Afghanistan

I've been too busy writing out here at the coast to update this blog for the last two weeks. But since Obama is going to announce his plans for the war in Afghanistan tonight, and I've been thinking about war so much, I thought that I'd put together my opinions on the issue.

Obama is reportedly intending to increase troop levels by 30,000, but also plans to end the war in Afghanistan within three years. Best of luck to him. It's not an entirely popular move, and with the many comparisons to Vietnam, there are fears that Obama may be simply embroiling the United States in a war it cannot win and cannot afford.

While the cost of the war is a significant issue in its own right. There is some hope on that front. Congressional Democrats David Obey and Carl Levin are forwarding a "war tax" proposal that would effectively implement a one percent tax that would fund the war in Afghanistan (a war that may cost upwards of $100 billion a year). The tax, entitled the Share the Sacrifice Act, would exempt service members who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, as well as families that have lost loved ones. While Murdoch's media machine is already revving up to fight it, there is hope that there are enough military conservatives to overcome the greed of the business elites.

As for the troop increases themselves, my hope is that Obama will be able to use them to give himself the time to do three things:

1) Stand up non-uniformed Afghani militia forces to protect their homes with AKs and grenades against outside influences in the name of stability. Call it the Minuteman policy. Give them political training, small-arms defensive guerrilla training, and send them home. It was virtually the only thing that was particularly effective (especially cost effective) in Vietnam, and it's the right thing to do here.

2) Allow Pakistan time to harden up its defenses in the border region, in anticipation of militancy in the future. Sorry Pakistan, better start digging trenches, the next decade is going to suck for you.

3) Give special forces and UAVs the maneuvering room to continue targeting militants in the hills, trading time for precision, and giving especial thought to avoid collateral damage in order to prevent a widening of the conflict. This is a boring village country. Kill one farmer, and the only thing his son has to do for the next 15 years is bitch to his friends about how Americans murdered his dad. Don't let it happen.

This is not a good war to fight. We saw what happened to the Soviets when they tried it. It is a theater that negates every advantage we have except UAVs. Maybe we could win, but win against what? 300 militants hiding in the hills? What's the point if in the process we do far more damage to ourselves by overextending than they ever could? I say pull back and let the chips sort themselves out a little bit. Karzai is not worth supporting at the cost of our own principles and the myth of stability. He doesn't control anything outside the capitol, and even that is tenuous, and he's basically just another warlord.

Right now the only thing providing real stability is Coalition forces, and that doesn't seem to be changing. If things are going to fall apart as soon as we leave, regardless of what we do, then we better just pull the band-aid. We can't stay there forever. It's time to call it a win and go home. We can always come back if we need to.

One Day in the Near Future

President-elect Barack Obama held his first press conference today on the economy. It was actually a little weird to watch him acting so ... presidential. I kept on expecting people to start chanting "Fired up, Ready to Go!" Something different, but in a good way.

In any case, my dear Aunt Jini sent me a chain-mail today. While, as some might know, this is not particularly newsworthy it did seem timely and topical, and I thought that I would like to share:

One sunny day in January, 2009 an old man approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue, where he'd been sitting on a park bench. He spoke to the U.S. Marine standing guard and said, "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush." The Marine looked at the man and said, "Sir, Mr. Bush is no longer president and no longer resides here." The old man said, "Okay", and walked away.

The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine, "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush." The Marine again told the man, "Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Bush is no longer president and no longer resides here." The man thanked him and, again, just walked away.

The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same U.S. Marine, saying "I would like to go in and meet with President Bush." The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and said, "Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Bush. I've told you already that Mr. Bush is no longer the president and no longer resides here. Don't you understand?"

The old man looked at the Marine and said, "Oh, I understand. I just love hearing it."

OBAMA Obama obama obama....

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

Though I was at first disinclined to post the above news, my new favorite website convinced me that I probably should. Plus, I definitely know more than one person who has found themselves completely at a loss now that the election is over.

Fortunately, Obama's new website, Change.gov, has posted job offers! Want to compete with 30,000 other people to file papers? Check it out!

Good Effort, Good Effort

So ... we win. Obama is president-elect, and should hopefully rule the roost for quite some time. I'm not sure what else to say about it, I was so exhilarated that it kind of settled into a feeling of unreality. Fun.

