*Waist Deep In The "Big Poppy"- Once Again, It's McChrystal Clear- More Boots Needed For Obama's Afghan War Policy- TROOPS OUT NOW!

Click on title to link to Bob Woodward's "Washington Post" article, dated September 21, 2009, concerning Obama's chief Afghan commander on the ground, General Stanley ("Search and destroy, and let god sort it out")McChrystal's 'private' sixty-six page report 'begging' for more boots on the ground.

Markin comment:

After a quick search through my archives of late I have noticed that I have been bringing up the subject of Obama's Afghan war policy more and more. Obviously that frequency has become necessary as the political and military situation in Afghanistan gets more desperate and the American military commanders, headed by the chief reporter on this report, General Stanley McChrystal (see, I can be 'civilized' and not use my nickname above for him at every opportunity), keep trying to 'fix' the thing with more troops. That is, however, their problem.

Our problem, and it is one that I have addressed before, is to stop the bastards in their tracks. I have been something of a Cassandra on this issue of Afghanistan since Obama's election. I have no special insight into his mind, the workings of his administration, or of the military's. However, this I know. When Obama stated in his pre-election speeches and 'debates' that America was fighting the wrong enemy in the wrong place (in Iraq) and the real focus should be Af-Pak then upon his election I started shifting my emphasis(although we still fight under the banner of immediate unconditional withdrawal of ALL U.S./Allied troops from Iraq, as well). I believe that it was not more than a few days after his election that the first rumblings of the Obama February troop escalations started to circulate. Make no mistake-this is Obama's signature war-signed, sealed and delivered. I would hope that no one, at least no self-respecting leftist, would bet me that the latest troop requests were NOT going to be granted.

Notwithstanding that future, take heart. From our anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist perspective this "failed policy-in-waiting" is, if nothing else, unless we can otherwise stop it, unfortunately unlikely at present, a "teachable" moment. I note the growing dissatisfaction with the Obama Afghan War policy, particularly among the left wing of his own Democratic party. They are, however, still somewhat 'smitten' with the man and his "charms", political and otherwise so the opposition is merely tepid and confused at this point. But, as a glance at "The Daily Kos", the left bourgeois political junkies' 'haven', confirms there are rumblings in that empire.

Okay, so our tasks are? Well, for starters, the 8th anniversary of the American occupation in Afghanistan is coming up and we should get out on the streets, yes the streets, to build a physical public presence against this war policy. Most of the political talk that I have heard has come from academics who, more in sorrow than anger, want to direct Obamian American foreign policy elsewhere. Or have enough of a sense of history to know that this one is a 'loser'. Let's make it a loser in our own way- out to the streets. Our battle cry- Obama-Immediate Unconditional Withdrawal Of All U.S./Allied Troops From Afghanistan (and Iraq too!)


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Every once in a while (more frequently than I would like but today seems like a very appropriate time) old Pete Seeger's song about his World War II adventures that served as a parable for President Lyndon Johnson and his constant Vietnam escalations, "Waist Deep In The Big Muddy” just seems appropriate. This is one of those occasions. Just switch "Big Poppy" for "Big Muddy" and you will have it just about right.

"Waist Deep In The Big Muddy"-Pete Seeger

It was back in nineteen forty-two,
I was a member of a good platoon.
We were on maneuvers in-a Loozianna,
One night by the light of the moon.
The captain told us to ford a river,
That's how it all begun.
We were -- knee deep in the Big Muddy,
But the big fool said to push on.

The Sergeant said, "Sir, are you sure,
This is the best way back to the base?"
"Sergeant, go on! I forded this river
'Bout a mile above this place.
It'll be a little soggy but just keep slogging.
We'll soon be on dry ground."
We were -- waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.

The Sergeant said, "Sir, with all this equipment
No man will be able to swim."
"Sergeant, don't be a Nervous Nellie,"
The Captain said to him.
"All we need is a little determination;
Men, follow me, I'll lead on."
We were -- neck deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.

All at once, the moon clouded over,
We heard a gurgling cry.
A few seconds later, the captain's helmet
Was all that floated by.
The Sergeant said, "Turn around men!
I'm in charge from now on."
And we just made it out of the Big Muddy
With the captain dead and gone.

We stripped and dived and found his body
Stuck in the old quicksand.
I guess he didn't know that the water was deeper
Than the place he'd once before been.
Another stream had joined the Big Muddy
'Bout a half mile from where we'd gone.
We were lucky to escape from the Big Muddy
When the big fool said to push on.

Well, I'm not going to point any moral;
I'll leave that for yourself
Maybe you're still walking, you're still talking
You'd like to keep your health.
But every time I read the papers
That old feeling comes on;
We're -- waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.

Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep! Neck deep! Soon even a
Tall man'll be over his head, we're
Waist deep in the Big Muddy!
And the big fool says to push on!