Comments on: Obama’s First Test?

By: Pat Croft

Pat Croft — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:14:54 +0000

Clearly we need to remove our troops from Afaghanistan. This is a war that should have never happened. Early on in the Bush administration the Taliban offered to send Ben Laden to a third country for trial. Instead we sent our troops in to remove the Taliban.

Because the Taliban was once in power I would doubt that they are interested in sharing power with the existing government and with Karzai. Hence negotiation is unlikely to tilt this problem to our advantage.

Adding more brigades will inflame the problem.

By: Christopher Flynn

Christopher Flynn — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:57:46 +0000

That seems to be a perennial problem of the US…”mucking around”…

By: Bru

Bru — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:37:39 +0000

Where he's always been – idiotland.

By: Schvenzlerman

Schvenzlerman — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:22:29 +0000

This is all about two gas pipelines: 1) one controlled by the U.S. from the central asian nations through Afghanistan and Pakistanstan and 2) one to be built by Iran and Russia through Iran and Pakistan. The latter would compete with the former, so the U.S. and its allies will break up Pakistan and turn it over to warlords following their pattern in Afghanistan. It's all about money and Obama is just the latest lackey President. We've seen all the Change we're going to see. Meet the New Boss; same as the Old Boss.

By: wale

wale — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:05:26 +0000

ehmm…folks…Mr Ackerman here simply speaks to the challenges building up for the upcoming administration. He is blaming no one.

By: CraigHickman

CraigHickman — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:36:04 +0000

Where is George W. Bush?

By: galabuzi

galabuzi — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:49:59 +0000

Please review

By: Spencer Ackerman

Spencer Ackerman — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:57:04 +0000

Very kind of you to say. That was all I endeavored to do. And you're absolutely right about no one possessing a coherent Pakistan strategy, although I think CAP's is a pretty good offering.

By: Spencer Ackerman

Spencer Ackerman — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:55:28 +0000

Oy. Nothing of the sort — I don't honestly see how you read this piece and see me in any way heaping “tangential blame” on Obama for any of the developments I referenced. But apparently enough people read that into the piece so I need to say it loud and clear: MUMBAI IS NOT BARACK OBAMA'S FAULT. The piece attempted to look recent developments in South Asia; point out the rapidity of that change; and contend that they might add up to an early test for the Obama administration. That's it and that's all. There's no anti-Obama subtext here.

By: Spencer Ackerman

Spencer Ackerman — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:52:01 +0000

Letting Bush off the hook — the piece was about how the changing situation in Afghanistan/Pakistan/India will be a flashpoint for the incoming administration. I don't know how many times I can write the “Bush: Still A Catastrophe & A Douchebag” story, and to be frank, I'm looking forward to Jan. 20 for many reasons, but among them is the fact that I'll no longer have to.