The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Every intelligence report has said that there are fewer than 100 active Al Qaeda members in Afghanistan, and NONE of the Al Qaeda leadership. They've moved on to Pakistan and other places. Obama mentioned it several times in his speech about the troops increase. The generals on the ground have mentioned it. To try to paint it as if she is talking about anything other than that fact, which no one has disputed is a fact, is being utterly obtuse.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

What in there was demonizing the opponent? Politics is spin and both sides do it.

She said:

"I think we have done what we are going to be able to do in Afghanistan. I think that we should plan an exit strategy. Yes. I'm not sure there is a way to succeed. If the goal was and the mission in Afghanistan was to go in because we believed that the Taliban was giving harbor to terrorists. We supported that. I supported that. They're gone. They're not there anymore."

She is either saying that terrorists aren't there anymore or that the Taliban isn't there anymore. While the Taliban may not be in power, they are definitely still there.

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Every intelligence report has said that there are fewer than 100 active Al Qaeda members in Afghanistan, and NONE of the Al Qaeda leadership. They've moved on to Pakistan and other places. Obama mentioned it several times in his speech about the troops increase. The generals on the ground have mentioned it. To try to paint it as if she is talking about anything other than that fact, which no one has disputed is a fact, is being utterly obtuse.

I knew this felt familiar.

what's old is new

Another case of ignoring the months and months of context that lead up to a statement so you can interpret it in the worst light possible.