We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:10:02 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:24:36 -0600
This is a grand goal to be sure and well worth pursing but I put it in the achieve in 4 million years basket.  Obie has until 2011.  I'd be surpised if he achieved anything at all by then.  Even his health care plan seems bogged down in politics.

]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96105 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96105 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:03:30 -0600 And that's why I've made it a central pillar of my foreign policy...to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, and to pursue the goal of a world without them -- because every nation must understand that true security will never come from an endless race for ever more destructive weapons; true security will come for those who reject them.

Ummmm -- that's working well for him, isn't it?

So far, no one has been impressed enough with his rhetoric to either turn in their nukes or stop their development of same. When *Israel* now thinks there's less than a 5% chance the US will come to its aid in the event of a shooting conflict, I'd say Obie's doin' it wrong...
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96089 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96089 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:39:31 -0600
The choice of the Eisenhower Theater made complete logistical sense--it is equipped and arranged for entertainment. Too bad his handlers didn't think of using beautiful Washington Hall, as MacArthur did. Perhaps they didn't want the powerful mural there overshadowing our Community Organizer in Chief.

I suppose that on Wednesday the COIC taught us a valuable lesson, namely that our times are more "complicated" than those of our forebears. Accordingly, the following words are now obsolete: “...once war is forced upon us, there is no other alternative than to apply every available means to bring it to a swift end. War's very object is victory, not prolonged indecision. In war there is no substitute for victory.”]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96088 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96088 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:37:49 -0600
On the days after 9/11, many people attached to National Security, Veterans, Active Duty Military,Guard, Reserve, First Responders, Unions and even Contractors were all ready to go. Many of these people were actually Veterans or very highly qualified, no wannabes. This thing was starting to get out of control. We wound up convincing them that they should go home.

But, my main concern was a very old man, 100+ years old, mind, sharp as a tack and a razor sharp wit. 2001 was a bad year before 9/11 and that didn't make it any better. We'll come back to 9/11. My birthday is early November, I always talked with him, never to him. He was a Scotsman by birth and American Citizen by law and choice. It was his attitude to serve America until he died, which he did, in one capacity or another. During November, he turned a tight crisp corner and we talked about an upgrade to my house to make my life a little easier to be done in 2002. In fact, he wanted my word on the issue. It was completed according to plan. But let's go back to Christmas Eve Day, 2001. As instructed, I arrive at 10AM, there's a Retired Navy Hospital Corpsman living with the old man, called "Doc". Doc, comes to the door, steps outside and says, "No matter what, don't try to change it, just go with the flow. Come on in and he's in the den. He is in full Scottish Regalia, kilt, blouse, sash, pouch including the family tartans. He looked me square in the eye and said, "Grumpy, Finally my discharge came through, I'm going home to Scotland. Absolutely everything has been arranged. The meal has been catered and will be between 1 and 3PM". He even had Scottish bagpipers there. Now, his Internist/ Physician's first name was 'Jake', this is what he instructed us to call him, was at the dinner. Now the real kick in the pants is the fact, the old man's older brother was at this dinner. We all had a good time, but as things started to wind down, the old man took a plastic tarp and put in on his favorite chair. He came out to the kitchen, this is where most of the crew gathered before leaving, some of team that were asked to stay were here. He asked to have a small pot of coffee. He wanted a cup of coffee, he had a favorite coffee mug, leans back and drinks about a half a mug, then puts the mug down, leans back more and dies.

Why does this matter to anybody but to those around this old man? This old man listened to George W. Bush and "The Bush Doctrine". The questions that stood out to him, Why didn't you Declare War? Out of all the conflicts based on the "War Powers Act", how many did we win?

But the "Coup de Grace", was when George W. Bush said that he was sending the Military to war, we want the civilians to go shopping. This was the breaking point.

