CIA Operation Similar To Tactic Obama Advocated, Bush Criticized

[Me.]

CIA Operation Similar To Tactic Obama Advocated, Bush Criticized

“On the front page of Tuesday's Washington Post was an article detailing how in late January U.S. forces, acting with autonomy inside Pakistan, were able to target and kill Abu Laith al-Libi, a senior al-Qaeda commander.

The strike, which came without the Pakistani government's knowledge and helped eliminate an individual who had long eluded the spy-agency's capture, was an obvious boon in the War on Terror. But the political implications of the operation were just as fascinating.

In August, Sen. Barack Obama had made the argument that, as president, he would target Al Qaeda officials in Pakistan even without the country's acquiescence -- the type of attack that, six months later, proved to be successful.

At the time, Obama was roundly criticized for his remarks, both by his Democratic competitors for the White House and by the Bush administration.” Cont…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/19/cia-operation-similar-to-_n_87433.html

[K Gardner]

1. I love Barack Obama for so many reasons.. his wisdom is foremost among them.

[H2O Man]

2. Interesting.

Nominated.

[Blue State Bandit]

3. Mc Cain swiped at Obama on this today in his vic speech.

If this is what you meant, please edit for clarity. Mc Bush?

If not, guess what Mc cain said?

[Me.]

4. The Linked Article Does Not Mention McCain

"Here is Obama's August 2 statement at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars:

"I understand that President Musharraf has his own challenges... But let me make this clear. There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again. ... If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf will not act, we will."

And here are some excerpts from Tuesday's Washington Post article.

In the predawn hours of Jan. 29, a CIA Predator aircraft flew in a slow arc above the Pakistani town of Mir Ali. The drone's operator, relying on information secretly passed to the CIA by local informants, clicked a computer mouse and sent the first of two Hellfire missiles hurtling toward a cluster of mud-brick buildings a few miles from the town center.

The missiles killed Abu Laith al-Libi, a senior al-Qaeda commander and a man who had repeatedly eluded the CIA's dragnet. It was the first successful strike against al-Qaeda's core leadership in two years, and it involved, U.S. officials say, an unusual degree of autonomy by the CIA inside Pakistan.

It is an approach that some U.S. officials say could be used more frequently this year, particularly if a power vacuum results from yesterday's election and associated political tumult. The administration also feels an increased sense of urgency about undermining al-Qaeda before President Bush leaves office, making it less hesitant, said one official familiar with the incident."

[Blue State Bandit]

6. Got it. Mc Cain did it tonight. Bush/Mc Cain, more of the same!

[Me.]

7. How Dumb Of McCain Then

To criticize Obama for suggesting something our gov, has just done. Real Commander in Chief material.

[sjdnb]

5. Obama, the Dems Reagan

I'm (not) so proud.

[AntiFascist]

9. Big difference...

Reagan and Bush Senior's administration was responsible for Iran-Contra and other operations, which were responsible for arming the mujahadeen and Osama bin Laden (albeit to fight communism). Hopefully Obama's purpose is to clean up the mess once and for all, instead of allowing it to continue and grow so that we have an enemy to fight for the next 100 years!

[Spiffarino]

8. Republicans criticize Dems for not supporting "GWOT"

Republicans refuse to acknowledge a critical truth: Al-Qaeda is not a state.

So Republicans, how do you wage war on a tactic?

Fighting terrorism requires intelligence, accuracy and timing; in short, it requires excellent police work. Dropping thousands of pounds of bombs can't stop it, and in fact stokes it. What Obama proposes and applauds in this case is the careful targeting of Al-Qaeda leadership, and it will work far better than Bush's and McCain's "strategy" of deploying troops and dropping ordnance.

Bin Laden's and Al-Zawahiri's greatest concern in 2004 was that America would elect a leader who would deal with them wisely. In 2008, we have another chance to make that happen.

And so I predict that, if a Democrat wins the 2008 election, Al-Qaeda will have much to fear. I predict a Democratic president won't just play Army but that Al-Qaeda's leaders will be targeted and removed - one way or another. In addition, America will deal even-handedly with poorer nations and the terrorists' power will diminish further as a result of sound foreign policy.

I hope I'm right.