This is just illustrates that those who "make a killing on war" are those who are still calling the shots.

Its tragic comedy to watch those democrats and so called progressives yuck it up with pats on the back all around, totally ignorant of the fact that the same SYSTEM is still in effect... the system that pays for candidates to get into office with private money... regardless of Obama's grass roots effort, he's been paid for by the same interests that controlled Bush.

If you want to see kool aid drinkers and delusional two-party dupes, check out the comment string on Crooks and Liar's visions of grandeur post...

President Obama was electrifying!

These people don't want change, simply their labeled side in power... pathetic.

change=chump change. the tell, should have been when we found out that zbig and albright were his foreign advisers. now with holbrooke there, the escalation will ramp up. leave and leave now. that is the only answer.

Some politicians lie some of the time, others lie all of the time.

Mr. Obama's contention that he has to protect me by denying terrorists "safe havens" in Afghanistan/Pakistan flies in the face of what happened at 9/11. Those terrorists had "safe havens" for training to learn to fly their deadly planes here in our USA.

Mr. President, stop trying to sell me your bullshit. Your tactic/strategy if it may be called that will eventually shift those "safe havens" from the caves and mountains of Afghanistan/Pakistan into the big cities where they are much "safer".
That is how "Mumbai" was planned.

Emperor, you have no clothes. You are "nekkid".

If you only have time to read one post in this string, stop reading this one and go to Ephraim, who, on the subject of President Obama's benighted policy for Afghanistan, asks, "How can someone be so 'smart' and unutterably stupid at the same time?"

I thought the president's speech was pretty good last night until he started talking about using huge military might to destroy "secret enclaves who are plotting against us."

How do Military kids with officers who change the rules of engagement every day decide whether an enclave is 1) secret and plotting against us; 2) a wedding party; 3) an engagement party?

Hasn't it been the experience of world leaders that when they invade some country, the enclaves plot against them even more? How about French and Danish undergrounds et al. in WWII?

Any prominent person or nation will always have people plotting against them. To try and expunge each one will-- quite simply-- destroy the world.

Wise up folks, see Obama for what he is: a cold war/hot war centrist "liberal." Last night he made a pitch for a new American century. (i.e. we must rule the world)! This does not bode well. See below:

What? the American Century Part II? Yes, Obama said it last night, ("The only way this century will be another American century is if we confront at last the price of our dependence on oil and the high cost of healthcare; the schools that aren't preparing our children and the mountain of debt they stand to inherit.") Here he was following up on Henry Luce's claim that the 20th century was the American one. Add to that Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's notion of America as “the indispensable nation.” Then go back in time to the Puritan idea that we are chosen people that will bring light unto the world and that we are a city upon a hill for all to see, a beacon of goodness. And don’t forget the Project for the New American Century which promoted American global leadership. Fundamental to the PNAC were the view that "American leadership is both good for America and good for the world" and support for "a Reaganite policy of military strength and moral clarity.

Can this be? Is numero uno in our future?

No doubt, we were a can-do country during the 20th century –climbing out of the depression, winning the war, helping our friends with the Marshall Plan and surpassing Great Britain as the major economic and military powerhouse. But we suffered during the Bush years, with the Iraq war debacle, Guantanamo, the Katrina Debacle, the Wall Street melt-down.

Are there still customers for Brand America? Probably not and God seems to be looking at us with a jaundiced eye, and so maybe now’s the time to became a caring, peaceful country like Sweden, or Norway. Mixed economies with great social services. And perhaps a new UN , minus the likes of John Bolton, can become the new city upon the hill.

The president's speech had little to say about the plans for escalation, but the few words will come back to haunt: "With our friends and allies, we will forge a new and comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat Al Qaida and combat extremism, because I will not allow terrorists to plot against the American people from safe havens halfway around the world. We will not allow it."

Good luck, amigo. Better bring back the draft and prepare to borrow every cent left in the world. Even that won't be enough.

