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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsObama: 'Our work is more urgent than ever, because this chapter of war is coming to an end'
by Laura Clawson
Speaking at Arlington National Cemetery on this Veterans Day, President Barack Obama honored Richard Overton, the oldest World War II veteran known to be living. But he also emphasized the future as much as the past, saying:
Our work is more urgent than ever, because this chapter of war is coming to an end. Soon, one of the first Marines to arrive in Afghanistan 12 years agoBrigadier General Daniel Yoowill lead his Camp Pendleton Marines as they become one of the last major groups of Marines to deploy in this war. And over the coming months, more of our troops will come home.This winter, our troop levels in Afghanistan will be down to 34,000. And by this time next year, the transition to Afghan-led security will be nearly complete. The longest war in American history will end.
That means, he stressed, not simply honoring the veterans created by the Iraq and Afghanistan wars with rhetoric, but "improving veterans health care, including mental health care so you can stay strong"; "helping our newest veterans and their families pursue their education under the Post-9/11 GI Bill"; and "demanding that the rights and dignity of every veteran are upheld, including by pushing for the Disabilities Treaty so that our disabled veterans enjoy the same opportunities to travel and work and study around the world as everybody else." Obama also stressed the work being done by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden on creating jobs and reducing unemployment for veterans.
Obama's speech was determinedly nonpartisan, but it's worth noting that the goals he laid outhealth care, jobs, educationare a Democratic, not Republican, agenda.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/11/1254785/-Obama-Our-work-is-more-urgent-than-ever-because-this-chapter-of-war-is-coming-to-an-end
Transcript:
President Obama's remarks on Veterans Day, Arlington National Cemetery
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/11/1254781/-President-Obama-s-remarks-on-Veterans-Day-Arlington-National-Cemetery
ProSense
(116,464 posts)William769
(55,147 posts)Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)And, stay out of other countries civil wars.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)I mean, is that a feel-good statement?
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)Next question?
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)Just like he escalated the same lost war.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)The troops are coming home. The number isn't growing, it's dropping.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)And, he's still sending drones to kill people in Pakistan...and elsewhere.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)EOTE
(13,409 posts)Is it the drone strikes? The troops still present in Iraq? Or the troops to be deployed in Afghanistan. That all seems like rather simple English to me.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Ludicrous.
EOTE
(13,409 posts)So, the fact that someday there might no longer be troops in Iraq impresses you? And what of the NEW troops being moved to Afghanistan? And the continuing drone strikes? These things seemed to confuse you before, what is the confusion, exactly?
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"So, the fact that someday there might no longer be troops in Iraq impresses you?"
Still, imagining that U.S. troops are at combat in Iraq?
EOTE
(13,409 posts)You make a post featuring many platitudes about the quagmires we're involved in and someone reasonably suggests we don't have much to get excited about. After all, we still have troops in Iraq and we're actually increasing troop levels in Afghanistan and continuing drone strikes elsewhere. You reply to the post with the reaction of a confused puppydog: Huh? That don't make sense.
There are still PLENTY of U.S. troops in Iraq. Do you think the fact that they're not considered to be combat troops really makes any difference? Are you under the assumption that they're not armed or something? Do you think that Iraq is in any less of a shithole now? Are you under the impression that increasing troop levels in Afghanistan is a GOOD thing? Christ, the derp is strong.
"There are still PLENTY of U.S. troops in Iraq. Do you think the fact that they're not considered to be combat troops really makes any difference? Are you under the assumption that they're not armed or something? Do you think that Iraq is in any less of a shithole now? Are you under the impression that increasing troop levels in Afghanistan is a GOOD thing? Christ, the derp is strong. "
Seriously, what the hell does any of that have to do with the OP? The U.S. war in Iraq is over. The OP has nothing to do with assessing whether or not Iraq is a "shithole." In fact, it has nothing to do with Iraq.
Still, I guess posting any information or statement from the President about Afghaanistan is going to cause some people to start talking about Iraq. I suppose before this thread is done there will be a few comments about "empire."
