"Obama to tell nation he'll order 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, begin exit within 2 years" by Anne Gearan and Jennifer Loven
By Aaron Dubnow
Link:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-ap-us-us-afghanistan,0,2905871.story
Summary:
The article, “Obama to tell nation he’ll order 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, begin exit within 2 years” outlines President Obama’s plan for the war the US is fighting in Afghanistan. Even though President Obama wants to end the war and have US troops come “home”, he feels it is necessary to send more troops in order to accomplish the US’s goals. Specifically, US Senior Officials confirmed that President Obama will send more US troops starting as early as Christmas; however, senior officials also confirmed that the exit plan is for all the troops to leave by July 2011. The reason the US troops are needed is to counter the Taliban, protect the Afghan people, and improve the training of the Afghan security forces. Furthermore, Obama is calling on NATO and other international forces to send more troops as well, because this should not only be US’ fight. Many people, including leading Democrats, are unhappy with the war and the little progress that is being made, however, the President wants to stress that the troops are necessary in order to help train the Afghan security forces so they can handle the problems of Afghanistan on their own, so soon the US troops can come home.
Relation to Social Studies Class:
This article relates to our social studies class because we learned how the President of the United States is the "Commander and Chief." In this article, he is describing the reasons he is using his power of "Commander and Chief" and sending more US troops to Afghanistan. Other ideas in this article that we discussed in class are the President occasionally giving a speech to Congress outlining plans and meeting with US and International leaders so not to abuse his power.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why are more troops being sent to Afganistan and do you agree with these reasons?
2. Do you think NATO and other countries should be sending more troops?
3. Do you think it is good idea that the President outlines his plan to Congress and the public?
My Answers:
1. More troops are being sent to Afganistan because.... I agree with these reasons becasue...
2. I think NATO should be sending more troops because...
3. I think it is a good idea that the President outlines his plan because...
Comments (25)
Aaron said
at 10:20 am on Dec 2, 2009
1. Practicing
2. Practicing
3. Practicing
Aaron said
at 11:32 am on Dec 2, 2009
1. I think adfhadf
2.
Philip C. said
at 11:43 am on Dec 2, 2009
1. More troops are being sent to Afghanistan because so they can preserve and secure the country. I do not agree with this idea because if this was the same simulation as the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, the outcome will be exactly the same.
2. NATO has a choice if they can send troops or not. But this is a highly risky plan because al-Qaida will just go underground and will wait until they leave. But I support the idea that foreign countries should help in this war because this is not an American War.
3. Yes because everything will make sense, because we will know why we are in Afghanistan and why we are fighting.
Danny U. said
at 11:43 am on Dec 2, 2009
1. The troops are being sent because America needs to protect the Afganistan people. I partly agree with Obama's actions.
2. NATO should send more troops so we are all in an alliance. More treaties will be made.
3. The president should outline his plan so Americans know what is going on in Afganistan.
Nicolas f said
at 11:44 am on Dec 2, 2009
why must the US feel the need to poliece the world
Jack B said
at 11:44 am on Dec 2, 2009
1. I agree because the more troops we send in maybe the faster everyone will be able to get out of Iraq.
2. Yes they should send more troops to
Tierney B said
at 11:45 am on Dec 2, 2009
1) US troops are needed is to counter the Taliban, protect the Afghan people, and improve the training of the Afghan security forces. I agree with these reasons because then our troops can come home, and wont have to go back to Afghanistan and help the people protect themselves.
2) I think they will because they will realize that the US cannot help the people and sent the amount of troops needed to Afghansistan
3) Yes, because he has to explain his reasons so the people wont get mad that he is sending more troops
Gwenny S said
at 11:45 am on Dec 2, 2009
1. More troops are being sent to Afghanistan because Obama feels that to accomplish the goal of having the troops come home, he needs to sent more troops. I disagree with this ideas because i don't think that sending more troops will do anything.
2. I think NATO has a choose. They don't have to send more troops if they don't want to.
Lauren S said
at 11:45 am on Dec 2, 2009
1. There are more troops being sent to Afghanistan because President Obama feels it is necessary to accomplish the U.S's goals. I don't agree with this because having more troops in Afghanistan wont necessarily do much.
2. I think that it is up to NATO to decide if they want to send more troops.
Alex R said
at 11:45 am on Dec 2, 2009
1. I do not agree because the war isn't getting the U.S. anywhere except destruction and more losses of life.
Sean P said
at 11:46 am on Dec 2, 2009
1. The 30,000 troops are being sent because they are needed to help the war effort in Afganistan and to protect the citizens, train Afganistan's forces, and counter the Taliban. I agree that if it is not carried out completely, there may be more terrorist attacks.
