In his speech Tuesday, Obama reiterated his commitment to Bush's "war on terror," which has been used as a pretext to assert the geo- political interests of America's ruling elite in energy-rich regions of the world. He issued a warning to "those who would tear this world down--we will defeat you."
Obama also repeated the threadbare claim that US troops had been sent to Iraq and Afghanistan to "risk their lives for us," that is, to protect the American people rather than advance the interests of the American capitalist class. He called for a "new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice"--a reference to some form of military conscription. Just as on economic policy, the next administration will inevitably clash with voters who thought the election of a Democratic president would lead to an end to the military aggression of the Bush years. Once again the Democrats are moving to dampen these expectations by reasserting their opposition to a "precipitous" withdrawal from Iraq and the need to escalate the "right war" in Afghanistan. On Nov 5, 11:00 pm, "mike [move on] 532" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > bush / McCain wants to keep us there until 2011 at the earliest > > On Nov 5, 6:53 am, "\"Lone Wolf\"" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > 16 months, he backed out of that over 6 months ago. > > > On Nov 5, 10:53 pm, "\"Lone Wolf\"" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > He is bringing no one home, the only thing he is bringing back is the > > > draft for god sake. Its more war not less war. Afghanistan, Pakistan, > > > Iran. Obama said he will work in consultation with the military > > > regarding troop numbers, famous last words > > > > Politicians lie for a living, the best liars get the best job. Thats > > > why Obama is president. You will find out soon enough. > > > > On Nov 5, 9:36 pm, "mike [move on] 532" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > wrote: > > > > > Troops hope Obama brings them home > > > > responsiblyhttp://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4A441P20081105?feedType... > > > > BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Watching election results that showed Barack > > > > Obama > > > > would be their new commander-in-chief, U.S. soldiers in Iraq said > > > > they > > > > hoped he would fulfill his promise to bring them home quickly and > > > > responsibly. > > > > > Breakfast was already being served in Baghdad on Wednesday morning > > > > when Tuesday's polls closed back home, and at Forward Operating Base > > > > Prosperity all eyes in the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st > > > > Airborne were on the dining hall's giant TVs. > > > > > Someone whooped when NBC called the election, but mostly the troops > > > > sat in rapt silence, eyeing their new president while eating their > > > > eggs. > > > > > "What soldier's going to say they don't want to go home? I have a > > > > wife > > > > and four kids. I want to go home. But one thing we all want is to > > > > make > > > > sure the friends we lost over here weren't for nothing," said Captain > > > > Ryan Morrison, from Colorado Springs. > > > > > "We have to pull out responsibly. I have the feeling he wants to do > > > > it > > > > responsibly," he said. > > > > > Obama has pledged to pull U.S. combat troops out of Iraq within 16 > > > > months of taking office, a promise that seemed bold when he first > > > > made > > > > it last year but now coincides roughly with the timetable favored by > > > > Iraq's government. > > > > > "I'm excited. He's going to be president and he's going to pull us > > > > from over here," said Sergeant First Class Norman Brown. > > > > > "If McCain had won we'd be over here for years, and I mean years and > > > > years. I reckon even people here don't want us here." > > > > > With levels of violence falling -- last month saw the fewest violent > > > > deaths among both Iraqi civilians and U.S. troops since the war began > > > > -- Iraqis increasingly express their hope that the force of more than > > > > 150,000 U.S. troops can leave soon. > > > > > "I as an Iraqi am asking Obama to keep his promises about the > > > > withdrawal of the U.S. security forces from our land," said Baqi > > > > Naqid, a Baghdad journalist. "We don't need an occupation." > > > > > IRAQI GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATES WITHDRAWAL > > > > > The Iraqi government is negotiating a security pact with the outgoing > > > > administration of President George W. Bush that would require U.S. > > > > troops to exit by the end of 2011. But some Iraqis still fear > > > > violence > > > > may return if U.S. troops leave too rapidly. > > > > > "They came on a mission. They should complete it. There should be 100 > > > > percent security before they leave," said Baghdad housewife Um Saba, > > > > 58. She said she preferred the Republicans for supporting an increase > > > > of troops last year that she credited with helping to curb violence. > > > > > Among U.S. troops, political loyalties were divided and debate > > > > spirited during the long campaign. African American soldiers > > > > described > > > > Obama's victory as inspirational. > > > > > "It gives me hope that anybody can accomplish anything no matter what > > > > your race, color or creed," said Los Angeles native Staff Sergeant > > > > Andre Frazier, adding he hoped it would improve the U.S. image > > > > abroad. Continued...- Hide quoted text - > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. 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