Obama's "Plan" For Iraq Blasted In NY Times Guest Piece

Owen West, who "served two tours in Iraq with the Marines" and authored a book on counterinsurgency in Iraq, tells NY Times readers what he really thinks of Obama's abandonment of Iraq in 2011 and his current program of trickling in a few advisors:

Mr. Obama, despite warnings of Mr. Maliki’s intentions, made no sincere effort to leave a sizable number of troops in Iraq past 2011. Now we’re sending in tiny groups, a few hundred at a time, to live on lily pads. That’s no way to instill the will to fight, yet Pentagon officials brag about numbers of “troops trained.”

Before entering ground combat, we have to fix the political problem. It would be insane to repeat our previous mistake and train an army to fight for the current Shiite government. Last year we trained not a single Sunni soldier, and our dollars continue to flow through Baghdad to Shiite militias.

...

Even with a thousand American advisers, Shiite soldiers today won’t fight for desolate Sunni lands. If we’re committed to a yearslong effort, money should flow directly to the end recipient of our choosing — whether that be the Iraqi Army, Kurds or Sunni tribesmen. Our current half-strategy opposes one enemy — the Islamic State — but benefits a much bigger threat, Iran.

If we don’t get the politics aligned with a commitment to destroy the Islamic State, our advisers should expect the same heartbreak as those of us who fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and our fathers before us in Vietnam.

 

Comments

[MarkO]

First.

[MarkO]

By the way, I favor overwhelming force.

[henry]

Did the NYT building implode when this went out?

[GUS]

You know how you beat the JAYVEEEEEE? Bring he VARSITY.
Has Ofukwad called Kobe yet???

[Jeff Dobbs]

Owen West, who "served two tours in Iraq with the Marines" and authored a book on counterinsurgency in Iraq

Irrelevant!

I'm not going to read it until I know how Owen West identifies in terms of race, gender, sexual preference, diet, and type of animal if he Owen West wasn't human.

[Captain Hate]

The GOPe doing what it does best:

http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=357402

alexthechick's rant @ 10:52 is highly recommended.

[Jim Miller]

Ten days ago, i linked to a BBC article and to a BBC analysis that were both, to say the least, skeptical about the Obama administration's strategy against ISIS.

Note: Those pieces were done by the BBC itself, not an outsider brought in to provide a contrasting opinion.

When you have lost the BBC, and, possibly, the NYT, . . .

(Be interesting to see if the NYT runs a reply, soon.)

[GUS]

Has Kerry gotten his bike crash purple heart yet?

[Extraneus]

Toyota's PR chief arrested on suspicion of importing illegal pain medicine into Japan

TOKYO – Police say they have arrested Julie Hamp, Toyota Motor Corp.'s new head of public relations, on suspicion of importing an illegal pain medicine into Japan.

Hamp, an American, was appointed in April as Toyota's first female senior executive. Police said the painkiller oxycodone, which is illegal in Japan, was found by customs officials in a package she sent to herself by air mail from the United States.

Police said Thursday that the painkiller contained a narcotic, and she was being held in custody. Japanese authorities can detain a suspect without charge for up to 23 days.

They said Hamp denied that she tried to import an illegal drug.

Toyota spokesman Itsuki Kurosu confirmed that Hamp had been arrested.

[GUS]

Why is Lynch discussing the heinous murders in N.C.?? Is that her job?
What is a LOVE crime??

[GUS]

Ft Hood, Waco Tx. WORKPLACE VIOLENCE.
Charleston S.C. HATE CRIME.

What is the difference?

[Extraneus]

House and Senate to vote on trade bill again — without TAA

[GUS]

Nikki Haley is on the scene.

[Dave (in MA)]

Ext, that's not good PR.

[Dave (in MA)]

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/michelle-obama-wont-slow-down-final-stretch-first-lady_973344.html

Expect no slowdown in vacation intensity/frequency.

[Extraneus]

Er, how does Jacob Lew get to decide whose picture appears on our currency?

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. who is sponsoring legislation to put a woman on the $20 bill, praised Lew for making a decision to use the $10 bill, which is the next denomination of currency scheduled to be redesigned.

