Skip to main content

Home/ Groups/ Current Events Fall 09
Rss Feed
Sort By: Most Recent | Popular Filter: All | Bookmarks | Topics Simple Middle
Jim Brinling

War in Afghanistan - CNN.com - 22 views

www.cnn.com/...index.html

ce09 afghanistan CNN

shared by Jim Brinling on 07 Oct 09 - Cached
  • Jim Brinling on 07 Oct 09
     
    CNN's comprehensive look at the Afghaistan War.
Jim Brinling

Two Arguments for What to Do in Afghanistan - TIME - 16 views

www.time.com/...0,8599,1927095-2,00.html

shared by Jim Brinling on 07 Oct 09 - Cached
  • But there is a real and strong middle option: to put ourselves and friendly Afghans in a position to manage future terrorist threats in that country without a major U.S. combat role. We can accomplish this by doing what we actually know how to do: arm, train, divide the enemy, contain and deter.
    • Denita P
      Denita P on 07 Oct 09
       
      why does it all have to be so complicated? i don't understand how everyone can hate each other, and it's hard to get along. i know it sounds like a dream to expect more, but it is not impossible.
    • Kayla K
      Kayla K on 14 Oct 09
       
      this is a great idea, but will it truely work? i realize we are trying so hard to make afghanistan a better country, but i, personally, haven't seen any difference.
  • There are four main prescriptions for a more realistic strategy in Afghanistan. First, stop trying to do the impossible, i.e., build an effective government in Kabul and enlarge Afghan security forces.
    • Denita P
      Denita P on 07 Oct 09
       
      nothing is impossible.
  • Second, divide and rent the Taliban. Like the British, we can propose deals that split the moderates (those content with exerting power in Afghanistan alone) from the fanatics (those obsessed with global jihad).
    • Denita P
      Denita P on 07 Oct 09
       
      what exactly would this do, and how will it work?
  • ...16 more annotations...
  • These actions can be in place within one to two years and allow the U.S. to be mostly withdrawn from combat within three.
  • Fourth, start doing what the U.S. does well — deterrence and containment. To deter, we must maintain a small, residual capability in Afghanistan for a few years, as well as offshore air and missile capabilities to inflict harsh punishment when necessary.
  • Third, surge about 10,000 new combat forces on top of the 68,000 already authorized and create an additional 5,000 dedicated trainers. Such a surge should be sufficient to handle immediate troubles.
  • The U.S. has never won a classic civil war or a fight against an insurgency in which it bore the brunt of battle and became the local villain. Vietnam is the obvious example. For the sake of friendly Afghans and for our own security, our goal now should be to make this their war, not our war.
  • involving up to 40,000 more U.S. troops
    • Billy B
      Billy B on 08 Oct 09
       
      That is crazy how many people this strategy involves.
    • Marta K
      Marta K on 13 Oct 09
       
      40,000!? TROOPS WOW!
  • We should instead focus on forging a smaller army, say 75,000 or 100,000, that can and will actually fight, and concentrate on arming and training local warlords and tribal leaders who can defend themselves. This, backed by good U.S. logistics and intelligence, could block a Taliban reconquest of Afghanistan.
    • Billy B
      Billy B on 08 Oct 09
       
      I completely agree with this theory for a smaller army is a much better option in my opinion
  • These actions can be in place within one to two years and allow the U.S. to be mostly withdrawn from combat within three.
  • Perhaps most fundamental, the middle way avoids the quicksand on which the counterinsurgency strategy is built: the absolute need for nation-building. Counterinsurgency strategy requires clearing and holding territory, which cannot be done without transforming a corruption-riddled, anarchic and poverty-stricken state into a functioning market democracy.
  • But there is a real and strong middle option: to put ourselves and friendly Afghans in a position to manage future terrorist threats in that country without a major U.S. combat role. We can accomplish this by doing what we actually know how to do: arm, train, divide the enemy, contain and deter.
  • We can accomplish this by doing what we actually know how to do: arm, train, divide the enemy, contain and deter.
  • We can accomplish this by doing what we actually know how to do: arm, train, divide the enemy, contain and deter.
    • Kayla K
      Kayla K on 14 Oct 09
       
      it's easier said then done. if it's so easy, then why haven't we done it?
  • to put ourselves and friendly Afghans in a position to manage future terrorist threats in that country without a major U.S. combat role.
    • Rebecca Hauk
      Rebecca Hauk on 08 Oct 09
       