2. NATO should be sending in more troops because the Taliban can be a threat to those countries, too.
3. Its a good idea to outline the plan because if there is a major change or problem with it, they can see where it happened and change it accordingly.
Jack A said
at 11:46 am on Dec 2, 2009
1. More troops are being sent to Afghanistan because the US wants to help Afghanistan become a more civilized and safe place to live. I agree with these reasons because if we help them for a little longer to get to be a better place, we can leave without losing many more troops and have them come home and the war will be over.
2. I think NATO should be sending more troops so we can make Afghanistan a more civilized and safe place to live. We must make their government more organized.
Aidan W. said
at 11:46 am on Dec 2, 2009
it is is an n unsure situation which could end up like our current one or repeal violence throughout the middle-east
Molly K. said
at 11:46 am on Dec 2, 2009
1. He sent the troops in to accomplish the US’s goals. I think that hopefully we can accomplish these goal and he is taking a risk by putting more peoples lives on the line to remove others.
2. I think President Obama should coordinate with leaders from the other countries. President Obama should ask them to send in more troops so we don't have to send in as many.
3. I think it causes a little panic but the public have a right to know.
Quinn R said
at 11:46 am on Dec 2, 2009
1. More troops are being sent to Afghanistan to help them create and instill a safe government. I agree with his decision because more troops faster will help solve the conflict faster and hopefully safer.
2. Yes, they should send more troops to make Afghanistan more stable.
3. I think it is a good idea because if he had not told everybody we would think he is doing nothing interesting.
George J. said
at 11:46 am on Dec 2, 2009
This article was fascinating to me, I agree with President Obama's decision to send more troop's to afghanistan. The troops that are already fighting need more help so they will be getting new fresh troops.
Jackson H. said
at 11:46 am on Dec 2, 2009
1) The Taliban are a rising force in Afganistan. I agree that there needs to be more support to hold them back. this time, unlike in Iraq, most of the united nations are behind us in our efforts.
Hannah B said
at 11:46 am on Dec 2, 2009
1.) More troops are being sent to Afganistan in order to complete the goals of the United States. However, President Obama wants the troops to come home, once everything is accomplished. I agree somewhat, but I think that sending more troops isn't be essential at this point anymore.
Elizabeth P. said
at 11:47 am on Dec 2, 2009
1. More troops are being sent to Afghanistan because Obama feels that the more troops will help accomplish the US goal. I disagree with this because even though there will be more power there, it is just risking so may more American's lives.
2. I think NATO is sending more troops because they feel that they should help the US in this fight in Afghanistan.
3. I think that it is a good idea for Obama to outline his plan that way everyone knows what is happening because every citizen should know what their country doing.
elisa h said
at 11:47 am on Dec 2, 2009
1. They're sending more troops to Afghanistan because of the Taliban. We're trying to control them or at least intimidate them to help keep the people safe. I don't think this is the greatest idea because I don't feel like sending troops is really helping anything right now.
2. I think maybe if other countries sent troops as well it may help show the Taliban that we're serious and know what we're doing.
3. It's definitely important the the president lays out his plan for everyone because we deserve to know what's going on.
Nicolas f said
at 11:47 am on Dec 2, 2009
why cant we just mind our own business and stop sticking our noses on outher contries affairs
Taylor T said
at 11:47 am on Dec 2, 2009
1) More troops are being sent to Afghanistan because some of them are needed to train the Afghans and others are there to counter the Taliban and protect the Afghan people. I agree with these reasons because this might speed up the process of ending the war.
2) I think the NATO should be sending more troops because it will give us more power.
3) I think that it was the right choice to share is choice with the public, but maybe not all the details because bad people could read and know them too.
Adrian T. said
at 11:48 am on Dec 2, 2009
1) To counter the Taliban, to protect the Afghan people, and in order to improve Afghan security forces. I disagree because U.S. troops are being delayed from coming home, again. More war isn't the answer.
2) Although, I do agree with sending in international forces because at least we're not wasting more of our men. This, I hope, will put an end to the Taliban in Afghanistan.
3) Yes, Congress should be able to hear out the plan and then vote accordingly. We should hear also so we can put in opinions and thoughts
Edward T said
at 11:48 am on Dec 2, 2009
I disagree. we have no business being in Afgahnistan. it will not affect u if it is taken over by the taliban or whoever. in fact. when the soviets invaded afganistan, we armed and trained the resistance that osama bin laden was part of.
Nicolas f said
at 11:49 am on Dec 2, 2009
um why are you just stating opinyins someone argue or agree with me...
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