Wow. Barack Obama just keeps them coming. Just when you think he's outdone himself:
Asked whether he would move U.S. troops out of Iraq to better fight terrorism elsewhere, he brought up Afghanistan and said, "We've got to get the job done there and that requires us to have enough troops so that we're not just air-raiding villages and killing civilians, which is causing enormous pressure over there."
Now you have to read that carefully, because it sounds a bit worse than it is, but either Obama is saying that our troops are using air rather than ground troops because of a lack of manpower, or that the troops are deliberately targeting villages as part of their strategy.
Let's go with the first option, it's bad enough. Jim Geraghty and Ed Morrissey explode the idea that we don't have ground troops and rely on air support solely. For Obama to salvage his statement now, he must explain that our troops should be doing more house to house searches and less air support, further endangering the lives of soldiers in a country where the Taliban pretend to be civilians themselves.
If that's what he means, he should explain that, but I doubt he's thought it through what it would mean to explain to the American people that more American troops should die to protect the lives of Afghani civilians. Which all adds up to not ready for prime time.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 4)
1. Why is the media so afraid of this man? Each and everytime he says something it is taken out of context...All of you must really want Hillary to win if this mistakenly worded comment gets this much coverage...I still say the media is out to lambaste Mr. Obama by any means necessary because they want Hillary to win the nomination and its either because they want all the sensationalism of a Hillary run with ALL the old garbage that will come with it or they DON'T want Obama to win because he is Black and they are afraid of what that would mean to this racist country.....no matter what anyone says it is either one or the other.....Have a good day.....
steelerallstar at 8:58AM on Aug 15th 2007
2. Obama seems to have no "Plan" for any thing. Every comment I have heard from him on issues has been either old ideas some one else has already come up with (that didn't, or wouldn't work), or simplistic & naive, as you would expect from a first term politician looking to climb the ladder. He can be charming, and his wife can be aggressive, but I don't think they can be President.
Charley Brookshire at 9:09AM on Aug 15th 2007
3. To understand Obama you need to be aware of the following (well publicised) statements by an (anonymous) british officer in Afghanistan:
"A BRITISH commander in Afghanistan has asked the US military to withdraw its special forces from his area because the high level of civilian casualties they have caused are turning people against coalition soldiers.
[...]
The officer said small teams of special forces relied heavily on air strikes for cover as they were unable to defend themselves against large groups of insurgents."
i.e. the british commander alleges that americans are using air power because of lack of manpower and that this is detrimental to the overall war effort. So this may or may not be true, it may be that the jobs done by these small teams just couldn't be achieved with larger teams etc. - but it seems obvious that this interview was the basis for Obama's statement.
Found here (although initially published in the International Herald Tribune): http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1253742007
Zach at 9:20AM on Aug 15th 2007
4. One must wonder just how ignorant this Nixguy is. A politician says something, and they do their very best to make sure the public takes it out of context or make a scandal out of it. Here's a wake up call; most Americans can read and make there own judgments of what was written. Try reporting the facts and leave opinions to us. For Nixguy to insinuate that Mr. Obama or any other politician would infer that American forces are deliberately targeting civilians is just plain irresponsible, and as a Vietnam Era Vet I am offended that anyone would make that statement
probuild at 9:29AM on Aug 15th 2007
5. it does appear the press is on Hilary's campaign. Obama speaks the truth and you called i a gaffe. He is too black not black enough. Why not stick to the news? We have seem where the press' OPINIONS have gotten us. In a war with Iraq when even I a normal citizen read the UN weapons report and knew there were no WMD. Try reporting for a change
Pam at 9:32AM on Aug 15th 2007
6. I appreciate those readers who stay on top of all the news. It gives them a much broader view of world affairs, and enables them to respond intelligently to statements often made by those less informed. I often read some of the comments made about the presidental hopefuls, and i must admit, it seems some people already have their minds set on who they are not going to vote for. But before you choose, just remember the 2000, and 2004 elections. We've all complained at the pumps and the super markets for the last eight years, and it will take a leader such as we have not had in a long time to restore american credibility to international communities.