"While it may not be the twenty dollar bill, make no mistake, this is a historic announcement," Shaheen said in a statement. "Young girls across this country will soon be able to see an inspiring woman on the ten dollar bill."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/18/woman-will-be-picked-for-10-bill-redesign-treasury-says/

[Extraneus]

I guess I should also ask why young girls can't be inspired by men.

[Miss Marple]

How many people are inspired by anyone on any of the money?

Most people look at the denomination and the picture is just part of the background.

I HATE meddling with the money. I don't like the off-set portraits, the colors, or anything about the new bills. And the giant picture of Andrew Jackson looks scary.

[Dave (in MA)]

I don't care what's on the money. The more I have of it, the more inspired I am.

[Miss Marple]

Rich Lowry writing in Politico:

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/pope-francis-goes-off-the-rails-119134.html#.VYLralJjZy0

[DublinDave]

This is truly amazing. The New York times interviewed David King of KING V BURWELL and found out some rather alarming things:

"…Mr. King said that he was not really worried about the outcome of the case, King v. Burwell, because as a Vietnam veteran, he has access to medical care through the Department of Veterans Affairs"

"If he wins, Mr. King said, '“the left will blow it out of proportion and claim that eight million people will lose their health insurance.'” But he said lawyers had assured him that “things are in play to take care of the problem.'”

Un-be-fucking-lievable. So this baby-killing scumbag who served his country by raping and killing innocent people is already getting government run health care, but doesn't want anyone else to benefit from it.And he's operating under a completely false assumption that NO ONE IS GOING TO LOSE THEIR HEALTHCARE IF HE WINS HIS CASE BECAUSE REPUBLICAN ACTIVISTS TOLD HIM SO.

This is truly......to throw 6 plus million people off their healthcare and throw the entire healthcare system and the economy into chaos is just......

Just so you know,this is what happens when right-wing media, in an effort to create ratings conjures up an imaginary boogeyman which takes on a life of it's own and drives the GOP's political agenda without the GOP's say so.An agenda so extreme(as extreme as the creation that Fox news conjured up) it makes you completely unelectable in a general election and turns scores of potential voters away from your party for a generation.

[Extraneus]

A grassroots group, Women on 20s, had been pushing to get a woman's portrait on the $20, which currently features Andrew Jackson. They had conducted an online poll that gathered over 600,000 votes. African-American abolitionist Harriett Tubman was the top choice in that poll.

The new bill will have added security features to make it harder to counterfeit. The bill will be unveiled in 2020, the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment giving the women the right to vote. The date it will be put into circulation will be announced later.

Lew said that Hamilton, the nation's first Treasury secretary, would still be honored in some way. He said one possibility being considered would keep Hamilton's portrait on some of the redesigned $10 bills. Lew said no final decision had been made yet.

[Cispigmented Heteronormative Microagressive Ignatz]

Pope, in brilliant move recommends we solve climate change by burning people rather than coal as he calls for a "cultural revolution" to combat our exhalations.

[jimmyk]

Lew said that Hamilton, the nation's first Treasury secretary, would still be honored in some way.

Gosh, how nice of them. The quote doesn't say how or why they suddenly shifted to bumping him off instead of Jackson. Maybe before 2020 there will be more sensible people in the Treasury and this will be reconsidered. Not that it is of great importance, but it's kind of up there with naming a ship after Gabby.

Speaking of whom:

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/06/17/nc-gop-folds-stands-with-gabby-giffords-for-handgun-restrictions/

[Captain Hate]

Another cave job by the GOP. Gosh it's hard to see why Trump gets any traction from a party which always treats its base so respectfully.

[James D]

Exactly, CH.

They surrender on everything. They can go to hell, the lot of them.

[Marlene]

When the idea of putting a woman on currency was suggested,two women with ties to Maine were mentioned as possibilities. FDR's Sec. of Labor,Frances Perkins was born in Maine and spent summers here. The other was Rachel Carson,who lived on Southport Island in the 1950s.
While we are minding our own business,there are people who sit around thinking up these nutty ideas.

