Obama offers no firm signals on troop increases

[Terri]

By BEN FELLER
Associated Press
October 7, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama on Tuesday ruled out shrinking the Afghanistan war to a counterterrorism campaign. Yet he did not signal whether he is prepared to send any more troops to the war zone -- either the 40,000 his top commander wants or a smaller buildup, according to several officials.

House and Senate leaders of both parties emerged from a nearly 90-minute conversation with Obama with praise for his candor and interest in listening. But politically speaking, all sides appeared to exit where they entered, with Republicans pushing Obama to follow his military commanders and Democrats saying he should not be rushed.

Obama is examining how to proceed with a worsening war that has claimed nearly 800 U.S. lives and sapped American patience. Launched after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to defeat Taliban insurgents and rid al-Qaida terrorists of a home base, the war has lasted longer than ever envisioned -- eight years on Wednesday.

More (http://www.gopusa.com/news/2009/october/1007_obama_afghan1.s html)

[qrayjack]

Frantically trying to protect a muddle-headed, gutless, incompetent president, the Obama doting media has declared al Qaeda virtually extinct.

The libs yelled at Bush, "forget Iraq, go after al Qaeda!" Barry said he'd go right into Pakistan and wipe them out. Yes sir, no more wasting time on those harmless insurgents and Taliban, go after the real bad guys.

Isn't it wonderful?! Barry took over and it worked! Like magic, al Qaeda is defunct:

Get this, from State-Controlled Associated Press: "Al Qaeda's role in Afghanistan has faded after eight years of war. Gone is the once-formidable network of camps and safe houses where Osama bin Laden and his mostly Arab operatives trained thousands of young Muslims to wage a global jihad. The group is left with fewer than 100 core fighters, according to the Obama administration." Wait a second, none of this makes any sense. Why don't we just declare victory and get the hell out of there then? Obama Has the Inside Track on Becoming Worst President Ever - Rush Limbaugh (http://www.rushlimbaugh.com /home/daily/site_100709/content/01125106.guest.html)

[Thundercat505]

Frantically trying to protect a muddle-headed, gutless, incompetent president, the Obama doting media has declared al Qaeda virtually extinct.
all of this while totally ignoring a recent event where a base was attacked by that bunch. 8 of our personell were killed. haven't read any reports on how many taliban et al were killed in the engagement!

they attacked our base as well as a small base of afghan troops in the same area. they are going to allow nva lurch, know it all san fran nan and the media to make all of this vietnam all over again!!!!

[qrayjack]

haven't read any reports on how many taliban et al were killed in the engagement!Read that it was 100, TC.

[Thundercat505]

thanks qray!! still haven't seen any reports on it, but that isn't abnormal. report did say that choppers and other aircraft were used in the engagement, so figured there had to be some casualties on their side.

[ReneeCA.]

Obama is leaning towards not going after the Taliban in Afghanistan and go after Al-Queda and concentrate on the Pakistani border.

Big mistake as the Taliban are just as adamant about killing our soldiers and are doing just as good job of it as Al-Queda and probably in cooperation with Al-Queda as well.

I can see that Obama is not fit as Commander in Chief and why our troops or so despondent!

It's as if this war is bothersome to him while his priority is trying to transform the US and has put it's business on the back burner not wanting to deal with it at all!

[utexas]

from State-Controlled Associated Press: "Al Qaeda's role in Afghanistan has faded after eight years of war.
I wonder if they will still be singing that tune when Al Qaeda launches its next round of terrorism or just completely takes over Afghanistan. I am sure they will find some way to spin it and blame it on Bush and praise Obambi. I really, really hate the AP (and all MSM) as much as I hate the Demonrats and the Left. They might as well call it the OP for Obama Press or DP for the Democrat Party Press.