Obama Weighs Options In Afghanistan

[Onkel Neal]

Pressure is mounting on President Obama to make a decision on the future of Afghanistan.

Here are the options currently being considered:

Not only learn the lessons of Vietnam, but apply them as well
Visit; act fascinated by their rugs
Remove every American soldier; see if fighting continues
Legalize gambling, as that's worked well domestically
Thunderdome-style battle to the death between Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal and Afghanistan Taliban leader Mullah Omar
Call the Taliban pretending to be the Prophet Muhammad and tell them to stop ambushing American soldiers
Announce you're raising troop levels by 15,000, then pull everybody out, then come back with a half million soldiers,
in the process convincing al-Qaeda that you're loco and not to be messed with (personally, I love this one! :yeah:)
Arm and finance a group of religious fighters
Back the murderous drug-dealing warlord with the most government officials in his pocket

[ETR3(SS)]

You forgot this one. Which seems to be the current policy ATM.


Do nothing and hope the whole thing blows over.

[GoldenRivet]

Thunderdome-style battle to the death between Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal and Afghanistan Taliban leader Mullah Omar



there you go.

:rock:

[Oberon]

Arm and finance a group of religious fighters

Worked against the Soviets... :hmmm:

[Task Force]

hmm... what about the nuke option.:rotfl2:That would work...

[geetrue]

hmm... what about the nuke option.:rotfl2:That would work...

Too messy ... might flow over to the civilian side

How about the good ole CIA classic way to change things:

"Just shoot the guy in the head and have another election"

What I want to know is if this corrupt government has endangered our troops in any way ...

If so ... I say go

[Platapus]

I would be happy just knowing what the objective is in the AF conflict?

[Oberon]

I would be happy just knowing what the objective is in the AF conflict?


42...

[nikimcbee]

:haha:
Tell them the 1000 virgins was a misprint, and they won't like the clarification.

[nikimcbee]

What ever happened to General Schwartzkopf? I'd be interested to hear his thoughts on all of this.

[Jimbuna]

Visit; act fascinated by their rugs


LMAO :DL

[nikimcbee]

You forgot, stick head in sand, maybe it will go away.:woot:

[Oberon]

What ever happened to General Schwartzkopf? I'd be interested to hear his thoughts on all of this.

Me too. :yep:

[Jimbuna]

Schwarzkopf retired from active service in August 1991 (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/August_1991), and shortly thereafter wrote an autobiography (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Autobiography), It Doesn't Take a Hero, published in 1992. There was some speculation in the aftermath of the Gulf War that he might run for political office, but he did not do so. In retirement, Schwarzkopf has served as a military analyst for NBC, most recently for Operation Iraqi Freedom (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Iraq_War), along with promoting prostate cancer (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Prostate_cancer) awareness, a disease with which he was diagnosed in 1993, and for which he was successfully treated. Recently, Schwarzkopf has donated most of his time to multiple charities, and community activities. He sits on the board for Remington (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Remington_Arms), and several other high-profile corporations. On May 4, 2008 Schwarzkopf was inducted into New Jersey's Hall of Fame. He is also an honorary board member of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Multiple_Myeloma_Research_Foundation). Schwarzkopf currently lives in Florida (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Florida).

[nikimcbee]

Schwarzkopf retired from active service in August 1991 (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/August_1991), and shortly thereafter wrote an autobiography (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Autobiography), It Doesn't Take a Hero, published in 1992. There was some speculation in the aftermath of the Gulf War that he might run for political office, but he did not do so. In retirement, Schwarzkopf has served as a military analyst for NBC, most recently for Operation Iraqi Freedom (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Iraq_War), along with promoting prostate cancer (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Prostate_cancer) awareness, a disease with which he was diagnosed in 1993, and for which he was successfully treated. Recently, Schwarzkopf has donated most of his time to multiple charities, and community activities. He sits on the board for Remington (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Remington_Arms), and several other high-profile corporations. On May 4, 2008 Schwarzkopf was inducted into New Jersey's Hall of Fame. He is also an honorary board member of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Multiple_Myeloma_Research_Foundation). Schwarzkopf currently lives in Florida (http://www.subsim.com/wiki/Florida).
wow, you sound like his manager:haha:

[Oberon]

wow, you sound like his manager:haha:


Or his wikipedia entry reader... :hmmm::03:

[FIREWALL]

When a Goverment is suspect and, the population is lathargic in what it wants and perceves in terms of Freedom.

