Keeping a campaign promise of sorts, the U.S. military bombed Pakistan today killing at least seven people on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
Barack Obama Continues Bush Policy
One recalls that candidate Obama threatened to invade Pakistan during the primary campaign, a boast that was either laughed off by supporters or alarmed critics. The remarks caused a diplomatic firestorm which forced Obama to retract later. Pakistan is a nuclear-armed country with one of the largest armies in the world, and an unsteady friend to the United States in the world war on terrorism.
Although the bombing run by a drone aircraft is not technically an invasion, one wonders if Obama is trying to get the naivety-label off his back. Today’s bombing action is a clear continuation of a George Bush policy, one that is known to be by tacit agreement with the Pakistani government. They publicly complain but privately appreciate the help.
But by bombing Pakistan, Obama runs the risk of confusing the public. Although the president never defined what the “change” slogan meant, many interpreted it is a repudiation of George Bush’s foreign policy. Now that he is embracing it, clearly some of his most loyal supporters will balk as if they were suckered.
Right Pundits applauds the president when he is right. The best thing he can do until he understands the complexities of our world affairs is to continue the previous administration’s foreign policy practices and agreements. Forever end the reflexive talk about invading an ally one day while threatening to unilaterally pull out from another the next.
Instead work together with our allies on bilateral relations just like George Bush did and all presidents do. Don’t threaten to invade Pakistan for God’s sake but instead continue the effective secret policy of military cooperation that Bush forged. Doing so will buy President Obama time to fix the economy, which to most of us is a far more important campaign promise.
Obama Policy on Pakistan (Video)
January 23rd, 2009 at 10:37 am
Pakistan had nothing to do with 911. Why? Why? Why are we bombing them. They are peace loving people that just want to live in a world without war.
Someone needs to stop the killing of innocent people. Obama has the blood of seven people on his hands. Contact The Hague and start the trail.
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:56 am
He’s acting unilaterally without the approval of the rest of the world. Obama’s Illegal War!!!!
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:57 am
I wonder if the left is going to ever figure out that what Obama says and what he does are two different things.
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Not a chance.
Because thats what they all do so its a norm of communication, a code, meant to keep us on the outside looking in.
You need a secret decoder ring.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Good for buttercup. Do it again.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Geo. Bush was the one who did not understand “the complexities of our world affairs.”
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:57 pm
How quickly we forget Iraq Beth.
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:07 pm
We are taking a page the Dem playbook.
We are making up lies about Obama like you all did Bush.
Obama should be tried for war crimes for this. Whose fault will it be when he releases the terrorist from Gitmo and the attack us again? Obama’s
And you think he understands “The complexities of our world affairs.” He can’t even answer a reporters question. They do not use teleprompters in new conferences.
January 23rd, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Ed.
You dont understand the complexity of Dung Bettle housing.
Funny, Bush seemed to understand enough that he freed two countries from oppressive regimes and causing Libya to disarm.
The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in Africa was the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in history saving more than 2.1 million people and care for more than 10.1 million people worldwide.
His Malaria Initiative reduced malaria deaths by half in 15 targeted countries across Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2007 alone it reached more than 25 million people with lifesaving treatment and prevention service.
In 2001, the United States had free trade agreements with only three countries. Today we have agreements with 14 countries.
I got more Ed, wanna see it ?
January 23rd, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Way to go Obama! I cant wait til he closes Gitmo and straps bombs to the criminal detainees and drops them from a plane over Pakistan. LOL.
January 23rd, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Gee Oliver.
Shouldnt he should just blow up Gitmo? Since its one of the 57 states no one could say we invaded anyones sovereignty
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:02 pm
[ed - violates comment policy. final warning.]
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Pakistan (at least its ungoverned “Frontier Provinces”) is the greatest threat to US security in the world. Other than Russia and Iran, in that order. It’s the home of the hirsute 9/11 “mastermind,” Khaled Sheikh Muhammed, and harbors most of Al-Qaeda’s top donkeys. My comparison, Iraq is Disneyland. Baravo, Mr. Obama.
To Beth “I wonder if the left is going to ever figure out that what Obama says and what he does are two different things.”
Most people who voted for Obama aren’t “left.” Just sensible.
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:50 pm
[ed - suspended for violating comment policy. return on Feb. 1]
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:17 pm
[ed - commenter suspended for repeated profanity. return Feb. 1]
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:55 pm
HE TOLD YOU GUYS THAT HE IS MOVING HIS FOCUS TO THE AL QAEDA AND THE TALIBAN. YALL DIDNT BELIEVE HIM ON THE DEBATE HUH. HE TRYING TO MAKE A STATEMENT “NOT ON MY CLOCK BIN LADEN” THAT HE GOT A BIGGER FISH TO FRY ITS CALLES THE ECONOMY
January 24th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
What did you expect him to do, immediately halt all ongoing tactics in the Afghanistan/Pakistan border region? He made it clear during the campaign that he would not hesitate to continue and even escalate military actions in Pakistan if there was actionable intelligence.
January 24th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Leftright.
The point is that his followers jumped all over Bush for doing the same thing in Pakistan and other arenas dealing with radical islam.
And yes, intelligence for the last few months of the Talibans migration south has been more actionable.
January 24th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
micky- sheesh – they are defending him and didn’t know that Bush was doing the same thing. They wanted to think he was showing muscle and not just following Bush’s policies. So hush and let them have their delusions. lol
January 24th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
actually obama has been for prosecuting the afghanistani war and everyone knows that as long as pakistan is a safe sanctuary for taliban and terrorists we cannot win it. Even worse foreigners have intermarried into the tribes in that area for years and that provides excellant cover and protection for them. consider that many marry multiple women and have many children, bin laden for example, he himself was one of 28(approx) children of his father. So there is a force, or at least logistical amplifyer there for them. If you want to do something, identify the financial backers of these people and stop the financing at the source, thus forcing them to put all their time and energy into securing food and shelter. Its going to take some time to develop new approaches and intelligence so obama is prudently keeping this going for at least now. I think they have collected a lot of intelligence on the area and have been pretty effective in getting a number of leaders as well as breaking up retreats with the aerial program so far, and pakistan seems to be tacitly tolerating it as it benifits their own government’s survival. I don’t see any crises in leadership on obama’s part here for now. By keeping the pressure on these foriegn agents we protect ourselves as it crumples up their leadership and diverts its resources into simply surviving itself and I would think scare away “some” backers, some whom may be drawn back to us.
January 25th, 2009 at 9:12 am
You liberals don’t know diddly squat about how to lauch a war, run war or end a war.
You all are typical liberal hypocrites. When a Democrat listens to his generals and takes their advice you call it brilliant. When a Republican does it, you call him a liar and a murderer.
The only way to win this war it to fight this war and let the general do what they know how to do. Stop making is a right vs left issue.
January 25th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
you forget under our constitutional form of goverment the civilians rule over the military through the executive branch. George Washington wanted it that way for a reason. That is why he jumped out of the army into the presidency as just a civilian, he didn’t want any kings, and he ran a fairly liberal presidency and didn’t seek to consolidate power as adams insanely did.
January 25th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Yea, but Brian.
Bush listened to the commanders on the ground.
In Obamas campaign he said he knew better that either Bush or the military.
Not until after Obama had changed his withdrawal dates 4 times and recieved his first security briefing did he change it all by keeping Gates.
Also. Withdrawal from Iraq in 2012 was already in agreement between Maliki, Bush and the Iraqi parliament right before Obamas last visit to Iraq.
Obama came out of his meeting acting as if him and Maliki had struck some wonderful agreement. It was all BS.
Bush and Maliki had already set a date the day before calling it a foreseeable horizon.
As far as your # 20 post goes. So what ?
All that has been known for decades.
Also, you obviously wouldnt say what you just said if you heard Hillarys latest take on the situation.
It sounds more like Pakistan will be extorting aid(more of it) from us now in exchange for being able to attack Taliban on their turf.
Marrying foreigners ?
