Afghanistan: You Be The Pundit

Filed in International, National by on December 2, 2009

One thing the news media does not lack is opinion journalists. I find it a bit frustrating to watch a speech and immediately be told what you should think about it. So, here’s your opportunity. Attached below is Obama’s speech. If you didn’t see it already – watch it. Then put your opinion below. Some questions to get you started:
– How was the speech?
– Did the speech do what it was supposed to do?
– What were the major take-aways from the speech?
– Did the speech affect or change your opinion of the policy?
– How will the speech be received by the left, the middle and the right?

Complete Transcript

Tags: ,

About the Author ()

Opinionated chemist, troublemaker, blogger on national and Delaware politics.

Comments (4)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Unstable Isotope says:
    December 2, 2009 at 8:37 am

    I think it was a good speech yet a serious and somber one. It wasn’t a speech of pretty words and grand ideas, it was Obama as educator-in-chief explaining his reasoning. I think this speech was probably very effective at the middle, which is who he is really trying to influence. The right’s already onboard with escalation and the left is probably divided among the center-left (who probably were persuaded by the speech) and the anti-war left, who I doubt would be convinced.

    I do think the targets he set are fairly unspecific. I’m hoping we’ll start seeing some more detail soon.

    The speech pretty much confirmed what I thought about Obama. He had to decide what the desired outcome in Afghanistan was within the bounds of realism and then the policy details wrote themselves.

  2. Rebecca says:
    December 2, 2009 at 9:03 am

    From this morning’s NYT article on responses around the world . . .

    In a letter this month to Pakistan’s president, Asif Ali Zardari, Mr. Obama extended an offer of expanded, long-term cooperation, including helping Pakistan address “immediate energy, water, and related economic crisis.”

    “The speech creates a window of opportunity,” said Feisal Naqvi, a lawyer in Lahore. “But the partnership has to have some visible aid component.” The United States government, he said, “has to woo the people of Pakistan.”

    My first knee-jerk reaction to this quote from Naqvi, whoever he might be, is screw the people of Pakistan. Let them step up and defend themselves from the terrorists. But then my liberal brain kicks in and I realize that we need their cooperation and won’t get it unless we “woo” them. Because, you see, I’m not Bush. And neither is Obama.

  3. Unstable Isotope says:
    December 2, 2009 at 11:14 am

    The Republicans can’t find it within themselves to praise Obama for something they support:

    The pattern is noteworthy. While Obama’s decision did in fact supply McChrystal with most of the troops he asked for, Obama also departed from his commander, setting narrower and tighter goals than the broad-based counterinsurgency envisioned by McChrystal.

    That nuance is not reflected in GOP responses, though. Here’s a quick rundown:

    * Mitch McConnell: “I support the President’s decision to follow the advice of Generals Petraeus and McChrystal in ordering a surge of forces into Afghanistan.”

    * John Cornyn: “It is encouraging that President Obama has finally concluded his re-analysis of his previous Afghanistan strategy and granted the request of his own generals for reinforcements.”

    * Roy Blunt: “While I’m pleased that he will take steps toward adopting General McChrystal’s troop level recommendations, setting a published timetable while announcing a troop increase will satisfy neither of those groups.”

    * Mike Pence: “After months of deliberation, the president has decided to endorse the request for reinforcements by our commanding officer in Afghanistan and I support his decision.

    * John Thune: “I support the president for finally reaching a decision to provide most of the troops requested by General McChrystal.…”

    * Joe Wilson: “I’m pleased that the President has listened to our commanders on the ground as they aggressively pursue a multi-dimensional counter-insurgency strategy to secure Afghanistan.”

  4. Rebecca says:
    December 2, 2009 at 11:27 am

    I think this shows amazing support from the Party of No. Of course, what else could they say? After eight years of screaming traitor at anybody who failed to support the president during time of war they are pretty much in the corner on this. Anyhow, whenever we get a day where Republicans aren’t frothing at the mouth I am grateful.

«
»