Civilianism News for November 12th

News about Afghanistan and Lou Dobbs, two mostly unrelated subjects

Obama's War Council

• U.S. Envoy To U.N. Defends Extensive Afghan Review – The U.S. envoy to the United Nations rejects claims that the Obama administration’s pace of determining a strategy in Afghanistan is a sign of weakness. “What would be weak and dangerous indeed would be to rush into a decision of this magnitude without thoroughly considering all of the implications for U.S. national security, without taking into account the posture and the capacity of the Afghan government — indeed, what’s happening in Pakistan as well,” Susan Rice tells NPR’s Michele Norris.
• “It is wise and beneficial to our interests and, I think, projects a wisdom and a strength rather than weakness.”  Absolutely agree with this.  I’d rather have a president that carefully weighs the live and death decisions of “war” and occupation and what it will mean for the future.  I hope this is what Obama is really doing.
• Official: Obama Rejects All Afghan War Options – President Barack Obama does not plan to accept any of the Afghanistan war options presented by his national security team, pushing instead for revisions to clarify how and when U.S. troops would turn over responsibility to the Afghan government, a senior administration official said Wednesday.  Good news?

• That stance comes in the midst of forceful reservations about a possible troop buildup from the U.S. ambassador in Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, according to a second top administration official.  In strongly worded classified cables to Washington, Eikenberry said he had misgivings about sending in new troops while there are still so many questions about the leadership of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Obama is still close to announcing his revamped war strategy — most likely shortly after he returns from a trip to Asia that ends on Nov. 19.  Rejects all Afghan War Options is a nice thing to read after years of Bush acting from the “gut”.  It’s good to have a president that thinks things through before making brash decisions.  If that’s what he’s doing, that is.

• Obama Rejects Afghan Options – President Obama is pushing his national security team for more detail about an exit strategy for U.S. forces fighting in Afghanistan. The president met with his advisers Wednesday to chart a new strategy for the war. Obama went into this latest strategy session with what the White House had called four “final” options on the table. Each involved sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, but would require different troop levels and would embrace different goals for the U.S. involvement there.  Good news?

• Paul Craig Roberts: The Evil Empire – Obama is already set on the course to a one-term presidency. He promised change, but has delivered none. His health care bill is held hostage by the private insurance companies seeking greater profits. The most likely outcome will be cuts in Medicare and Medicaid in order to help fund wars that enrich the military/security complex and the many companies created by privatizing services that the military once provided for itself at far lower costs. It would be interesting to know the percentage of the $700+ billion “defense” spending that goes to private companies. In American “capitalism,” an amazing amount of taxpayers’ earnings go to private firms via the government. Yet, Republicans scream about “socializing” health care.’  Man, this guy is cynical.  Lately it’s hard to read stuff like this. . . unless it goes after Republicans, who deserve every word of it. I despise Republicans now more than I ever have because they have revealed themselves to be against everything, and I mean everything, that would be halfways decent for this country and/or the world.  All they do is come out against every single thing anyone proposes.  They are worse than useless, they are obstructionists and yes, a major pain in the ass. It’s the end of the Republican party, as far as I’m concerned. They are done.  Obama will be reelected if health care passes, and he knows it.
• Relentless Pressure from Progressive Groups Pushes Hatemonger Lou Dobbs Out of CNN – After relentless pressure on CNN by progressive campaigns like BastaDobbs and DropDobbs.com, Lou Dobbs announced on his Wednesday show that he was leaving the network, effective immediately. “This will be my last broadcast here on CNN, where I’ve worked for most of the past 30 years,” he said.  Dobbs’ abrupt departure from the network is a major victory for the Latino advocacy groups demanding his resignation. For years, the talk show host has stirred up xenophobic, anti-immigrant hysteria and promoted an array of right-wing talking points, giving lie to CNN’s reputation for impartiality as well as comically belying his own claims of “independence.”  Good riddance Dobbs, you sack of racist BS.  Who is left to miss him?   I stopped listening to his confused, racist rambling a long time ago, even before it was obvious to everyone else.   I suspect he’s been listening to Rush Limbaugh or his own racism has driven him stark, raving mad.