EOTE
(13,409 posts)If the war in Iraq is over, why the fuck are there still so many U.S. troops there? Is that what we want? Start unjustified wars of aggression and then leave our troops there indefinitely long after it has well been determined we should have never been there in the first place? Then, adding ADDITIONAL troops to another unjustified war and then acting like that's progress? I used to think you'd just play obtuse simply to cover for your undying devotion to the president wrong or right, but I'm beginning to think you are actually THAT uninformed. Iraq, Afghanistan... quagmires both. Sending additional troops to Afghanistan is totally wrong-headed.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)What the hell are you talking about?
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)Which is still a lot of people.
Combat operations are over, but we're still very much in Iraq.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)See how easy that was to find out?
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Like I said, nonsense.
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)But if 2011 pre-withdrawal isn't good enough, how about 2013, nearly two years after withdrawal?
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130812/DEFREG02/308120012/
Face it, we still have a military presence in Iraq and likely will for years.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)You know, the thing keeping hundreds of US military personnel in Iraq.
Come on, that wasn't THAT hard to figure out.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Ridiculous.
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)For OSC to function, it must be staffed. OSC is staffed by hundreds of US military personnel.
But there's no US military presence in Iraq!
I think we're done here.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Yup, you made a bogus claim about troops, and then provided weapons sales as evidence.
EOTE
(13,409 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)"Are you under the impression that increasing troop levels in Afghanistan is a GOOD thing? Christ, the derp is strong. "
...speaking of "derp," troop deployment doesn't mean "increasing troop levels." The statement is about bringing the troops home and drawing down troop levels. Deployment is also used to switch out troops for those who have completed a tour.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)Shall I walk you through it?
He's talking about a lost war that should have never been started, or escalated, and should have ended the first day he took office. Now he's trying to cover his ass with platitudes about the troops and how much we owe them for fighting, killing, and dying in a war fought for PR.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)So you're pissed that the war is ending per the timetable the President set?
Oh well.
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)Is there some huge need for us to "win" this war? I don't feel it.
spanone
(135,844 posts)NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)Oh wait, totally still doing that with no drawdown for that in sight.
former9thward
(32,025 posts)This has been a useless senseless war since the middle of 2002. Blood is on the hands of both CIC who have let it happen.
spanone
(135,844 posts)former9thward
(32,025 posts)Obama has never been critical of our role in Afghanistan.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)former9thward
(32,025 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)former9thward
(32,025 posts)And saved thousands of wasted lives. And only god knows how much money.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)He announced this timeline a couple of years ago. It's good that it's still on track.
former9thward
(32,025 posts)Trying to shore up his 'military toughness' creds which politicians seem to need to do in the U.S. He wasted lives in senseless war just so no one could say he cut and run. But guess what? They are going to say it anyway when Afghanistan falls apart.
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)Since the 2014 plan actually leaves troops in Afghanistan well into 2017.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)Probably have another speech you need to fall for hook line and sinker.
Though I know you won't read this: http://m.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/official-obama-to-cut-troop-level-in-afghanistan-in-half-by-next-year/2013/02/12/63a044c8-7536-11e2-8f84-3e4b513b1a13_story.html
I'll give you some time to figure out why you want to completely disregard this article too. Probably not a fan of Times New Roman.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Got any pictures of Bigfoot?
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)Or that Obama has any intention of completely ending Afghanistan.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)got any pictures of troops in Iraq?
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/operations/272049-dod-denies-deployments-of-us-forces-back-to-iraq-
Face it--there are US forces in Iraq. But you're right, I can't produce a picture! Better just believe everything a politician tells us!
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"hook line and sinker," those 2011 reports are why you're left posting articles about weapons sales. End date: 2014.
Everything else is speculation.
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)The organization that's handling the weapons shipments.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Photo?
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)LOL!
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)The one you discredited because 2011!!!!!!
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Got any recent information confirming there are troops in Iraq?
Not weapons sales, troops.