Barack Obama hits Hillary Clinton from an unexpected place -- the right. Obama has seen the poll numbers and he needs to make a strong statement about something... anything at this point. It could have been taxes, healthcare or some other red meat liberal issue, instead he talks tough militarily:
"Let me make this clear," Obama said in a speech prepared for delivery at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. "There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again. It was a terrible mistake to fail to act when we had a chance to take out an al-Qaida leadership meeting in 2005. If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will."
Earth to Barack, do you have any idea what kind of blowback would be involved in that? Pakistan is jihadi central with more madrassas than any other country in the world. People who become radicalized go there for training to spread their vision of the caliphate far and wide, how much of a quagmire that would be is incomprehensible. They have lands there that are not governable and the Pakistani army will not touch. Anyone with an iota of military sense knows full-well that the 4,000 killed in four years in Iraq would be a monthly number in Pakistan.
Perhaps a few facts have slipped by Obama and his staff:
- Musharraf is in a shaky position and would be overthrown as soon as we crossed the border;
- Pakistan has a nuclear arsenal that could be shipped anywhere;
- Pakistan is an ally in the War on Terror, albeit one that is not as strong as we'd like; and finally
- Al-Jazeerah will take this and use it for propaganda purposes tonight and inflame those who we need in this ongoing battle. The irreparable harm done can not be measured.
This is pure desperation on Obama's part and one can feel that he knows that he has to make a splash. This was probably the wrong way to do it.
Let me be clear about one thing: If we had intel concerning the whereabouts of Zawahiri or Osama bin Laden, I would be all for a quick strike in which we get in, get out and deny the whole thing so as not to arouse the Pakistani population. For all I know, we may have pulled raids such as that off. I am not for a full-scale invasion.
Join us next week as we dissect Barack Obama's plans to invade the holy city of Mecca.
Update (8/1/07 1400): The comments below made me think of something I omitted. Are those who support Obama in what he said going to support President Bush if he invade Pakistan tomorrow based on intel showing where bin-Laden is? Would they feel the same if bin-Laden were shown to be in Iran? Ask yourself those questions Obama supporters.
Update 2: OK, just to make it easy, here's the money quote (I generally prefer for people to click through to the link so they get the gist of the entire piece):
Obama said that as commander in chief he would remove troops from Iraq and putting them "on the right battlefield in Afghanistan and Pakistan." He said he would send at least two more brigades to Afghanistan and increase nonmilitary aid to the country by $1 billion.
Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 5)
31. We need to get out of the War we are in now - not start another one. How about health care or fighting crime in our own country?
Catmehitable at 10:28PM on Aug 1st 2007
32. like most politicle jerks,osama bin laden boma just says what he thinks we want to hear!he'll turn the united states into a ghetto!!keep your money and move to africa,or wherever muslims go!!!
butch at 10:47PM on Aug 1st 2007
33. What happened to Peace candidate Obama?.He said it was a big mistake to start war in Iraq in the first place
What is going to do now? start another war of his own in Pakistan (Obama's war 2008)
Or it is a sign of his hitting a panic button after he said that he is going to meet the rogue nations' leaders without pre conditions?They may as well snub person like him.
This is a reflection of immaturity and not a presidential material.
Mike
Michael Rau at 11:02PM on Aug 1st 2007
34. We need to fight all terrorist on their own soil. Keep them out of America. But Obama fir a keader bug NO.
Trudy Cranford at 11:51PM on Aug 1st 2007
35. Anyone knows if we dont fight the war on terrious on their own land it will be in our back yard so yes go kill the enimies on their own soil. But Senator Obama is a leader no way.
Trudy Cranford at 11:55PM on Aug 1st 2007
36. i would love to see a quote of barack saying that he would invade pakistan... BECAUSE HE NEVER SAID IT. he said that we will do what we have to do to kill terrorists. he wouldnt invade a sovereign nation,BUT he would send special forces in to get the big prize that is obviously there. OSAMA.