Anywho, now that the election is all done with, on to bigger and better things. Newsweek is publishing a behind-the-scenes project that is showcasing all the stories we couldn't hear during the campaign season: like, for example, that Palin spent way more on clothing than was revealed; or that both the major Obama and McCain databases were hacked by China or Russia, and huge amounts of data were pulled down for what the FBI and Secret Service termed "[uses] in negotiations with a future administration".

Moving on, Russia's oil economy is so bad that people are talking about revolution due to unemployment doubling. Good thing they announced plans today to put missiles on its Western border.

Good luck Obama! Make us proud!

Godspeed Obama

Well it is 2300 here in Eugene, Oregon, and it is almost hard to believe that the election is finally here. It has been a long, hard-fought campaign - the most expensive in history. But in only a few short hours voting booths will start to open on the East Coast. I can only hope that in 24 hours we will be able to begin closing this dark chapter in American history that has been the last 8 years under Republican leadership.

To Barack Obama, and all of his many supporters around this nation: Good night, and good luck.

Obama Assassination Plot Thwarted

Some unsettling news in the last week of the election:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Law enforcement arrested two men in Tennessee who had plans to rob a gun dealer to shoot Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and "as many non-Caucasians" as possible, an official said on Monday.

An official from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said police found the men in the Jackson, Tennessee area with a number of guns, including a sawed-off shotgun, in their car.

"They wanted to go to a place where they could shoot as many non-Caucasian as they could," the official said, noting that the men first planned to rob a gun dealer. "They also had a plot to assassinate Sen. Obama."

Obama, who would be the first black U.S. president, is leading Republican John McCain in opinion polls ahead of the November 4 election.

If McCain has any self-respect, the first thing he'll do if not elected is to attempt to undo the dangerous character attacks that have characterized his campaign. If Obama were to be injured or killed by an assassin, I believe that much responsibility for that would rest squarely upon McCain's shoulders. His reckless disregard for the truth has endangered Obama, his family and the police and Secret Servicemen who are guarding them.

FOLLOWUP: Looks like it was white supremacists. Link

I Just Voted!

I just voted in one of the most important American elections in the history of the nation. I'm pretty pumped. As a resident of Oregon I am able to use mail-in voting and get my ballot in weeks before they are counted.

I'm dithering about whether or not to go in-depth about the specific issues that I voted on, but I will proudly say that I voted for Barack Obama to become president of the United States of America!

Party Rallies Around Obama, Denied

Supporters of Hillary Clinton are beginning to show their support for Barack Obama, two days after her speech conceding victory to Obama. But this photo of North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley denying a fist pound to Sen. Obama shows that it will take time for the primary wounds to heal.

"I know I'm late but I'm on the train." Easley said.

UPDATE: The Google news reader has some very good news to share!

Obama Nomination Victory Speech

I would really suggest watching this video, especially if you are a supporter of Hillary Clinton who is concerned about the Barack Obama nomination.

I found Obama's speech to be very gracious, and he spoke eloquently about the important role of the Clintons in American politics.

He described Clinton as being at the center of the universal initiative, and a strong advocate of the green energy economy.

Personally, I think that a Clinton / Obama ticket would be the best solution for the Democratic Party, as well as the nation as a whole. Clinton's strength will be absolutely needed in healing the wounds caused by eight years of President Bush.

Furthermore, I think that any other VP would simply pale in comparison to her, and appear wholly manufactured. A Clinton / Obama ticket would form the basis of a strong and productive administration, that could work together as a team more than the leader and his shadow that is the standard paradigm.

Hillary Clinton needs to join the Campaign for Change, because she has been campaigning for change all her life.

75,000 at Portland Obama Rally

Barack Obama held the largest rally yet for the 2008 presidential race in Portland today. 60,000 crowded into the gates of Waterfront park, with another 15,000 outside and boats and kayaks floating alongside in the Willamette. It was a beautiful, sunny evening for the event, and a perfect capstone for the hard fought campaign. Obama is hoping to have a strong showing in Oregon, which should prove to be the clincher for the Democratic nomination.

