Why should the average American care about the political theater of 'Obama vs. McChrystal'?

brentspeak

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Wed Jun-23-10 12:07 PM
Original message

Why should the average American care about the political theater of 'Obama vs. McChrystal'?

Edited on Wed Jun-23-10 12:08 PM by brentspeak

The only real issue that touches (real) people's lives is the fact that we are still dying in the rat-hole that is Afghanistan (oh, and in Iraq, too).

So when is Obama going to provide some actual leadership and get us out of Afghanistan, or are we going to keep having more useless 'West Wing' gossip fodder that fascinates the D.C. chattering class?

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FSogol

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Wed Jun-23-10 12:09 PM
Response to Original message

1. Yeah, he should just make the war go away. That's what I would have done.

:shrug:

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brentspeak

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Wed Jun-23-10 12:12 PM
Response to Reply #1

3. Such a shame that the commander-in-chief has no power to end a military mission

Holy cow...did you just say what you said?

:wow:

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no_hypocrisy

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Wed Jun-23-10 12:11 PM
Response to Original message

2. My friend just lost her only son yesterday in Afghanistan.

19 years old.
Suicide bomber.

I can't see beyond the immediate to decide what the McChrystal-Obama duel signifies.

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EFerrari

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Wed Jun-23-10 12:15 PM
Response to Reply #2

5. I'm so sorry, no_hypocrisy.

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JohnnyLib2

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Wed Jun-23-10 12:15 PM
Response to Reply #2

7. I am sorry to hear that.

I read your post after writing mine, please accept apologies for the timing.

:hug:

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no_hypocrisy

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Wed Jun-23-10 12:17 PM
Response to Reply #7

11. It's OK. Your post didn't bother me.

The wars bother me.

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brentspeak

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Wed Jun-23-10 12:16 PM
Response to Reply #2

9. Condolences

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JohnnyLib2

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Wed Jun-23-10 12:12 PM
Response to Original message

4. Helluva lot of "average Americans" have friends and family involved.

Clashes at the top level just-can-not be good for the way policy is carried out. For some, any confusion could be a life or death matter.

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brentspeak

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Wed Jun-23-10 12:15 PM
Response to Reply #4

6. There is no feasible policy to carry out in Afghanistan

And the only "confusion" is why our people continue to be artificially trapped in totally useless life or death situation.

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cherokeeprogressive

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Wed Jun-23-10 12:26 PM
Response to Reply #6

13. I would add that there is nothing to WIN in fighting a war in Afghanistan.

Nothing at all.

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phleshdef

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Wed Jun-23-10 12:16 PM
Response to Original message

8. We broke Afghanistan and ignored it for 8 years. We should make one honest effort to leave....

Edited on Wed Jun-23-10 12:16 PM by phleshdef

...something manageable in tact. I know that isn't a popular opinion around here, not even popular with myself and I'm the one that has that opinion. We should have stayed focused on Afghanistan to begin with instead of shifting gears to Iraq. If that were the case, this conversation wouldn't even be happening. But it is what it is and now we as a nation have a responsibility to clean up our messes.

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gateley

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Wed Jun-23-10 12:16 PM
Response to Original message

10. I'm hopeful this may be the perfect opportunity to re-examine the mission. Obama

has cancelled all his meetings today, so it's possible Biden will revisit his initial reasons for not wanting the build up to start with. :shrug:

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cherokeeprogressive

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Wed Jun-23-10 12:18 PM
Response to Original message

12. I don't think the "average" American DOES care.

At this point, the idealogues and personality cultists are the only ones who're paying immediate attention to what's going on in this mess between Obama and McChrystal.

The RW'ers are slobbering on themselves like Pavlov's dogs, getting ready to use the outcome in any way they can that will discredit the President.

The Personality Cultists, some of whom know nothing at all about military protocol, or what chain of command even means, are calling for McChrystal's head on a platter just for seemingly insulting Barack Obama. I've even seen calls right here on DU for McChrystal to be tried for treason.

Out of Afghanistan Now.

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