Obama uses crucial foreign tour to promise more troops for Afghanistan

Source: The Guardian

Barack Obama flew out of Afghanistan yesterday at the end of a two-day visit with a warning that the country's position in the war against the Taliban and al-Qaida was "precarious" and "urgent".

Afghan officials afterwards described the meeting as "positive", saying they had discussed the war and how to tackle corruption and expanding poppy production. Afterwards, in an interview with the US network CBS, Obama signalled that the country would be at the forefront of his foreign policy: "We have to understand that the situation is precarious and urgent ... and I believe this has to be the central focus, the central front, in the battle against terrorism."

He added: "I think the situation is getting urgent enough that we have to start doing something now."



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/21/barackobama.uselections2008

to fight a useless war.

Now that's change I can believe in.

They have to protect the poppy fields.

Guess who Obama met during his visit, Gul Agha Sherzai, “a major opium godfather” who rules Kandahar province, former stronghold of the Taliban. The New York Times called Sherzai “the biggest warlord of them all.” He reportedly controls the heroin trade in southern Afghanistan, and opium production “dominates economic life” in Kandahar. Sherzai ruled Kandahar as governor from 1992 to 1994, as well and during this time the area was one of the largest sources of opium in Afghanistan.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x159509

But you can be assured that the corporate media and McCain will never bring up this warlords background... and so it's business as usual for Obama.

Progressives do not support wars started by the rich and fought by the poor to further the rich.

Just once in my lifetime, I would like to see a progressive democratic presidential candidate.

first was the FISA vote . . . then opposing impeachment . . . and now more American troops for Afghanistan . . .

I don't like any of it . . .

Obama promises to escalate the war against Afghanistan. I am so disgusted by American leadership.

to bringing the troops home? New boss,same as the old boss.

instead of pulling the forces to fight a war in Iraq that was based on lies. Now, six years later, Al Qaeda and the Taliban control more than half of the country, American casualties in Afghanistan have increased every years, and our "leaders" have ignored the situation. Afghanistan is the safe haven for one of the most powerful terrorist organizations in the world. I believe Iraq was a terrible mistake and we should be out of there as soon as possible. But I think if we are ever going to stop worrying about bin Laden, we have to go back and finish the job.

Afghanistan is, and has been, where the troops should be, not Iraq.