The longer this drags on the more entrenched the Taliban will become with, no solution in sight and a wasted loss of lives.

If we pulled out of S. Korea tho, the attack from the North would come within 72hrs.

The Soviet Union couldn't crack Afganistan with sofisicated equipt. and massive troops and better logistics.

What great "thinkers" think we can ?

[Rockin Robbins]

Obama's been sitting on this egg since September when McChrystal pleaded for the troops to prevent a disaster. What happened to Bush when he wasn't even responsible for a couple of days' delay in response to Katrina? Is there a little inequity here? I see dead people. Ours. Lots of 'em. More than New Orleans in Katrina.

One thing these Muslim extremists are masterful at is exploiting weakness. Let's show 'em some more and see what it buys us...

[TarJak]

I like the option of just paying the Taliban to stop fighting. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/16/france-italy-taliban-afghanistan It seemed to work for the Italians and would be far cheaper than having troops on the ground the whole time.:D

[Jimbuna]

No objection so long as the notes are counterfeit :O:

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/5816/50large.gif (http://img209.imageshack.us/i/50large.gif/)

[goldorak]

You forgot this one. Which seems to be the current policy ATM.


Do nothing and hope the whole thing blows over.


Well, the new president wouldn't have this problem if the old one hadn't embarked the US on a picnic trip (searching for weapons of mass destruction that never existed, and connections with al-quaeda that were inexistant as well) in iraq instead of concentrating everything in afghanistan where the terrorists had all their infrastructure and military and political support.
More than 5 years in "f * * * * * g" iraq for what ? Wouldn't it have been more productive to actually bring the full force of the US military in afghanistan 5 years ago instead of going on a wild goose chase in iraq ?

[Skybird]

I like the option of just paying the Taliban to stop fighting. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/16/france-italy-taliban-afghanistan It seemed to work for the Italians and would be far cheaper than having troops on the ground the whole time.:D

They have a saying down there, telling something like "you can temporarily lease an Afghan, but you cannot buy him forever."

I recommend to carefully check the fast-chaging and qickly breaking aloiances of warlords they have seen during the soviet occupation, and the many chairs rocking back and forth under Karzai.

If there is one lesson to be learned, then that in Afghanistan, alliances and treaties mean nothing and do not truely last for long.

And Karzai: as one German commentator correctlyx put it: we can be sure he will fight corruption in Kabul with all determination - if the gold we bribe him with just shines golden enough.

The country beyond Kabul's city walls - that again is something completely different.

[Tribesman]

Obama's been sitting on this egg since September when McChrystal pleaded for the troops to prevent a disaster. What happened to Bush when he wasn't even responsible for a couple of days' delay in response to Katrina? Is there a little inequity here?
Not in the slightest.
McCrystals plea for troops was conditional, those conditions have not been met (and are highly unlikely to ever be met).
The earliest one of the conditions could have been met was 3 days ago (but it didn't happen) so even a partial descision wouldn't have been due till this week anyway.
As a descision couldn't have been made till this week then a deployment this year would be a waste of time as it is now winter so operations will be scaled back until spring. Actually come to think of it I suppose McCrystal knew all about the upcoming winter which is why he asked for reinforcements for next year.

[Snestorm]

Too messy ... might flow over to the civilian side

How about the good ole CIA classic way to change things:

"Just shoot the guy in the head and have another election"

What I want to know is if this corrupt government has endangered our troops in any way ...

If so ... I say go

Which corrupt government?
There are so many involved.

[Snestorm]

I would be happy just knowing what the objective is in the AF conflict?

Control of the opium trade.

The rich get richer, and the poor pay in blood.

[JU_88]

Pressure is mounting on President Obama to make a decision on the future of Afghanistan.



Here are the options currently being considered:

Not only learn the lessons of Vietnam, but apply them as well
Visit; act fascinated by their rugs
Remove every American soldier; see if fighting continues
Legalize gambling, as that's worked well domestically
Thunderdome-style battle to the death between Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal and Afghanistan Taliban leader Mullah Omar
Call the Taliban pretending to be the Prophet Muhammad and tell them to stop ambushing American soldiers
Announce you're raising troop levels by 15,000, then pull everybody out, then come back with a half million soldiers,
in the process convincing al-Qaeda that you're loco and not to be messed with (personally, I love this one! :yeah:)
Arm and finance a group of religious fighters
Back the murderous drug-dealing warlord with the most government officials in his pocket


:rotfl2:

You forgot McCane / Palin option:
'Nuke the place in the name of Jesus Christ' :dead:
:har:

[OneToughHerring]

Control of the opium trade.

