Pakistan has been wrong from day one. Instead of going after the problem directly, the source was fed with billions of tax-payers dollars. Let me clarify. Pakistan has been the hub of terrorism for a long while. Many acts of terrorism from the Mumbai attacks to the first bombing the World Trade Center in New York emanated from Pakistan. To eloborate on this as a reminder the attack in Fairfax, VA on CIA employees was done by a Pakistani. The man involved in the first WTC bombing was a Pakistani. The brains behind 9/11 attacks were Pakistanis and the funds too came from there. The most recent was the carnage in Mumbai. The plans, funds and the terrorists came from Pakistan. All these acts were done with collobaration with ISI, the secret svc wing of Pakistani govt.
So in my view taking on Iraq after 9/11 was totally wrong. Attacking Afghanistan is understable. But the main culprit has been fed with money & arms in the names of stability and 'war on terror'. It is time that the American citizens and the govt wake up to these facts. Pakistan is the hub for terrorism and that should tackled by like minds in US, India, Russia & Israel.
In truth, it is a shame that Bill Clinton dropped the ball for eight years with respect to killing Bin Laden..... But of course, the Dems don't remember that ....
Read former CIA division leader, Michael Scheuer's books in the following order 1. Imperial Hubris 2. Marching Towards Hell and 3. Through Our Enemies Eyes. Shiv Danush should re-read his sources. Its not about conquering Afghanistan.... its about KEEPING Afghanistan conquered that has never been done. Furthermore, when Shiv talks about denuking Pakistan, perhaps he should investigate the anti muslim Hinduvatu rhetoric in his own nuclear armed country before talking. Once that is gotten rid off then peace will come.
A) We're not invading the Afhanis... we are getting the Taliban out. This is something NO ONE has ever tried. All these conquerors that people mention were trying to invade and conquer the country, we're not.
B) Islam is not that problem at all. 99.9% of all believers in Islam are decent, loving, kind and caring people who want the best for their families. RADICAL Islam is the problem. Just like radical anything becomes a problem.
FYI,
Iraq is the new Viet Nam. We are already there. It's up to President Obama and his administration to go in with a winning strategy. I think they have one.
I think that US should help (just intelligence and trust, not monetary or force) India in fighting terrorism, rather than wasting billions of money on Pakistan. All that money is ending up with terrorists (operating in Kashmir) and pockets of Pakistani politicians.
We have the right to strike any where, any time in Pakistan. Just as Al-Quaida did in the past.
Pakis will never give up Osama. Al-Quida is the cash cow for Pakis sustainment. Pakis General and ISI feed off the cash we are pouring over the past 40 yrs. Go to Pakistan and see how any ex or current Paki lives if he or she had/has any connection with Army establisment.
If you know the history of Pakis, they have been the holding the "bowl" since its independence in 1947. It started with Brits, US, Saudis, and if everything shuts down the next big donor is China to maintian the bad influence in the region. -Shaw
Erfan, just wondering about yor comment. Since when Pakistan has been a stable country? Am I missing something?
Bryan – that was before 9/11/01 – And by the way, Clinton did lauch an offensive in 1998 with that very purpose as the intended result.
The British and the Soviet armies could not accomplish what Obama is setting out to do. Afganistan has little in the way of organized societies unlike Iraq. Canada will be leaving in 2011. They realize that this is not a war that can be won in the traditional sense.
It's funny that it was JFK a young President that got them involded in Vietnam. The 50,000 tired troops in Afganistan will not be enough. The war will continue to kill and harm many young Americans while Nato nations sit on the side lines
Welcome to my den said the spider to the fly.
I thought Obama was going to bring the troups home .
What is the exit stargagy..?
We will never destroy terrorism unless we go after its ROOTS! What are the roots of terror??? ONE WORD... I S L A M !!! PERIOD
When the world wakes up and realizes that this doctrine is the cause of most of the terror in the world today and either completely REFORM the QURAN or delete is completely, we will never stop terrorism. A NEW Bin Laden will surface, a new SADDAM will surface. As long as children are brainwashed to believe that any non believer should be completely subdued, taxed or KILLED, we will never see peace!
