Just last May, President Obama announced his plan to end the US combat role in Afghanistan by the end of 2014. (Screenshot via MSNBC)
Nov 22, 2014
Last May 27, in an announcement in the White House Rose Garden, President Obama said:
"2014, therefore, is a pivotal year. Together with our allies and the Afghan government, we have agreed that this is the year we will conclude our combat mission in Afghanistan... America's combat mission will be over by the end of this year. Starting next year, Afghans will be fully responsible for securing their country. American personnel will be in an advisory role. We will no longer patrol Afghan cities or towns, mountains or valleys. That is a task for the Afghan people."
Never mind.
The president has now quietly authorized an expanded role for the U.S. military in Afghanistan.
The New York Timesreported last night that Obama's decision is the result of "a lengthy and heated debate" between the promise Mr. Obama made to end the war in Afghanistan, versus the demands of the Pentagon.
The Pentagon won. An official told the Times that "the military pretty much got what it wanted."
Obama has also given the war in Afghanistan a new name: Operation Resolute Support.
Obama's secret decision will keep American troops on the ground and fighting for at least another year and the US will continue using F-16 fighter jets, Predator and Reaper drones, and B-1 bombers.
\u201cWhy does Obama keep saying "no combat" when he means "Yes, combat"??? Now it's Afghanistan at least another year. WTF?https://t.co/wE5kDGh5bu\u201d— Medea Benjamin (@Medea Benjamin) 1416683333
\u201cVery disturbing - Prez should explain rationale: Obama Quietly Broadens Mission In Afghanistan https://t.co/IIIe47FSpc\u201d— Karen Finney (@Karen Finney) 1416676080
\u201cUnending end of US in Afghanistan. Nobel Peace Prize President keeping dogs of wars in secret. Mission unaccomplished https://t.co/VhyEZa2hb9\u201d— Thomas Drake (@Thomas Drake) 1416642444
Opposite of public statements, Obama secretly extends US combat mission in Afghanistan through 2015 https://t.co/fRMm4Vyp2V
-- Peter Van Buren (@WeMeantWell) November 22, 2014
\u201cNixon redux: Obama\u2019s \u201csecret war\u201d against Afghanistan as he lied to the American people. https://t.co/aaIdOy09Wu #impeachthefucker\u201d— Ted Rall, the Actual Political Cartoonist & Pundit (@Ted Rall, the Actual Political Cartoonist & Pundit) 1416686426
\u201cObama officially enters the "Fuck It" phase of his presidency \u2014 In a Shift, Obama Extends U.S. Role in Afghan Combat https://t.co/KEpMlYTflK\u201d— Lydia Dallett (@Lydia Dallett) 1416685607
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Last May 27, in an announcement in the White House Rose Garden, President Obama said:
"2014, therefore, is a pivotal year. Together with our allies and the Afghan government, we have agreed that this is the year we will conclude our combat mission in Afghanistan... America's combat mission will be over by the end of this year. Starting next year, Afghans will be fully responsible for securing their country. American personnel will be in an advisory role. We will no longer patrol Afghan cities or towns, mountains or valleys. That is a task for the Afghan people."
Never mind.
The president has now quietly authorized an expanded role for the U.S. military in Afghanistan.
The New York Timesreported last night that Obama's decision is the result of "a lengthy and heated debate" between the promise Mr. Obama made to end the war in Afghanistan, versus the demands of the Pentagon.
The Pentagon won. An official told the Times that "the military pretty much got what it wanted."
Obama has also given the war in Afghanistan a new name: Operation Resolute Support.
Obama's secret decision will keep American troops on the ground and fighting for at least another year and the US will continue using F-16 fighter jets, Predator and Reaper drones, and B-1 bombers.
\u201cWhy does Obama keep saying "no combat" when he means "Yes, combat"??? Now it's Afghanistan at least another year. WTF?https://t.co/wE5kDGh5bu\u201d— Medea Benjamin (@Medea Benjamin) 1416683333
\u201cVery disturbing - Prez should explain rationale: Obama Quietly Broadens Mission In Afghanistan https://t.co/IIIe47FSpc\u201d— Karen Finney (@Karen Finney) 1416676080
\u201cUnending end of US in Afghanistan. Nobel Peace Prize President keeping dogs of wars in secret. Mission unaccomplished https://t.co/VhyEZa2hb9\u201d— Thomas Drake (@Thomas Drake) 1416642444
Opposite of public statements, Obama secretly extends US combat mission in Afghanistan through 2015 https://t.co/fRMm4Vyp2V
-- Peter Van Buren (@WeMeantWell) November 22, 2014
\u201cNixon redux: Obama\u2019s \u201csecret war\u201d against Afghanistan as he lied to the American people. https://t.co/aaIdOy09Wu #impeachthefucker\u201d— Ted Rall, the Actual Political Cartoonist & Pundit (@Ted Rall, the Actual Political Cartoonist & Pundit) 1416686426
\u201cObama officially enters the "Fuck It" phase of his presidency \u2014 In a Shift, Obama Extends U.S. Role in Afghan Combat https://t.co/KEpMlYTflK\u201d— Lydia Dallett (@Lydia Dallett) 1416685607
Last May 27, in an announcement in the White House Rose Garden, President Obama said:
"2014, therefore, is a pivotal year. Together with our allies and the Afghan government, we have agreed that this is the year we will conclude our combat mission in Afghanistan... America's combat mission will be over by the end of this year. Starting next year, Afghans will be fully responsible for securing their country. American personnel will be in an advisory role. We will no longer patrol Afghan cities or towns, mountains or valleys. That is a task for the Afghan people."
Never mind.
The president has now quietly authorized an expanded role for the U.S. military in Afghanistan.
The New York Timesreported last night that Obama's decision is the result of "a lengthy and heated debate" between the promise Mr. Obama made to end the war in Afghanistan, versus the demands of the Pentagon.
The Pentagon won. An official told the Times that "the military pretty much got what it wanted."
Obama has also given the war in Afghanistan a new name: Operation Resolute Support.
Obama's secret decision will keep American troops on the ground and fighting for at least another year and the US will continue using F-16 fighter jets, Predator and Reaper drones, and B-1 bombers.
\u201cWhy does Obama keep saying "no combat" when he means "Yes, combat"??? Now it's Afghanistan at least another year. WTF?https://t.co/wE5kDGh5bu\u201d— Medea Benjamin (@Medea Benjamin) 1416683333
\u201cVery disturbing - Prez should explain rationale: Obama Quietly Broadens Mission In Afghanistan https://t.co/IIIe47FSpc\u201d— Karen Finney (@Karen Finney) 1416676080
\u201cUnending end of US in Afghanistan. Nobel Peace Prize President keeping dogs of wars in secret. Mission unaccomplished https://t.co/VhyEZa2hb9\u201d— Thomas Drake (@Thomas Drake) 1416642444
Opposite of public statements, Obama secretly extends US combat mission in Afghanistan through 2015 https://t.co/fRMm4Vyp2V
-- Peter Van Buren (@WeMeantWell) November 22, 2014
\u201cNixon redux: Obama\u2019s \u201csecret war\u201d against Afghanistan as he lied to the American people. https://t.co/aaIdOy09Wu #impeachthefucker\u201d— Ted Rall, the Actual Political Cartoonist & Pundit (@Ted Rall, the Actual Political Cartoonist & Pundit) 1416686426
\u201cObama officially enters the "Fuck It" phase of his presidency \u2014 In a Shift, Obama Extends U.S. Role in Afghan Combat https://t.co/KEpMlYTflK\u201d— Lydia Dallett (@Lydia Dallett) 1416685607
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