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05-02-2011, 11:50 AM
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RE: Rep. Barney Frank: Bin Laden Killing ‘Strengthens The Case’ For Withdrawal From Afgha
Yes and no. Yes, I think if you were absolutely desperate to get out, you could certainly use this as an excuse to do so.
And yet I would have to argue very much against it. Firstly, the fact that Bin Laden was hiding out in Islamabad's backyard, in a complex that was fairly unmistakeable as a compound, is very disturbing. It should render all doubt as to whether or not Pakistan is a very vulnerable country void. Clearly, they either have no clue what's happening within their borders as to Al Qaeda's activities or they are complicit in them. Secondly, unless you believe Al Qaeda will crumble without Bin Laden - and I wouldn't necessarily fault one for believing it - there's still a lot of work to be done in stabilizing the area and keeping it from the Taliban's influence.
And finally, though Bin Laden was clearly a large part of why we were there, I do not believe it was ever even the primary reason for Obama's surge in the region. The primary reason is to stabilize a region within the grasp of the Taliban that has a stockpile of nuclear weapons. The issue of the Pakistani government's negligence regarding Bin Laden or their outright willful harboring of him should be deeply troubling for everyone in this light. This is a nation that has been at significant risk, which has been steadily escalating since the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. The bottom line is that no one can afford a nuclear weapon falling into Al Qaeda's hands, and while killing Bin Laden may mitigate against that threat, it most certainly does not eliminate it. In fact, I would argue that this event should heighten our concerns, not quell them.
Frankly, I'm not sure what I would do if I were Obama. On the one hand, we clearly cannot continue this war ad inifitum. We must leave sooner rather than later, and this absolutely would give us cause to do so. Further, it would strengthen our case internationally that this is not a war on Islam, but rather a war on the perpetrators of 9/11. On the other, it would be rather easy to make the case that our presence there is more vital than ever. This singular event has illuminated the troubles we have with a country that has nuclear weapons and startling proximity to those who would use them. To say this is not cut-and-dried is an understatement.
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05-02-2011, 12:27 PM
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RE: Rep. Barney Frank: Bin Laden Killing ‘Strengthens The Case’ For Withdrawal From Afgha
Given a choice between a moderate withdrawal and a significant withdrawal, Barney Frank suggests that we choose "significant" now that Bin Laden is dead. Not a very radical suggestion in my view.
Confirmed, Fox "news" makes you stupid
The ones you are noticing are more terrified than anything else. They are lashing out because they are comfortable; and to acknowledge what is happening is a threat to that comfort. Ignore them, for they are not the voices that will rise in the coming days, months and years. They are not the voices of our collected humanity. They are the old voices of fear and impotence. - Anonymous
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05-02-2011, 01:00 PM
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RE: Rep. Barney Frank: Bin Laden Killing ‘Strengthens The Case’ For Withdrawal From Afgha
(05-02-2011 12:27 PM)There Is No Spoon Wrote: Given a choice between a moderate withdrawal and a significant withdrawal, Barney Frank suggests that we choose "significant" now that Bin Laden is dead. Not a very radical suggestion in my view.
I wouldn't call it radical at all, either. I'm just not sure I would call it right, but I'm not exactly in a qualified position to make that call.
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05-03-2011, 06:27 AM
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RE: I am surprised Congressman Franks is so ruthless
(05-03-2011 06:13 AM)NJMaverick Wrote: (05-02-2011 01:48 PM)Willinois Wrote: (05-02-2011 01:08 PM)NJMaverick Wrote: I have a problem telling the Afghani people "you guys are on your own (and so screwed). I know you supported us and our efforts to take down Al Qaeda but we got what we want and are now going to go home. Good luck with all the people that now want to kill you"
Of course, this assumes that they want us there and that the American troop presence contributes to stability. I'm not sure about either of those assumptions.
The percentages are not a known, but what is known is there is a sizable percentage of the population that supported/helped us who's lives would be in jeopardy if we were to suddenly pull out.
I don't think there's any talk of suddenly pulling out. There is no disputing the fact that we are going to begin pulling out this summer, this discussion is about at what rate - moderate or significant.
Confirmed, Fox "news" makes you stupid
The ones you are noticing are more terrified than anything else. They are lashing out because they are comfortable; and to acknowledge what is happening is a threat to that comfort. Ignore them, for they are not the voices that will rise in the coming days, months and years. They are not the voices of our collected humanity. They are the old voices of fear and impotence. - Anonymous
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Rep. Barney Frank: Bin Laden Killing ‘Strengthens The Case’ For Withdrawal From Afgha 
Post: #1
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