kyleguy121 at 12:11AM on Aug 2nd 2007
37. Obama's the One: My candidate of choice is and will be Barack Obama. I do hope, however, that Senator Obama is bluffing to get Prez/Gen Musharraf more active again in the "Global War on Terror" in the
General's own backyard. Further, Barack need not make any additional hawkish statements [assumes Obama's original statement was quoted correctly
and in context] to prove he has bigger (cannon) balls than Hillary.//UN OK?: Even with an actual plan to get in, do it, and get out, I opine that any USA large-scale military ground offensive in Pakistan would be suicidal. Sanctioning by the UN Security Council is another thing; US and Pakistan
are both UN members, and Pakistan shares borders with China and India, among significant others (see below).//SITREP (Situation Report):Current USA troop morale, some troop retraining (from urban to mountain/desert), troop strength within fighting units trained as a team, new-soldier sourcing (Army now recruiting felons), gear readiness (mean-time-between-failures and between IEDs is low), dual role of the Guard (inability for rapid Homeland response to terror and natural disasters AND to meet overseas
deployment demand), and DOD budget (now USD 12 Bil a month for Iraq and Afghanistan)- all would need a critical review and upgrade before
jumping off.//I or We? Recent history offers the advantage of multilateral engagements, coalitions, and allied diplomacy and force. Going it alone is plausibly deniable, less red tape and coordination.//
Geography: Nuke-armed Islamic Republic of Pakistan, perhaps the sixth largest country on earth, has a tentative incumbent governing regime; unique, varying, and militarily challenging terrain; unkind and ever-changing weather; and, no US-friendly tribal human (military)intelligence(HUMINT).
Pakistan's motto is "Unity, Discipline, and Faith," with 96% Muslims (3/4's Sunni),and one of the largest Shi'a populations of any country. Pakistan's 1500-mile northwestern border with Afghanistan is
dominated by centuries-old regional tribal customs and remains highly conservative. Some 560 miles of border are contiguous with Iran on the SW. Of its 169+ million people, Pakistan is home to 2.5
million Afghan-wars' refugees. Instability and separatism are ripe in the largest and western-most province of Balochistan. With a common border to the northeast of Balochistan are the Taliban-favoring
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (seven agencies and six frontier regions), wherein Waziristan has seen local unrest.//Military Influence: Pakistan's military has significant influence over the country's governance and stability.//Summary So-far: Do you want salt and pepper on that shit sandwich?// Improbable external-military solutions: GPS technically-precise excision of ground targets demands least-footprint, small teams
of special operators, on the deck near their targets, OR remotely piloted air platforms. Locally-incited unrest in distant provinces would provide diversions.//Good Intel? These scenarios require so-called "actionable intelligence." This becomes interesting, as best-source intel, in part, is a mix of chatter-monitoring, remote sensing/analysis, and human sources. This last aspect is made interesting where the terrain is inhospitable,tribal customs and dialects are so unique, and where everybody knows everybody. You can't fake being taken for a local, and the bakshish/mordita bribe is more than likely met with the code of silence or an AK-47.// Bottom-line: Obama's Team retires momentarily to the drawing board, pauses for a deep breath, and resumes chats with folks conversant in SW Asia OPLANs; balanced budgets; and, budgets which support, with equity, national security, education, health
care, Veterans' Affairs, and Social Security.// Audacity of Hope: Candidates can have "a chicken in every pot" and "a foot in every mouth," but not "a war in every country." We cannot afford it,
financially and humanly. The Audacity of Hope needs to start at home; the War on Terror needs more carefully thought-out and less-public solutions.// Jan '09: The only continuity-of-government in
the "Global War on Terror" I want to see in January of 2009, from Bush-to-Obama, is "kill the bastards (terrorists wherever they are), quietly, and get on with it."// Ephemeral Hiccough: I made the right decision in donating two hundred bucks (more to come in 2008!) to the Obama campaign. This recent
kick-some-ass public roar, if the original source quoted it correctly and in context, is but an ephemeral hiccough in a very long campaign. So, voters, keep those contributions flowing, in both dollars and supportive, constructive critique. OBAMA '08! rvm
Ronald V. Murray at 12:49AM on Aug 2nd 2007
38. Mr Obama has obviously not read the National Security Strategy of the United States. I have. If we 'rolled' into Pakistan, we would have an absolute firestorm...literally! Parez would not survive and you would have a somewhat 'moderate' Islamic state, with a new radical leadership, that would not hesitate to use nukes or give nukes to terrorists. Once again, Obama is showing his naivety on National Security matters.
And before anybody replies to this...I am an USAF LtCol. I am an expert in national strategic matters and intel. I speak (write) with authority and knowledge...not hear-say and opinion.
