Dems And The Other War
Posted April 20th, 2008 by Da King
Here's something you might not have heard about, seeing as how our left-biased media (90% of newspapers, 80% of television stations) didn't bother to report on it. It concerns the other war, in Afghanistan. As every american media consumer knows, and as every Democrat happily reports, Bush abandoned Afghanistan to go into Iraq. Thus, the Taliban is returning to power and Afghanistan is going to hell due to Dubya's wrong-headed policy. That's pretty much the way they characterize it, right ? Right.
There's a problem with that characterization, and the problem is, it isn't true. NATO released a progress report on Afghanistan earlier this month. Here is an excerpt from the executive summary of that report:
August 2008 marks the fifth anniversary of NATO’s presence in Afghanistan. Set against the devastating effect of decades of conflict, these five years have witnessed substantial progress in all spheres of Afghan life – from a reasonably stable security situation in most of the country to a massive increase in the number of health clinics and children in schools. Since 2003, NATO-ISAF has gradually extended its reach and is now responsible for security across the whole country. The number of our troops has grown steadily from the initial 5,000 in Kabul to the current 47,000 ISAF personnel in theatre. Today, large parts of the country are relatively stable with no or very few security incidents per month even if the security situation in southern Afghanistan and parts of the East remains challenging for international and Afghan security forces. There is room for cautious optimism. In 2007, the direct engagement of Afghan National Army (ANA) and ISAF routinely defeated militants. Although the overall number of security incidents across Afghanistan has increased, this corresponds to the expansion of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and NATO-ISAF operations to areas formerly considered to be extremist strongholds. In 2007, 70% of security incidents were confined to 10% of Afghanistan’s 398 Districts. These districts contain less than 6% of the Afghan population. This progress would not be possible without the increasing effectiveness of our Afghan partners. The ANA is becoming a professional, well-trained and equipped force that will be able to fully provide for its country’s security. In 2002, there was no ANA to speak of. Today, the ANA stands at around 50,000; every two weeks, the Kabul Military Training Centre graduates 1,100 more soldiers. The ANA is increasingly taking the lead in security operations and played a key role in liberating Musa Qala from Taleban extremists in December 2007. Ninety per cent of the Afghan public sees the ANA as an honest and fair institution. The evolution of the ANA and particularly the ANP are essential pillars in building an Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbours.
It's not all peaches and cream in Afghanistan, but there is substantial positive news, and Afghanistan is light years better than it was before. I wonder why Democrats and the media can't bring themselves to acknowledge that ? It wouldn't have anything to do with POLITICS, would it ?
The art of deception is alive and well. You see, the prospects for the Democrats in the fall elections are in inverse proportion to how things are going in america. If Afghanistan is going badly, that's good for Democrats. If Iraq is going badly, that's good for Democrats. If the economy is going badly, that's good for Democrats. Anything going right in america seems to be bad for Democrats. Is it any wonder then that the Democrats have painted such a negative picture of the United States ? The Dems say we're losing both wars, are sure global warming is about to destroy the planet, are predicting a second Great Depression, act as if most americans are living in tents, and pretend that border control is some kind of racist plot. They try to convince us that the rich are out to enslave the poor, that capitalism is a disease, and that free trade is our enemy. The solution, of course, is to elect Democrats to save us from this horrible fate. The solution, incredibly, is for Dems to increase taxes by a few trillion so they can make sure the country is destroyed fix all the problems. All this brings to my mind those old words that should never fail to have us shaking in our boots - "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help." No thank you, government. You've done enough already.
April 20th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
"Anything going right in america seems to be bad for Democrats. Is it any wonder then that the Democrats have painted such a negative picture of the United States?"
Amen, bro.
What's good for America is bad for the Dims, and what's good for the Dims is bad for America.
That's one reason by a large segment of the Dim Party is actually cheering for the U.S. to lose in Iraq, just like the DemocRATS cheered for the communists to win in Vietnam in 1960-1970.