      It seems like both all-outers and middle-grounders of the war in Afghanistan want to do just that, but they have different methods of doing so.
  • Second, divide and rent the Taliban. Like the British, we can propose deals that split the moderates (those content with exerting power in Afghanistan alone) from the fanatics (those obsessed with global jihad). We can also attract Taliban fighters by paying them more than the Taliban leadership can afford.
    • Joe O
      Joe O on 08 Oct 09
       
      Why would we even consider paying someone who hates us? Chances are they'll just use it against us anyways.
  • Second, divide and rent the Taliban. Like the British, we can propose deals that split the moderates (those content with exerting power in Afghanistan alone) from the fanatics (those obsessed with global jihad). We can also attract Taliban fighters by paying them more than the Taliban leadership can afford.
    • Joe O
      Joe O on 08 Oct 09
       
      Why are we paying a group of people that want us dead? I'm thinking they'd take the money and turn against us again. No matter what they hate America and no amount of money is going to change their minds away from their jihad.
    • Lauren H
      Lauren H on 09 Oct 09
       
      The idea of trying to rebuild with their country and stabilizing the country is the best idea for them. I think its not right for some people to say that they are to violent in Afghanistan to even bother with trying to help them.
  • The all-out strategy calls for an additional 40,000
anonymous

GoErie.com: Local News - The face of poverty in Erie - 14 views

www.goerie.com/...article

goerie poverty

shared by anonymous on 02 Nov 09 - Cached
  • Jim Brinling on 02 Nov 09
     
    Maria Torrado is poor, and has been for much of her life. Pregnant at 14. Motherhood at 15. The native of Puerto Rico dropped out of high school and started working, one low-paying job after another, sometimes for as little as $4 an hour.
Jim Brinling

Interactive Map: The Economy Where You Live : NPR - 10 views

www.npr.org/...story.php

jobs foreclosures unemployment ce09

shared by Jim Brinling on 19 Oct 09 - Cached
  • Jim Brinling on 19 Oct 09
     
    Source: RealtyTrac Inc., U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nielsen Claritas Credit: Robert Benincasa and Nelson Hsu/NPR
Billy B

A Window On the War in Afghanistan - TIME - 8 views

www.time.com/...0,9171,1927284,00.html

shared by Billy B on 07 Oct 09 - Cached
  • It's been more than eight years since the war began, and for much of that time, it was a conflict that took place at the margins of our awareness.
  • Jim Brinling on 07 Oct 09
     
    The war in Afghanistan is at a crossroads. President Obama will soon decide whether to commit more U.S. troops to a conflict that's already on the verge of becoming the longest military action in American history--or perhaps begin to dial back our commitment there. It's been more than eight years since the war began, and for much of that time, it was a conflict that took place at the margins of our awareness.
Jim Brinling

lobbying letter - Google Search - 7 views

www.google.com/search

ce09 lobbying

shared by Jim Brinling on 10 Dec 09 - Cached
  • Jim Brinling on 10 Dec 09
     
    How to write an effective lobbying letter
Jim Brinling

Crossroads of war nothing new for Afghanistan - CNN.com - 5 views

www.cnn.com/...index.html

ce09 afghanistan CNN

shared by Jim Brinling on 07 Oct 09 - Cached
  • Jim Brinling on 07 Oct 09
     
    A history of war for Afghanistan.
Jim Brinling

GoErie.com: Local News - Erie County executive race influences fate of projects - 5 views

www.goerie.com/...article

ce09 Kerner Grossman Erie election

shared by Jim Brinling on 29 Oct 09 - Cached
  • Jim Brinling on 29 Oct 09
     
    For Democrat Barry Grossman, the contest represents a chance to win a high-profile political race -- something Grossman was unable to do in 2005 when he lost the Democratic primary for Erie mayor to Joe Sinnott. For Republican Mike Kerner, a Nov. 3 municipal election victory would validate his small-money, shoe-leather campaign.
Rebecca Hauk