[Jeff Dobbs]

jimmyk:
The quote doesn't say how or why they suddenly shifted to bumping him off instead of Jackson.

I read that they rotate bills for updates and the $10 bill is next up in that rotation. The idea of replacing Jackson on the $20 bill was mostly just activists activating their activism through the selection of the $20 because Jackson seemed like a good target - not because they had any say over or any real idea which bill would be the one with a dead white dude on the chopping block.

[DebinNC]

We moved from NC back home to GA several years ago, but my husband bought several guns (and a crossbow) and got a NC gun permit during the 10 yrs we lived there. The permit cost more and there was a "training" requirement that I don't think GA has, but the NC "hoops" weren't a big deal iirc.

[jimmyk]

Thanks, Jeff, that clarifies it, though it doesn't make replacing a dead white guy for for a woman any better an idea.

"GOP folds" should be an automatic key stroke like ctrl-G on computers and smartphones, just to save everyone trouble.

[narciso]

ain't that the truth, the Tucson shooter, properly should have been in jail, but because of connection with sheriff duffuss, he was out, same for this strigoi, in Charleston,

[DebinNC]

I can't believe any politico wouldn't want to put a black pre-1965 female icon that everyone admires on a bill. Harriet Tubman? Rosa Parks? Given the past 30 yrs. of Black History Month in schools, I bet more people are familiar with Parks and Tubman than any other historical woman of color than, perhaps, Pocahontas.

[lyle]

Has Kerry gotten his bike crash purple heart yet?

Yes. He's already thrown it over the WH fence. Wait, it have been someone else's medal.

[narciso]

you assume they have any sense of logic, like the teacher in California who is Bard phobic, she's full Otto,

[lyle]

Hilligula is pissed they haven't considered her on the $10 bill. Considering how many tens Clenis has paid hookers and strippers, I'm a little pissed myself.

[narciso]

heck, Barbara Jordan, in the modern era, would be a fine choice,

[jimmyk]

Well they chose Sacagawea for the $1 coin, that worked out well.

[Extraneus]

So to change the $20, they'd have needed to pass a law, but since the $10 was already slated for a scheduled redesign, Lew can decide whose picture goes on it without any oversight.

Got it.

Why not Michele Obama, then?

[narciso]

what are they using darts now?

http://hotair.com/headlines/archives/2015/06/18/signature-strike-cia-didnt-realize-they-were-targeting-al-qaedas-number-two/

[lyle]

How about Barbara Morgan, first woman in space? Nah...still not PC enough.

[Extraneus]

How about the bravest woman of them all, Caitlin?

[Jeff Dobbs]

I read somewhere - and you can't put something on the internet unless it's true - that people still living are not eligible to be placed on currency.

[lyle]

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/419958/outrageous-and-ignorant-decision-10-bill-quin-hillyer

Insty adds:

Well, you see, we couldn’t replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill because, although he was a racist genocidaire who defied the Supreme Court, Jackson was also the founder of the modern Democratic Party, which still holds annual fundraising dinners in his name.

[narciso]

well it would be considered indulgences,

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2015/06/18/the-pope-puts-the-kibosh-on-carbon-credit-trading-calling-it-a-ploy/

but mamma mia, is this blinkered a notion,

[lyle]

Hmmm...I guess that rules out the undead like Cankles, Jeff.

[Truthbetold]

Scooter Libby helped Judith Miller concoct the fairy tale titled “The Story”

http://illinoispaytoplay.com/2015/06/18/scooter-libby-helped-judith-miller-concoct-the-fairy-tale-titled-the-story/

[Jeff Dobbs]

Ext:
How about the bravest woman of them all, Caitlin?

That was my thought back on Jun 8 (before the whole $10 thing was in play)....

[Marlene]

Yes Jeff,you are correct about a living person.I've also learned that a Maine Senator during the Civil War era was put on a 25 cent paper bill,something that was called fractional currency.

[lyle]

Shouldn't Caitlin be properly put on the three dollar bill?

[DebinNC]

Just asked dh about the NC v. GA gun permit process. He said the NC cc permit cost $400, and his GA permit cost $80 ... but was $20 until recently. GA has no gun-training requirement, and he says it's illegal for cops to stop someone and ask to see the cc permit w/o a reason to do so. Personally, I'd like GA to require a modicum of training like NC does.

[Thomas Collins]

Since McKinley is on the gold dollar coin, bump him from the five hundred dollar bill for Barbara Jordan, and keep Hamilton on the ten.

[Laff Trac]

DubbyDave sez: "So this baby-killing scumbag who served his country by raping and killing innocent people"

I say: Comedy Gold! GOLD!!!!

[Dave (in MA)]

Shouldn't Caitlin be properly put on the three dollar bill?

.

[Thomas Collins]

It would be ironic if Harriet Tubman replaced Hamilton. The politically correct Dems would have been responsible for knocking a non-slaveholder from the currency for an abolitionist when they could have bumped off a slaveholder.

[Thomas Collins]

Then again, since the Dems are the slavery party, it makes sense.

[Heman Woman Hater]

Looks like I'll be strictly using fives and ones.

[lyle]

Personally, I'd like GA to require a modicum of training like NC does.

A modicum of training is a sound idea. In lyle's kingdom, it would also require monthly shooting practice.

[Marlene]

While the fractional bills were in circulation, Congress passed a law banning the use of any living person. News you can use.
I'm meeting hubby at the cabin this afternoon,we are going north tomorrow to celebrate my mother-in-law's 85th. She'll live to be 100,good genes. Her mother lived to be 102!

[Beasts of England]

The Sacagawea coin might have stood a chance if it were appreciably larger than the quarter and not an ersatz-gold clad travesty. Every time I saw won of those hideous coins I'd think 'we used to have real gold coins'.

[lyle]

Even better, Dave.

[DebinNC]

I wonder how blacks would react if the first black face on a bill was a lesbian? I doubt Jordan would go over nearly as well as Parks or Tubman.

[narciso]

of course, are the Shia really the problem, they will stand with who stands with them, but from the Golden Square to the Islamic State, there's a certain 'rhyming' going on, in that sense, I tend to dissent with Spengler,

[Beasts of England]

From the other thread @ CH: Bubba has the same chance as us of winning this US Open - nada.

[Thomas Collins]

Now here's a politically correct combo for the Dems that was brought to mind by your Sacagawea comment, BOE: Tubman replaces Jefferson on the two, and Sacagawea replaces Jackson on the twenty.

[sbw]

I can't believe any politico wouldn't want to put a black pre-1965 female icon that everyone admires on a bill.

I want flowers or animals. Period.

When I say put the loon on the ten, I want no confusion with politicians or celebrities.

[Captain Haiku]

Caitlin on the three
May be legal but likely
Not tender enough

[Thomas Collins]

I was thinking we could issue another JFK coin with JFK in bed with Ellen Rometsch, the East German spy he was banging, but I suspect the Dems wouldn't go for it.

[Beasts of England]

{{{ golf clap }}} for Capt. Haiku

[narciso]

well you never known, Don Thomassino,

http://twitchy.com/2015/06/18/never-let-a-crisis-go-to-waste-eh-potus-obamas-post-charleston-gun-control-push-is-just-in-bad-taste/

[lyle]

Captain Haiku scores!!

[lyle]

That twitchy link is infuriating, narc. What a base, detestable poseur we have as prez.

[Thomas Collins]

It looks as if Rometsch is still alive, so we'll have to scratch her.

[sbw]

TC! [Blush]

;-)

[DebinNC]

Even BOzo's prepared remarks lack any sense of decorum.

[Dave (in MA)]

"The president said that too often, he's had to come to microphone to mourn the deaths of innocents killed by those who had no trouble getting their hands on a gun."

And too often those innocents did have trouble getting their hands on a gun, or were forbidden to bring them into the gun-free zones where they were shot.

By people with guns.

In gun-free zones.

[lyle]

Jackhole blurts these lies out before flying off to CA for...fundraising:

We don’t have all the facts, but we do know that once again innocent people were killed in part because someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hands on a gun.

