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Forums - General - President Obama - The New Military Outlook

steven787 on 06 November 2008
TheRealMafoo said:
steven787 said:
Think of it this way, if we had gone into Iraq and Afghanistan with thousands instead of dozens of translators and the state department, then we would have saved billions of dollars. We knew we had to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis and Afghans, and Bush tried to do it with guns... that's not very smart or well thought out. Obama is the most "well thought out" person I've ever seen; I don't think anyone could argue against that reasonably, say whatever else you will.

 

I hope Obama would have had a better plan then you.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-05-21-translator-deaths_x.htm

"It's one of the most dangerous civilian jobs in one of the world's most dangerous countries: translating Arabic for the U.S. military in Iraq.

One by one, little noticed in the daily mayhem, dozens of interpreters have been killed — mostly Iraqis but 12 Americans, too. They account for 40% of the 300-plus death claims filed by private contractors with the U.S. Labor Department."

That's 120 dead, I guess that's not enough for you?

But that's the past. Unless Obama can travel back in time, it has no baring on what he will do.

 

EDIT: Oh, and by the way, from that same article:

More than 4,000 translators work for San Diego, Calif.-based Titan, which supplies the U.S. military with Arabic- and Kurdish-speaking linguists.

So I guess you think Bush is as smart and as well thought out as Obama, being he did go into Iraq and Afghanistan with thousands?

 

1st - Obama is talking about Military trained translators.  That is 1/3 of the formula. Training for the military.  Translators from the state department.  More translators total.

2nd - 4000 work for Titan, it doesn't say how many are there at a single time.  The other issue is present tense, we did not have 4000 translators on the day they stormed in and blew up all the infrastructure.  If someone came in, blew up your power plant, your sewage plant, and your hospital (where Saddam's men were supposedly hiding) how are you supposed to know hat they aren't there to kill you, if none of them speak your language?

 

You did not read Obama's statements and you didn't use critical thinking on your own source.  If you're going to continue to do that even after the election, than do not reply to my posts, please.  Save that for somebody else.



I would cite regulation, but I know you will simply ignore it.

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TheRealMafoo on 06 November 2008
steven787 said:
TheRealMafoo said:
steven787 said:
Think of it this way, if we had gone into Iraq and Afghanistan with thousands instead of dozens of translators and the state department, then we would have saved billions of dollars. We knew we had to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis and Afghans, and Bush tried to do it with guns... that's not very smart or well thought out. Obama is the most "well thought out" person I've ever seen; I don't think anyone could argue against that reasonably, say whatever else you will.

 

I hope Obama would have had a better plan then you.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-05-21-translator-deaths_x.htm

"It's one of the most dangerous civilian jobs in one of the world's most dangerous countries: translating Arabic for the U.S. military in Iraq.

One by one, little noticed in the daily mayhem, dozens of interpreters have been killed — mostly Iraqis but 12 Americans, too. They account for 40% of the 300-plus death claims filed by private contractors with the U.S. Labor Department."

That's 120 dead, I guess that's not enough for you?

But that's the past. Unless Obama can travel back in time, it has no baring on what he will do.

 

EDIT: Oh, and by the way, from that same article:

More than 4,000 translators work for San Diego, Calif.-based Titan, which supplies the U.S. military with Arabic- and Kurdish-speaking linguists.

So I guess you think Bush is as smart and as well thought out as Obama, being he did go into Iraq and Afghanistan with thousands?

 

1st - Obama is talking about Military trained translators.  That is 1/3 of the formula. Training for the military.  Translators from the state department.  More translators total.

2nd - 4000 work for Titan, it doesn't say how many are there at a single time.  The other issue is present tense, we did not have 4000 translators on the day they stormed in and blew up all the infrastructure.  If someone came in, blew up your power plant, your sewage plant, and your hospital (where Saddam's men were supposedly hiding) how are you supposed to know hat they aren't there to kill you, if none of them speak your language?

 

You did not read Obama's statements and you didn't use critical thinking on your own source.  If you're going to continue to do that even after the election, than do not reply to my posts, please.  Save that for somebody else.