dlj0912 at 9:44AM on Aug 15th 2007
7. I'm waiting for somone to examine Barack Obama's statements on Logo's Forum concerning Equal and Civil Rights for all Americans as he was lying his head off. His actions and inactions in Illinois against American Hispanics in the matter below is the proof and can be verified. I have been calling Barack Obama a racist and invite him to sue if I’m acting in bad faith. I say there is a reason a former civil rights attorney does not run for president with civil rights as a main issue and if you are a Hispanic American from the state of Illinois this concerns you. It can be verified having already been placed on repeated formal notice Barack Obama has taken no action to stop or even call for any investigation into IDHR & EEOC’s discriminatory practices that mistreat, harm , and prevent Illinois Hispanic American complainants from fairly & fully exercising their legal right to assert the exact same claim of discrimination based on RACE that other nonHispanics are allowed to by IDHR & EEOC. There can be no dispute that since 2004 I was and still now am not being allowed to assert & memorialize a claim of discrimination based on RACE on formal official “IDHR & EEOC” charges of discrimination with IDHR & EEOC focusing instead on manipulating the charging process by IDHR & EEOC repeatedly pressuring me to sign (upon threat of dismissing my charges) only IDHR & EEOC prepared “IDHR & EEOC” charges of discrimination in which IDHR & EEOC never memorialized my clear unambiguous claim of discrimination based on RACE that I have always maintained against Hormel Foods Corporation & UFCW since 2004. Even to date IDHR & EEOC have not provided me any state law or state rule and/or federal law or federal rule that excludes and/or prohibits any Illinois Hispanic American citizen from asserting and memorializing a claim of discrimination based on RACE on formal official “IDHR & EEOC” charges of discrimination at the agency IDHR and/or at the agency EEOC. Despite bringing this to Barack Obama’s attention Barack Obama and his office having full knowledge and understanding has continued to ignore the fact that I, one of his Illinois Hispanic American constituents, is unlawfully being treated unequally by IDHR & EEOC. IDHR & EEOC (For instance but not limited to) has attempted to dissuade me, an Illinois Hispanic American citizen, from filing charges, misrepresenting facts in the public record, and IDHR & EEOC is excluding & denying me , an Illinois Hispanic American citizen, a fair & full opportunity to memorialize my assertion of discrimination based on RACE on formal official “IDHR & EEOC” charges during the charge process without IDHR & EEOC ever providing in a clear straightforward honest manner an actual written legal justification that shows under what actual discriminatory Illinois law and/or federal law allows IDHR & EEOC to exclude any Illinois Hispanic American citizen from fairly & fully exercising their legal right to assert the exact same claim of discrimination based on RACE that other nonHispanics are allowed to & enjoy as matter of record at IDHR & EEOC. As a result of Barack Obama’s failure to insure that his Illinois Hispanic American constituents are not being prevented from fairly & fully exercising their legal right to assert discrimination based on RACE at the agencies IDHR & EEOC and Barack Obama’s failure to even call for an investigation to immediately redress this serious matter Barack Obama is effectively aiding and abetting Race discrimination, obstructing justice, and shielding Hormel Foods Corporation & UFCW from ultimately being held accountable for Hormel Foods Corporation and UFCW (for instance but not limited to) violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by subjecting me an Illinois Hispanic American citizen to discrimination based on RACE. The fact and truth of the matter is Barack Obama can not deny that I one of his constituents, an Illinois Hispanic American citizen, brought to his attention that there is substantial evidence about IDHR & EEOC interfering with my right for an investigation into my claim of discrimination based on RACE against Hormel Foods & UFCW from ever being conducted to date. Because I , an Illinois Hispanic American citizen, have the audacity to believe I am equal under the Laws of the United States Of America I refuse to believe IDHR & EEOC, Hormel Foods Corporation & UFCW (Despite Barack Obama’s inaction) are above the law and will not ultimately be held accountable for the above mentioned actions.
Chaos45i at 9:53AM on Aug 15th 2007
8. A number of news sources and blogs have reported that Republicans are starting to be less concerned about Hillary winning the left's nomination. It's not that Hillary has changed her persona or somehow has become more trustworthy or less coniving. She's the same Hillary. When you compare her to Obama and Edwards however, she looks far less dangerous and more qualified for the job. If you want to look thin, hang out with fat people. If you want to look Presidential hang out with Obama and Edwards.
Clay at 10:32AM on Aug 15th 2007
9. Democrats should stand back and look carefully at the record. They couldn't even get a white guy from the south into the White House after he won the election (Gore). Then, they couldn't unseat the idiot (Bush) with a legitimate war hero (Kerry). Now they think they can take it all with a black guy or a woman. What's wrong with this picture? Nothing. It's just a dysfunctional party. Hopefully the Republicans will nominate someone with a brain this time. But don't hold your breath. John
john at 10:36AM on Aug 15th 2007
10. Just how irresponsible is the press when it promote and sow the seeds of prejudice each time their reporters vigorously attack Sen. Obama. If numb skull Pres. GW Bush (given to us by the press) can lead our country with bad advisors behind him, then the possibility that Senator Obama could become not only a national treasure but an international hero scares the hell out of conservatives on both sides. They mistakenly believe that the security and future of our country can only be entrusted to white males. The media can serve the public better by focusing on the great minds that will surely be advisors to President Barack Obama. The fears exploited by Republicans and the press are going to once again deprive the American people of greatness and progress.
WellDone at 11:02AM on Aug 15th 2007
11. Is the american public so ignorant that they cannot understand simple and straightforward statements? I am not a democrat and still I completely GOT what Obama meant. We as a people have to stop this nonsense of arguing about everything. A house divided cannot stand!! How short our memory.
hope4me2 at 12:31PM on Aug 15th 2007
12. Mr Obama, remember that you are God sent to us at this time of national need. Stay the focus and do not allow the politics of 'ad hominem' to distract the politics of hope. May God bless America through you.
Aloy at 3:29PM on Aug 15th 2007
13. I'm sorry, Nixguy, but you can't find Osama from an airplane. Sorry that you don't understand that our lack of manpower in Afghanistan is directly related to our perplexing support of chaos in Iraq. And as for Americans dying to protect an Afghani civilian's life, you seem to have a problem with that but no problem with us being in Iraq. Odd. Yet, you forget Osama is in Afghanistan. I know these two countries can be confusing, but they are not the same! sorry that Obama is much smarter than ya!
miadea1 at 5:43PM on Aug 15th 2007
14. You media hounds need to learn how to pee straight. We can see through the "fog", and all these so-called "gaffes" will eventually transition into common-sense insight.
RusStyles at 4:38PM on Aug 15th 2007
15. The coalition forces in Afghanistan have killed more civilians than the terrorists. It's just a fact. It's not intentional - there just isn't enough ground forces.
cliff at 4:42PM on Aug 15th 2007