Now is the time for mourning and for healing. But let’s be clear, at some point, we as a country will have to reckon with the fact that this type of mass violence does not happen in other advanced countries. It doesn’t happen in other places with this kind of frequency. And it is in our power to do something about it.

[Jeff Dobbs]

TC:
It looks as if Rometsch is still alive, so we'll have to scratch her.

"...off the list" I presume.

At least you didn't say "bump her off".

[narciso]

some folks in that deli might disagree with you, weren't the guns bought in Belgium, if memory serves,

http://twitchy.com/2015/06/18/jackass-obama-boosts-his-charlestonshooting-gun-control-push-with-what-else-an-obvious-lie/

[Beasts of England]

Nice to see Teh Won spiking the football before the dead are even buried. Stay classy, bra.

[Dave (in MA)]

Jugeared socialist douche:

“Let’s be clear —this kind of mass violence does not happen in other advanced countries.”

Instapundit:

CHARLIE HEBDO WAS UNAVAILABLE FOR COMMENT

[lyle]

Should read:

The president said that too often, he's had to come to microphone to crassly advance a political agenda on the deaths of innocents whose bodies are still warm who were killed by those who had no regard for laws that are already on the books.

Despicable POS.

[narciso]

re 18 credits, and his lateral promotion, they sent the last member of the Dateline demolitions team, Michelle Gillen, as the local anchor in Ft, Lauderdale, just like they relocated the voice editor in the Zimmerman case to Seattlem

[Marlene]

sbw@ 1:17...heh,I have a ziploc bag full of loonies. What a PITA.

[anonamom]

Gov. Nikki Haley on the capture of the murderer of the AME members.

http://dailycaller.com/2015/06/18/gov-nikki-haley-chokes-up-the-heart-and-soul-of-south-carolina-was-broken-video/

[Old Lurker]

Wiki on "Recent Mass Killings Europe" reveals major body counts in every major European country since 2000.

A*hole.

[Eric in Boise]

Recent Mass Killings Europe

While you're at it, Google "China Mass Stabbing" as well.

A*hole

Seconded.

[Miss Marple]

I waned you guys he was going to speak.

Since he said exactly what I anticipated, I am glad I kept the TV off.

[narciso]

but you know priorities, isn't that supposed to start on the 29th

http://therightscoop.com/obama-account-tweets-muslim-greeting-for-ramadan-after-horrible-church-murders/

[DebinNC]

Mass Murderer Roof's priors ... I hope the Daily Mail is prospering greatly as our lap dog press sit idly by waiting for WH and Huff Po press releases.

[Cispigmented Heteronormative Microagressive Ignatz]

If they're going to put a woman on a bill shouldn't they bring back the ten thousand dollar bill so at least the dames can get some use out if it?
How many shoes can you buy with a ten?

[Beasts of England]

You forgot to duck, Ig. ;)

[Cecil Turner]

Good job with the quotes around "plan" (if you hadn't, I would've). That, and calling it a "strategy," are the only objectionable parts of the piece.

OT, it looks like they're taking my preferred solution on TPA, decoupling it from TAA. It passed the House; but will likely stall in the Senate. At least this way, Obama can blame his fellow Dems for sinking his legacy bill.

[Extraneus]

Which GOP candidates will call out the Despicable POS™?

[Thomas Collins]

Yes, Jeff and sbw, I acknowledge that, in retrospect, my phraseology about the German lady could have been more circumspect!

[sbw]

could have been more circumspect!

Yeah, but not as much sophomoric fun.

[DebinNC]

I wonder if Dylann Roof has been following the CO theatre massacre trial now going on and wanted to emulate James Holmes?

[NKonChrome]

I have no present recollection of the Sacaguea coin.

[Old Lurker]

Speaking of despicable POS's...I see the House has passed Fastrack 218:208 and sent it back to the Senate without the welfare tag along.

A*holes.

[Cecil Turner]

Mass Murderer Roof's priors ...

No mental health issues? Somehow I'm having a hard time believing it.

[jimmyk]

it looks like they're taking my preferred solution on TPA, decoupling it from TAA.

That's good to hear. Will the Senate do the same? Or will they step on each other rushing to court D votes by putting TAA back in?