Given the make up of the Dim Party, is it any wonder that someone like B. Hussein Obama is its leading candidate?
April 20th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
The report is more political than anything though, and that must always be remembered. As you know, NATO countries don't want to pour resources and men into Afghanistan, this report was no doubt written with that in mind as it helps to validate their cause (or lackethereof). The better the picture they paint, the quicker they can be done with it.
Of course most of the problems occur in the East, but that's always been the case and always will be where the problems originate. Afghanistan is in real trouble, and a lot more needs to be done, period.
April 20th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
I find nothing inaccurate in the overview, and the basic conclusions were the same as the UN reached in march. Nobody would disagree that more needs to be done.
April 21st, 2008 at 8:07 am
More a curious question than a real comment–why do you refuse to capitalize the "A" in America, and Americans? I thought at first it might be a typo, but you are too consistent for that to be the case. If you've explained that in an earlier column, forgive me; I haven't seen it, and I'd appreciate if you could repeat that. Thanks, King!
…Mack
April 21st, 2008 at 10:00 am
Your the biggest moron on this forum, Ghost-of-Vince-Foster.
Nobody is "cheering" for the US to "lose in Iraq".
April 21st, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Ah, yes…to quote "da king"…"The art of deception is alive and well."!
Have you heard the one about "Figures don't lie but liars can figure."?
Your majesty…the numbers from "da public", as reported in Gallup's most recently published poll entitled MEDIA USE AND EVALUATION (http://www.gallup.com/poll/1663/Media-Use-Evaluation.aspx) dispel the significance of the numbers you used in your opening proposition about media bias! As for NATO…many would consider it a political propaganda machine even more biased than that of the United Nations!
Further…"a massive increase in the number of health clinics and children in schools" was never an acceptable excuse for the "politics" of Cuba and such will provide only minimal cover for the desire of NATO members to suppress the poppy crop of Afghanistan or help Pakistan(the next Laos/Cambodia?) secure it's borders! Who knows? Perhaps, if NATO is truly successful, the countries in the region will begin growing more food grain crops instead of spending their hard-earned resources testing ballistic missiles, eh?
We won't go into the suppression of Afghanis' "constitutional rights" to a fair trial here, eh?
April 21st, 2008 at 12:46 pm
"Nobody is "cheering" for the US to "lose in Iraq"."
They sure are Tom, and it is all the leftists within the Dim Party.
The Dims and their stooges in the media don't like to make this too obvous as it cost them votes, but they always root for America's enemies.
April 21st, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Yeah. let's talk about "what costs who votes", Mister Ghost of Vince Foster. Your pathetic party was annihilated in 2006 by epic margins. The dogma of Karl Rove that your leaders followed has doomed the Republican Party to a generation of minority status. Republican incumbents in Congress are bailing out and leaving scores of seats for the GOP to defend.
There is only so much that you can do to maintain leadership when you have a platform that most Americans disapprove of. Your Rovian tricks of purging voter rolls and imprisioning Democratic governors has met the end of its effectiveness.
But keep on blustering, Vince. And I'll keep on laughing at you.
April 21st, 2008 at 7:07 pm
"Nobody is "cheering" for the US to "lose in Iraq"."
They sure are Tom, and it is all the leftists within the Dim Party.
Get em Ghost! It's not as if they've been holding public pep rallies, for our soldiers to fail, but let's look at the obvious.
Tom,
When a political party aligns themselves to benefit from the casualties of our soldiers, I wouldn't call it cheering. However, treason would be more suitable in describing their actions. I'm all for free speech, but the far-left is out of control and their words, actions, and betrayals resonate throughout the lands of Jihad. In essence, the Doomocrats have become the best friends of radical Islam. It's no wonder our military has a political preference for Repubs!
April 21st, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Talking about "who the military is going to vote for", I give you this:
Veterans Administration Refusing to Provide Voter Registration for Wounded Vets
Updated: April 11, 2008 06:32 PM EST
The A.C.L.U. calls it just the latest example of 'voter suppression' by the Bush administration. The controversy surrounds the Veterans Affairs' refusal to provide voter registration for wounded veterans, some of whom protected Iraqis as they had the chance to vote.
