Comments on: Obama’s Wiggle-Room on Counterterrorist Policy

By: sf

sf — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:18:16 +0000

Damn, ya gotta admire Pat J’s outlook: “Bush had a chance to change things for the better in Afghanistan and show the world what America is all about. He failed, Bin Laden got away, we then invaded a country that was not a threat to us, and a lot of people have died.”

Let’s see here: By means of the incredible effort of American troops, and some very hard decisions by GWB, Iraq and Afghanistan were given the first free elections either had seen in modern memory. Millions defied death threats to vote, which presumably showed that they really wanted to do so. Ah, but Pat J. tells us that’s really “failure.”

Well it sure is nice to know that those icky problems with Muslim fanatics trying to kill Americans are in the past now that The One is prez. ‘Cause that’s *really* the point of your post, innit Pat? Bush “failed”, Obie will succeed, right.

Lord, I feel *so* much better now!

By: Kurt

Kurt — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:19:36 +0000

Of course, speaking softly and engaging in “symbolic action” were both big parts of Jimmy Carter’s diplomacy. With a “success” like that in the past, one would HOPE that Obama would have the sense to be more pragmatic and realistic, but evidently that is not the case.

By: Pat J

Pat J — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:43:46 +0000

42. Terry Gain:
————-
Just so you know. Namaste is a buddist term that translates as “I bow before the divinity in you.”

Also, since you repeated some of my words, I feel it’s important to emphasize a main point from my previous posting..

“Imagine what this gesture would have meant to the Muslim world and imagine how many minds we might could have turned away from terrorism.”

I don’t need to look at the CIA Factbook to know Afghanistan has been in a near continuous state of strife since roughly 1979. Bush had a chance to change things for the better in Afghanistan and show the world what America is all about. He failed, Bin Laden got away, we then invaded a country that was not a threat to us, and a lot of people have died.

Oh and I did check the CIA Factbook since I have it bookmarked on my computer. Couldn’t find anything about the number of “Afstans” or Iraqis that signed up to support democracy and fight Islamic extremism. I did notice about 2 million Iraqis have fled since we invaded their country to help promote democracy.

So if you want to call me a fool, fine. All I can say to that is…

namaste

dumbass

By: Bugs

Bugs — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:22:41 +0000

Historian: You can shout the truth to people until your blue in the face – but it don’t matter if they choose not to believe. That’s the political reality the President has to deal with. Again, I hope this Gitmo-closing business is his way of clearing a major political obstacle by convincing the non-believers that “America does not torture.” It’s a trade-off. Whether it’s worth it remains to be seen…

By: coffee

coffee — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 01:02:18 +0000

Looks to me like Barack is off to a great start, on track to keep his word and restore some international credibility for the US

By: The Historian

The Historian — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:54:59 +0000

INTERROGATION IS NOT TORTURE
Torture typically involves physical pain and long term if not pernament injury. Using psychological interrogation techniques sometimes resembles what goes on within families!

http://greensrealworld.blogspot.com/2009/01/interrogating-enemy-combatants.html

By: Bugs

Bugs — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:54:51 +0000

“…it will need to be veto proof and I don’t think she can muster that in the senate or the house.”

I just had a strange vision of Obama teaming up with Congressional Republicans and the more conservative Democrats to defeat Feinstein’s agenda. Probably wishful thinking, but I can always hope that at least some of that Chicago-style wheeling-dealing might be used to our advantage.

I don’t know – I can’t deal with all these doom-or-utopia predictions. I need to watch the guy for a while, see how he really deals with things. If he’s a raging socialist, I’ll oppose him in every way I can. But I’m not prepared to announce the fall of democracy before I’ve seen him in action.

By: Newmuhammed

Newmuhammed — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:46:56 +0000

“I think Obama is smart enough to know his campaign platform of opposing rough treatment to terrorists must be left on the campaign trail.”

You think? Did you miss this week’s announcement?

By: Newmuhammed

Newmuhammed — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:43:57 +0000

“how many were actually harmed beyond a damn good scare?”

Precisely, none. It was never about waterboarding. It was always about bashing Bush for protecting a country that wants to commit suicide. By all means close Gitmo. Some of those 245 may not actually again take up Jihad.

By: Noboys_Fool

Noboys_Fool — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:10:45 +0000

First off, to call water boarding ‘torture’ is grossly missing what torture really is. It should be left in the arsenal of interogators, let them, on review of higher authorities in the Pentagon or even the Oval Office, be able to make the case and use it if it is deemed warranted. Certainly the ‘victim’ of water boarding gets the ‘feeling’ of imminent harm or death but really, how many were actually harmed beyond a damn good scare? Isn’t that the goal of terrorists, a damn good scare at the least? Seems they are just getting a dose of their own medicine.

Leaving it to the likes of idiots such as Feinstein to make policy on terrorist treatment and we will all suffer the consequences.

I think Obama is smart enough to know his campaign platform of opposing rough treatment to terrorists must be left on the campaign trail. Reality has set in on him, its his responsibility to protect the USA from these thugs. Lets hope this reality sets a proper tone of action in the months and years to come.

As for the idiot Feinstein wanting to pass laws handcuffing the administration, it will need to be veto proof and I don’t think she can muster that in the senate or the house.