Comments on: McIntyre’s Take on Obama’s West Point Afghanistan Surge: Right Strategy, Wrong Message” http://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/12/02/the-speech/ Military.com's News and National Policy Blog Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:48:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: BereavedMilhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/12/02/the-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-1669 BereavedMil Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:26:06 +0000 http://www.lineofdeparture.com/?p=977#comment-1669 Are you repeating the John Kerry line, "How do you ask the last man to die for a mistake?" That's pretty much the zeitgeist. Are you repeating the John Kerry line, “How do you ask the last man to die for a mistake?” That’s pretty much the zeitgeist.

]]> By: turnirahttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/12/02/the-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-1668 turnira Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:36:09 +0000 http://www.lineofdeparture.com/?p=977#comment-1668 One think we all need to keep in mind, that is the President is the Commander and Cheif of the United States of America. And when he makes a decision it is up to us to carry out the mission and get the job done. To all Learders, if you don't put up you can't go up. One think we all need to keep in mind, that is the President is the Commander and Cheif of the United States of America. And when he makes a decision it is up to us to carry out the mission and get the job done. To all Learders, if you don’t put up you can’t go up.

]]> By: Johnsterhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/12/02/the-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-1667 Johnster Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:17:05 +0000 http://www.lineofdeparture.com/?p=977#comment-1667 "Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it." Seems like a lesson we refuse to learn. We can do better than this. “Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.” Seems like a lesson we refuse to learn. We can do better than this.

]]> By: rsalemhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/12/02/the-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-1666 rsalem Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:42:25 +0000 http://www.lineofdeparture.com/?p=977#comment-1666 "All the Greeks know what is right, but only the Spartans do it." Plutarch “All the Greeks know what is right, but only the Spartans do it.“
Plutarch

]]> By: Neilshttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/12/02/the-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-1665 Neils Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:58:32 +0000 http://www.lineofdeparture.com/?p=977#comment-1665 Oba Mama gives just enough so he can say I did my part....now if it fails it's all on you. He left our good men hanging while he pretended to "think" about what he himself called the war of necessity. Now he uses West Point as a back drop and cadets as props. The Poser in chief gets NO respect from this Combat Marine Vet....None. Neils 9:58 am 12/03/2009 Oba Mama gives just enough so he can say
I did my part.…now if it fails it’s all on you.

He left our good men hanging while he pretended to
“think” about what he himself called the war of necessity.

Now he uses West Point as a back drop and cadets
as props.

The Poser in chief gets NO respect from this
Combat Marine Vet.…None.

Neils
9:58 am
12/03/2009

]]> By: rasherihttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/12/02/the-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-1664 rasheri Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:51:56 +0000 http://www.lineofdeparture.com/?p=977#comment-1664 Can you imagine the pilot coming on the intercom with the following announcement. We are about to take off. By the way the airport gave me only 3/4 of the fuel I requested. Fasten your seat belts............................ Can you imagine the pilot coming on the intercom with the following announcement. We are about to take off. By the way the airport gave me only 3/4 of the fuel I requested. Fasten your seat belts.….….….….….….…

]]> By: Kyle Yorkhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/12/02/the-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-1661 Kyle York Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:00:08 +0000 http://www.lineofdeparture.com/?p=977#comment-1661 “Our soldiers are not to blame. They’ve fought incredibly bravely in adverse conditions. But to occupy towns and villages temporarily has little value in such a vast land where the insurgents can just disappear into the hills.” He went on to request extra troops and equipment. “Without them, without a lot more men, this war will continue for a very, very long time,” he said. -Sergei Akhromeyev, Commander of the Soviet armed forces Address to the Soviet Union’s Politburo on Nov. 13, 1986.* When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains, and the women come out to cut up what remains, jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains and go to your gawd like a soldier. -Rudyard Kipling Departmental Ditties and Barrack-Room Ballads, 1890 -Kyle York Saratoga Springs * <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/opinion/29sebestyen.html?_r=1&ref=opinion" target="_blank">www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/opinion/29sebestyen.ht...</a> “Our soldiers are not to blame. They’ve fought incredibly bravely in adverse conditions. But to occupy towns and villages temporarily has little value in such a vast land where the insurgents can just disappear into the hills.” He went on to request extra troops and equipment. “Without them, without a lot more men, this war will continue for a very, very long time,” he said.