" There's very little to suggest that this type of covert footwork is being done. "
If there was 'much to suggest that' , it wouldn't be very covert, now would it ?
I have taken world politics courses and I am of the opinion that Pakistan should be viewed with the same lens as Afghanistan. Both are failed states. The government in pakistan is inept and in complete control of the military. Moreover Pakistan is a state sponsor of terrorism with its military and ISI aiding Taliban and Al Qaeda who are causing problems on both sides of its border (with Afganistan and India). We know this because our own government agencies like FBI and CIA have confirmed it, but still we treat Pakistan somehow diffrently as compared to other state sponsors of terror, like Syria or Iran. I just don't get it. Clean Pakistan and take control of their nukes and this world will be far far better.
Accountable! Who? Pakistan?
A big joke. To run Pakistan, they want $. Get US aid. 50% of the $ goes to politicians, 25% to ISI. From ISI the route is either Laskar or Taliban. After bread, Pkaistan needs anti-Indian spirits to survive.
< 10% goes to military fighting with Al-kaida/Taliban so that next lot of aid should come. If Pakistan shows accountability, they stop their incomming bread, hence not possible. Who will stop his own bread? Instead they can afford kill their own soldiers in the hands of Taliban, but not inform about the know hows US wants.
Bryan,
It is really easy to apply post 9/11 concerns to pre 9/11 situations. Using the intelligence that he had, he tried on several occasions to take him out with cruise missles. Sending in troops at that time would not have played well at all with the American people. NOW....we'd ALL be for it.
The ball was dropped when the intelligence estimate said that Bin Laden was planning on striking within the U.S. And that was in August, 2001 under VIce President Cheney.
Ted,
The first involvement in Vietnam was advisors sent in by Eisenhower. Kennedy wanted out.
What people in America need to realize is the face of world politics has changed since the development of nuclear weapons and of modern terrorism. Since America's conversion to an empire after the end of civil war, America began it's role as a hegemonic power in the world. This "hegemonic" power climaxed at the end of WWII and pres. Obama is doing what every president has done since then, which is to flex American might in order to create stability both in terms of security and national interests, especially with the nuclear age where unprecedented damage can be inflicted. I'm behind any action that retains us as the hegemonic superpower in the world, insuring my liberties and peace. God bless the troops!!!
I am beginning to wonder if people hear. First off President Obama said he was pulling out of Iraq, which we should have not been in for the last upteen years. Which he is, what will be left is to help them maintain.We should have been going after the Taliban and Alquada to start after 911, we did not. Bush got side tracked. Now they are trying to Take over in Pakistan and afghanastain they are in the mountains.Pakistan is so unstable they can not patrol the areas effectively. Pakistan has nuclear weapons. That is what they are after and they are advancing to do this. If they get there, we are all done. What United States needs to do is get the nuclear weapons out until pakistan can take care of itself and blow the rest of them to smitherines. let India help. Right now Russia has said it will help, this will affect all countries not just us. North Korea and Iran need to go to. President Obama at least thinks things through.
Pakistan has scammed America for years. President Obama is putting an end to it. Obama knows that Pakistan is like Four Seasons resort to terrorists. Time to get real.
Caution: There are terrorists hiding in this country, just like there were
pre-911. Don't forget to be on the look-out for those of ethnic background
who have returned to their homeland to be radicalized and returned, in order to carry out terror on U.S. soil. The enemy, at this point, is within-not without. We can never let down our guard here at home, while fighting overseas.
And this is the mess we got by 8 years of neglect and distraction by the Bush administration. We could have ended Bin Laden's terror back then. As much effort as Bush's administration spent trying to blame Al Quaeda on the previous Clinton administration, they sure didn't do squat themselves, instead just got us into an unrelated country, Iraq to fatten the pockets of their oil buddies on public taxpayer money!!! Now Al Quaeda had plenty of time to relocate, decentralize, and recruit. Thanks Bush!
If my memory is still serving me, Clinton sent two cruise missles over the head of Bin Laden to serve as a warning, not to take him out.
I'm glad to see Obama continue the Predator strikes and is willing to keep the pressure on. No, Pakistan isn't going to give up the Bin Laden openly, but they will tolerate our hunt for him as long as their borders aren't crossed by an army of foreigners.
