Obama is preparing the country to go back to war:

[grahamhgreen]

CHUCK TODD:

Thanks for doing this. We start with a very basic question. Are you preparing the country to go back to war?

PRESIDENT OBAMA:

I'm preparing the country to make sure that we deal with a threat from ISIL. Keep in mind that this is something that we know how to do.

http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/president-barack-obamas-full-interview-nbcs-chuck-todd-n197616


In my view, that's a yes.

Iraq war II cost us 3-6 TRILLION. How we gonna pay for this?

[still_one]

1. nope, will supply air support to the countries fighting ISIS, that's it

[Dawson Leery]

3. Just as with Libya.

[grahamhgreen]

17. But not Syria - we still want to take over Syria..... And Iran:)

[still_one]

27. nope, at least not under Obama

[Louisiana1976]

42. Exactly. That's what the GOP wants to do.

[morningfog]

22. Thus not it. We will train them, we will have special ops

On the ground. This is going to last months, possibly years. And that is all best case scenario.

It is not very far fetched to see is bogged down in this even during the 2016 campaign and a next president committing ground troops, I Obama hasn't already.

[grahamhgreen]

57. It was just 2 weeks ago when we were told it would only be a couple air strikes for the yazidis, no

Escalation.

Of course it will take forever.

Perpetual war is the goal, they say.....

[still_one]

61. believe what you want. The U.S. is going to support those countries that are fighting ISIS. Guess

what, we are even co-ordinating with Iran on airstrikes on ISIS. This was on the BBC a couple of days ago.

ISIS is a real threat, but we are NOT going to have another Iraq war over it under Obama

Frankly, all the predictions from the right and from many at DU have been wrong about Obama. Guess what, we haven't bombed Iran back to the stone age. Many here were speculating that would happen starting with bush. Syria has removed its chemical weapons, that wasn't supposed to happen, we were supposed to support the "rebels" big time in Syria which would cause Assad to be overthrown. Sorry, that prediction was wrong also. Gosh looks like a cease fire in Ukraine, another prediction down the tubes.

Obama acts in a measured way, and doesn't just jump to a situation

[grahamhgreen]

63. They're going to take down Assad in conjunction with ISIL. I believe

that is their plan, hope I'm wrong.

[still_one]

64. That may be mccain and the neocons plan, but I do not believe it will happen under Obama.

Regardless, it does not appear that Assad is going to be toppled anytime soon, at least that is my view

[NYC_SKP]

2. Still waiting for that Certificate of Live Birth!

And I mean the real, unadulterated one!!11!!

Of course, I'm kidding.

[William769]

8. ...

[NYC_SKP]

10. My bad. Here you go:

[grahamhgreen]

13. That is why, on my first day in office, I would give the military a new mission: ending this war."

- BARACK OBAMA
Published: July 14, 2008

[William769]

18. Things have changed since then.

I cannot and will not hold President Obama responsible for something he said in 2008 in the year 2014. Given how thing change, That is just ludicrous.

[grahamhgreen]

40. Don't look back at why I was elected. I'm following the neo-con plan. I never said it, cuz I

knew I could never get elected if I said that.

[William769]

45. There are bad people in the world

And that sucks. Sorry you don't like it, you are just going to have to live with it.

I am also very familiar with the russian threads, so at least I know who I am dealing with.

[grahamhgreen]

69. Should bad people be prosecuted for war crimes such as torture?

[William769]

70. Depends on the circumstances. Thats what a court of law is for.

[grahamhgreen]

71. Prosecution is not conviction. I, too, feel they should have their day in court.

[grahamhgreen]

15. Still waiting for this: BARACK OBAMA Published: July 14, 2008 -

That is why, on my first day in office, I would give the military a new mission: ending this war.

[sub.theory]

28. It turned out the real world is messier

Obama tried to end the war. He really did, and he kept his word. I supported the troop withdrawal from Iraq. I don't think anyone anticipated the rise of ISIS, however, and it's caught us off guard. Obama tried, but the world is just a nastier place than we had hoped (and would like).

