Anti-War Activists Worried Obama Betraying Them With Hawkish Cabinet

LA Times:

Antiwar groups and other liberal activists are increasingly concerned at signs that Barack Obama's national security team will be dominated by appointees who favored the Iraq invasion and hold hawkish views on other important foreign policy issues.

The activists are uneasy not only about signs that both Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates could be in the Obama Cabinet, but at reports suggesting that several other short-list candidates for top security posts backed the decision to go to war.

Read the whole story: LA Times

Comments

[TakingBackTheUSA]

Obama was one of VERY FEW that didn't back the war at the time. We should remember that spurious intelligence had been presented and they ALL made the decision with what they had. A great deal of credit goes to those that thought beyond the intelligence presented, but to base membership in Obama's cabinet based on their war vote will leave Obama with very few people to pick from.

We trusted Obama and his decision-making enough that he was elected overwhelmingly and it has been viewed as a mandate. We need to remember this and not turn on him before he even takes the oath of office.

[SailFree]

Well, some of the intelligence is still not clear. For example: Where did the WMD go and when did they go?

War is always based upon incomplete information. The enemy TRIES to confuse us! Can you believe it?

[CitizenoftheRepublic]

do you do stand up too? I would like to picket your stand up show too! if there were WMD's Saddam would have gotten them through us and only us and we would have known where they were and used them for the propoganda needed to sell this internatoinal murder and international theft. i find it sickening in this 5th year of war and pilage that there exists AMERICANS who still cling to their beliefs that invading Iraq had any F*&KING thing to do with WMD's or turrorusts wanting to "take our freedoms away", freedoms... morons. what must happen to you to bring light into your life, to feel human with dignity for others as well as yourself? dude!

[Tane]

I agree. Obama's goal of renewing America with a restoration of the constitution and a get it done kind of attitude which sees that partisan bickering results in gridlock, not progress is reflected in his picks. He wants to hit the ground running with some of the toughest minds in the political realm. He'd be hard pressed to find many people in the field with experience who hadn't worked with the Clinton's in some manner and likewise who hadn't supported the administration after 9/11 (80% of the country approved of Bush at the time). The fact that they supported the war doesn't mean that they haven't learned just as we all have that they were hoodwinked into supporting a preemptive war. At the very least we need to remember and give Obama credit for how he ran his campaign. From all accounts, the buck stopped with him, and he set the agenda and the tone of the campaign and his staff followed his lead amazingly well. I would bet that Rahm, et al had to agree to follow his tone as well as his agenda this go-round. I'd also bet that most of those who have been advising him throughout this election have already bought into the Obama paradigm. I think we can count on his Cabinet following his leadership and certainly on this being different from the drama filled Clinton Administration.

[Coinyer101]

wesley clark opposed the iraq invasion from the start. he should be sec. of defense. not gates!

[FCBarca]

Gee, now everyone starting to get the picture...Welcome back to reality...Somehow everyone was caught up in the hoopla to even care when Barack did a 180 on FISA 5 months after he had said he would do the opposite...Politics, sadly, as usual.

And a hawkish administration, to be sure...You can see the way this cabinet is shaping up, absolute power corrupts absolutely

[allonfla]

shut up! You have no idea what you are talking about!

[canucklivinginUSA]

Yeah, like your team FCBarca

[buddydave]

Obama's never been anti-war. He's anti-stupid-war (i.e., Iraq).

If he's going to make good on his promise to stamp out al-Queda, he's going to need a strong cabinet.

[LesserOf2Evils]

buddy, I'm pretty sure the primary theme of his election was hope and change. Dialog with our enemies in order to make peace without resorting to war, was put forth as one cornerstone in the change theme.

A "promise to STOMP Al-Qaeda" wasn't his main pitch, or even a secondary one.

People are concerned that pro war Democrats are taking over the party.
As for your claim, Obama has never been anti-war.....gee you almost make the term anti-war sound like a bad thing. Surely you don't believe that.

