On Christmas, Obama marks end of Afghan combat

[webfact]

On Christmas, Obama marks end of Afghan combat
JOSH LEDERMAN, Associated Press

KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (AP) — President Barack Obama marked the end of more than a decade of combat in Afghanistan by paying tribute to America's military, telling troops on Christmas Day that their sacrifices have allowed for a more peaceful, prosperous world to emerge out of the ashes of 9/11.

At an oceanfront Marine Corps base in Hawaii, Obama told troops that while tough challenges remain for the U.S. military in hotspots like Iraq and West Africa, the world as a whole is better off because American troops put country first and served with distinction. He said Americans and their president could not be more thankful.

"Because of the extraordinary service of the men and women in the American armed forces, Afghanistan has a chance to rebuild its own country," Obama said to applause from Marines and their families. "We are safer. It's not going to be a source of terrorist attacks again."

Thirteen years and $1 trillion later, the U.S. is preparing to pull the vast majority of its combat troops out of Afghanistan by year's end, as the U.S. and its partners seek to turn the page on a bloody chapter that started the day that al-Qaida militants struck American soil on Sept. 11, 2011. From a peak 140,000 troops in 2010, the U.S. and NATO plan to leave just 13,500 behind for training and battlefield support.

Although there are reasons for cautious optimism, including a new Afghan president whose seriousness of effort has inspired U.S. confidence, the broader picture still looks glim.

The U.S. is shifting to a supporting role after the bloodiest year in Afghanistan since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. Civilian casualties this year are on track to hit 10,000, and some 5,000 Afghan forces were also killed in 2014, a figure that has escalated as the country took on a greater role in its own security. Insurgents have seized territory across the country, raising fears that Islamic militants will successfully exploit the security vacuum formed as the U.S. pulls out.

Roughly 2,200 U.S. troops were killed in Afghanistan over the last 13 years in a war that cost the U.S. $1 trillion, plus another $100 billion for reconstruction. A celebratory cheer of "hooah" rang out from the hundreds of troops here when Obama affirmed that the combat mission was finally ending.

"We still have some very difficult missions around the world — including in Iraq," Obama said. But, he added, "the world is better, it's safer, it's more peaceful, it's more prosperous and our homeland protected because of you."

On the U.S. mainland and across the globe, other prominent leaders were fanning out, echoing the president's message with their own Christmas visits and phone calls to American troops.

Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, to spend time with wounded troops and their families and express gratitude for their service. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called military members on deployment, the Pentagon said, including those in Afghanistan and others assigned to U.S. Central Command, which is running the U.S. mission to fight the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

Republican Sen. John McCain was spending Christmas in Kabul, Afghanistan, where the former Navy pilot met Thursday with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his chief executive officer, Abdullah Abdullah. A chief critic of Obama's foreign policy, McCain is set to lead the Senate Armed Services Committee next year.


-- (c) Associated Press 2014-12-26

[mania]

"We still have some very difficult missions around the world — including in Iraq,"

Obama said. But, he added, "the world is better, it's safer, it's more peaceful, it's more prosperous and our homeland protected

Someone change this diaper it is full of crap

Edited December 26, 2014 by mania

[jgm005]

""We still have some very difficult missions around the world — including in Iraq," Obama said. But, he added, "the world is better, it's safer, it's more peaceful, it's more prosperous and our homeland protected because of you.""

Talk about putting a spin on something. Needs to take off his blinders and look around more closely.

[Suradit69]

""We still have some very difficult missions around the world — including in Iraq," Obama said. But, he added, "the world is better, it's safer, it's more peaceful, it's more prosperous and our homeland protected because of you.""

Talk about putting a spin on something. Needs to take off his blinders and look around more closely.

While I agree that it's fanciful rhetoric, he was addressing a military audience. He could hardly be expected to tell them that all they have done and all the lives that have been lost or forever damaged were a futile, useless gesture.

Unfortunately the rich and powerful have to keep up the call to patriotism and wave the banner of national defense to recruit the young men and women from disadvantaged families who they need to fight the wars that will protect the wealth and power they covet. Most politicians glorify the military while ensuring that neither they nor their children have to engage in the wars they wage.

Edited December 26, 2014 by Suradit69

[maidee]

most "terrorists" where from saudi arabia, so why they did not invade that country ??????

ah yes, oil ...

and irak had nothing to do with 9/11, nor had it weapons of mass destruction

war is very profitable for a small amount of companies

[Mudcrab]

Now wait for Afghanistan to self destruct.

[anon022]

Not able to put a dent in the deep rooted country's centuries old tribal power balance, the US, as the Soviets and many others who preceded them, have no other option than to pull out. Their main objective was to complete an important gas pipe line. Has this been achieved, there is little reason to stay. Halliburton and other contractors have made billions of this war, but it's wearing off. Time to focus on other, more profitable markets, oh, how about Syria, and the "threat" of Russia? How about the billions of the EU sends to Ukraine on a regular basis, there's more money to be made over there!

Edited December 26, 2014 by Impossible

[lil fluffy clouds]

Scammerholics anonymous...

[rotary]

No one believes anything Obama says anyway. I bet that was forced attendance to watch him read the teleprompter.

