On a slightly different tip: Obama has the huge benefit of not having to fight the Vietnam War again, in the guise of Presidential politics. Clinton entered office having been tagged as a draft dodger, among other bits and pieces. And then the way Clinton handled the military was so, um, “jock sniffing” that there was never any sense of him as someone who could lay down an order, and have it stick. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” may be the emblematic Clinton piece of compromise: make no one happy, solve nothing, and claim victory while running faster than the critics can catch up.

However successful that be in many political settings, it’s not Obama’s style.

I’m writing to you as part of the constructive role I’m trying to play. I too would like to help rid Afghanistan of Pakistani domination, free it from Indian intriguers, and cleanse it of odious Saudi teachings.
I also find Karzai not to my liking, infected with a foreign education and with relatives living in unclean places.
Let’s rid our Afghani little brothers of these things so that you may quickly leave in triumph!
Death to the IAEA!

Firstly I was thrown by “frustration over the lassitude of many NATO partner-countries.” I guess it’s the Canuck in me that comes out but really! Where the fuck do you get off spouting that bullshit as if it has some touch with reality. Even jock reality. I remember when Canadians went into Afghanistan with all the sense of a friend putting life on the line to help out another in a time of need or at the least, comradery. Just like that poor sap Pat Tillman and the other patriotic Americans and foreign nationals that joined in out of a sense of outrage and right and wrong. What happened? The Canadians were used on patrols to dig up bodies to see if they were bin Laden. Thanks for the glory and high mindedness! Canadians were really needed for that duty! Shit! I’m not even mentioning the casual attitude about “friendly American jock fire” that Canadians weren’t the only victims of.

After seven years of that is it any wonder that there’s some “lassitude” on the part of NATO allies. Jayzuz! Where can I sign up for the glory of being canon fodder for some self glorifying American commander watching a TV screen somewhere in Florida or Texas? The wonder is that any of the previous allies are still around at all and haven’t told Americans to go Cheney themselves. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me .. go fuck yourself!

The Afghanistan and Iraq wars have never been about getting bin Laden. That was obvious at Tora Bora and it’s only gotten even more obvious every day since then. And you post with a straight face that the American military wants to change their approach in Afghanistan and are disappointed with their allies. Hey! I’m damn disappointed in the performance of Tillman! I wonder why his dedication has slacked off so much!

Quit being the ass licking jock. The reality is that what’s left of the leadership in the American military are the ones that didn’t dare challenge a moronic and malevolent military policy and campaign – in both Afghanistan and Iraq. It’s the incompetent butt lickers that are left. And now you’re posting that the incoming president, Obama, had better watch out how he behaves towards the military. Probably the first thing Obama should do is ask all the military commanders that left under fire from the Bush schmucks for pointing out the problems of Bush policy to come back and take command. Lose the garbage that is left that are likely the worst of the neo-con sycophants.

These are the people you are implying are deserving of great respect and deference! Geez! You’re like a cub reporter covering a last place home town football team that can’t even line up straight when the ball’s on a hash line. You’re looking at the big muscles and ignoring the losing record. Where is there the slightest basis for respect and deference for these jokers? These people have allowed the American military to be ground into mush by taking orders from incompetents that put partisan political considerations before country, citizens and military personnel. And now the president is supposed to be careful how he deals with them! Where the fuck were these guys when a crusade shouting neo-con was driving America into the ground? Where were the stories about how the president had better respect their concerns? Where were their expressed concerns instead of cross waving?

I’m repeating myself but you’re a complete jock strap suck up and that seems to need repeat expression.

.. And I’m ignoring the obvious implications of race and racism in a military that now has an African American as “Commander-in-Chief.”

Get real.

P.S. It’s “fleet week” in NYC – there’s a aircraft carrier in town beside the newly returned Intrepid.