[Marxism] Matt Gonzalez

[abu hartal <abuhartal@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I didn't see all of Gonzalez's statement till now. 

"At the same event, Obama committed to keeping enough soldiers in Iraq to 
“carry out our counter-terrorism activities there” which includes “striking at 
al Qaeda in Iraq.” What he didn’t say is this continued warfare will require an 
estimated 60,000 troops to remain in Iraq according to a May 2006 report 
prepared by the Center for American Progress. Moreover, it appears he intends 
to “redeploy” the troops he takes out of the unpopular war in Iraq and send 
them to Afghanistan. So it appears that under Obama’s plan the US will remain 
heavily engaged in war."

This is so dishonest it's hard to know what to say. Obama said he would protect 
civilians and diplomats from terrorism; then Gonzalez cites a number for the 
troops needed for continued war. But Obama is not pledged to winning the war 
but to protecting American civilians and diplomats from terrorist attacks. 
Obama pledging that USG will protect US civilian and diplomatic personnel from 
sniper attacks and car bombs by al Qaeda is not a bellicose position. It's an 
anti terrorist position, not a call for continued colonial occupation. 

Gonzalez somehow thinks it's a winning position to pledge against such 
protection for innocent Americans. There is something very disturbing here. How 
out of touch is he? 

And how would Obama keep 60,000 troops in Iraq without military bases?

Obama has called for only two more brigages in Afghanistan as part of a 
multilateral force under Karzai's control to attack vicious warlords who 
control up to 2/3rds of the country. Obama has called attention to US troop 
violations of human rights of Afghani civilians. His language was even stronger 
than Karzai's; he was mercilessly attacked. 

But his emphasis is on economic and political aid. Apparently Gonzalez thinks 
the US is so free of obligation that it can leave Karzai under siege. Obama has 
no plan for a permanent military occupation of Afghanistan. He has always been 
very serious about timelines. 

AH





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