 

Why do any of us ever communicate on this forum? It's always an exercise in you're wrong, and I'm right. Never will any words come out of either of our mouths that will change our views. It's pointless.



steven787 on 06 November 2008

I am not one of those people who refuses to admit that I am wrong, but just like the David Gergen Love Thread, I will not take the posts seriously that ignore information, misuse sources, or take things out of context.



I would cite regulation, but I know you will simply ignore it.

Avinash_Tyagi on 06 November 2008

To those who said Obama shouldn't spend on the mIlitary, what are you smoking, the government should be tossing around money like a drunk yuppie at this point, the only way out of this economic hole is a good strong dose of Keynesian fiscal stimulus, in the form of increased government outlays. The last thing we should be concerned with is balancing the budget.

to quote Krugman: Let's get fiscal!



 

Predictions:Sales of Wii Fit will surpass the combined sales of the Grand Theft Auto franchiseLifetime sales of Wii will surpass the combined sales of the entire Playstation family of consoles by 12/31/2015 Wii hardware sales will surpass the total hardware sales of the PS2 by 12/31/2010 Wii will have 50% marketshare or more by the end of 2008 (I was wrong!!  It was a little over 48% only)Wii will surpass 45 Million in lifetime sales by the end of 2008 (I was wrong!!  Nintendo Financials showed it fell slightly short of 45 million shipped by end of 2008)Wii will surpass 80 Million in lifetime sales by the end of 2009 (I was wrong!! Wii didn't even get to 70 Million)

Moongoddess256 on 06 November 2008
gomezc said:

I know that a lot of you on here have done extensive research on Obama; I've looked into both candidates a bit too, but not enough. I have a question:

Concerning the military, do any of you know what he plans to do with the military? I just sat back and tought about it. I'm joining the Air Force and want to know how the new presidency will affect me and the rest of the military, if any change is done at all.

I remember when Clinton was in office, he closed a lot of bases around the country. My father has already begun ranting about how he could be like Clinton was and do more or less the same. He seems supportive of the military but I don't know what he wants to do concerning pay, deployment, etc.

I'm a bit confident about eventual pullout from Iraq though; though I don't think it will come in time. I'll probably end up going there at least once before all the boys come home for good :( oh well.

Also discuss the fate of Afghanistan. I hope we do send more troops over there though. We need to finish up that mess. I'm getting tired of hearing how every now and then the Taliban take over a town, and we have to send the Marines to re-conquer it.

 

 

whoa whoa dude. There was just a HUGE BRAC (base realignment and closure) round during the Bush years. That wasn't just Clinton closing bases. What happened is the cold war ended. Hopefully they hold off on another round until the communities affected by the last round stabalize again. I also think its really unwise of the millitary to put everything in the same few places.



[2:08:58 am] Moongoddess256: being asian makes you naturally good at ddr
[2:09:22 am] gnizmo: its a weird genetic thing
[2:09:30 am] gnizmo: goes back to hunting giant crabs in feudal Japan

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ODUARMYROTC on 07 November 2008

Can we please just stop arguing about this crap. He is not going to cut spending to the military. It isn't up to him in the first place, its up the to congress to pass a bill in the first place. Obama stands for change, but no where does he stand to weaken American armed forces. He said that in his speech by acknowledging the many of our brothers waking up under the sky's of Afghanistan and Iraq. He wants to build our armed forces by adding more troops and implementing better training. I am in my university's ROTC program and I support Obama and always will. I am proud to have helped elect a man who will truly change this world for the best. I am young and many of you may think I am naive, but I know in my heart what this country, and especially our military, need to be successful. A COMPETENT leader. Please I don't want any responses to this comment. I am merely stating my opinion as a upcoming soldier to this great nation. I love this country and I always will but please I'm asking everyone here to open your minds to new ideas. This country is so divided right now, and Americans are forgetting a very important fact. WE ARE ALL AMERICANS. Lets show this new world just how great we really are.