Conffederate
Confederate

March 08, 2009

Hustled: How Obama Deceived America About a Drawdown in Iraq and a "Surge" In Afghanistan By Playing With The Lives Of American Soldiers

This post from milblogger Greyhawk is a must-read.

It is relatively rare when we see a situation where people from both ends of the political spectrum and all points in between can unite for any reason, but using the lives of soldiers as political props is certainly one of them.

Here's the summary:

President Obama, apparently seeking to keep the anti-war left firmly under his spell, announced that he was drawing down American forces in Iraq, and was instead diverting forces who had trained specifically for an Iraqi deployment to Afghanistan.

Less than a month later, another unit's scheduled deployment to Iraq is sped up, in order to keep the same number of Stryker brigades in Iraq as there would have been if he hadn't shipped the other unit to Afghanistan.

The President ordered a unit that had trained for ten months specifically for the Iraqi mission to another part of the world that speaks a different language and has entirely different cultures. There is no easy way to determine on a Sunday night how many tens of millions of training dollars and man-hours Obama wasted by shifting this Stryker brigade, but if the Iraqi theater really didn't need them, it at least could have been understandable.

But the Iraqi theater clearly did need a Stryker brigade, and he planned on sending one all along.

We know this because just as soon as the Obama White House sold the drawdown story to the media and the anti-war left, he immediately and quietly ordered that another Stryker brigade—one that is no doubt capable, but one that didn't have the specific, intensive training of the unit diverted to Afghanistan— rushed to Iraq months ahead of schedule in order to keep the same number of Stryker brigades (two) as there has been the entire time.

There is no drawdown of Stryker brigades in Iraq.

President Obama lied to the American people.

He tried to con those who are against the Iraq war into thinking we were actually drawing down our capabilities there, when all he actually did was use a street-hustler's sleight-of-hand, having us watch one hand moving a unit out of Iraq, while using his other hand to deftly slide in another.

To borrow a phrase: you been lied to. Bamboozled. Run amok.

By a hustler who's been playing you the entire time.

And for those of us who know people in the military, be they friends or family, you should be absolutely livid at the callous disregard with which our punk of a President used the lives of two entire brigades of soldiers and their families as pawns.

The military life is never easy. Not ever. Our troops and spouses know that, and the kids, well, they learn to cope as best they can. There is always pride, but always uncertainty, and little things can make a difference for both the morale of the soldiers and those who carry on in their absence.

Knowing that our soldiers are highly trained for a specific mission makes them feel more confident of success, and more confident they'll have a better chance to come home. Having nearly a year's training wasted—and then finding out several weeks later that all that training was wasted because of political theater orchestrated to benefit your selfish Commander-in-Chief—well, I can only assume that hurts morale. Not just the morale of the troops, mind you, but that of their families, to see how little he cares about those he commands. And that's just the 5th Stryker Brigade.

The 4th Stryker Brigade's soldiers are being rushed to Iraq to keep two Stryker Brigades there. Did they get in all the specialized training they needed? They'll no doubt rush to get it done. But are those soldiers and their families being cheated of time together because Barack Obama is using them to play a cynical political game where he tries to lie to America about the wars we're fighting?

Absolutely.

Anyone who has done any research into who Barack Obama is, instead of who he likes to claim who he is, can't be very surprised that he would so cynically manipulate others for personal political gain.

What is surprising is how brazen his abuses are, and how quickly they've come.

Update: "It looks as if the Obama administration is so self involved, the only game it’s playing is a shell game with itself and the American people."

Posted by Confederate Yankee at March 8, 2009 09:17 PM
Comments

This is obviously some clerical error, like the selection of $19 White House gift store Marine-1 toys for Prime Minister Brown's children. Or the use of a state department employee's $5 English-to-Russian dictionary to translate "Reset" into "Overcharge." Or the use of staffers who didn't know that the "Top 20 American Movies" DVD set wouldn't play in region 2, rendering the gift useless. Or like the 57 states, where 7 apparently went missing. Or any of Biden's recent comments (god help us there as no staffer could be expected to keep up with Clueless Joe).

Seriously, do you expect competence out of street agitators? I mean, seriously, Obama read that Alinsky crap and all, but it's like, he's on autopilot letting Pelosi and Reid run things while tricking out the Air Force Ones for Michelle and inviting all of Hollywood to entertain that demanding woman every Wednesday night.

So try backing off for a change. Michelle ain't easy to please!

Posted by: HatlessHessian at March 8, 2009 11:29 PM

Must be nice being Carter these days: he might actually live long enough to see a president less competent than himself.

Posted by: ECM at March 9, 2009 12:48 AM

I wonder how much coverage this story with get in the MSM. Once again Obama has lied to the public and senselessly endangered the lives of our troops for no other reason than his political convenience.

It is amazing how the MSM criticized President Bush for 8 years while Obama the "Street Thug" gets a pass. Bush had so much more class than this President.

Posted by: zesuma at March 9, 2009 04:24 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIHz5tevLAw&eurl

Posted by: Matt at March 9, 2009 06:57 AM

Remember your OATH!
http://cmblake6.wordpress.com/2008/11/19/this-is-the-oath-many-of-us-have-sworn/

Posted by: cmblake6 at March 9, 2009 08:29 PM

During Bill Clinton's administration 80% of the pilots who came up for reenlistment refused to do so. I don't know if it will be 80%, but I am guessing a lot of personnel won't reenlist. Would you?

Obama said he was going to reduce the military. I don't think he will have to. How many VOLUNTEERS would want to be at his calling? Would he bomb an aspirin factory to divert attention like Clinton did?

I predict Obama won't make it for four years. I am guessing he is going to be recalled by the people. He seems to think he can fool all of the people all of the time.

Posted by: Smorgasbord at March 10, 2009 01:00 AM

During Bill Clinton's administration 80% of the pilots who came up for reenlistment refused to do so. I don't know if it will be 80%, but I am guessing a lot of personnel won't reenlist. Would you?

Obama said he was going to reduce the military. I don't think he will have to. How many VOLUNTEERS would want to be at his calling? Would he bomb an aspirin factory to divert attention like Clinton did?

I predict Obama won't make it for four years. I am guessing he is going to be recalled by the people. He seems to think he can fool all of the people all of the time.

We should start calling Obama "Bill Jr."

Posted by: Smorgasbord at March 10, 2009 01:02 AM

Do you remember when Clinton was president you had plenty of food a place to lay your head and no deficent. Would be nice if Bush had left us at least half that well off. Instead we are back in 1929 and you better pray Obama can do some of what turned us around then.

Posted by: Ricky Lott at March 12, 2009 05:10 PM