I walked out with him, this you want to do very carefully! He only said three words-----

"Whiskey -----Tango------Foxtrot"
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96087 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96087 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:32:46 -0600
It was strange as I listened to Obama and GEN McChrystal talk about this subject, there was a phrase, from the Last Century, which applies here, "Force-Muliplers". Just take a look at the potential. *This would make one helluva potential force.*

]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96081 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96081 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:14:53 -0600
-I get the feeling that the timeline was a suprise to the uniformed types, and I find myself wondering how many heads exploded at CENTCOM and TRANSCOM.  For some perspective, the 20,000 troop increase earlier this year - a MEB, a CAB, a Stryker brigade, and an airborne brigade - started IIRC in April with the Marines and ending in September with the Airborne.  6 months, give or take, although some of that may have been imposed by the availability of the units.

Now, we've done a lot of work to increase the capacity of the LOCs into Afghanistan, but those LOCs also have to carry an increased load to support the troops already in theater, as well as having to rotate more units in and out. (Relief in place for a brigade takes around 3 weeks.)  so we want to move 50% more troops in than the last increase, and do it in only one month more.  Starting in the bad weather (although weather is not near the limiting factor in Kandahar and Helmand as it is further north) part of the year, too.

-The number of troops picked, as well as the date to start drawing down, quite simply reek of political triangulation to me.  Enough troops so he can hopefully claim that he wasn't doing it just for appearance sake, but less than McChrystal asked for so he can claim that he didn't get pushed around by the military, and the drawdown date which he can point to to show he's not like Bush.

One thing to think about with the numbers:  McChrystal's team developed High, Medium, and Low risk options.  I don't know the troop numbers with each, but I'll assume that the highest number the press bandied about - 80,000 - was the Low Risk option, with the 40k being Medium and something even lower being High Risk.  So in going with 30k, the President is putting himself on the higher risk side of what the commander on the ground feels is Medium risk.

-What the hell was that bit about the economy in the middle?  What does the economy have to do with Afghanistan?  If you're that worried about the cost, cutting the farm subsidy program should pay for it, no problem.  I'll admit, this bit turned me off so much that I stopped listening after this point.

-I thought it was pretty obvious the the cadets weren't much impressed.  The pause before the first applause break made me wonder if someone was holding up a sign to remind them to clap.  (I saw a photo of one of the cadets reading LTC(R) Dave Grossman's "On Killing" while waiting - now that man can give an inspiring speech.)  Where were the much-bally-hooed Obama oratorical skills?]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96075 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96075 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:57:46 -0600
BTW, that guy in the CIB also has a PME badge, a good conduct medal, overseas ribbon, and an arcom (maybe two)--hard choice going from an NCO (I assume, at least a corporal) to cadet, when OCS might have been an option.  Good for him!]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96073 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96073 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:29:43 -0600
I don't have confidence everything will be dandy by then and thus I think the efforts made there will be wasted.  Yes wasted.  Naturally we will kill bad guys but once the US is gone they will regenerate quite rapidly.  There will be no net benefit.

As such I don't believe our troops should be there and should leave immediately.  I cannot support the loss of one dollar or one drop of our digger's blood for a venture with a forced failure clause.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96072 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96072 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:26:23 -0600
About the cadets being used for photo props, I just don't think it is appropriate.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96070 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96070 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:16:08 -0600 Snerk. Tough audience around here. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96065 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96065 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:13:41 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96062 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96062 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:35:41 -0600 Yes - that was my reaction as well.  He's apparently already running for re-election in 2012.
Also, he continues to talk *at* people instead of *to* them.  He didn't say or do a d*mned thing in that speech, or by his delivery of it, to engage his direct audience.  He didn't even try to.  I know they really aren't his cup of tea, but he should have at least Pretended they were. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96060 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96060 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:17:26 -0600
He made a decent decision as far as responding to McChrystal's request for more troops, albeit about 75 days later than it should have been. 

Setting a fixed date (or even a flexible one) was exactly the WRONG thing to do.

His speech was a disaster.  It was campaign nonsense in the most craven "how can we fool them today" manner, promising everything to everyone.  It was not the speech of a leader, or a warrior, or capable of unifying the nation, or even the military.

Well done to the Corps of Cadets who behaved respectfully, even while being used as photo props.

]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96059 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/obamawest_point.html#comment-96059 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:47:16 -0600