A new report from Steven Rosenfeld with Alternet reveals that Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James Peake ( <= SHAMELESS BUSH APPOINTEE) sent a letter to U.S. Senators Diane Feistein (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA), stating quote, "the VA remains opposed to becoming a voter registration agency…" claiming it quote, "…would divert substantial resources from our primary mission."
Larry Frankel, with the Washington D.C. offices of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), told KSLA News 12 regarding Peake's stance, "most Americans, if they knew that that position was being taken by the secretary, they would be appalled."
Frankel told us his agency also takes issue with Secretary Peake's description of voter registration as a quote, 'partisan political activity.' "Well, I guess for some people they fear that if someone doesn't vote exactly the way they want, that's partisan political activity. I don't know," added Frankel.
Ernie Roberson is the Caddo Registrar of Voters. He told us, "registering to vote is only a process of a few minutes. So, hopefully this can be worked out for them." We turned to Roberson for the fine print of the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, and its intended purpose. "In particular, with people who are disabled it's very important to have someone who can help them," explained Roberson.
A spokeswoman at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport told us they knew nothing about this issue and also that at least in their case, with their patients, it doesn't really apply because they don't stay long enough.
We contacted the White House for its response to Secretary Peake's stance on voter registration. But the White House wants nothing to do with this issue. Spokesman Blair Jones referred us instead to Veterans Affairs, saying they'll speak for the administration.
Both Senators Feinstein and Kerry reportedly shot a letter back to Secretary Peake, saying the cost of voter material is minimal and is a small price to pay for the veterans who sacrificed so much.
In a late afternoon news release, the VA's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Matt Smith wrote, "given the importance of this issue, VA is establishing additional guidance that will clearly assign responsibility for voter assistance and promote a uniform approach to this important function while maintaining a non-partisan environment.
Story by Jeff Ferrell
http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=8155554&nav=0RY5
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Let's not have any of you Right Wingers try to deflect the issue by putting your fingers in your ears and saying "there's the ACLU in the first sentence so I don't have to discuss this!"* That would be an indication that you RWers don't give a steaming heap about the wounded veterans.
*"Mom and Dad said I don't have to if I don't want to !! "
Oh, and to Alexander D., your logic is so tortured it hurts. It's very circular when you think about who is responsibe for starting the Iraq War.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:42 pm
It's funny you posted that today, Tom.
Just this afternoon I tried to register to vote at the IRS office and the bastards wouldn't let me do it. Don't worry–I contacted PETA and now they're on the case.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Tom, I keep hearing that the Dems will fight tooth and nail until the Convention and then they will draw back together. I say that those who believe that just haven't looked at the way the far left has promised to demonstrate at the National Convention. I am not sure that with the Republicans completely dead for a generation and the Dems splitting into at least two parts I want to think about how this place will be governed during that generation you mentioned. I guess we will have a group of small parties so we will have to change our system to parliamentary right after the split up of the Democrat Party.
You tell me how the far left that is supporting Obama allows the party to continue after the Super delegates nominate Hillary. It tickles me no end to think about what will be happening in August in Denver. Chicago in 1968 will look like a child's birthday party by comparison. It was the far left that tried so hard back then and they will be booted this time for their behavior. Can you imagine what they will do if Obama is not the nominee? Wow, and goody.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Mack,
I'm not refusing to capitalize america, I mean America. It's not something I'm doing consciously.
Robin,
A gallup poll is a public opinion poll, no ? It reflects what people have been led to believe. It doesn't create the facts.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:08 pm
larry, this IS coincidental. I tried to register to vote at the city animal shelter yesterday, and then wouldn't let me do it either. This must be some kind of massive right wing conspiracy.
