Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, May 1, 2012
2012 President Obama Makes Surprise Visit to Afghanistan, Will Address the Nation Tonight
Posted by Paul Constant on Tue, May 1, 2012 at 12:29 PM
I expect Mitt Romney to start complaining about this any second now:
President Obama has made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan, according to a White House pool report. He will also address the nation at 7:30 pm ET.
AP notes that Obama will "sign an agreement cementing the U.S. role in the country after the war ends in 2014. Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai are to approve the agreement before Obama gives a speech on the war effort for a TV audience back in the United States."
That's 4:30 Seattle time. We'll cover the speech right here on Slog.
1
Pssh, look at movie star Obama, jetting off to exotic locations at the expense of taxplayers.
Socialist.
Ni...Kenyan, I mean Kenyan.
Socialist.
Ni...Kenyan, I mean Kenyan.
2
Dang.
Unless he basically told Karzai our troops are leaving and we're not going to announce it until they've already left, this was a bad idea.
Unless he basically told Karzai our troops are leaving and we're not going to announce it until they've already left, this was a bad idea.
3
Oil Pipeline to The Caspian Sea, here we come!!!
Anyone have any guesses on which oil company executive blew Obama (i.e. who is going to get the contract...smart money is still on Unocal, but who knows? There could be another player in the game.)
Anyone have any guesses on which oil company executive blew Obama (i.e. who is going to get the contract...smart money is still on Unocal, but who knows? There could be another player in the game.)
4
Actually, come to think of it, this may be the best move Obama has made as president. If he realizes that, unlike 2008, he's not a shoe in to be elected, and that any GOP president/congress would, if Afghanistan didn't play ball, probably invade Iran, this ensures that no invasion of Iran will be necessary/plausible for at least 4 years.
I don't know if it was pragmatic, as with our troops in the condition they are at the moment, I'm not sure a Persian invasion would do so well, anyway, or if it was a genuine move toward some sort of peace in that region.
I hope it was the latter, and if so, it is admirable, but either way, good job, President Obama.
I don't know if it was pragmatic, as with our troops in the condition they are at the moment, I'm not sure a Persian invasion would do so well, anyway, or if it was a genuine move toward some sort of peace in that region.
I hope it was the latter, and if so, it is admirable, but either way, good job, President Obama.
5
How dare Osama Fartbongo use the gradual withdrawl of troops and eventual end of hostile action for political purposes; this is timed perfectly for the media to make a story about how this isn't taking place in October.
7
@3 What the fuck does American oil companies and the war in Afghanistan have to with an oil pipeline from the Caspian Sea - thousands of miles away?
Do you mean the Trans-Afghani pipeline? That was a completely different pipeline. It was never seriously considered because of the insanely difficult terrain.
Yes. Multi-national oil companies (with U.S holdings) that build pipelines might be involved in any supposed central Asian pipeline (which has been talked about for forty years and never built).
And THIS pipline is the ALTERNATE to the one proposed through Afghanistan.
Russia, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan are the countries with oil interests in the Caspian. Not the US. And most of that oil would be heading to emerging economies in Asia, not the U.S.
So. What the fuck are you talking about?
Do you mean the Trans-Afghani pipeline? That was a completely different pipeline. It was never seriously considered because of the insanely difficult terrain.
Yes. Multi-national oil companies (with U.S holdings) that build pipelines might be involved in any supposed central Asian pipeline (which has been talked about for forty years and never built).
And THIS pipline is the ALTERNATE to the one proposed through Afghanistan.
Russia, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan are the countries with oil interests in the Caspian. Not the US. And most of that oil would be heading to emerging economies in Asia, not the U.S.
So. What the fuck are you talking about?
8
@7
http://www.users.qwest.net/~kryopak/imag…
All existing pipelines in that region, and especially those emanating from the Caspian (which has MASSIVE oil and natural gas reserves) go through Iran, Russia, or to China.
With Turkmenistan and Afghanistan now in our back pockets, getting the oil through to a Pakistani port is a reality. From there, we can do what we want with it (sell it to India?? Whatever...)
Or, I have no idea what's going on.
http://www.users.qwest.net/~kryopak/imag…
All existing pipelines in that region, and especially those emanating from the Caspian (which has MASSIVE oil and natural gas reserves) go through Iran, Russia, or to China.
With Turkmenistan and Afghanistan now in our back pockets, getting the oil through to a Pakistani port is a reality. From there, we can do what we want with it (sell it to India?? Whatever...)
Or, I have no idea what's going on.
9
I now where the Caspian is.
But neither Turkmenistan nor Afghanistan are in "our" back pockets. Please explain what you mean.
The routes for the proposed Caspian pipeline (which is natural gas, BTW) go through what is now Taliban controlled areas of Afghanistan. And who is this "our" and "we." Unocal? They are no longer involved. And haven't been since the late 90's. That deal was almost entirely financed and controlled by Asian Development Bank and Penspen. Not US companies.And anyway it's all stalled. The only pipeline currently underway through Afghanistan is much smaller and separate project to Pakistan from Turkmenistan. Again, now we're talking about three different pipelines.
I realize it's tempting to see these shadowy figures behind the viel and in control of things because then we can believe complicated fucked up geo-political events CAN be controlled. But they can't.
I'm all ears if you know different but I'd like to see some actual credible cites here.
But neither Turkmenistan nor Afghanistan are in "our" back pockets. Please explain what you mean.
The routes for the proposed Caspian pipeline (which is natural gas, BTW) go through what is now Taliban controlled areas of Afghanistan. And who is this "our" and "we." Unocal? They are no longer involved. And haven't been since the late 90's. That deal was almost entirely financed and controlled by Asian Development Bank and Penspen. Not US companies.And anyway it's all stalled. The only pipeline currently underway through Afghanistan is much smaller and separate project to Pakistan from Turkmenistan. Again, now we're talking about three different pipelines.
I realize it's tempting to see these shadowy figures behind the viel and in control of things because then we can believe complicated fucked up geo-political events CAN be controlled. But they can't.
I'm all ears if you know different but I'd like to see some actual credible cites here.
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
It's Spring! Who's Ready for Street Harassment? by Cienna Madrid
-
New Gun Enthusiast... by Dan Savage
-
SL Letter of the Day: Gonna Boil My Laptop After Answering This One by Dan Savage
-
America Doesn't Care About Black People by Charles Mudede
-
Bigot Florist Files Countersuit by Dominic Holden
-
US Military Grants Itself the Power to Police American Streets and "Quell" "Civil Disturbances" by Brendan Kiley
-
SL Letter of the Day: Living Discomfortably by Dan Savage
-
Slog Super Poll: Who Should Be Mayor? by Dominic Holden
-
Black Market Elimination Fail: Draft Pot Rules Call for Ban on Hash and Hash Oil by Ben Livingston
-
Tim Burgess Quits the Mayor's Race by Dominic Holden
Stranger Personals
The Stranger
RSSSeattle Art & Performance Quarterly
A complete guide to Seattle's current art, film, dance, and theater season.
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (9) RSS