[Boon Mee]

As said, nobody with any brains believes what Obama says.

Edited December 27, 2014 by Boon Mee

[Boon Mee]

Obama: Afghanistan Won't Be "Source of Terrorist Attacks again"

:

Everybody gets ice cream and can keep their doctor, period.

President Obama pledged that Afghanistan will no longer “be a source of terrorist attacks again,” a week before the U.S. is set to end its combat mission in the Middle Eastern nation.

“We’ve been in continuous war now for over 13 years. Next week we will be ending our combat mission in Afghanistan,” Obama told troops in Hawaii late Thursday, celebrating Christmas.

“Because of the extraordinary service of the men and women in the armed forces, Afghanistan has a chance to rebuild its own country,” he said. "We are safer. It’s not going to be a source of terrorist attacks again.”

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/obama-afghanistan-wont-be-source-of-terrorist-attacks-again/article/2557876?custom_click=rss

You believe that, I've got some prime beach front property in New Mexico you can have cheap!

[simple1]

Is not the US still going to provide emergency air cover for combat operations by Afghan security services? Will US and other NATO countries continue with drone attacks? How is the Afghan government tracking with its efforts to transform the deep divide between the various ethnic groups in Afghanistan and the majority Pashtuns?

US is not the only Western power still providing military support. US led "Resolute Support,” will bring together around 12,000 men and women from many parts of the world. The 28 NATO Allies will contribute in different ways, joined by 14 partner nations. The United States will be in the lead to train, advise and assist in the south and east of Afghanistan. Germany will be in the lead in the north. Italy in the west. And Turkey in the capital.

[Publicus]

[Publicus]

Obama and others watching the execution of Osama

[Publicus]

Edited December 27, 2014 by Publicus

[NeverSure]

Is not the US still going to provide emergency air cover for combat operations by Afghan security services? Will US and other NATO countries continue with drone attacks? How is the Afghan government tracking with its efforts to transform the deep divide between the various ethnic groups in Afghanistan and the majority Pashtuns?

US is not the only Western power still providing military support. US led "Resolute Support,” will bring together around 12,000 men and women from many parts of the world. The 28 NATO Allies will contribute in different ways, joined by 14 partner nations. The United States will be in the lead to train, advise and assist in the south and east of Afghanistan. Germany will be in the lead in the north. Italy in the west. And Turkey in the capital.

So you agree. Based on the OP, Obama is a sneaky liar.

Got it.

[simple1]

Is not the US still going to provide emergency air cover for combat operations by Afghan security services? Will US and other NATO countries continue with drone attacks? How is the Afghan government tracking with its efforts to transform the deep divide between the various ethnic groups in Afghanistan and the majority Pashtuns?

US is not the only Western power still providing military support. US led "Resolute Support,” will bring together around 12,000 men and women from many parts of the world. The 28 NATO Allies will contribute in different ways, joined by 14 partner nations. The United States will be in the lead to train, advise and assist in the south and east of Afghanistan. Germany will be in the lead in the north. Italy in the west. And Turkey in the capital.

So you agree. Based on the OP, Obama is a sneaky liar.

Got it.

Just highlighting if I read the OP correctly and Obama's speech the Administration is ceasing ground combat operations, but still in a support role for Afghan forces. If I recall correctly the Administration has previously confirmed ongoing air support for combat operations by the Afghans when additional 'muscle' is required, but not services such as Medivac. I think it is fair to say that Afghanistan is no longer a base for Islamic terrorists to target Western interests outside of Afghanistan and has been the case for many years. Accordingly, in the context of the OP I would not define Obama as a "sneaky liar".

US forces were very nearly successful in their objectives in the early days in Afghanistan, but a number of errors were made that led to 13 years of war. If you are sufficiently interested have a read of Sandy Gall's book (War against the Taliban) that covers this matter in a fair amount of detail quoting numerous Tier One sources

[anon022]

Obama and others watching the execution of Osama

His doppelgänger rather.

[Publicus]

As said, nobody with any brains believes what Obama says.

Bill Shatner remains a Canadian citizen so he can't vote in the USA but he supports Prez Obama and he supports former secretary of state and senator Hillary Clinton for president.

Shatner doesn't have the time or the interest to sue people who completely misrepresent him and his politics.

William Shatner: Hillary Clinton ‘Can Bring Us Together'

Prez Obama has the limited scale and necessary ISIS campaign going on but he has remained true to his vow to end the war in Iraq and to end the campaign in Afghanistan. Good on Prez Obama.

[chuckd]

It doesn't get much sillier than the last post.

[sauvagecheri]

"We still have some very difficult missions around the world — including in Iraq,"

Obama said. But, he added, "the world is better, it's safer, it's more peaceful, it's more prosperous and our homeland protected

Someone change this diaper it is full of crap

"We are safer. It's not going to be a source of terrorist attacks again."

What a stupid fool !

Wait till Isis hears this ..

I bet they are waiting for the troops to leave ,and seize the weapons we left there, wash rinse repeat ..

I give it hmmm six months ....All for nothing !

Edited December 29, 2014 by sauvagecheri