[lbo-talk] Juan Cole's critique of Obama's Op-ed

Michael Pollak mpollak at panix.com
Mon Jul 14 15:39:07 PDT 2008


Obama wrote an editoral in today's NYT detailing his plans for Iraq and Afghanistan:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/opinion/14obama.html

Main points: In Iraq be gone in 16 months except for leaving a residual force to fight al-Qaeda; Afghanistan, increase troops by 10,000 and step up war especially on border with Pakistan.

Juan Cole wrote a "friendly critique:"

http://www.juancole.com/2008/07/obama-on-iraq-and-afghanistan-friendly.html

Main points: In Iraq, a smaller residual force aimed at al-Qaeda will be even more pointless than a large force aimed at warring sides; and Afghanistan/Pakistan is even more unwinnable than Iraq.

But there is more than that to both, if you're interested.

Michael



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