Obama to mention Afghan war in Nobel speech

[jefferson_dem]

Obama to mention Afghan war in Nobel speech

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will not shirk from mentioning Afghanistan and his decision to send more troops to the war zone when he accepts the Nobel Peace Prize this week, the White House said on Monday.

Acknowledging the irony of a wartime president winning a peace prize, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama would address this "juxtaposition" in his acceptance speech in the Norwegian capital Oslo on Thursday.

When it was announced in October that Obama had won the prize, the president made clear that while he was deeply humbled by the award, he was still the commander in chief of a country at war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Obama told Americans in a televised address last week he was escalating the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan to reverse the momentum of the Islamist Taliban militia and defeat its elusive ally, al Qaeda.

The president said 30,000 more troops would be sent to Afghanistan, bringing the total number of U.S. forces in the country to about 100,000.

"We'll address directly the notion that many have wondered, which is the juxtaposition of the timing for the Nobel Peace Prize and -- and his commitment to add more troops around -- into Afghanistan," Gibbs said.

"That's obviously something that he will address."

<SNIP>

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5B63ZH20091207

[AllentownJake]

1. He got the award for shifting US policy from dictating to listening and taking some input

Removing missile bases from Poland and setting goals for new non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

He also told the Pentagon to fuck off when it came to modernizing the Nuclear arsenal.

I think it was early for him to get a Peace Prize...however he does have some legs to stand on as compared to past US Presidents of the 30 years.

[debbierlus]

2. Gross.

Disgusting.

Shameful.

War as Peace.

It didn't take you long, Mr. Obama. Not long at all.

[lame54]

3. Is that right before he gives it back?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Why would he?

Maybe you didn't pay any attention to his comments in support of the war during his long campaign, but the Nobel committee isn't naive.

Nobel peace prize criteria "during the preceding year <...> shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."

Yup, still applies.

[lame54]

7. so I guess he disqualified himself for next year...

and I did hear his rhetoric during the campaign

that was quite the assumption on your part

[HopeOverFear]

8. Next year? Who the hell cares about next year? lol

[polichick]

13. The troops care about next year - they'd like to live to see it. nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

16. Aren't the troops overwhelmingly in favor of the escalation?

And isn't this usually the point in the conversation when the troops' opinions stop mattering?

[polichick]

18. They didn't sign up for endless deployments - and deserve far better. nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Nope, it still works.

"that was quite the assumption on your part"

Oh, I was being facetious. I'm sure you were listening to a lot of stuff during the campaign season.

[HopeOverFear]

5. ha! you wish

[timeforpeace]

6. Otherwise it would have been ignoring the 800 pound gorilla in the room.

[jefferson_dem]

11. This is a President who takes issues head-on.

We've seen it since his speech on the Reverant Wright nonsense during the primaries.

Regardless of people's position on the Af War itself, he had to address it...to acknowledge and respond to critics at the very least. This is the right thing to do. I look forward to hearing what he has to say.

[PurityOfEssence]

41. And still manages to be on both sides of them.

No sale.

[avaistheone1]

45. +1

[polichick]

10. Too bad the committee didn't wait a couple of years to consider Obama. nt

[jefferson_dem]

12. The award is well deserved, in my opinion.

I have no doubt that the Nobel Committee was aware of his campaign pledges, as should everyone here on DU.

[polichick]

14. imo they gave it to him hoping he wouldn't make this mistake. nt

[jefferson_dem]

15. Really?

Do you have any evidence of that or are you simply projecting your hopes onto the committee?

[polichick]

17. It's my opinion, just as it's your opinion that he deserves it. nt

[jefferson_dem]

19. Gotcha.

:)

[polichick]

20. How so? nt

[jefferson_dem]

22. Oh...I mean "gotcha" as in "ok...now I understand"...

Not "gotcha" as in "ohhhhh...you're busted".

[polichick]

23. Oh, I see. :)

[Freddie Stubbs]

50. I don't think that there is any rule that he could be be awarded it again in a few years

[Cha]

21. I'm glad I can follow the juxtaposition

that is invovled in Pres Obama's accepting the Nobel Peace Prize and wrapping up the War in Afghanistan in the way he deems the best way for the safety of our Planet.

[firedupdem]

24. I wouldn't expect any different from this President...he's not going

to side step the issue.

[IndianaGreen]

25. What a disturbing Orwellian scene will that turn out to be!

Not only war is peace in Obamaworld, but we are in Eastasia in perpetuity until we catch Emmanuel Goldstein.