What freaking comic books are you reading now ?
January 26th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Obama Lied!
People Died!
January 27th, 2009 at 6:57 am
ur a duchebag. Obama is the man, and the things u are saying about him is a Jackass move.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:59 am
by the way beth this war was made by bush
January 27th, 2009 at 7:00 am
u people are f-ing stupid, turds
January 27th, 2009 at 7:02 am
we should nuke iraq, and iran, and the whole middle east, and get rid f the stupid towel heads
January 27th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Matt and Jeff,
I bet your parents are proud of the education you have. The arguments and the words you use are so mature and revealing. How often do you have to shave your head?
January 27th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Where the hell did those two returds come from ?
I can almost see the 40 ouncer in the brown paper bag.
George.
I think Obama bombing Pakistan was a gift from Bush. You know, a housewarming gift if you will.
Theres no way Obama put this together on his own 2 days into his term. It was a result of “actionable intelligence” carried over from the Bush adm. and dropped right in Obamas lap.
I can hear Bush now as he whips out a map of N. Pakistan.
“Here ya go man, these a$$clowns are gonna be here, here, and there on the 23rd. Everythings all set to go, all you gotta do is make the call and they’re toast.
It’ll make it look like yer doin something on yer first days. ”
Or maybe it was all in that note he left for him in the Oval Orafice
January 27th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Now Micky you has fergot the bush is a bacards cawboy ann don”t got know cents. obamama is reel smert ann he done dis on hes own.
These guys didn’t vote for Obama for obvious reasons. But they give inbreeds a bad name.
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Obama is the best chance this country has at rebuilding what once was a great nation. So talk about him all you want, thinking that all the negative publicity will hurt, but the reality is that he IS our President. And i for one think he is for the entire nation and can make a difference. He was voted in by the country and didn’t cheat his way in like BUSH! And even with all the bad talk he still holds his head high and leads by example not by words. He’s acting like the mature Man and letting all the haters hate. As his slogan said YES WE CAN, AND YES WE DID! We went from the worst President in history (BUSH), to one who could possibly be the best (OBAMA)!
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Keleace, what bad talk? If you think Obama has even begun to hear “bad talk” after only three weeks in office, you are undoubtedly even more incompetent that Obama. Yes, he is screwing up right and left already, but give him 3.9 more years for us all to have the full measure of the man. So far he is bringing us close to war with Iran, the stock market has lost 20% since his election, everyone is losing their jobs because of socialist fears, and his cabinet is an interesting collection of tax-dodging corporate lobbyists. But give them a chance to fully fail, please.
February 2nd, 2009 at 6:35 pm
“and leads by example not by words”
I dont know where you’ve been lately but recently its become pretty evident that hes been leading you around by the noses with “nothing but words”.
The example you speak of is probably put best in context by McCain which I’ll elaborate on by including his incompetent move to close Gitmo with no clue as to where these monsters will be put. With that in mind its only obvious that hes just greasing the glutes on the far left to fend them off for a little while. At the same time hes decided to keep almost all of Bushs foreign policies on the table including a little know fact that Obama wants the CIA to still have the authority to carry out what are known as renditions, secret abductions and transfers of prisoners to countries that cooperate with us.
Didnt your party say those programs were considered fascist and an illegal instrument used by the Bush administration ?
So if Bush was such a terrible president would you mind explaining to me why Obama is maintaining most of his foreign policies ?
February 2nd, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Please tell me my post didnt get shot off into oblivion.
February 2nd, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Back on thread.
I’m not sure the bombing of a third country, i.e., Pakistan, isn’t as potentially difficult as Nixon’s bombing of Cambodia. And of course Pakistan’s a huge US aid recipient.
I’d rather the US use the money angle to convince Pakistan that it is in their own financial interest to deal with Waziristan and the other tribal areas themselves. The aid surely hasn’t yielded much else.
And since the tribal areas are really a blend of Afghanis and Pakistanis, can anyone name the last time the Afghanis have been subdued by a foreign power? Note: Alexander the Great and Ghengis Khan don’t count.