Funny that no one even wasted the time today to comment on Joe Bidens comments about the Taliban. He's just become a source of constant face-palm.
(https://p.twimg.com/AhC8zqFCIAALOp5.jpg:large)
Reminds me of every character that Leslie Neilson ever played.
(http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/nov2010/7/3/leslie-nielsen-pic-daily-mirror-166557872.jpg)
For anyone who doesn't know what Gaspar is talking about:
Quote"Vice President Joseph Biden said on Monday that the Taliban are not United States' (US) enemy — a statement later backed by the White House.
"Look, the Taliban per se is not our enemy. That's critical. There is not a single statement that the president has ever made in any of our policy assertions that the Taliban is our enemy because it threatens US interests," Biden said in an interview with Newsweek magazine.
"If, in fact, the Taliban is able to collapse the existing government, which is cooperating with us in keeping the bad guys from being able to do damage to us, then that becomes a problem for us. So there's a dual track here," he added."
Of course that sort of flies in the face of when President Obama has clearly stated we are fighting the "Tahly Bahn".
I prefer to think of Biden as a Bill Hartman caricature. That or he's like the Forrest Gump of Vice Presidents.
Quote from: Conan71 on December 20, 2011, 04:02:43 PM
"Vice President Joseph Biden said on Monday that the Taliban are not United States' (US) enemy — a statement later backed by the White House.
"Look, the Taliban per se is not our enemy. That's critical. There is not a single statement that the president has ever made in any of our policy assertions that the Taliban is our enemy because it threatens US interests," Biden said in an interview with Newsweek magazine.
"If, in fact, the Taliban is able to collapse the existing government, which is cooperating with us in keeping the bad guys from being able to do damage to us, then that becomes a problem for us. So there's a dual track here," he added."
Even though none of you guys on the right around here want to ascribe competence or even sentience to Biden, he's not doing a dumb thing. He's trying to stabilize our position in the region by making an overture to the Taliban. What this means (I'm guessing) is that the Obama administration has made the judgement that the Taliban won't be able to be defeated (either ever or in the time that Obama's allotted before we draw down the Afghanistan war); therefore, finding ways to normalize relations between the Taliban-US and the Taliban-Karzai is in US interests.
Quote from: we vs us on December 20, 2011, 04:20:11 PM
Even though none of you guys on the right around here want to ascribe competence or even sentience to Biden, he's not doing a dumb thing. He's trying to stabilize our position in the region by making an overture to the Taliban. What this means (I'm guessing) is that the Obama administration has made the judgement that the Taliban won't be able to be defeated (either ever or in the time that Obama's allotted before we draw down the Afghanistan war); therefore, finding ways to normalize relations between the Taliban-US and the Taliban-Karzai is in US interests.
Thank you Secretary of State Clinton.
Quote from: we vs us on December 20, 2011, 04:20:11 PM
Even though none of you guys on the right around here want to ascribe competence or even sentience to Biden, he's not doing a dumb thing. He's trying to stabilize our position in the region by making an overture to the Taliban. What this means (I'm guessing) is that the Obama administration has made the judgement that the Taliban won't be able to be defeated (either ever or in the time that Obama's allotted before we draw down the Afghanistan war); therefore, finding ways to normalize relations between the Taliban-US and the Taliban-Karzai is in US interests.
I think if that was the case, Carney wouldn't have had that Deer-in-the-headlights look when asked about Biden's comments.
Joe gets to talking, and when he's on a roll, who knows what might slip out. When you have combat troops on the ground getting killed by Taliban, you do not say they are not the enemy. Besides, who else are we fighting in Afghanistan? Al Qaeda?
Quote from: Gaspar on December 20, 2011, 04:25:49 PM
I think if that was the case, Carney wouldn't have had that Deer-in-the-headlights look when asked about Biden's comments.
Joe gets to talking, and when he's on a roll, who knows what might slip out. When you have combat troops on the ground getting killed by Taliban, you do not say they are not the enemy. Besides, who else are we fighting in Afghanistan? Al Qaeda?
No Saddam Hussein, silly.
Quote from: Conan71 on December 20, 2011, 04:27:03 PM
No Saddam Hussein, silly.
At least they don't have ATM's yet. If we had to fight those we'd be screwed.
Fairly sure this was accompanied by a shart.
(http://images.rcp.realclearpolitics.com/116375_5_.jpg)
Quote from: Gaspar on December 20, 2011, 04:34:06 PM
Fairly sure this was accompanied by a shart.
(http://images.rcp.realclearpolitics.com/116375_5_.jpg)
Dana Carvey could so play him.
Give this to Biden and he will be entertained all day.