[timeforpeace]

26. Oh my god, it does all come together as George predicted. Well seen and said.

[polichick]

27. That's enough to send shivers up the spine! nt

[Divine Discontent]

33. it is rather embarrassing... he should state, "I cannot accept this while I'm intent on believing

further escalation in a war is the answer"... I know dream on.

[branders seine]

28. In a related story . . .

Priest to mention address pedophilia in sermon

[impik]

29. Of course he will

He never shy away from the tough stuff. He knows he has to address it, and he'll do it as god as always.

Just for the record, the committee members knew that he was probably going to send more troops when they gave him the award - And, just like anyone who was listening throughout the campaign (Obviously not including self-proclaimed progressives) they knew what were his intentions regarding Afghanistan. Since his decision received the full support of the UN - I can only guess that most of the world thinks that he's doing the right thing - As awkward as it just before receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

[HopeOverFear]

30. No doubt it's going to be awkward

but Obama will pull it off with grace, as he always does.

[impik]

31. Yea, he'll defuse it with ease

And he should point the facts: By the end of 2011, Iraq war will be far behind us and American troops will begin coming back from Afghanistan...

[IndianaGreen]

32. Not according to Hillary, Mullen, Jones, and Gates

Obama's 2011 bone to progressives didn't work!

[impik]

48. We'll wait and see

[IndianaGreen]

54. Jesus will return before our troops are out of AfPak theatre

Faith does not apply in politics.

[boppers]

40. Cute typo.

"he'll do it as god as always"

:evilgrin:

[impik]

49. Ohhhh. My bad. ;)

[Clio the Leo]

34. It wont matter.....

... those who perhaps needs to hear what he has to say the most won't be listening.

They weren't listening Tuesday night and they wont be listening Thursday.

[IndianaGreen]

35. Are you still adhering to the meme that 2011 is the withdrawal date from Afghanistan

despite statements by Hillary, Mullen, Jones, and Gates to the contrary?

Now, who was really listening Tuesday night?

[Clio the Leo]

36. heh heh.....

(well crap! I cant reply to ignore!!! grrr)

... ok I confess, PART of the reason why I posted that was to see if you'd reply. :evilgrin:

You're getting predictable ..... whichever mysterious "ignore" person you are. lol


(patiently waiting to see how long it takes for "ingore" to reply)

And thank you for kicking Jeff's thread btw. ;)

[Cha]

37. Ignore is a

beautiful feature.

[Clio the Leo]

38. Obama invented it....

.... I'm pretty sure. ;)

[Cha]

52. Whomever did is an alchemist who

can turn hard crap into Gold.

[rollingrock]

39. Will he mention his refusal to sign the land mine ban treaty?

I hope Obama will explain his refusal to sign the land mine ban treaty, especially since civilians make up the overwhelming majority of victims of these horrific weapons.

[boppers]

42. There hasn't been an official refusal yet, has there?

I only saw indicators that a policy change is unlikely, and an errant news story that was quickly backpedaled on.

[rollingrock]

43. Yes, it's official

Speaking on the Senate floor, Leahy said he's disappointed that the administration has decided not to join an international treaty to ban the use of land mines.

For almost 20 years, Leahy has worked to ban the mines. He says he thought the Obama administration would reverse the policies of the Bush administration.

(Leahy) "I think the Obama administration has made a dramatic mistake in this area in land mines. This is not what we expected from this administration. It is not what I expected in my conversations with the president."

www.vpr.net/news_detail/86573/

[boppers]

47. Sadly, looks like you're right.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/24/land-mine-treaty-wont-be_n_369658.html

"Besides the United States, holdouts include: China, India, Pakistan, Myanmar and Russia."

"A report this month by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines found that mines remain planted in the earth in more than 70 countries and killed at least 1,266 people and wounded 3,891 last year. More than 2.2 million anti-personnel mines, 250,000 anti-vehicle mines and 17 million other explosives left over from wars have been removed since 1999, the report said."

[jeanpalmer]

44. There's no credible way to address it

If he were honest, he would tell the committee that he doesn't deserve the prize and will not accept it. This sham will convert the prize into a meaningless way of giving away a couple million dollars.

[avaistheone1]

46. War is peace.

[optimator]

51. hope he uses the same speech from last week

lets see how fearmongering about 9/11 and boogeymen terrorists work on the Oslo crowd.

[HopeOverFear]

53. Right. And if he didn't mention Afghanistan at all

You'd be bitching about that, too... :eyes: