Obama Does "Very Quiet" Reversal of Afghanistan Policy

Have you noticed Obama has done a complete 180 degree reversal on Afghanistan policy months ago when the successful election of new President was a victory-lap in the Rose Garden...and joint-military parade in Kabul?




From Change.org website 2008:

The Obama-Biden Plan
Barack Obama and Joe Biden will renew America’s security and standing in the world through a new era of American leadership. The Obama-Biden foreign policy will end the war in Iraq responsibly, finish the fight against the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan, secure nuclear weapons and loose nuclear materials from terrorists, and renew American diplomacy to support strong alliances and to seek a lasting peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Afghanistan and Pakistan
Afghanistan: Obama and Biden will refocus American resources on the greatest threat to our security -- the resurgence of al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They will increase our troop levels in Afghanistan, press our allies in NATO to do the same, and dedicate more resources to revitalize Afghanistan’s economic development. Obama and Biden will demand the Afghan government do more, including cracking down on corruption and the illicit opium trade.

Mods feel free to move into another forum...this one is not that clear for me.


What are the real reasons?

originally posted by: Granite

What are the real reasons?

Obama's prior strategy was decided in May of this year. Since then, ISIS has become a significant actor in the broader region, and a new Afghan government has been elected.

I think it is safe to say that Obama has reassessed the situation of Afghanistan (and the entire region in general), and has decided on what he has as a result.

The funny thing is, he is being criticised for reassessing the situation, but he also would have received much the same feedback if he were to ignore the significant factors at play and not perform a reassessment. He's always in a damned if you do, damned if you don't moment.

a reply to: daaskapital

Precisely...but Nixon, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush 2 would have addressed the nation and requested Congressional approval...remember the good old days?

a reply to: Granite

Barack Obama and Joe Biden will renew America’s security and standing in the world through a new era of American leadership.

What new era? Our government has been the same ever since the corporations bought out the politicians.

originally posted by: starwarsisreal
a reply to: Granite

Barack Obama and Joe Biden will renew America’s security and standing in the world through a new era of American leadership.

What new era? Our government has been the same ever since the corporations bought out the politicians.

You may have missed that was direct from 2008 Campaign website "change.org.
I included it for historical reference...and a HUGE LAUGH.

a reply to: Granite

Didn't he promise "change we could believe in"?

Moving forward…

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: Granite

Didn't he promise "change we could believe in"?

Moving forward…

Yup he did.

And he gave us change we can't believe !!

Especially the disappearing nickels and dimes from our pockets.

originally posted by: daaskapital

originally posted by: Granite

What are the real reasons?

Obama's prior strategy was decided in May of this year. Since then, ISIS has become a significant actor in the broader region, and a new Afghan government has been elected.

I think it is safe to say that Obama has reassessed the situation of Afghanistan (and the entire region in general), and has decided on what he has as a result.

The funny thing is, he is being criticised for reassessing the situation, but he also would have received much the same feedback if he were to ignore the significant factors at play and not perform a reassessment. He's always in a damned if you do, damned if you don't moment.

I think that's a fair enough assessment. Just a few days ago the suicide bombers 're-amerge' after November's killings in the same way.
Iraq post invasion/invasions all over again? Camp Bastion has gone, that is true..it's gone.
The only thing left is perhaps a humanitarian desire on an incumbent US president and/or, being ill advised by intelligence services, who IMHO are untrustworthy, do not give a feck about any President, and have their own agenda.

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: Granite

Didn't he promise "change we could believe in"?

Moving forward…

Yes he did, but as much as I disrespect him over the OBL drama, I do think that he has been undermined at every twist and turn of his Presidency as well. The Irony is that this president is in the middle of an, Ahem, idealogical religious war, not so long ago there was an, Ahem, idealogical war that had no part in religion, and before that it was about suprematismic architecture that encompassed religion, idealism and supremacy. Pfff! people are supposed to die prematurely of course.