Yes, the Taliban are working on Pakistan in a way that is somewhat similar to what was done in Afghanistan. Pakistan needs leadership with a strong hand, and today they don't have that; they have a divide that the Taliban are feeding.
China stepping in...not yet...they'll wait. I'm not sure Wen Jiabao is one that wants to be known as a present day Ghengis Khan.
Obama seems to be falling into the same trap as Bush – but is he really?. Note that he is doing what the majority of Americans want and constantly demand – which is to seek revenge for what 19 guys did to America on 9/11. Of course the problem is that it is stupid to think that killing some "high value" targets in Pakistan is going to make even a slight dent in the capacity of Islamic jihadists to carry out more 9/11 type attacks on American interests. The reality is that a 9/11 type attack ,that can be done by 19 guys and a few thousand dollars, is not preventable. But is that what Obama is really doing? I think not.
I think what Obama may be doing is creating a very favorable political diversion from the really "tough sell" facing him on the economics issues, for which he is getting a lot of heat. By continuing the popular "war on terror" he will maintain the political capital he will need to sell his economic program.
I think Obama is a better politician than most give him credit for, but it also includes a level of callous disregard for the casualties of war sacrificed for political goals – something that I do not condone.
justwondering ... I meant Pakistan has been much more stable country than Afghanistan. I would not like to get into details.
Let not compare Pakistan's stability with western countries. As far as, stability in Pakistan is concerned, Pakistan is in its best stable position right now since we have democracy functioning. However these terrorists elements are trying to de-stabalize Pakistan.
He will send the troops to Afghanistan with full approval of his voting followers and when the war starts to turn sour, as it might and the draft starts, these same one's ,just like Vietnam Janes will be spitting on our soldiers and calling them baby killers when they return. This ,in their eyes is a just war , because Obama supports it.
> " But the United States needs to hold that government "more accountable."
I wonder how Obama can achieve that very important goal.
We still have no friends in the world-only those who want us to fight their wars and pull their fat out of the fire. We should not send any more money to any nation that is not fighting beside us nor buy one product they produce. We could win this war with help.
Catol said "The ball was dropped when the intelligence estimate said that Bin Laden was planning on striking within the U.S. And that was in August, 2001 under VIce President Cheney."
er .. that would be under President Bill Clinton in the 90s in between being serviced by Monica. Clinton turned down the chance to take him out. Clinton did nothing after the 1st WTC attack and then Al Qaeda followed through on 9/11, After 9/11 as one would expect Al Qaeda went into hiding.
Now we have a clueless Obama shooting off his mouth about things he knows nothing about. At least he knows enough to keep his mouth shut on Bush's success in Iraq and change the subject and talk about Afghanistan.
President bush waisted time in iraq for personal gains, and personal agenda, meanwhile President Obama without waisting anytime knows what needs to be done and going on the right path......What was the point of going in war with iraq? Pakistan is where these bad guys are and we are going after them...good job President obama....I think President bush should be tried for war crime......
I am stunned that other people are stunned that Obama is moving more troops to Afghanistan. This was something he repeatedly said he would do during his presidential campaign. Over and over again, he said we would draw down troops in Iraq and increase our forces in Afghanistan. In fact, it was something of a campaign promise. I'm for it, others aren't, and there's a legitimate debate to be had; but if you didn't know this was on the agenda, you really weren't paying attention to the campaigns.
Moderate everything I send. I am too old to fight your wars but most of you sitting there in your cushey jobs and deciding who speaks are there because our sons, fathers and grandfathers made it possible.
Yes we should if they are not going to.
erfan you have no idea what you are talking about...have you been to pakistan....and what stability are you talkin about....they are stable in one thing that is blowing up stuff...pakistan has never been peaceful...they have attacked India 11 times in last 7 years with suicide bombs...ISI is mixed up with terrorist them selves..pakistan is not a true democratic country in my opinion...
How about protecting the integrity of US Borders and taking our troops out of foreign harms way and putting them on our borders.and protecting the American people. Why do we have to send troops and money to countries that hate us.....Enough!!!!!!
