Obama will not ‘rush’ decision on Afghanistan
By The Associated Press
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Published: October 27, 2009
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — President Barack Obama pledged on Monday not to "rush the solemn decision” to send more troops to battle in Afghanistan as he weighs military options on what to do next in the troubled war.
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BACKGROUND
The administration is debating whether to send tens of thousands more troops to the country, while the Afghan government is moving to hold a Nov. 7 runoff election between President Hamid Karzai and challenger Abdullah Abdullah. The runoff comes after complaints by international monitors of fraudulent voting in the first election.
"I won’t risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary,” Obama told service men and women at Naval Air Station Jacksonville. He promised a "clear mission” with defined goals and the equipment needed to get the job done.
Obama, who is in the process of weighing options put forward by
the Pentagon that include various levels of increased troops, spoke of the latest example of the dangers and sacrifices there — helicopter crashes that killed 14 Americans in the deadliest day for the
U.S. mission in Afghanistan in more than four years.
"Fourteen Americans gave their lives. And our prayers are with these service members, their civilian colleagues and the families who loved them,” Obama said.
"They were willing to risk their lives, in this case to prevent Afghanistan from again becoming a safe haven for
al-Qaida and its extremist allies.”
His visit to the naval air station came after he met at the
White House with his national security team for a sixth full-scale conference on the war.
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As the facts go, 59 days have come and gone since meeting with his personally chosen General McChrystal. Because of his lack of concern, he is costing American lives by talking out both sides of his mouth. He voted for this war against terrorism in Afghanistan, even said it was "crucial" to American interests during his campaign. So, if he now wants to go back on his word and get out, that's fine. Just do SOMETHING instead of playing Hamlet with a "Shall I or shall I not" attitude. His typical indecisiveness is telling of his character where voting "present", isn't very becoming.
I appreciate the fact that this President isn't thrusting us, under false pretenses, into a war with under-armored, under supplied troops like the last president did in Iraq. And if using that methodology qualifies him as "Black Jesus" Louis, then Halia-freaking-luia!