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/05/afghanistan.debate/index.html - 5 views

www.cnn.com/...index.html

CE09 Afghanistan

shared by Rebecca Hauk on 08 Oct 09 - Cached
    • Charlie H
      Charlie H on 08 Oct 09
       
      Why is the General doing tv shows?? Shouldn't he be over seas with his troops?
    • Ali D
      Ali D on 09 Oct 09
       
      yeah i agree
  • Some helping to shape the strategy support counterinsurgency, which would involve a large number of troops focused on fighting the Taliban, plus efforts to rebuild the country and its economic system. Others, such as Vice President Joe Biden, favor a counterterrorism strategy in which a limited number of troops would target only al Qaeda.
    • Rebecca Hauk
      Rebecca Hauk on 08 Oct 09
       
      I think that in order to defeat al Qaeda like Joe Biden mentioned, it will prove neccessary to fight the Taliban and improve Afghanistan's central government and economy as well.
    • Joe O
      Joe O on 09 Oct 09
       
      I don't think Biden realizes that we were trying to do that but they diguise themselves as civilians which makes it harder to find them. The terrain is so bad that we have to go in and look everywhere to find them because they can be anywhere.
  • Some critics have said the White House is playing politics with the decision and putting U.S. troops at risk
    • Rebecca Hauk
      Rebecca Hauk on 08 Oct 09
       
      It is important to put political parties aside so the government can focus on the best strategy in Afghanistan, no matter if it is Republican or Democrat.
    • anonymous
      anonymous on 09 Oct 09
       
      I agrees with Becca. It shouldnt matter what party from, it should matter on how effective we can be to win the war safely in Afghanistan.
  • Rebecca Hauk on 08 Oct 09
     
    The White House needs to put political differences aside and really focus on finding the best strategy. As General McChrystal said, the time will eventually come when the U.S. will either fail in Afghanistan or pull the troops out, so the Obama administration needs to act quickly and efficiently in reaching an appropriate decision
Kayla K

Police use stun gun on 10-year-old girl | Fox10tv.com - 5 views

www.fox10tv.com/...ce-use-stun-gun-on-10-year-old

CE09 Police Force Stun Gun

shared by Kayla K on 02 Dec 09 - Cached
  • Kayla K on 02 Dec 09
     
    A police officer in a small Arkansas town used a stun gun on an unruly 10-year-old girl after he said her mother gave him permission to do so
  • Billy B on 03 Dec 09
     
    Unreasonable force was used because a 10 year old girl could easily have been restrained using other methods than tazing her.
  • Ali D on 03 Dec 09
     
    This probably wasn't needed to restrain a 10-yearold girl at all. So i do think that this was a misuse of force. If the police officer really knew what he was doing wouldnt need to taser a ten year old girl because she was kicking and screaming.
Denita P

War in Afghanistan - CNN.com | Diigo - 4 views

www.diigo.com/...2Fafghanistan.war%2Findex.html

shared by Denita P on 08 Oct 09 - Cached
  • 3,000 donkeys,
    • Denita P
      Denita P on 08 Oct 09
       
      why donkeys???????
anonymous

August deadliest month of 2009 for Afghan civilians, UN says - CNN.com - 3 views

www.cnn.com/...index.html

shared by anonymous on 08 Oct 09 - Cached
    • Charlie H
      Charlie H on 08 Oct 09
       