[Louisiana1976]

44. That's right. The world is more complicated and complex than it was in 2008.

[sub.theory]

48. The Middle East is for certain n/t

[Scuba]

4. "... this is something that we know how to do." In fact, the only thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_the_United_States

[grahamhgreen]

6. Obviously we don't. ISIS is what al-qaeda morphed into.

[Scuba]

23. You must be thinking of war for some purpose other than profits. This worked as designed.

[L0oniX]

35. Hmmm I though they morphed into the Taliban. Maybe they are changelings. Yea that's it.

[grahamhgreen]

39. Changelings is a perfect word. We've always been at war with the changelings.

[Schema Thing]

5. by not doing anything like the Iraq war.

[grahamhgreen]

7. Funny cuz, people here told me we would not escalate... but we are.

[Schema Thing]

14. well of course we're going to escalate.

[Hemmingway]

9. Support Obama!!!

[ChisolmTrailDem]

11. You're off to a great start! Keep it up...

[Hemmingway]

12. Thank you. I support the Democratic President. Do you?

[grahamhgreen]

16. We all do! Sending troops into Iraq is getting us out! Torture is patriotic:)

[Scuba]

24. I support him every time he's right, and call him out every time he's wrong.

On this, he's wrong.

[Hemmingway]

29. He's not a coward. Nor should he be.

[Scuba]

31. Cowardice? How does that fit in this discussion?

[JimDandy]

36. Of course war means raising taxes, mostly on the rich,

because we've all seen how President Bush caused one of the worst recessions in US history when he dragged us into war while decreasing taxes. Now THAT was cowardice.

Now let's hear your Rah rahs for that, as well as for the drums of war, because surely you aren't Rah rahing for another massive recession?

[L0oniX]

34. Aw how nice of you to say that ...have you joined the BOG yet?

[JimDandy]

37. And has he enlisted? Hemmingway needs to join the Army to help out. n/t

[sub.theory]

38. By that same token

Have you signed up to be an aid worker in Syria? They are badly needed.

[JimDandy]

50. I am not the one advocating war...

And why pick Syria as the focus of an aid worker assignment for me as opposed to anywhere else? Is that where you believe Americans should focus their energies?

[sub.theory]

53. Because it's ISIS territory

and several poor aid workers have been kidnapped there by ISIS - one of whom is currently threatened with beheading for having the audacity of being a British citizen that wanted to help the people of Syria.

My point was that you can put some skin in the game too. If you don't think ISIS is that big of a threat, then why not go help out some people that really need it? It's snarky, but I'm saying why do those that support military action have to be the only ones to put up or shut up?

[JimDandy]

54. That is an illogical stance

to ask someone to put skin, time or money into the war 'game' when they don't support war or want to enable the MIC in any way,

Within the MIC framework, soldiers and war aid workers are not OPPOSITE sides of the same coin-they are the same side. A MIC company will happily provide either the soldier or aid worker organization with the same mine detecting technology, security personnel, satellite communications, armored vehicle, etc. Money from one is as good as money from the other. Whatever will perpetuate their existence. In other words: War.

I don't care to support war or MIC companies with my skin, time or money. Those that do, though, are generally recognized as having the obligation to take the ultimate risk in support of war-their own life and skin-before anyone else's.

Thanks for your explanation as to why Syria, though.

[sub.theory]

55. I appreciate your position

I can appreciate those who sincerely believe that war is inherently morally wrong and universally oppose it on principle. I don't agree, but I can respect their beliefs. I do agree with you that the chicken hawks need to put their own necks on the line instead of expecting it to be somebody else doing all the sacrificing.

I suppose the reason I don't like the "well then sign up for a tour" line is because it is entirely dismissive of the merits of the argument itself. It's very similar to the "love it, or leave it" comeback. It's a dead end. It's completely bypassing the issue.

Thanks for your response. I can appreciate your position, even though I strongly feel that ISIS is a threat that deserves confrontation.