[sepiasiren]

yes, but for Obama to take a soft approach on defense will make every Republican out there scream SEE Dem's don't know how to keep us safe. He wants to keep the same people because they are familiar with what is happening already--who knows what Bush briefed him on during their initial meeting...?

[viewfromuphere]

I'm pretty much anti war but Al Qaeda murdered 3000 + of your citizens in the middle of your greatest city. For how long on those 4 planes did those passengers sit there knowing they were going to die.

Iran, Iraq are nations....holding the new adminsitration accountable for how they deal with these places is one thing..

Al Qaeda is a "terrorist" organization which in reality is a bunch of thugs dressing up their aims under some banner like "nationalism" or "religion" but thugs they are and deserve no more compassion than any other thug..

I'm pretty sure your not going to many people complain if Obama "stomps Al Qaeda"
they earned it.

[liberalrebuttal]

A "promise to STOMP Al-Qaeda" wasn't his main pitch, or even a secondary one.

NOT TRUE.

I don't know where you have been but I have been following this campaign since it began. Obama always talked about this.

[canucklivinginUSA]

Hmmmm... he said it in three debates that he will take care of Al-Quaeda. Don't believe me? Go on Youtube and find those debates. Seriously, some of you have selective hearing. You need to get the wax out of your ears

[jorge4u]

Second-guessing and questioning Obama's decisions is becoming old and annoying now.

[harriscrl3]

Amen short and to the point and I share your sentiments wholeheartedly. What's worse is that they have been proven WRONG but they still continue doing it.

Carol

[DallasMike]

Is it not the American publics job to questions the decisions of our elected leaders?
This is not the USSR, at least not yet

[allonfla]

It is certainly Liberal to panic over something that ain't happened yet. Biden voted for the war but he came to his senses - why won't these other people get the same benefit of the doubt.

[SailFree]

That's right! This is CHURCH OF OBAMA dogma and we can't question anything!

[allonfla]

You are questioning things that haven't happened yet. Just a week ago that stated Dems were worried that Obama would push for health care reform - BASED ON WHAT? Not a darn thing. Now this - BASED ON WHAT? Once again - NADA. How many fracking time do you have to be told that these people will be doing HIS bidding?

[jorge4u]

What? No one said that you can't question Obama. But every time he makes a decision, people second-guess him. It seems as if every single group wants to be appeased or pandered to. Let the man do what he needs to do to get thsi country back on track after eight years of a disastrous administration.

[canucklivinginUSA]

Yeah, you can second guess him WHEN HE IS IN OFFICE

[whatthehell]

There were many people who did not think there were WMD in Iraq and that Bush was beating the drum for war because the cabal in his administration had always wanted to take out Saddam and now they had 911 to use to get the people behind them. They had to move fast - they thought it would be a cakewalk.
It is the most deceitful, destructive decision I've witnessed in my 59 years.
wdw102 - you are such a little person - have fun being a thorn in people's sides. And may our country improve despite your obstruction and ill wishes.

[Whinger]

In a world of wimps we all would be speaking German, the line in the sand must remain!

[ZenCrusader]

You are correct but youth who do not know history have NO CLUE.

[MajorKong]

Yes but force must be tempered with prudence.

World War II happened because nobody wanted a war.

World War I happened because EVERYBODY wanted a war.

[CitizenoftheRepublic]

Japanese, Colonel Klink! S'cuse me... Sgt. Schultz! Dumkoff!!! (I'm guessing, my Germans rusty speaking Japanese and all!)

[RoveRoveRoveYourBoat]

...hawkishness is as easy, politically, as gravity, and dim-wittedness.
Assending toward peace takes a leader who is more than a politician.
SHOW US - "YES WE CAN"

[Shieldmaiden]

America is pretty much bankrupt and after January it will be illegal for us to stay in Iraq. Even if Boosh stayed president for the next four years, we would have no choice but to pull out. Even if we wanted to start World War III we do not have money or the stomach for it. But give Obama a chance to ruin things before we get ahead of ourselves, folks. You know, like actual months and years rather an oh, say two weeks.

