What's clear is that we quickly drove al-Qaida out of Afghanistan, but then shifted our focus and began a new war in Iraq. This carried grave consequences for our fight against al-Qaida, our standing in the world,
If Al Quaida was quickly drove out of Afghanistan why has the US military been there for over a decade? And maybe if the Dems including Bill and Hillary, would not have been harping about Saddan's WMD and how he was going to use them on US soldiers in the area Bush would not have started that new war. :roll:
.But some, like expanded surveillance, raised difficult questions about the balance we strike between our interests in security and our values of privacy. And in some cases, I believe we compromised our basic values – by using torture to interrogate our enemies, and detaining individuals in a way that ran counter to the rule of law
So drone attacking targets is so much better and not a compromise to the US's values but pouring water on some terrorist that is looking to kill Americans is. :roll:
After I took office, we stepped up the war against al-Qaida, but also sought to change its course. We relentlessly targeted al-Qaida's leadership. We ended the war in Iraq, and brought nearly 150,000 troops home. We pursued a new strategy in Afghanistan, and increased our training of Afghan forces. We unequivocally banned torture, affirmed our commitment to civilian courts, worked to align our policies with the rule of law, and expanded our consultations with Congress.
Today, Osama bin Laden is dead, and so are most of his top lieutenants. There have been no large-scale attacks on the United States, and our homeland is more secure. Fewer of our troops are in harm's way, and over the next 19 months they will continue to come home. Our alliances are strong, and so is our standing in the world. In sum, we are safer because of our efforts
We are safer because of Obama efforts, REALLY REALLY So Fort Hood, The Christmas day bomber, Benghazi, and the Boston Bombing didn't happen?????? :roll: And again Bush signed the Iraq withdraw orders not Obama. :roll:
When was the last time Obama took somebody into custody and prosecuted verses DRONING THEM and eliminating any chance to get intell to stop attacks like the Benghazi, and Boston Bombing? :? :roll:But despite our strong preference for the detention and prosecution of terrorists, sometimes this approach is foreclosed.
To say a military tactic is legal, or even effective, is not to say it is wise or moral in every instance. For the same human progress that gives us the technology to strike half a world away also demands the discipline to constrain that power – or risk abusing it. That's why, over the last four years, my administration has worked vigorously to establish a framework that governs our use of force against terrorists – insisting upon clear guidelines, oversight and accountability that is now codified in Presidential Policy Guidance that I signed yesterday
Who made the Stand Down Order in Benghazi??? :?
Again when was the last time Obama detained anyone and did he consult Pakistan when he sent Seal Team Six into harms way to Kill Osama?Beyond the Afghan theater, we only target al-Qaida and its associated forces. Even then, the use of drones is heavily constrained. America does not take strikes when we have the ability to capture individual terrorists – our preference is always to detain, interrogate, and prosecute them. America cannot take strikes wherever we choose – our actions are bound by consultations with partners, and respect for state sovereignty. America does not take strikes to punish individuals – we act against terrorists who pose a continuing and imminent threat to the American people, and when there are no other governments capable of effectively addressing the threat. And before any strike is taken, there must be near-certainty that no civilians will be killed or injured – the highest standard we can set.
So he got permission from Congress to go into Lybia and take out their leader????? :? I don't think so :roll:For this reason, I've insisted on strong oversight of all lethal action. After I took office, my administration began briefing all strikes outside of Iraq and Afghanistan to the appropriate committees of Congress. Let me repeat that – not only did Congress authorize the use of force, it is briefed on every strike that America takes
That is only some of the crap he spewed and I hope people look at his deeds and not his rose colored words as they sure don't match up.