      Our troops need to get out of afghanistan. American blood should not be shed over there.
  • August had the most fatalities this year for civilians in Afghanistan because of the country's disputed election, and violence could rise again when the final results are released, a U.N. report warns.
    • Kayla K
      Kayla K on 14 Oct 09
       
      If civilians are killing due to an invalid election, something is completely wrong in society. That's not right at all! If this were to happen in the U.S, I feel as if no one would kill over it. All I want to say to them is to grow up.
  • About 1,500 people died in Afghanistan from the beginning of the year to August, according to the U.N. report released this week.
    • Billy B
      Billy B on 08 Oct 09
       
      I can't even comprehend what it sould be like knowing that 1500 people were killed in one month in our country
    • anonymous
      anonymous on 09 Oct 09
       
      it was from the beginning of the year to august not one month
    • Kayla K
      Kayla K on 14 Oct 09
       
      This is insane. I feel horrible for all the families, and I am so lucky I don't have to deal with the same pain they received. If I was them, I would be so resentful of the war.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • Almost 70 percent of the civilian deaths this year were blamed on what the report called anti-government elements. More than 20 percent of the civilian deaths were attributed to pro-government forces, the report said.
  • More than 200,000 of the nearly 5.7 million votes cast have been thrown out because of these allegations
    • Billy B
      Billy B on 08 Oct 09
       
      How did they allow something like this to happen in the first place?
    • Kayla K
      Kayla K on 14 Oct 09
       
      That can be a big fraction of votes to not count. That could make or break an election.
  • "August (was) the deadliest month since the beginning of 2009
  • August had the most fatalities this year for civilians in Afghanistan because of the country's disputed election, and violence could rise again when the final results are released, a U.N. report warns.
  • About 1,500 people died in Afghanistan from the beginning of the year to August, according to the U.N. report released this week.
    • Chris Braunstein
      Chris Braunstein on 08 Oct 09
       
      A lot of people are dying in Afghanistan, i think this is wrong because they are just civilians. If we had more soldiers over there i dont think this would happen as much.
    • Charlie H
      Charlie H on 09 Oct 09
       
      Yeah but you also have to think about if we have more soldiers in Afghanistan then the more at risk are our American soldiers.
    • Marta K
      Marta K on 13 Oct 09
       
      i cant believe this is still going on! its horrible that innocent people are dying because of this!
    • Lauren H
      Lauren H on 09 Oct 09
       
      In afghanistan, august was the month with the most civilian fatalities. This is believed to be from violence coming form the country' s recent election. The death was not stated for the month yet, but in 2009 august has been called the "deadliest month". The amount of violence is coming from increasing insecurity over that last few months. I think this should show us that Afghanistan does need help and is in need for more troops to help keep every thing under control.
    • Rebecca Hauk
      Rebecca Hauk on 09 Oct 09
       
      I agree with Lauren. I think that if there is still this much violence and chaos going on in Afghanistan, it should send a message to our government that the United States still needs to be over there and that the war is obviously not over yet.
    • Kayla K
      Kayla K on 14 Oct 09
       
      Why are we still sending troops over if it is just utimately killing them? I agree with Lauren and Rebecca with that idea that if this continues, we need to take them out of Afghanistan. Majority of Afghans might not want our help. If this is the case, we actually aren't helping anything. Instead, we are just instigating the killing.
  • Billy B on 08 Oct 09
     
    August had the most fatalities this year for civilians in Afghanistan because of the country's disputed election, and violence could rise again when the final results are released, a U.N. report warns.
  • Chris Braunstein on 08 Oct 09
     
    This month has been the highest month for deaths in Afghanistan, this is partly due to the disputed election this month.
  • anonymous on 09 Oct 09
     
    This also means the americans have to stay on their toes because of increased violence
Kayla K