Read the event coverage:

The Washington Post
The New York Times
Official Barack Obama blog

Oregon is the largest state remaining in the contest between Clinton and Obama, and it is considered a strong supporter of the Obama campaign. Still, every vote counts in this proportional contest. If more than 70% vote Obama then he gets every vote!

So if you haven't put your ballot in the mail, walk down to a ballot box and make your voice heard.

Obama in '08!

First Speech of the General Election

Barack Obama made a "decisive victory" in N. Carolina tonight, pulling within 200 delegates of securing the Democratic nomination. Hillary Clinton won Indiana by less than a 2 point margin.

In response, Obama delivered a major speech that has been called "the first speech of the general election."

"We can't afford to give John McCain the chance to serve out George Bush's third term," Obama said. "We need change in America."

"That's why I'm running for President."

Read more at my Obama blog.

The Empire Strikes Barack

This is just awesome.

Use the (democratic) force, Barack!

Obama's Anger

Looks like another round of Clintonian panhandling about the 'Pastorgate Crisis' (on a side note, the *gate cliche needs to die a horrible death).

I read an article by Frank James from the Baltimore Sun Tribune entitled "Can Obama Show Real Anger?" James argued that Obama's recent televised renunciation of his former pastor Jeremiah Wright lacked the anger that was needed:

James writes (abridged):

Does Sen. Barack Obama ever cut loose and let his anger and, more broadly, his emotions show? And if not, what is that about and will voters go for a candidate who always seems buttoned down?

If ever there were a perfect opportunity for Obama to really show what most people would recognize as anger, it was yesterday, the day after his former pastor Jeremiah Wright's histronics at the National Press Club.

Then a man the candidate once counted as important to his life, his former pastor, essentially calls Obama an opportunistic, say-anything-to-win politician and appears intent on doing everything he can to sink his former congregant's chances.

Candidates have been driven to public displays of ire over less. And it may have helped some voters connect with more since most people would understand a candidate getting "fired up," as Obama might say, over such a perceived betrayal as Wright's.

While some reporters in the room said they saw glimpsed anger, watching on television it was very hard to see. What was more apparent was pique. Obama seemed very tamped down. He didn't even appear to be doing a slow burn.

Because I'm guessing many Americans want to see some fight in their presidential candidates. They want a president who at times will kick a little you-know-what and take names if the situation calls for it. A candidate needs to show that ability.

[Americans] want to see anger when it should be there, a popping vein on the forehead, and a well-aimed "How dare he!" They want to know the man or woman they choose to be president has not just the head for a fight, but the heart for it.

I tried leaving a comment on his article page, but apparently the web page doesn't work. Which is a bit ridiculous considering the premise of their blog, The Swamp, is to interface the reporters with the community.

I watched the NYT video of Obama's speech, and he appeared clearly angry. His rhetoric was forceful and to the point. But he was, as James said, also tamped down.

Personally, I see that as a good quality that will avoid a burnout like Howard Dean. A leader needs to keep a cool head despite adversity, and leave the vein-popping to the Marines. If a candidate snaps over something this minor, how are they going to handle a real crisis?

OH - BAH - MA!

Usually, I try to curb my enthusiasm for Barack Obama on this blog by keeping most of my gushing to my barackobama.com blog, but I have to mention the local campaign stumping that Obama did throughout Oregon. He swept through Portland, Salem and Eugene on Friday, ending with a late night rally at McArthur Court at the University of Oregon.

I managed to squeeze into the tightly packed rally in Eugene (10,000 in the building, and almost that many couldn't get in), and I was overjoyed to hear him speak. He's just so inspiring. I already wrote about it here, so I'll avoid repeating myself any further, but I did manage to find a short video where you can see where I was standing. The footage was shot from across the court, but when it zooms in you can spot me to the bottom right of the frame. I'm the guy in the green shirt who keeps on raising my arms to form the 'O' sign like I was at a football game or something. It was a whole lot of fun.

It was only after I visited family in Corvallis that I realized that Obama had dropped by my hometown too. He made a quick stop (well, as quick as a three bus entourage guarded by the Secret Service can be) at American Dream Pizza in downtown Corvallis. He said, "There’s something very metaphorical going on here," of the locally owned business. They are my absolute favorite restaurant, and I was amazed to hear that he went there. If only I could have been there when it happened. The local newspaper went nuts over the incident, and you can read more about it here.