–Sergei Akhromeyev, Commander of the Soviet armed forces
Address to the Soviet Union’s Politburo on Nov. 13, 1986.*

When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains,
and the women come out to cut up what remains,
jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
and go to your gawd like a soldier.

–Rudyard Kipling
Departmental Ditties and Barrack-Room Ballads, 1890

–Kyle York
Saratoga Springs

* http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/opinion/29sebestyen.ht...

]]> By: Mark Fhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/12/02/the-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-1660 Mark F Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:38:58 +0000 http://www.lineofdeparture.com/?p=977#comment-1660 President Obama's speech last night probably didn't please the liberals or the conservatives. It seems the Liberals would like to end the war short of reaching a favorable conclusion. The Conservatives seem to advocate a favorable end no matter how long it takes. There must be a balance based on historical realities and results in Afghanistan and our future economic state. Can we afford to stay or leave? It will be interesting to hear the enemy's interpretation of his speech. I would also imagine if ground conditions are not suitable to leave in 18 months---we will remain in the fight. I will conclude by saying, if we send 30,000 more Soldiers, let them do their job! President Obama’s speech last night probably didn’t please the liberals or the conservatives. It seems the Liberals would like to end the war short of reaching a favorable conclusion. The Conservatives seem to advocate a favorable end no matter how long it takes. There must be a balance based on historical realities and results in Afghanistan and our future economic state. Can we afford to stay or leave? It will be interesting to hear the enemy’s interpretation of his speech. I would also imagine if ground conditions are not suitable to leave in 18 months—we will remain in the fight. I will conclude by saying, if we send 30,000 more Soldiers, let them do their job!

]]> By: David Mhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/12/02/the-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-1656 David M Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:50:40 +0000 http://www.lineofdeparture.com/?p=977#comment-1656 The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 12/02/2009 News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front. <a href="http://www.thunderrun.us/2009/12/from-front-12022009.html" target="_blank">http://www.thunderrun.us/2009/12/from-front-12022...</a> The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 12/02/2009 News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.
http://www.thunderrun.us/2009/12/from-front-12022...

]]> By: CharlesHoustonhttp://www.lineofdeparture.com/2009/12/02/the-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-1653 CharlesHouston Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:10:23 +0000 http://www.lineofdeparture.com/?p=977#comment-1653 This does show that President Obama is subject to the same ills as Don Rumsfeld. Both want a fast "In And Out" campaign, with few casualties. Perhaps both feel that high tech will replace boots on the ground. Unfortunately, neither has had any military experience and both think that military operations can simply be speeded up. It takes time to move logistics into a campaign theater, and people without food, bases, and vehicles will not be very effective. President Bush fired Gen Shinseki, and President Obama fired Gen McKiernan for asking for more people to do the job. OK give me a break here as I have to summarize. That is a major concern for a surge like this one - will we send what our folks will need? When the elected officials say it is time to go - will we be able to bring our expensive equipment home or will we dash for the border? This does show that President Obama is subject to the same ills as Don Rumsfeld. Both want a fast “In And Out” campaign, with few casualties. Perhaps both feel that high tech will replace boots on the ground. Unfortunately, neither has had any military experience and both think that military operations can simply be speeded up. It takes time to move logistics into a campaign theater, and people without food, bases, and vehicles will not be very effective. President Bush fired Gen Shinseki, and President Obama fired Gen McKiernan for asking for more people to do the job. OK give me a break here as I have to summarize. That is a major concern for a surge like this one — will we send what our folks will need? When the elected officials say it is time to go — will we be able to bring our expensive equipment home or will we dash for the border?

]]>