Obama’s Candor Refreshing; His Policies, Not So Much
posted by Josiah Garber on June 10, 2009
in Politics
by Adam Kokesh, June 06, 2009
President Obama delivered a speech yesterday at Cairo University that has already been noted around the world as unique for its candor. It has been translated into thirteen languages and stirred emotions throughout the Middle East. There were a number of issues that he raised that we do not hear about very often from politicians in Washington, let alone the President himself. Unfortunately, his policies are all too typical of the establishment.
He buttered up the audience with praise of Muslims’ contributions to civilization before he went straight into Afghanistan. “We did not go by choice, we went because of necessity. . . . Make no mistake: We do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan.” Perhaps there was a necessity to pursue some legitimate target after 9/11, which he invoked, but the disproportionate nature of the attack was a choice, the perpetuation of the occupation for eight years now is a choice, and Obama’s surge of thirty thousand troops in Afghanistan is HIS choice.
Regarding Afghanistan, he said, “We seek no military bases there.” This must be in contrast to his plan for Iraq which will leave 50,000 troops there indefinitely on 14 permanent bases. “Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice.” So is his commitment to maintaining the occupation indefinitely. This is the one place we have gotten lots of change from Obama on his foreign policy. First, he wanted to end the war in Iraq. Then he wanted to end it in 12 months. Then it was 16. Then 16 months and a “residual force.” Then, after taking office and meeting with generals on the ground in early March, he extended his plan again, this time to 19 months, to coincide with his first midterm election. I do not believe that was coincidence.
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