[canucklivinginUSA]

These idiots wants the US to lay down and be trampled by Russia, Al-Quaeda, China, and the millions other enemies waiting for their chances to flex their muscles. Give me a break. It's one thing to be against an ill-advised war, its another to be crusty hippy. Obama never said he was the latter. Some people have extremely selective hearing and just want to hear what they want to hear.

[canucklivinginUSA]

I hate to agree with Phil Gramm but he was right, America is full of whiners! F'ing A

[Fongenie]

Haha. Thanks true.

[leftoflennon]

Everyone is a critic and he isnt even sworn it yet

[honeydiva]

I tell ya!

[CitizenoftheRepublic]

that's the problem... most in this country are hindsight moralists and armchair Americans that I never see at the demo or repub meetings, Move-On, Alamobama, or school board meetings for that matter. how many of you here can say you have delivered petitions to your Congress person personally that you collected for the betterment of your state or country, stood in a picket line, volunteered at the election polls, knocked on doors for peace? until more than 2 out of 10 whiners shows up at the "CHANGE" meetings and drives, it just a crap shoot with loaded dice controlled by CORPORATIONS. the Pres will need our shoving and we have to push hard as a group on all critical issues and we have to help develop solutions that we want implemented, but let him get his hand on the book and his head on the pillow first!!!

[canucklivinginUSA]

I bet he hasn't even seen his bed yet! Seriously, everybody needs to Chill

[NeoStar9]

First things first. Obama has never been anti-war. I don't know where people get the idea that he was an anti-war person in the first place. He's anti-Iraq War and anti-stupid war but he has always made it clear he wants to take the fight back to where it belongs, in Afghanistan.

[allonfla]

Yep. He said numerous times, I'm not against war, just dumb/stupid wars. And that he will defend America if necessary. The article accused us of hero worship - but I think that these activists were the Kool-Aid drinkers if they heard him say that and ignore it.

[dzymzlzy]

First of all, Obama never ran as an anti-war president. He has always called for stepping up troops in Afghanistan. I'd like to see world peace as much as the next person, but that's simply not realistic. Secondly, Obama will be Commander-in-Chief, meaning that he sets the agenda, not his advisers. He has said time and again that he doesn't want to surround himself with "yes men" like Bush. It shows wisdom to surround yourself with people of differing viewpoints, hear all sides of the story, and then make a decision.

[harriscrl3]

Obama is the war as a last resort candidate and thats why I voted for him. I dont want a pacifist because a pacifist because to me thats like saying America should remain neutral like Switzerland in world affairs thats NOT gonna happen. Thats not what I want either cause that would mean we wouldnt address what's going on in Darfur, the middle east, the status of women we would just stay out of it and thats NOT who we are. I just want someone who has giong to war as one of several options when it comes to international relations and that unless there is immediate danger war should not be the automatic response. Diplomacy before war. If Obama was a pacifist he would NOT have gotten elected.

Carol

[sepiasiren]

Amen Carol--people, America is hated by a few crazies and religious zealots--we can't lay down our arms and give the world a big hug--we have to keep our defenses strong-- we do not want to leave Republicans with the impression that Obama is going to be putting daisies in soldiers guns...

[yasmeen]

gates is only staying until 2010 when obama can appoint retired gen. zinny who cannot serve earlier because of service rules. gates is being kept because he gets along with everyone including dems and patreus.

[zepfan81]

And to add, he makes the final decisions. He needs input from all sides, if he has nothing but "doves" in there his administration is simply going to be the polar opposite of Bush.

[dlockatl]

well said. I have nothing but confidence in President Obama.

[wdw102]

the stock market is showing a lot of confidence in President bo.....laughing