The rich get richer, and the poor pay in blood.

Yep, that's about it.

Obama is about to join the long and bloody line of US presidents responsible for mass murder and genocide.

[August]

:rotfl2:

You forgot McCane / Palin option:
'Nuke the place in the name of Jesus Christ' :dead:
:har:

Or for that matter the JU_88 gambit:

"Make stupid stuff up and hope it sticks" :rotfl2::haha::har::woot:

[JU_88]

Or for that matter the JU_88 gambit:

"Make stupid stuff up and hope it sticks" :rotfl2::haha::har::woot:


Awww! It would seem I struck a nerve possibly?.....
Its called a joke. (much like Neals orginal post) doh! wheres your Republican sense of humour??? :O:
Sorry - I guess I didnt realise this was a 'Democrate jokes' only club.

[August]

Awww! It would seem I struck a nerve.....wheres your Republican sense of humour??? :O:

Several levels above that apparently... :dead:

[JU_88]

Several levels above that apparently... :dead:

Oh dear... :doh:
No Republican jokes allowed everybody!
It appears some people will take it abit too seriously....

[Oberon]

http://www.mediawhorenetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/facepalm1.jpg

[August]

Oh dear... :doh:
No Republican jokes allowed everybody!
It appears some people will take it abit too seriously....

Dude, put your partisanship away. Good humor requires some relation to reality. For example: Dick Cheney jokes involving him shooting someone in the face will nearly always be funny because he did in fact shoot someone in the face (albiet a lawyer so it's understandable).

Your joke on the other hand, being an inaccurate fabrication just comes off as, no offense intended here, mean and ignorant. Probably much like Americans sound when we try to badmouth your leaders.

[geetrue]

Just 36 more hours till we have all of the details of our new Commander and Chief's plan for Afghanistan. :woot:

How exciting it is to wait for him to speak :salute:

What pray tell can he do with all of the generals advice and his own self taught wisdom applied to this problem? :shucks:

Will Obama send extra troops to fight or to train the Afghan Army?

Will Obama offer infrastructure help to the civilian population in Afghanistan?

I think he will chew out the corrupt government of Afghanistan and warn them of a pull out if they don't stop the whatever it is that they are doing wrong. He might even send in a peace corps type of USA help for the country side.

I would like to see the Army try a new experiment in communications with the bad guys.

Just drop say ten thousand cell phones behind the lines with only one number you can call ... US Army HQ public relations division and lets find out what your problems really are.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Hello, this is the US Army public relations communication center in Pakistan ...

May I please inquire of the nature of your call?

Yes, we have been known to pay damages for bombs dropped inadvertly on civilian property.

May I please have your address and phone number ... I will send out the necessary forms for you to fill out right away.

So how's the weather been treating you out there ... have you seen any men with weapons hanging around your area?

You have? Great! What uniforms were they wearing?

[JU_88]

Dude, put your partisanship away. Good humor requires some relation to reality. For example: Dick Cheney jokes involving him shooting someone in the face will nearly always be funny because he did in fact shoot someone in the face (albiet a lawyer so it's understandable).

Your joke on the other hand, being an inaccurate fabrication just comes off as, no offense intended here, mean and ignorant. Probably much like Americans sound when we try to badmouth your leaders.


Murghh
Listen to me, of course there is no shread of truth that the Republican leadership would nuke afganistan ffs.
Just as there is no truth in that Obama would "Call the Taliban pretending to be the Prophet Muhammad and tell them to stop ambushing American soldiers "

Its called 'fooling around' for some reason you got defensive and felt the need to have a jibe at debunking me, -almost as if you were afraid that people might think there WAS some truth in what I said,
C'mon, did you really need to actually point out that what I said was BS??
As if people are so dumb they wouldnt realise? You think it might effect someones vote or something?

Also its kinda double standards dont you think? While you have no problem with Neal cracking 'fictional' Jokes at Obama, you clearly do have a problem with me poking them at McCain/Palin?

Fine, from now on I will walk on eggshells when making jokes -so as not to offend you. :doh:

[August]

Fine, from now on I will walk on eggshells when making jokes -so as not to offend you. :doh:

Well it will have to do then I guess.