Paul Siemering

it really does no good to be "smart" if you are dumb enough to believe you can prevent anyone from plotting violence against the u.s. "We will not allow it" he says. oh really?
also he thinks he can destroy al-Qaeda. wow. didn't the ex-pres do that? and why not? Finally, about those "safe havens". Neither Afghanistan nor Pakistan is especially safe for anyone. But no terrorists, real or imagined, needs any safe havens. People who wish harm to the u.s. are all over the world. bush was delusional, we all concluded that early on. That's why he thought he could have a war on a certain method of waging war. what is Obama then?

Perpetual war is America's goal. It is an inefficient stimulus with strong political backing from the MIC. With the failing banks America needs an employment engine to enrich the elites. America is becoming a military zoo.

It was clear from the outset of the primary campaign that Obama was largely an "establishment" candidate. As the election process progressed it became very very clear that those who control the sources of our information had chosen Obama as their golden boy. A candidate who spoke ringingly with nearly the power of Martin Luther King (sorry MLK), who was distinctly and visually different.. Handsome a powerful speaker, and speaking ringlingly of "change". He was in fact "selected" to be our next president. Three pathetic Republican candidates, and Hillary who much of the nation despises..... It was a shoe in. The men of real vision..... not vague promises of "change" were silenced by a conspiracy of the press..... Edwards and Dennis Kucinich. These men saw the real nature of the problems we face and were ready and willing to address the REAL problems in logical ways.... but we barely heard what they had to say.... The substance of what they had to offer and the vision they largely shared was "hidden beneath a bushel basket". it became clear early in the election cycle that Obama was "blessed". The two previous elections were "won" by fraud..... you know that and I know that... as do most Americans. Election fraud and conspiracy are crimes..... serious crimes which are punishable..... if there is the will to punish. But the right has learned an important lesson.. that fraud and conspiracy are NOT required to accomplish their ends. Is a Republican better than Democrat for their purposes..... Actually it doesn't matter at all.... Clinton served the same masters for 8 years. All that matters is that the candidate is "establishment" and recognizes his "masters". Control of information is not regarded as "election fraud", and in fact it is often defended as "freedom of the press". A democratic process is non-democratic when the people are deprived of good information.... garbage in / garbage out. George Bush was the "compassionate conservative".... a phrase hammered again and again...... Obama was the candidate for unspecified change... both serve or served their masters..... the same masters largely. The American people dutifully turned out to "do their patriotic duty",and by voting they again lent their sanction to a corrupt parody of "democratic process". I did NOT.... and have not for years participated in this parody of democratic process. My vote is my acknowledgment that the process is legitimate.....and I refuse to grant the process that sanction. My fondest democratic dream is the election where NOBODY came. Obama will not bring significant change........ he will instead ride this sinking ship of state as the "Great American Empire" slips beneath the waves of history after dashing itself on the rocks of the inevitable wars that are the foundation of empire and ultimately the undoing of it. Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan...... it matters little. Democracy (true democracy) and empire are mutually exclusive!

H.W.

Public policy regarding military spending has to change comprehensively. We need to counter military spending and actions broadly, demanding sane and beneficial foreign policy from our government.

Americans spoke clearly during their protests of the occupation in Iraq- we do not want our government to pursue empire, we want needs met here at home.

People must pressure Congress and Obama to change military policies fundamentally. Military actions as economic policy must not be accepted.

Without demanding fundamental change re how our military is used, it's not a matter of if we will have "wars" but where and when.

This article is just sheer effrontery from Norman Solomon. Obama is simply executing the policies he promised he'd execute while on the campaign stump, including escalating the wars in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

So, why is Solomon pretending like it's a big surprise? When Solomon became a delegate for Obama, he essentially signed on to a continuation of these senseless wars, just as Obama promised.

Solomon should now be directing his calls to action to the Obama loyalist base. He has no cause to point to activists not doing anything about this abhorrent policy. We've already opposed it by voting third party.

Blood is already on the hands of loyalists Dems, as Obama has ordered at least two Predator drone strikes in Pakistan. These wars are a Dem loyalist wars. The base already rejected a more peaceful alternative proposed by Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich. Instead, they went with Obama and his Bush-like policies.

Solomon writes: "Those who are fond of talking and writing about President Obama's admirable progressive values will, sooner or later, need to come to terms with the particulars of his actual policies."

I have to ask: Why didn't you take your own advice above, Norm? And how could you have been a delegate for such a transparently warmongering candidate?

