Obama on Al Qaeda

The President after the success of health care reform and the new Treaty with Russia has moved to show that he is not just obsessed with domestic issues, thus his surprise trip to Afghanistan. The Speech one has to admit was vintage Obama, but that could be the problem later down the line. I think even President Obama's most loyal supporters would have to say that Afghanistan is now his War, the President stated the following on the threat from Al Qaeda, " Al Qaeda and their extremist allies are a threat to the people of Afghanistan and a threat to the people of America, but they’re also a threat to people all around the world, and that’s why we’re so proud to have our coalition partners here with us. Thank you very much for the great work that you do. We salute you and we honor you for all the sacrifices you make, and you are a true friend of the United States of America. Thank you very much...... And we also salute the members of the Afghan National Army who are fighting alongside all of you. They’re risking their lives to protect their country. And as I told President Karzai today, the United States is a partner but our intent is to make sure that the Afghans have the capacity to provide for their own security. That is core to our mission, and we are proud of the work that they are doing and the continuing increased capacity that we’re seeing out of Afghan national security forces. So thank you very much for the great work you’re doing to take responsibility for security here in your own country......We can’t forget why we’re here. We did not choose this war. This was not an act of America wanting to expand its influence; of us wanting to meddle in somebody else’s business. We were attacked viciously on 9/11. Thousands of our fellow countrymen and women were killed. And this is the region where the perpetrators of that crime, al Qaeda, still base their leadership. Plots against our homeland, plots against our allies, plots against the Afghan and Pakistani people are taking place as we speak right here. And if this region slides backwards, if the Taliban retakes this country and al Qaeda can operate with impunity, then more American lives will be at stake. The Afghan people will lose their chance at progress and prosperity. And the world will be significantly less secure....And as long as I’m your Commander-in-Chief, I am not going to let that happen.... Our broad mission is clear: We are going to disrupt and dismantle, defeat and destroy al Qaeda and its extremist allies. That is our mission. And to accomplish that goal, our objectives here in Afghanistan are also clear: We’re going to deny al Qaeda safe haven. We’re going to reverse the Taliban’s momentum. We’re going to strengthen the capacity of Afghan security forces and the Afghan government so that they can begin taking responsibility and gain confidence of the Afghan people....... We’ve struck major blows against al Qaeda leadership as well as the Taliban’s. They are hunkered down. They’re worried about their own safety. It’s harder for them to move, it’s harder for them to train and to plot and to attack, and all of that makes America safer. And we are going to keep them on the run because that is what’s going to be required in order to assure that our families back home have the security that they need. That’s the work that you are doing...." Thus in 2011 will the President really be able to bring the troops home if Al Qaeda is still a threat to Afghanistan and the rest of the world. Have my doubts. It can be argued that Vietnam become LBJ's War after 1965, in that year the US Marines landed in South Vietnam to protect US planes, the rest is history folks, the War in Afghanistan is Obama's War due to the fact that he has chosen it, the question that has to be asked did Obama make a mistake, the Iraq War looks like a success now after the Bush 43 surge, elections have just finished and the political horse trading to form a new government are taking place in Iraq. An old Chicago hand like President Obama should be more active in Iraq, but one gets worried when Obama states the following, does recall the late LBJ years, the President stated the following in Afghanistan, " And here in Afghanistan you’ve gone on the offensive. And the American people back home are noticing. We have seen a huge increase in support in -- stateside, because people understand the kinds of sacrifices that you guys are making, and the clarity of mission that you’re bringing to bear. ". The US is split when it comes to the War in Afghanistan, the latest poll has a even approval to disapproval of the War. Its the kind of thing LBJ would say, when a President is economical with the truth he will lose the American voter. Lets hope the above remark was rhetoric not what Obama really has in desk draw. Lets hope for the sake of the US and the UK that Obama is right about Afghanistan, so far this year has been more bloody for the the US and UK than last year.