[GeorgeGist]

67. So, who do YOU consider a chickenhawk?

[Live and Learn]

65. And risk being hit by one of our drones? Heck no. nt

[sub.theory]

19. What's your plan for ISIS?

Since Obama's wrong, what's your plan?

[grahamhgreen]

20. Let Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Syria, et al, form a coalition... It will be good for them! Who

pays????

I answered you.....

[sub.theory]

21. I suspect that's exactly Obama's plan

I think that's exactly what he's going to announce - an international coalition to destroy ISIS. I think that's what's been going on behind the scenes, and it's very smart strategy. Israel won't be included, because we must have Arab support. Arab support is critical to gaining Sunni support which is needed to really root out ISIS. Israel will be happy to supply the US with intelligence, however. Iran won't be officially included, because we still don't have relations with them. Behind the scenes coordination is possible, however. Syria won't be included and may not even survive in it's present form, even if Assad's government manages to survive. The US would love to see him gone, so he won't receive any help even if he is an objective ally in defeating ISIS.

Who pays? Everyone. The US can't fit the bill. You're right about that. Everyone has a stake in seeing ISIS destroyed, and everyone needs to chip in. I expect it will be expensive overall. Bribing tribal chiefs would be one very effective measure, which is a key tactic used in Bush's surge (the other being Sunni fear of the Shia killing them if they didn't ally with the US).

We'll see if I'm right on Wed.

[Scuba]

25. An international coalition to maximiize MIC profits.

[pampango]

47. Nice post. I suspect you're right. Obama's not much of one for 'cowboy diplomacy'. But

he's also not much of one to say "These terrorists have come for you not for me so they are your problem. If they get you, and then maybe some others first, and then come after me, then and only then will I do anything."

He seems to understand that they have to be dealt with; that the US cannot do it alone; countries in the region have to play the major role; and ignoring them will not make them go away.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

26. I wish Obama got as much benefit of the doubt as Putin. nt

[SummerSnow]

30. How we gonna pay for this?

On the backs of the poor and the middle class as always, oh a tax breaks for the rich folks. Recession part 2

[grahamhgreen]

41. Exactly. NOT ONE WAR HAWK will step up and answer that question!!!!

[L0oniX]

49. Oh dear ...will the repukes ever raise taxes to fund the wars? Nope not when they...

can take the money from gramma. Mean while let's ask the patriotic MIC's and all those new SCOTUS corporate persons to help granny pay for the war.

[grahamhgreen]

58. This new chapter of the Obama legacy is the saddest... In part

because they are laughing at him even as he tries to do their bidding.

[L0oniX]

33. I hope no one shows up for it.

[Dirty Socialist]

43. It's Already Here

They already declared war on us. The question is, how much involvement are we willing to commit to. I say part way.

[L0oniX]

46. Declaring and acting on it may be 2 different things...

or are we going to have another war monger give us a pep talk about mushroom clouds?

[Dirty Socialist]

52. Looks Like We Will See Wednesday

[AgingAmerican]

66. Oh horse pucky

They haven't declared anything. They are trying to lure us into invading again to finish us off financially. Exactly what Bin Laden did to Bush, and it worked that time. Hopefully it doesn't work this time.

[JoePhilly]

51. When is the invasion?

Come on, be specific!

How many ground troops?

[grahamhgreen]

60. 3 weeks ago, over 1,000 thus far.

[davidpdx]

62. I highly doubt he's going to put ground troops in Syria

The last I heard we have about 1,000 troops in Iraq.

I think he is pretty much going to be limited to air strikes and sharing intelligence about ISIS with countries who are willing to help eliminate them, what I would call more or less and advisory role.

I'm not sure how Assad is going to be able to handle ISIS with a civil war going on in Syria.

[JEB]

56. Iraq war II cost us 3-6 TRILLION. How we gonna pay for this?

Cuts to SS and other safety net programs. The families hurt by these cuts will have kids so desperate they will enlist. Economic draft. Gotta keep the oil flowing through the corporate pipelines ya know.

[Vattel]

59. And he is usurping Cogress's war powers and deciding himself to go to war.

[GeorgeGist]

68. Phuck war ...

and those who monger for it.