(http://www.retailshakennotstirred.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/bright-shiny-object.jpg)
So then, since most of the reasons we went to war in Afghanistan are moot, what's the next brilliant untouched-by-Biden step?
I'm going to go ahead and guess it isn't finding ways to negotiate a peace.
Looks like our troops are not buying Biden's BS about the Taliban.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/soldiers-react-to-bidens-taliban-is-not-our-enem
These soldiers REALLY don't like Biden or Obama.
Sounds like a new running mate might be a good idea.
Biden means well. He's like that guy who goes to the management meetings and is so proud to be a part of the team that he takes remarks, usually out of context, and spreads them so he can be the big deal "insider" back at the office. We used them to start rumors about people or ideas we were considering or didn't like.
Quote from: AquaMan on December 20, 2011, 06:45:40 PM
Sounds like a new running mate might be a good idea.
Biden means well. He's like that guy who goes to the management meetings and is so proud to be a part of the team that he takes remarks, usually out of context, and spreads them so he can be the big deal "insider" back at the office. We used them to start rumors about people or ideas we were considering or didn't like.
Yep, you nailed the personality type.
Merry Christmas to you and Aqua Woman and the Aqua Kids.
Republicans are hypocrites, they're just too stupid to know it. :P
Quote from: Teatownclown on December 20, 2011, 06:59:53 PM
Republicans are hypocrites, they're just too stupid to know it. :P
You're in a foul mood, light
en up clown!
Quote from: Teatownclown on December 20, 2011, 06:59:53 PM
Republicans are hypocrites, they're just too stupid to know it. :P
For what it's worth, I came across a combat vet and author who agrees with me:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/12/20/i-hate-the-taliban-afghan-war-vet-says-but-biden-was-right.html
"So while it sounds bad at first, I think the vice president is correct in stating an obvious truth: we have accomplished our mission of destroying Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda in Afghanistan, but cannot defeat the Taliban militarily. The smart thing to do is to change our approach to one that envisions the Taliban's return to the political fold, under a framework that forces moderation upon their extremist elements, denies haven to extremist international terrorist organizations, and ultimately ends the war in Afghanistan."
Quote from: we vs us on December 21, 2011, 09:45:46 AM
For what it's worth, I came across a combat vet and author who agrees with me:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/12/20/i-hate-the-taliban-afghan-war-vet-says-but-biden-was-right.html
"So while it sounds bad at first, I think the vice president is correct in stating an obvious truth: we have accomplished our mission of destroying Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda in Afghanistan, but cannot defeat the Taliban militarily. The smart thing to do is to change our approach to one that envisions the Taliban's return to the political fold, under a framework that forces moderation upon their extremist elements, denies haven to extremist international terrorist organizations, and ultimately ends the war in Afghanistan."
At some point our enemies in Japan and Germany became our allies.
In effect I agree with what he's saying here, it's the only rational approach at this point unless we want to be in Afghanistan another 50 years. So long as the Taliban's radical elements have been contained, I think it might be worth a diplomatic approach.
Still doesn't change the fact that Biden has a severe case of engaging mouth before brain though.
Quote from: Conan71 on December 21, 2011, 09:50:09 AM
At some point our enemies in Japan and Germany became our allies.
In effect I agree with what he's saying here, it's the only rational approach at this point unless we want to be in Afghanistan another 50 years. So long as the Taliban's radical elements have been contained, I think it might be worth a diplomatic approach.
Still doesn't change the fact that Biden has a severe case of engaging mouth before brain though.
I wonder if they haven't used him tactically as we used to use those people in our company. Quite possible that he was allowed, or directed, to throw out these remarks. He could then take the heat, yet, start the discussion. If it fails to generate support, well, another Bidenism. If it is viewed as described by you and WevsUs, then it was our idea and he leaked it a little early.
I agree it sounds like the inevitable conclusion to that conflict.
Quote from: AquaMan on December 21, 2011, 10:00:45 AM
I wonder if they haven't used him tactically as we used to use those people in our company. Quite possible that he was allowed, or directed, to throw out these remarks. He could then take the heat, yet, start the discussion. If it fails to generate support, well, another Bidenism. If it is viewed as described by you and WevsUs, then it was our idea and he leaked it a little early.
I agree it sounds like the inevitable conclusion to that conflict.
It could have also been in response to a threat on the President. I think it's done to remind people of the alternative. ;)
I think he's what's called a "safety" veep.
Quote from: Conan71 on December 21, 2011, 09:50:09 AM
Still doesn't change the fact that Biden has a severe case of engaging mouth before brain though.
This is true, though I think he gets nailed more times than he should for spouting off when in fact he's doing something deliberate. In this case, I think he was doing just that.
EDIT: or what Aqua said.