GolfHos

(http://cache.boston.com/resize/bonzai-fba/AP_Photo/2009/10/29/1256805066_9573/539w.jpg)

I can't WAIT for the Noise Machine to react to this one.

(http://static1.firedoglake.com/1/files/2009/10/2346224462_6007a5ae7c.jpg)

If he were sincere in his concern he would either give them the manpower and equipment that they need or get them out altogether.  But I guess in absence of decisive leadership a nice photo op will do.

OTOH, Shrub's position on this was to pretend that our boys weren't coming home in flag draped coffins.  He wouldn't allow them to be photographed.

It is arguably exploitation.

I don't think that the fatalities have been kept secret.

No, it isn't. Matthew Brady selling battlefield pictures for profit was exploitation.

H2jJjpk_-bc

  I didn't see anything like the Tarawa newsreels coming from Shrubco, and I would probably argue that The Mediaaaargh hasn't really been doing their jobs.

Shrubs position was to virtually ignore Afghanistan in favor of Iraq where the real enemy was.
 Imagine if there would have been another 300,000 on the ground in Afghanistan.

No, lets stick our heads up our asses instead and pretend it's the new guys fault. ;)

PS:

It's a good looking salute, too. Somebody spent a little time on it with him.

Not saying it's Obama's fault, but it is now his responsibility to preside over.  We need to *feces* or get off the pot.

"Back burnering" Afghanistan to go into Iraq was stupid.  We went into Afghanistan first and should have kept that as sole focus until done.

If one wishes to assume an ulterior motive, that Obama wasn't simply showing respect for fallen US military personnel, than it seems his purpose is to see the photo used as an iconic symbol that forces people to pause and actually think about what the heck we are doing over there and at what cost.  In other words, as a tool to build political pressure against the drum-beaters so that withdrawing from Afghanministan becomes politically feasible.

My own opinion is that, after Bush's misadventure failing to exterminate the al-qaeda central command, at best nothing of value is served by a continued US presence in Afghanministan.  Clearly, the only tactical purpose we seem to serve is as some sort of fulcrum upon which ancient tribal conflicts pivot.  Worse, the only strategic value served is as an outlet for the US military-industrial complex to exercise itself and thereby mine profit it couldn't achieve in peace.

I would hope this is something Obama has learned while he's dithered over the problem.  Unfortunately, knowing this doesn't provide an obvious exit strategy--he needs cover, and nothing covers a lost cause like this better than counting dead bodies.


   

Actually, one of those flag-draped boxes contained a young man from my county.

'Nough said.

I see a fallen soldier. Everything else means nothing to me.