"Out, out damned spot," Norm. You've got a lot of scrubbing and activist organizing work to do. Get moving - it's your responsibility.

-TIA

I read the thread. I voted for Obama. The thread has a few like me that voted for BO, saw the choice a no brainer. Most on the thread vilify BO.

Most say they are pure because they voted for a 3rd party. One thing made clear in the last election cycle was that NO 3rd party candidate had a viable campaign, planned and orchestrated for the necessary 4 years prior to the election. Nader got less than a million votes. If he'd received 15 million-what a victory, McCain would be president. This Dynamic offers no hope. It did not in '00, '04, '08 nor will it in '012.

So I think unless you have been out on your feet organizing today, being active, working for change in a concrete physical manner your vilification of BO is near void because you offer no alternative.

Today I spent a couple of hours with KVMR, the Progressive Democrats of America, and working out the when where and how to get Karen Bernal, the Northern California PDA coordinater in front of 50 (my target) progressives from my county and have us become a Chapter of PDA. The PDA works to strengthen the progressive voice within the Democratic party. It's priorities include single payer health care, ending the Iraq war and fair elections.

It's members include John Conyers, Mimi Kennedy, Tom Hayden-Normon Solomon calls himself an ally-Cindy Sheehan is a member.

We move legislation in Sacramento to the left using grass-roots organizing in each congressional district. This collective voice has power.

Though not storming the palace-I'm no Che-I am working for change. Most humbly, but doing some small thing..if we all were to....pragmaticliberal pointed to the PDA. Thanks PL.

Does anyone know a better way? Joe.
Criticizing is easy-everyone does it-But knocking on doors, organizing, and physical activism fuels change.

People keep saying Obama was chosen by his elite masters and that his foreign-policy decisions prove it. I'm pretty sure this is faulty logic.

The tendency of Democrats to act like Republicans in matters of foreign policy is no surprise to anoyne. It is in fact a constant cause for chagrin among Democrats. Someday we may better understand why the foreign policy establishment can remain so intransigently imperialistic even when Democrats are in office.

But it's bad logic to say this proves a secret elite is calling all the shots. You will notice that no historians, journalists, political scientists, sociologists, or journalists believe a secret elite is calling all the shots. Not even Carroll Quigley, who referred to conspiracy theories "radical-right fairy tale[s]."

You'll also notice that the people who make this argument tend to ignore Obama's domestic agenda, which is starkly different from any imaginable Republican agenda. Why would a secret elite switch its domestic policy all of a sudden, while keeping the foreign policy the same? Why are the records of the two parties so incredibly different? And why would this elite be allowing their puppet parties to steal elections from one another?

These are major scenario problems with the "secret elite" view of things. If you don't cherrypick, you can see that the "secret elite" argument fails to explain much of what's going on.

My assessment of the non-ex-President's non-legacy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_3wJzkxmBQ

"a colossal and fateful blunder, made by a very smart leader, arguably our best and brightest"

Norman, you are experiencing what they call a "jerking around". The elites are having FUN jerking you around, first dispensing you the DUMBEST chimp on the planet, then the SMARTEST chimp on the planet, both to serve THEM, the elites, at YOUR expense. The song remains the same. Let's just give up thinking about it and select our next SUVs from the 2011 lineup! Just kidding. Please consider voting AGAINST the elites and FOR THE PEOPLE in all of your individual exchange/association...

I am writing this to say that with all the admiration and hope that I do have for President Obama's chance to help us create what we need, I also have to say...
Must be he finds it too difficult to stand up to pressure from the influences that have brought us to this point to begin with. I'm sure that if he could just muster up the courage to really do what's right he would. I can't imagine what they must be forcing him into this corner with. Oh, Pres Obama. You have such an opportunity. I know you see it. Why , why are you forsaking us...
It's just that,I know you want to do what's right, don't you? You know that the whole ruling the world through the military thing is just a game for boys who never grew up. Is it that you're just buying time? But But But... we don't have any time.
Are you really sending these troops in for a secret, diplomatic strategy. Once they are there, they work in a social, national building and good works mode? I could almost see that...
Really what is your objective?

When did everyone forget that 9-11 was perpetrated by SAUDIS???