Indecision taken to new levels

[Drake Tungsten]

God, Maddow is a terrible TV host. Say what you want about Olbermann, but at least he looks comfortable in front of a camera.

[Lorizael]

Maddow's nicer on the eyes, though.

[DinoDoc]

That's not really saying much.

[DinoDoc]

If we were to announces that tens of thousands more U.S. troops would be sent, the upcoming Afghani election would be stolen again--guaranteed. And an election won by fraud would only help the Taliban.

The election however it is resolved doesn't absolve the Obama Admin of the need for them to actually make a decision on troop levels rather than dithering on the issue to make nice with his anti-war base.

Indeed, for purposes of creating a representative government as the foundation of U.S. counterinsurgency strategy, the key flaw of Afghanistan's August election was not the widespread ballot fraud; it was the fact that almost 3 out of 4 voters didn't show up at the polls because of the Taliban security threat. So, while a runoff election might satisfy the fraud complaints, it won't make the resulting government much more representative unless millions more voters show up at the polls this time. But the deteriorating security situation and limits of the appeal of both candidates give little reason to expect that the rerun would see a voter surge; turnout in a runoff, if anything, could be even lower.

What's more, despite the findings of the electoral commission, there's widespread doubt in Kabul over whether a runoff vote will actually proceed. A power-sharing deal between Karzai and Abdullah is considered the much more likely outcome. But in reality, the manner in which the electoral stalemate is resolved doesn't substantially alter the basic choice facing Obama: either send tens of thousands more U.S. troops, which U.S. commander General Stan McChrystal says are necessary simply to halt the Taliban's advance, or draw down to a policing operation against al-Qaeda and abandon the goal of defeating the Taliban.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1931050,00.html?iid=sphere-inline-bottom

[Zkribbler]

re: The Maddow show on You Tube.

Sean Hannity should change the motto of his show to "Not White House Approved (since Jan. 20, 2009)."

...Wow, Maddow's final minute really guts the Bush White House.

[MOBIUS]

I may be mistaken, but I believe this is your longest post ever.

Still only the length of a small to middling paragraph though...

[chequita guevara]

Liberals are so ****ing stupid. They don't seem to realize they are at war with the right.

GOP: We want your livers!
Liberals: Let's compromise, you can only have half our livers.
GOP: Die!
Liberals: Oh you.

[Drake Tungsten]

Maddow's nicer on the eyes, though.

God help you...

[Lorizael]

Maddow's nicer on the eyes, though.

God help you...

You'd prefer to bag Olbermann? Okay!

[Patroklos]

Wow, Maddow's final minute really guts the Bush White House.

Not so much. I wonder if Maddow understands that as far as viewship she is a complete nonentity amongst her peers.

[DinoDoc]

You'd prefer to bag Olbermann? Okay!

She looks like a man.

[DinoDoc]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/10/26/obama_says_he_will_not_rush_de.html?hpid=topnews?hpid=topnews

Obama Says He Will Not 'Rush' Decision on Troop Levels
By Michael A. Fletcher
JACKSONVILLE -- President Obama fired back Monday at critics who accuse him of taking too long to review his strategy in Afghanistan, telling an audience of military personnel here that he will not "rush" his decision on whether to send additional troops there.

Before 3,500 members of the military and their families in a hangar at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Obama said that U.S. troops deserve a clear strategy and full support to fulfill their mission.

"I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm's way. I won't risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary," Obama said to loud applause. "And if it is necessary, we will back you up to the hilt."

Framed on the dais by uniformed members of the Navy and Marine Corps, and with members of other branches standing in front of him, Obama pushed back against those who have said that his weeks-long review of Afghanistan strategy is endangering troops there.

Former vice president Richard B. Cheney accused Obama last week of "dithering" as he weighs whether to add 40,000 new U.S. troops to the fight in Afghanistan. Cheney said Obama "seems afraid" to make a decision, adding that as the president makes up his mind, "America's armed forces are in danger."

Afghanistan military commander Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal has said he needs the additional troops or else the United States would risk failure of its counterinsurgency strategy there.

Obama met Monday morning with his top national security advisers in the White House Situation Room before traveling to Jacksonville.

In a question-and-answer session with reporters aboard Air Force One, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that the president 's decision "could come at any moment," although he said most likely it would be announced within weeks.

In his remarks to the troops here, Obama thanked them for their service and said his administration is doing all it can to support them. He said he would sign a $680 billion defense authorization bill later this week, even though the measure includes $560 million for an alternate F-35 engine that he opposed as wasteful.

"To make sure you can meet the missions we ask of you, we're increasing the defense budget," he said.

Before speaking at the troops, Obama met with the families of fallen soldiers. He thanked the larger group, who he praised as "best-trained, best-prepared, best-led force in history."

"Your dedication to duty is humbling," Obama said. "Your love of country is inspiring. The American people thank you for your service. We honor you for your sacrifices. And just as you have fulfilled your responsibilities to your nation, your nation will fulfill its responsibilities to you."

No one will ever accuse you of being in a rush Mr. President.

[The Mad Monk]

He wants to think it over some more, maybe over a few more rounds of golf.

[Patroklos]

"I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm's way. I won't risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary," Obama said to loud applause. "And if it is necessary, we will back you up to the hilt."

Unless of course you are already in Afghanistan in which case I will deny you reinforcements while pretending that simple decision somehow consititutes a "stategy."

Seriously, and I say the same thing about the Iraq surge, since when did the simple decision to provide reinforcements become as complicated a stategy formulation as the Schliefen Plan?

[Wezil]

Obama said that U.S. troops deserve a clear strategy and full support to fulfill their mission.

The things GWB never provided in 7 years.

Let's rag on Obama though.