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:14 am
Err…Experts from US government, military, and the world's leading NGOs have been testifying on the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan for the past 6 months. You can read listen to them and/or read the transcripts on the Senate and House committee sights. Statistics do not speak to the political and security breakdown going on in Afghanistan.
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:16 am
Try the post office, King. I just wrote a note on a piece of legal paper, dropped it in the 'stamped mail' box and no one bothered me about it.
We'll see if it worked when I go to vote at Acme on election day.
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:50 am
Tom says to the Ghost: "Your pathetic party was annihilated in 2006 by epic margins."
First off, Chief, the GOP is not my party per se. Yes, I tend to vote for the Republicans more often than not, but that's only because I could never take enough showers to clean myself off afterwards if I voted for the anti-American, abortion-loving, gun grabbing, tax-hiking Dims. Clear.
Second, when you use the term "epic margins" to describe the 2006 election, you reveal yourself as an historic illiterate. The Dims have a narrow majority in the Senate and … well, never mind. Why should I waste facts on a fool?
Tommy's problem here is that he's upset to have the Dims exposed for rooting against America in the country's battle against the Islamicfascist enemy — just like many, many Dims rooted for the communists during the in Vietnam War.
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Roy,
Yes, because of Operation Chaos, the Dims convention in August could look like a 'Battle Royal" put on my Vince McManon's WWF.
I only wish the Dim convention was being held in a more urban city like NY or Philly or even Cleveland. Then the Lefties could make even a bigger stink if Comrade Hillary steals the nomination. Sweet.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:43 am
Ghost, I have seen some grand plans from the far left people on the Pacific Coast, you know the left coast of our nation, and they plan to get what they want or they may well make Chicago look like something pretty tame. Chaos may well be redefined after Howie Dean has his National Convention. The poor man is trying so hard to get all his Super Delegates to vote ahead of time so they can draw back together before Convention time. If there is still a party after that Convention I wonder if they will need a new National Chairman.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:47 am
Roy/King/Alex,
This is delightful. The Dim Party is being torn apart by its own insanity and its ugly politics of race & gender identity.
Let's hope the old Battle Axe prevails in Pennsylvania today and keeps the entertainment [blood letting] going for another few months.
And icing on the cake would be for her to steal the nomination from Big Ears via the Dim 'stuper'-delegates.
Go Hill, go! And don't let such minor concerns like honesty & good sportsmanship stop you from your goal. They've never have before; don't start now.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Thanks, larry d, I hadn't tried that. Conspiracy solved. On to the next conspiracy.
Did you know you can't get your Social Security check from the VA either ? You actually have to get it from the Social Security Department. Darn those Bush appointees.
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Da King Says:
"April 21st, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Robin,
A gallup poll is a public opinion poll, no ? It reflects what people have been led to believe. It doesn't create the facts."…
…and your "facts and figures" are arrived at through the devine revelation bestowed only upon gawd's designated monarchy I suppose? Please reference your sources for such "statements of fact", you majesty!
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:29 am
Earth to Robin,
I DID reference my source, which goes by the name of NATO, the people who are actually IN Afghanistan. I suppose that's not as credible to you as Gallup calling 200 random people and asking them their opinion.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:46 am
King, I thought that government by poll went out of style when Hill and Bill left the White House way back there in 2001 but for some reason the polling companies and Democrats just won't let the practice die. I am still waiting to be a part of one of those polls but know I will never live that long way out here in bright red hickdom. Living one's life in flyover territory dooms him to never getting to take part in one of those supposed representative polls. The very worst part of this poll crap is that they keep telling me what I think and then never ask me, never ever.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:02 am
Um…your majesty?
Your figures in question and comparable to my Gallup Poll references has nothing to do with NATO? That's a political mechanization of a different color. Your statement that "Here's something you might not have heard about, seeing as how our left-biased media (90% of newspapers, 80% of television stations) didn't bother to report on it." readily prejudices any "facts" supplied by yourself. Once again, your personal belief about the media has been disproved by "da majority", eh?