Comments on: Someone Forgot To Tell Anders Fogh Rasmussen That He’s Supposed To Be An Empty Suit http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/10/25/someone-forgot-to-tell-anders-fogh-rasmussen-that-hes-supposed-to-be-an-empty-suit/ Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:59:36 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: nick2000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/10/25/someone-forgot-to-tell-anders-fogh-rasmussen-that-hes-supposed-to-be-an-empty-suit/#comment-16317 nick2000 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:59:22 +0000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/?p=4300#comment-16317 "Easy to agree with a strategy when you have no skin in the game" I agree with that statement. We see it so often from our media "pundits" and elected representatives. Ready to bomb people or send people to be killed but none of them wants to take an *actual* part in it. They must think that it is a video game. “Easy to agree with a strategy when you have no skin in the game”

I agree with that statement. We see it so often from our media “pundits” and elected representatives. Ready to bomb people or send people to be killed but none of them wants to take an *actual* part in it. They must think that it is a video game.

]]> By: JasonSigger http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/10/25/someone-forgot-to-tell-anders-fogh-rasmussen-that-hes-supposed-to-be-an-empty-suit/#comment-16262 JasonSigger Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:23:02 +0000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/?p=4300#comment-16262 Money quote: "NATO will consider the addition of ground forces when the time is right." Easy to agree with a strategy when you have no skin in the game. Asshole. Money quote: “NATO will consider the addition of ground forces when the time is right.”

Easy to agree with a strategy when you have no skin in the game. Asshole.

]]> By: Spencer Ackerman http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/10/25/someone-forgot-to-tell-anders-fogh-rasmussen-that-hes-supposed-to-be-an-empty-suit/#comment-16260 Spencer Ackerman Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:20:30 +0000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/?p=4300#comment-16260 Hey, good to see you back. Hey, good to see you back.

]]> By: fnord http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/10/25/someone-forgot-to-tell-anders-fogh-rasmussen-that-hes-supposed-to-be-an-empty-suit/#comment-16259 fnord Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:56:23 +0000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/?p=4300#comment-16259 joejoejoe: One could, on the other hand, argue that since the US dumped NATO holding the hot potatoe for eight long years in Astan, you might feel some sort of obligation towards your allies in helping them out. Lets make this clear: The current situation in Astan is a direct result of Donald Rumsfelds light footprint strategy, and his open lying to the allies about what resources the US would commit. Contrary to popular opinion, NATO had a window of opportunity for at least three years to do some serious work on behalf of the Afghanis. Rumsfeld made a lot of promises, then told everybody to hold while he did a quick invasion of Iraq, from where he would return approx 6 months later all overed in rosepetals. In other words, the US FUCKED UP. Rumsfeld betrayed his allies, putting all his money in a bet for a flagwaving welcome in Baghdad. I know that this is seen as a impossibility by many US citizens, that you can ever make mistakes, but it is what it is. This is not a war about victory anymore, its a salvage operation. Sure the Euros suck, but the US knew that going in. joejoejoe: One could, on the other hand, argue that since the US dumped NATO holding the hot potatoe for eight long years in Astan, you might feel some sort of obligation towards your allies in helping them out. Lets make this clear: The current situation in Astan is a direct result of Donald Rumsfelds light footprint strategy, and his open lying to the allies about what resources the US would commit. Contrary to popular opinion, NATO had a window of opportunity for at least three years to do some serious work on behalf of the Afghanis. Rumsfeld made a lot of promises, then told everybody to hold while he did a quick invasion of Iraq, from where he would return approx 6 months later all overed in rosepetals.

In other words, the US FUCKED UP. Rumsfeld betrayed his allies, putting all his money in a bet for a flagwaving welcome in Baghdad. I know that this is seen as a impossibility by many US citizens, that you can ever make mistakes, but it is what it is. This is not a war about victory anymore, its a salvage operation. Sure the Euros suck, but the US knew that going in.

]]> By: Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/10/25/someone-forgot-to-tell-anders-fogh-rasmussen-that-hes-supposed-to-be-an-empty-suit/#comment-16090 Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:04:31 +0000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/?p=4300#comment-16090 isn't that the way it always is? isn’t that the way it always is?

]]> By: joejoejoe http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/10/25/someone-forgot-to-tell-anders-fogh-rasmussen-that-hes-supposed-to-be-an-empty-suit/#comment-16089 joejoejoe Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:22:09 +0000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/?p=4300#comment-16089 The McChrystal report recommends something like a 60% increase in US troops. Gordon Brown recently <em>conditionally</em> offered an additional 500 troops to the second largest ISAF contingent (9000 UK troops) in Afghanistan or something like 6% more troops. Is Denmark going to offer 60% more forces on top of their 690 troops in ISAF? Is NATO? If not, Anders Fogh Rasmussen is talking out of his ass. You can't agree with the McChrystal report when it comes to a US surge of forces and then offer force increases that are one-tenth the recommended surge from your own pool of forces. That's taking a hawkish political stance while outsourcing the potential political backlash. The McChrystal report recommends something like a 60% increase in US troops. Gordon Brown recently conditionally offered an additional 500 troops to the second largest ISAF contingent (9000 UK troops) in Afghanistan or something like 6% more troops. Is Denmark going to offer 60% more forces on top of their 690 troops in ISAF? Is NATO? If not, Anders Fogh Rasmussen is talking out of his ass. You can’t agree with the McChrystal report when it comes to a US surge of forces and then offer force increases that are one-tenth the recommended surge from your own pool of forces. That’s taking a hawkish political stance while outsourcing the potential political backlash.

]]> By: macaquerman http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/10/25/someone-forgot-to-tell-anders-fogh-rasmussen-that-hes-supposed-to-be-an-empty-suit/#comment-16088 macaquerman Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:59:30 +0000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/?p=4300#comment-16088 Dozens Dozens

]]> By: JasperJohns http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/10/25/someone-forgot-to-tell-anders-fogh-rasmussen-that-hes-supposed-to-be-an-empty-suit/#comment-16087 JasperJohns Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:26:46 +0000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/?p=4300#comment-16087 and Nato will further contribute troops to further this strategy? I mean combat troops? and Nato will further contribute troops to further this strategy? I mean combat troops?

]]> By: Teddy Partridge http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/10/25/someone-forgot-to-tell-anders-fogh-rasmussen-that-hes-supposed-to-be-an-empty-suit/#comment-16086 Teddy Partridge Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:49:47 +0000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/?p=4300#comment-16086 Did this happen before or after McChrystal's speech to the NATO defense ministers outlining his recommendation to President Obama? Did this happen before or after McChrystal’s speech to the NATO defense ministers outlining his recommendation to President Obama?

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