Misleading media reports today are announcing the end of the U.S. troop surge in Afghanistan.
And the Washington Post:
There are many more along the same lines.
It’s important to understand that the troop reductions are only part of the total troop surge that happened under Obama.
As FAIR noted last year (Media Advisory, 6/23/11) there were two major increases in the number of U.S. troops in 2009:
When Obama took office in 2009, the U.S. had about 34,000 troops in Afghanistan. Obama has initiated two major troop increases in Afghanistan: about 20,000 additional troops were announced in February 2009, followed by the December 2009 announcement that an another 33,000 would be deployed as well; other smaller increases have brought the total to 100,000.
The surge that is “ending” today refers to the 33,000 that were sent in December. But the troops that were sent in the earlier Obama surge are still there. As the USA Today article notes, there are still 68,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, roughly double the number that were in the country when Obama took office.
These headlines might give the impression that the Afghan War is winding down. Based on the troop levels alone, that would be highly misleading.
You’re 100% correct. CNN had a chart about this a year ago, though their current story was incorrect. http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/22/chart-u-s-troop-levels-over-the-years/ One can see from the chart that it was a constant increase.
I distrust most republican tactics, this is no exception even if it’s the democrats playing this game. This is little more than ‘fodder for the election battle’. Here is where we need to hold Obama accountable and make him stick to his ‘withdrawal’ like he said he would.
And we must remember above all, that if Mittens and Lyan get in, the numbers are going to be even worse, and I would bet head up again.
If Mittens becomes President Mittens, expect troops to be moved to patrol mineral rich areas of Afghanistan, Bain to take over some mining companies, and the rest of the troops sent to Iran, once again showing that our military is always at Israel’s beck and call.
CNN the Fox “News” wannabe. But then most corporate based news is erring on the side of Conservative pro military reporting. The news reports I heard today didn’t mention any of the other increases just one as if that was the only troop increase Pres. Obama was responsible for. Some of the lies are so soft you could easily believe them since there is a good chance the other troop increases could have been forgotten.
Not even counting all the heightened military activity in South America, Africa and other countries like Yemen and Somalia.
As a conservative maybe it will surprise you to hear me say that in this military situation i would give the broad benefit of the doubt to the president.He is getting the intel,and hopefully getting good advice from his military experts.Sadly I think this country is going to be a tough nut to move out of the dark ages.A truly savage land
Conservatives generally distrust Obama on most issues. Why would you trust him on this?
They always talk about troop levels but never about the number of “contractors”. How many people do we really have there and what is the real cost?
Just think what this country would be like if we took all the money we spend on the military and used it instead to educate our students, rebuild our infrastructure and keep our citizens healthy. What the f is wrong with us that we have to spend ourselves into oblivion in order to terrorize an bully the world into submission. How is that christian?
And how is it a war? Are we expecting some tribal chieftain wearing a top hat and tails to hand over his sword to an American general in his shirtsleeves on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Enterprise? It’s not a war, it’s an insurgency, and we’re never going to win it.
Well Paul let me preface this by saying that Obama is completely out of his depth and incompetent in both military and economic matters.The fact that he believes his ideology can help him to wrap his arms around the economy goes a long way to explaining the state of things.
Militarily he knows next to nothing.His understanding of grand movements and projection of power is probably nil.But in the localized nature of the war in Afghanistan I do believe he has taken the council of his generals.Their job is not to loose ground.Their job is a continuation of what went on in the administration before.To beat back the terrorist forces, and keep open a window for Democratic development.Until or if he pulls the plug….I believe our generals and forces are very capable of accomplishing that limited charge within reason(but not without loss).Of course whether any of this will work is so debatable.Personally I doubt it.Our military is capable of any job they are given in an armed conflict.But changing the madness in this part of the world….Im not sure any weapon in our arsenal is built for that.
Michael-e, you have just summed up most presidents who have ever served. So what else do you have? Right now Pres. Obama is like any other Conservative right wing president. Whether Bill Clinton, Reagan, both Bushes,/b> he has very little different to bring to the table since he really is more like you than myself. And being a Regressive in most things it limits him greatly. We need a Progressive or even a Liberal would help greatly. However the gargantuan Military-Industrial National Security Complex has grown exponentially since Pres. Eisenhower‘s time. Also with it the Non Government Organizations aka Corporate versions of the military and espionage wings of the govt but now there to make money had have very little coverage either by the CMSM or the govt itself. That is also a great danger to us and anyone else they point their weapons to.
Night gaunt…Your idea that Obama is a Regressive in interesting.Do explain.As far as what he brings to the table -i cannot agree by comparing him to other presidents, except to say he has less competence than any of them(going in).All the presidents stretching back had jobs, and executive experience.Some- Carter,Bush,Bush had military experience.As i have said many times before,Obama had neither.He did a little of this , and a little of that, and became President.Any Manager of a convenience store is better qualified to run an economy.Any private in the corp better placed to be commander n chief.Tell me one qualification he had.
Did you actually just say a Liberal or progressive would do better?Better than what?Better than who?Better at what?