Does it seem odd that Obama receives NO criticism for increasing troops and pressing for war billions?

The theory is that we need to get bin Laden and stop the drug trade over there. Most of the Bush Administration's critics blasted him over Iraq because they felt that we didn't belong there and were there for oil, revenge for the Gulf War, and revenge for the assassination attempt on his father.

But the real reason is probably because Democrats will always criticize a Republican president's decisions just like Republicans will always criticize a Democratic president's decisions. Funny how people forgot or refused to acknowledge that OIF wouldn't have happened without the approval of Congress.

luvleema35

I think they see it as something that needs to be done. We know Obama really did not want to increase troops, he wanted them all back home but if he is sending so many to Afgfhanistan then it's because it really is necessarry. There has been such an increase in insurgency over there we can't just not do anything about it because our president promised he would withdraw our troops. Things change and we need to take action to keep up with it.

pacer

First you need to understand that many, many individuals love being in the military, and the new commander in chief see just how things are. Obama is doing what is necessary in Afghanistan, and he is also taking care of things for his troops when they become veterans. Take this problem for example which will be corrected with proper VA funding;
http://scienceblogs.com/neuronculture/2009/04/can_ptsd_be_both_over-_and_und.php

melanieb1985

No, it is not odd at all if you start to think a little and understand that the difference is Iraq and Afghanistan. Iraq was widely opposed and Afghanistan was extremely supported.

Al qaeda attacked the USA on 9/11, don't you remember? Iraq did not attack the USA. So yes, Afghanistan is definitely more justifiable than Iraq was.

Mark F

Your memory is a bit fuzzy then.

First let us recall that Geedubya started the current wars, Obama inherited them so there is a difference. At the buildup and start to the Iraq war the media was absolutely behind president Bush with precious little critical reporting going on in spite of the weak and fundamentally flawed case for war that was made. American media quite frankly should be ashamed of their performance in 2002-03. Congress also voted overwhelmingly to approve and fund the Iraq operation. Opposition only came much later when it was clear the case that was made to start the war was complete BS and the handling of the war itself was bungled to the point of criminality.

Obama is refocusing our efforts, pulling troops from the highly unpopular and unjustified war in Iraq and using them to shore up a faltering effort in Afghanistan - a war that is still widely seen as justified and necessary because that is where the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11 were staged. Obama shouldn't have to send additional troops to A-stan but the previous administration badly botched that operation too, letting both Osama bin Laden and the Taliban government get away with a flawed strategy when we could have bagged them all.

Dangerous

No it doesn't seem odd in the slightest.

Obama didn't commence the war selling it to the public as a swift conventional victory.

The US supposedly is in Afghanistan to rid a regime that aided an attack upon them. They picked the fight with Iraq.

Heart of Darkness

Because the Bush Jr. administration unnecessarily invaded Iraq, without seriously taking in consideration the result of their actions. What they thought would be a short military operation has resulted in a long occupation. All the Obama administration is doing is to handle the situation the best they can.

The US becoming involved in Afghanistan was a legitimate operation with a legitimate cause. The US invading Iraq under false pretenses was not only wrong, but a poor tactical and political decision. US foreign policy, as well as US credibility, not to mention US military readiness will suffer for years to come as a result.

bud68

You must be a "liberal."

Bush started the war. Obama can't just walk away. He is doing what he has to do to get us out. You don't just start a way, fight a while, then walk away. That idiot Bush should have never gone into Iraq. The terrorists were in Afganistan - and there were no WMD in Iraq.

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