OPINION: Obama is unelectable, Hillary is not Bill. The only 2 candidates that even have a clue are Romney and Guliani...well...maybe just Romney. God will have surely abandoned this country if a democrat gets in office...even after considering the administations debacles.
danthonyatkinson at 12:59AM on Aug 2nd 2007
39. Scott, you must be in charge? You stay on top of everything. Obama's "Right Cross" appeals to the DLC. These Republicans in "Sheep's Clothing" believe if Obama looks too much like a sheep he's too weak to lead. Obama has one natural strike against him. Black and anti-war is a non starter in a National election. Obama is trying to look tough, but he's flip flopping. Pakistan was always known to be a possible safe haven. They can call us anytime to let us know what's up. Osama's cell phone should be in a Museum under glass. If we track the numbers, don't you think we know the general area of operation? Pakistan has always been a threat, but going to war is out of the question. Containing thugs was never a bad strategy. Bush wanted revenge on Saddam so it only looks like we abandoned it. Iraq is Pakistan but the established leader isn't crazy or evil. Finally, when the goals of "Good and Evil" are the same, does it matter who gets credit? Didn't a good guy in America call this a "Crusade"? Obama doesn't want to lead the left, he's trying to join the right. Billary is "Bush-Lite" and Obama wants a seat at the table if she wins and refuses to take him. This spat gave her an excuse. Obama just rejected the Left and poor Blacks don't have a candidate. Dr. King he is not!
Cecil Jones at 2:08AM on Aug 2nd 2007
40. Obama needs to visit Pakistan for a vacation to get the real feel of the people, the culture and the traditions...for most of the country...the good times dont stop...chirpy and friendly majority and very very liberal in their outlook
OJ at 2:11AM on Aug 2nd 2007
41. BARACK OBAMA IS RIGHT,IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO FIGHT THE ENEMY, WHERE EVER THEY ARE, IF WE ARE NOT STRONG ENOUH, IF WE ARE GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING FAIR,LETTING OUR FOOT SOLDIER'S BE KILLED ONE AT A TIME, WE NEED TO BRING OUR MEN HOME,IF YOU ARE GOING TO FIGHT USE ALL YOU HAVE,ARE COME HOME.
ALSO HE SAID"if we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist target.
AAA SMITH at 2:33AM on Aug 2nd 2007
42. Many are blowing this out of its true context..The two key words here are "actionable intelligence."
I'm not a fan of either candidate but the right intelligence is best..What Bush acted on was false and misleading to the American people.
While we're in an American crisis of our own ...Americans loosing homes to foreclosure, skid row (poverty beyond), katrina, escalating gas prices, inflation, americans with no health care, social security problems, record school drop out rates, aids, cancer, poor education. Our presidents and future presidents choose to direct billions to aid another country.
These are the true problems that need immediate attention. Any one every heard of getting your house in order before trying lead anothers?
Dfeezy at 2:35AM on Aug 2nd 2007
43. Obama just lost my vote! Also I just cancelled my attendance at an Obama fund-raiser next weekend. What was he thinking? Just what we need - another war monger. Hasn't W been enough? Hilary is looking good to me right now! And with her we get Bill - the best President in many years.
Nancy at 2:40AM on Aug 2nd 2007
44. to all of you who've donated to this lunatic, i would be asking for a refund right now.
chuck at 3:22AM on Aug 2nd 2007
45. Obama is not naive. He is a man of vision and focus. Hillary is naive to think that if we continue to approach this new world of dangers with the same old strategies of the past it will not work. Just look at this mess that Bush and the neocons have given us in Iraq. You call this experienced leadership? Get Real America. This Iraq War will go down in history as one of the greatest Illusions and Military Blounders ever initiated by this government.
Too many Americans still in the John Wayne and World War II Movies mentality. Charge the hill and blow up the enemy because our military is all thats needed to protect us. That won't work anymore. Vietnam War and Iraq War have shown us that renegade outlaws like Al Queda along with world drug dealing barons have just as much devasting manpower as nation/state goevernments. Just look how 19 young men took a few airplanes and shut America down for 4 days on 9-11. None of them came from a military force acting in the interests of a nation.
America needs to wake up to truth. We need new thinkers like Obama who is willing to take a new course. The old one does not work. The last 40 years should teach us that. But most Americans are still in the dark ages and lack an understanding of history. We have selective amnesia problems.
NetResult at 5:01AM on Aug 2nd 2007