What does this president think he is doing? Lets see, drawing down troops in iraq, while an unstable neighbor, iran, sits by ready to pounce. Increasing troop strength and sending billions of dollars in afghanistan, which is a wasteland and will never become a productive nation, while at the same time trimming the defense budget. Many veterans of the armed services right now are being told they are not welcome back. I don't think the american people got what they were promised when he was elected..i wont even mention the multi trillion dollar deficit, and the U.S. on the brink of going broke. Mr. Obama you need to take care of the american people..not big business, i.e. your campaign contributors, throwing good money down the drain..i.e. all your ridiculous bailout plans. Stop worrying about Pakistan and worry about the american people..or very soon there wont be a homeland to protect.
I think Obama gave a good speech and a good interview today as well. However, I am not too much surprised by the comments people wrote here. This shows the limited knowledge of people regarding that region. Extremism and fanaticsm is every one's problem, whether its in the Middle East, Ireland, Germany or South Asia. I must say that in order to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan one has to have a fair policy which does not favor one country and harm others. There is concrete proof that Pakistan's neighbours are injecting millions of dollars to destabilize the country and world has to acknowledge and tackle that problem to alleviate Pakistan's concerns. At the same time US government has to reach out to common people and this should not be through corrupt leadership of Afghanistan. World has to stop blaming ISI for every problem. Until and unless Afghanistan's corrupt government is not held accountable and there's no change in the life of a common man this war will continue to linger on. I think President Obama is a good leader who has sent a sensible and important message to the world and I am sure his policies will help improve the image of US abroad.
I am so tired of hearing people say Bush made us safer. How is that possible when he never went after the enemy who is still at large. If Bush had done his job instead of going after Saddam and WMDs because he threatened to kill his father the terrorist wouldn't be all over the world growing stronger in numbers.
Thank you President Obama . . . GO TO THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM!
we shold all support President Obama as he is trying to do the right things for Americans. We got to stop aiding the Pakistani as they have not held on their promise. I think after giving them so much money they have spent it on terror attacks in India and the world...Let's go to war with Pakistan and wipe them out completely.
as for bush going to war, he has not accomplished anything and the main reason is that he was at the wrong place.....President Obama has picked the right path and place and we should support the war with pakistan to bring peace....
The Prez had a lot ot potential 60 days age. Now he has:
Transformed a market economy into a socialist economy..Castro must be laughing to heaven and back.
Bring home the troops by sending them home (Afghanistan). We can see from this what the big agenda is.
Attacking targets in other sovereignties, trend setting?
If the Us wants security, they already know the color and characteristics of the eyes, background etc of every visitor.
They should take the same money that they want to invest in Eastern Europe for a defence shield and do it in their backyard...since the opions all say that america wants to keep out terrorism out of America.
My opinion is that all of this is not to keep out terrorism out of the shores of America but to soldier the world over, thereby constantly sharpening their machetes. The soldier that sharpens his machete is the soldier that is prepared to conquer.
MORE TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN 17,000 plus 4000 and more to...
Mr. President, if you had caught Osama bin Laden yesterday, would you be sending 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan? It may not be the most important thing in the world to catch bin Laden. There is more than one kind of warfare. Osama used USA planes to take down the World Trade Center. Pretty smart if you look at it from a point of view that everything is fair in war. But is bin Laden being much smarter now by sucking the USA into a black hole in Afghanistan? Generals are somewhat like football players: they know how to run the same plays that they learn in high school and nothing more. If my street finder can direct my car to any location, and if you can find a cell phone in a jungle, and with all of our satellites, technology, our missile systems, our bombers and our Navy—why should we ever go on a war mission that we can’t get back home in time for dinner with the family? Mr. President, don’t get bogged down in Afghanistan like President Johnson did in Vietnam and miss a great opportunity to make America a great place for everyone. Anyway you would be more likely to find Osama in Saudi Arabia than in Afghanistan or Pakistan.
How is 4000 more troops going to solve the problem. The terroist that
bombed the trade center the first time and the second time were trained in America not Afghanistan. Ask Russia about Afghanistan. I see a big black hole and rhe things at home not getting done. Wake up, Mr. President. Please , go to the internetfreepress and read all...