Obama Orders Military to Start Planning Troop Reduction in Iraq

[Richard Tafoya]

Bloomberg:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aB3FsNPT4QG8&refer=us

U.S. President Barack Obama has told military leaders to draw up any additional plans necessary for a responsible U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq.

Mr. Obama called for the measure during a meeting with his national security team on Wednesday.

President Barack Obama (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Barack+Obama&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1) took the first steps toward reducing the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, telling his generals to conduct the “planning necessary to execute a responsible military drawdown” from the country.

Obama issued the order during a meeting with his national security team and military commanders in Washington yesterday.

As a candidate for president, Obama pledged to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq over a 16-month period. A statement by Obama issued by the White House after yesterday’s meeting made no mention of a time frame.

Obama also said in his statement that “in the coming days and weeks,” his administration would “undertake a full review of the situation in Afghanistan in order to develop a comprehensive policy for the entire region.”

The president has said he plans to step up the U.S.-led fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Pentagon already has plans to send as many as 30,000 more U.S. soldiers there.

[Incident]

Blah, Blah Blah more vacuous words that mean nothing and change nothing.

[db44]

Not looking at what it means for the time Obama is in office, it means a lot. It shows the world our new president will do his best to live up to the hope and change we (the world) expects from him. It shows the world the days of stong-arm, cowboy politics are coming to an end for now. This is something that lets the world know the U.S. is still strong, and will retake its place as a benevolent, lawful leader in global politics.

[pinky]

Blah, Blah Blah more vacuous words that mean nothing and change nothing.

Blah, Blah Blah more vacuous words that mean nothing and change nothing.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Blah, Blah Blah more vacuous words that mean nothing and change nothing.


Obama won. Either get onboard, present a cogent alternative, or get out of the way.

[db44]

Whatever happened to "support our president during wartime?"

Way to practice what you preach Rush, Paul, Reg et. al.

[Incident]

Whatever happened to "support our president during wartime?"

Way to practice what you preach Rush, Paul, Reg et. al.


I am supporting President Obama's actual policies, because his actual policies in no way are reflected in the vacuous language he uses so as to dupe the likes of the lefty Media and apparently you.

[Incident]

Not looking at what it means for the time Obama is in office, it means a lot. It shows the world our new president will do his best to live up to the hope and change we (the world) expects from him. It shows the world the days of stong-arm, cowboy politics are coming to an end for now. This is something that lets the world know the U.S. is still strong, and will retake its place as a benevolent, lawful leader in global politics.



I am supporting President Obama's actual policies, because his actual policies in no way are reflected in the vacuous language he uses so as to dupe the likes of the lefty Media and apparently you.

[Incident]

Obama won. Either get onboard, present a cogent alternative, or get out of the way.



I am supporting President Obama's actual policies, because his actual policies in no way are reflected in the vacuous language he uses so as to dupe the likes of the lefty Media and apparently you.

It is he, Obama, that has not presented an alternative plan to Bush's, it is evident that Obama's policies differ little in action from those of the former President. I will admit though the President looks cool when he makes these statements, perhaps that is what has you fooled.

[db44]

You are right on one thing. No, there is not set plan. I wouldn't expect one yet. To plan a withdrawal, partial or total, in one week of taking action would be as wreckless as getting into this war in the first place. He's been in office less than a week, as has his cabinet and people. They are only starting to get their intelligence, security and military briefings. Even as President-elect, he gets some, not all information. But he wants to start bringing troops home. Bush's plans I believe were for partial withdrawal by 2011. Obama wants to expidite that.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

I am supporting President Obama's actual policies, because his actual policies in no way are reflected in the vacuous language he uses so as to dupe the likes of the lefty Media and apparently you.

It is he, Obama, that has not presented an alternative plan to Bush's, it is evident that Obama's policies differ little in action from those of the former President. I will admit though the President looks cool when he makes these statements, perhaps that is what has you fooled.


You don't know what his policy is. He instructed military leaders to draw up a plan the day after he took office and all you have to say is blah, blah, blah. That's not support. Quit acting like it is.

[pinky]

I am supporting President Obama's actual policies, because his actual policies in no way are reflected in the vacuous language he uses so as to dupe the likes of the lefty Media and apparently you.

It is he, Obama, that has not presented an alternative plan to Bush's, it is evident that Obama's policies differ little in action from those of the former President. I will admit though the President looks cool when he makes these statements, perhaps that is what has you fooled.
Blah, Blah Blah more vacuous words that mean nothing and change nothing.

[Incident]

You are right on one thing. No, there is not set plan. I wouldn't expect one yet. To plan a withdrawal, partial or total, in one week of taking action would be as wreckless as getting into this war in the first place. He's been in office less than a week, as has his cabinet and people. They are only starting to get their intelligence, security and military briefings. Even as President-elect, he gets some, not all information. But he wants to start bringing troops home. Bush's plans I believe were for partial withdrawal by 2011. Obama wants to expidite that.

Again, my point is there is no substantial difference in the two policies, proven by your statement. You agree that Bush wanted to bring the troops home and planned to start doing it. Obama at best moves that up a couple of months, again no substantial difference.

[pinky]

We know this because Paul is actually part of Obama's inner circle, and knows exactly when and how quickly he plans to withdraw the troops.

[Incident]

We know this because Paul is actually part of Obama's inner circle, and knows exactly when and how quickly he plans to withdraw the troops.

If you think about it that argument is better made with Dave rather than myself? Key word though is think?

[db44]

As I said, there's no reason to have a full plan yet, not without having much time to look at the situation.

I do agree with Paul on the premise. But I do like that our new president has made an official stance on looking at the withdrawal on day one.

I will add it's my hope, based on that order, and on the party and personal beliefs of the two men in question, that I fully expect Obama to try and make withdraw come quicker than Bush would have.

So yes, they both have said the same thing: withdraw. I think ordering the military to look at the situation than just talking about it is a good step though.

[Incident]

You are right on one thing. No, there is not set plan. I wouldn't expect one yet. To plan a withdrawal, partial or total, in one week of taking action would be as wreckless as getting into this war in the first place. He's been in office less than a week, as has his cabinet and people. They are only starting to get their intelligence, security and military briefings. Even as President-elect, he gets some, not all information. But he wants to start bringing troops home. Bush's plans I believe were for partial withdrawal by 2011. Obama wants to expidite that.
Just making a quick note, what again is the difference between the Bush and the the President's plan?