War in Afghanistan - CNN.com | Diigo - 3 views

www.diigo.com/...2Fafghanistan.war%2Findex.html

CE09 Afghanistan Invalid Votes

shared by Kayla K on 09 Oct 09 - Cached
    • Kayla K
      Kayla K on 09 Oct 09
       
      It just seems so unreal how people can have invalid votes for Presidental elections. Our country's system seems so good and prevents fraud like this. I couldn't even imagine the turmoil in the country who encounters this situation.
    • Denita P
      Denita P on 13 Oct 09
       
      i also can't believe this because it is just so unreal. it's completely crazy how this happens even now. isn't America supposed to be a growing country?
    • Marta K
      Marta K on 13 Oct 09
       
      i agree with kayla! its totally not fairr
Jim Brinling

Afghanistan: 8 Years After 9/11 - ABC News - 3 views

abcnews.go.com/...popup

ce09 afghanistan ABC

shared by Jim Brinling on 08 Oct 09 - Cached
  • Jim Brinling on 08 Oct 09
     
    Eight Years in Afghanistan
Joe O

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/30/taliban.code.conduct/index.html - 3 views

www.cnn.com/...index.html

shared by Joe O on 08 Oct 09 - Cached
    • Joe O
      Joe O on 08 Oct 09
       
      Maybe this is a sign of some desperation. They realize that they are beginning to lose and rather than waste what resources they have left they want to make sure they are going for a more important targets. Perhaps this is a good sign for us.
    • Chris Braunstein
      Chris Braunstein on 09 Oct 09
       
      its good that they are restricting Suicide attacks.
anonymous

Afghan women hiding for their lives - CNN.com - 2 views

www.cnn.com/...index.html

CE09 Afghanistan Inside Afghanistan

shared by anonymous on 08 Oct 09 - Cached
    • Ali D
      Ali D on 08 Oct 09
       
      Its very tragic and sad that things like this happen everyday.
    • Chris Braunstein
      Chris Braunstein on 09 Oct 09
       
      as sad as this is, it sounds like its normal everyday things to them.
    • anonymous
      anonymous on 09 Oct 09
       
      this is just no good
    • Rebecca Hauk
      Rebecca Hauk on 09 Oct 09
       
      This is horrible. I'm glad that WAW and other non-profit organizations provide safe-houses like these so women and children can be protected from the abuse that seems normal to them.
    • Denita P
      Denita P on 13 Oct 09
       
      hopefully, they are all in a better place.
    • Marta K
      Marta K on 13 Oct 09
       
      Thats horrible how lowley women are treated there!
Jim Brinling

WICU12 News - Erie Family Fights H1N1 Flu Bug - 2 views

www.wicu.com/...index.vnss

ce09 H1N1 flu

shared by Jim Brinling on 29 Oct 09 - Cached
  • Jim Brinling on 29 Oct 09
     
    A local family of four, gets hit with the H1N1 flu bug. CLICK FOR VIDEO And, after several weeks of symptoms, they're now recuperating.
Rebecca Hauk

Two Arguments for What to Do in Afghanistan - TIME - 2 views

www.time.com/...0,8599,1927095-1,00.html

CE09 Afghanistan

shared by Rebecca Hauk on 08 Oct 09 - Cached
  • In August, President Obama laid out the rationale for stepping up the fight in Afghanistan: If left unchecked, the Taliban insurgency will mean an even larger safe haven from which al-Qaeda would plot to kill more Americans. So this is not only a war worth fighting.
    • Billy B
      Billy B on 08 Oct 09
       
      I completely agree that it is not a war worth fighting for in Afghanistan a war would be almost impossible to win.
  • This is not because the Taliban is so strong; generous estimates suggest it numbers no more than 20,000 fighters. It is because the Afghan government and the 90,000-man Afghan army are still so weak.
  • Having overthrown the ruling government in 2001, the U.S. has an obligation to leave to Afghans a country that is somewhat stable. And a stabilized Afghanistan is a necessary precondition for a peaceful South Asia, which is today the epicenter of global terrorism and the most likely setting of a nuclear war. Obamas Af-Pak plan has a real chance to achieve a stable Afghanistan if it is given some time to work.
    • Billy B
      Billy B on 08 Oct 09
       
