MoveOn: Obama Afghanistan Exit Strategy Needed

The Plum Line:

In its first direct pressure on President Obama over a major war-and-peace issue, MoveOn will call on the president today to develop an exit strategy for Afghanistan, a MoveOn official confirms to me.

MoveOn will blast an email to its massive list later today calling for members to write to the White House and demand "a clear exit strategy," the official confirms.

Read the whole story: The Plum Line

Comments

[rain33]

keep putting pressure on him because it's time for all organziations to put their money on hold and put president obama in check because if this was mccain's land, everything would been passed regardless. wake up president obama!

[Clearing-Brush]

Good luck MoveOn. BO ain't gonna listen to you, and he ain't listening to us. He's been too busy playing to the right and his corporate sponsors.

(I'll take my beating now for speaking out now. So let me have it and get it over with)

[mcantwell]

Do you have an abusive husband, or something?

[Clearing-Brush]

No husband. Although my wife can be a little ruff at times. It's that whenever I'm critical of the "O", my fellow Dems pile on me.

[Clearing-Brush]

I wish I had gotten the aluminum pans instead of the cast iron.

[Figerre]

If MoveOn wants me to continue to support it, then they will stop this project to get out of Afghanistan. Regardless of what has beenheard, I have worked with programs that do great humanitarian work in Afghanistan, and security is what is needed. NATO forces are limited by their governments as to what they actually DO in Afghanistan, many not willing to be anywhere near a bullet. But the safety of the Afghan people depends up creating security and eliminating the growing force of the Taliban, to provide security for them to farm their land and create a economy. This is the humanitarian thing to do. Getting OUT of Afghanistan leaves it wide open to the Taliban and then Al Qaeda to move back in. Keep in mind that it is the drug trade that is funding both groups. It is the Taliban that cut down the orchards, salted the earth and left desolate many areas of Afghanistan, in order for them to have plots of poppy only areas within Afghanistan.

We are getting out of Iraq, but we need to stay in Afghanistan. We have abandoned them twice - once after the Soviets and then again during the Bush years. we are literally starting over due to our own, weak-kneed legislative abandonment of a country that actually LIKED Americans to help a country, Iraq, that hates us.

I have continued supporting MoveOn for several years, but this will be the cut off point.

[lisaman]

I think we would be out now if Bush had not sent troops to Iraq before we had finished what we started in Afghanistan. Even though I know why we are there and I understand that it would not be right to abandon them now, I want more than anything to be done with this war. I have a 21 year old nephew who is going there next month, a Marine. He will be dropped by helicopter right into one of the worst areas. I am scared to death for him so I admit I have a selfish reason to feel this way.

[aj88]

The only reason our president has been waffling is because of MoveOn's pressure. They will dictate his policy at any expense. Visit youtube and follow his speeches, it's frightening. Make up your mind now, our troops are at great risk. This dialog has been going on for months. Do something now.

[fallingsky]

So George Soros ( Greg Schwartz ) popped in a few more Million to dnc coffers

[johnnynyc]

What a bunch of hypocrites.

MoveOn supported Obama during the campaign.

His position hasn't changed.

He was never for pulling out of Afghanistan!!

[NCAV2]

A lot has changed in Afghanistan since his campaign.

[johnnynyc]

Yeah he's not running against Hillary Clinton any more.

[mcantwell]

McChrystal wants 500,000 TROOPS! It's in the Classified Report!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-andrews/classified-mcchrystal-rep_b_298528.html

[chris stl]

I don't think this General is up to the task ...

[LiberalUnderYourBed]

He wants 500,000 troops?

OK. First we reinstate the DRAFT.
Next we insist that all politician's children are FIRST to be called by their draft board.

Still want 500,000 troops?

[CaptD]

No more open troops without a plan PERIOD!

OUR TROOPS DESERVE NOTHING ELSE...

Clear goals, a clear actionable plan with time table, that will lead to a full withdrawal when those goals are met...

[LazarusLong]

One of the reasons that I voted for President Obama was his ability to think clearly, listen to others and make appropriate decisions based on the best information available. This includes his willingness to adjust strategy based on changing conditions.

Due to the political and military complexity of the Middle East, this is one of those times that MoveOn should keep quiet and not engage in simplistic rhetoric.

[chris stl]

Agreed .... Cool it for now!

[doubtingdavid]

This should prove interesting. Obama listens to the far left fringe to develop political and military strategy to pull the plug in Afghanistan instead of listening his political and military advisors. I'll bet the families of the solders who have and will die over there will just love that. Great way to insure a one term presidency and a turnover in congress in 2010. This I've got to watch.

[kickatthedarkness]

"Exit strategy"? Turn off the gas on your way out.

http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/the-gas-must-flow/

[mi]

Our enemies can plot their crimes anywhere in the
world. They will just move from place to place.
It's time to give this up, I don't feel we will ever
accomplish anything worthwhile.
I hope President Obama will make the right
decision.

[Coinyer101]

I couldn't agree more. EXIT STRATEGY! VP Joe Biden's idea to reduce troop presence while targeting AQ, wherever they hide, is a good start. We took out that AQ feller ,in Somalia ,the other day, and we did it w/o an occupation of the entire country. Aq is a minimal thre at in afghanistan, now. They have left there, and spread out to safer areas of the world. The only attacks we hear about lately, are by tal iban, who are locals, 'defending themselves from the 'occupation' by foreign troops. Of course their numbers are going to increase the more we abuse their fellow afghanis at Bagram and elsewhere....,

[SparkyDash]

Good post...fanned, my friend.

[NCAV2]

About time. The Afghan War can't be won. The Afghan people would rather have the Taliban in power than see foreign forces in their country. Increasing more troops just equals an increased quagmire in that god-forsaken country.

[Drdemocrat]

Obama is going to do what he feels is best. MoveOn can say what ever they want.