      I kind of understand the U.S. obligation in a way and in another way I don't. We might have overthrown their government to promote peace in their country, but I don't feel that leaves us with an obligation to fix it. I feel that the efforts the U.S. has already put in to fix this country are plentiful and that the country needs to try to find a way of being stable other than the U.S.
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • Another common criticism is that Afghanistan is a cobbled-together agglomeration of warring tribes and ethnic factions that is not amenable to anything approaching nation-building. In fact, the first Afghan state emerged with the Durrani Empire in 1747, making it a nation older than the U.S. Afghans lack no sense of nationhood; rather, they have always been ruled by a weak central state.
    • Charlie H
      Charlie H on 08 Oct 09
       
      I am happy that our troops are keeping al-Qaeda from taking over Afghanistan.
  • A third critique is that Afghanistan is simply too violent for anything constituting success to happen there. This is highly misleading. While violence is on the rise, it is nothing on the scale of what occurred during the Iraq war — or even what happened in U.S. cities as recently as 1991, when an American was statistically more likely to be killed than an Afghan civilian was last year.
    • Kayla K
      Kayla K on 08 Oct 09
       
      I had no idea America was so violent only about a decade ago.
  • A BBC/ABC News poll conducted this year, for instance, showed that 63% of Afghans have a favorable view of the U.S. military. To those who say you cant trust polls taken in Afghanistan, its worth noting that the same type of poll consistently finds neighboring Pakistan to be one of the most anti-American countries in the world.
    • Kayla K
      Kayla K on 08 Oct 09
       
      I think it's promising how more than half the Afghans favor the U.S. military presence in their country.
  • Obamas Af-Pak plan is, in essence, a countersanctuary strategy that denies safe havens to the Taliban and al-Qaeda, with the overriding goal of making America and its allies safer.
  • Having overthrown the ruling government in 2001, the U.S. has an obligation to leave to Afghans a country that is somewhat stable. And a stabilized Afghanistan is a necessary precondition for a peaceful South Asia, which is today the epicenter of global terrorism and the most likely setting of a nuclear war. Obamas Af-Pak plan has a real chance to achieve a stable Afghanistan if it is given some time to work.
    • Ali D
      Ali D on 08 Oct 09
       
      I understand whats obviously right and wrong, but its seems that its going to be very difficult to change a system of goverment that has been enforced for many years. Some people may not want to give up what they know because that's all they know.
  • Under Obama, the Pentagon has already sent a surge of 21,000 troops to Afghanistan, and the Administration is even weighing the possibility of deploying as many as 40,000 more.
    • Rebecca Hauk
      Rebecca Hauk on 08 Oct 09
       
      I think that by sending in more troops, the U.S. will have a better chance of doing what it needs to do and getting out of Afghanistan more quickly than it would with less troops.
  • Afghanistan as it was in the 1970s, a country at peace internally and with its neighbors, whose towering mountains and exotic peoples drew tourists from around the world.
    • Rebecca Hauk
      Rebecca Hauk on 08 Oct 09
       
      This sounds like a great ideal - I hope Afghanistan can go back to how it was over time.
Jim Brinling

GoErie.com: Local News - Erie families face fear of lost jobs and tough times - 2 views

www.goerie.com/...article

ce09 economy jobs unemployment Erie goerie

shared by Jim Brinling on 19 Oct 09 - Cached
  • Jim Brinling on 19 Oct 09
     
    Diana Ames knows just how desperate a person can feel. Advertisement She and her husband, Ron, found themselves temporarily homeless in the early 1980s when he lost his job at Riley Stoker. The couple and their five children were spared by a local social-services agency that put them up at a motel for a month.
1 - 20 Next › Last »
Showing 20▼ items per page