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Obama Gaffes on Iraq and Afghanistan
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ShareMay 13, 2008 8:27 PM
ABC News' David Wright and Sunlen Miller Report: Sporting a shiny new American flag pin at an appearance in Rush Limbaugh's hometown, Sen. Barack Obama came up with some novel reasons why the U.S. may be struggling in the war in Afghanistan.
"We don't have enough capacity right now to deal with it -- and it's not just the troops," Obama, D-Ill., told a crowd in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Obama posited -- incorrectly -- that Arabic translators deployed in Iraq are needed in Afghanistan -- forgetting, momentarily, that Afghans don't speak Arabic.
"We only have a certain number of them and if they are all in Iraq, then its harder for us to use them in Afghanistan," Obama said.
The vast majority of military translators in both war zones are drawn from the local population.
Naturally they speak the local language. In Iraq, that's Arabic or Kurdish. In Afghanistan, it's any of a half dozen other languages -- including Pashtu, Dari, and Farsi.
No sooner did Obama realize his mistake -- and correct himself -- but he immediately made another.
"We need agricultural specialists in Afghanistan, people who can help them develop other crops than heroin poppies, because the drug trade in Afghanistan is what is driving and financing these terrorist networks. So we need agricultural specialists," he said.
So far, so good.
"But if we are sending them to Baghdad, they're not in Afghanistan," Obama said.
Iraq has many problems, but encouraging farmers to grow food instead of opium poppies isn't one of them. In Iraq, oil fields not poppy fields are a major source of U.S. technical assistance.
There are other infrastructure problems both countries share that U.S. advisors have struggled to address -- a lack of safe roads, schools, adequate electricity, etc. -- but Obama did not mention these.
Obama's overall point may well be true: that U.S. efforts in Iraq have come at the expense of the battle against al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
Still it's not asking too much to expect the man many say will soon be the Democratic nominee to cite the right facts to back up his thesis.
UPDATE: Bill Burton, Obama campaign spokesperson, disputes this report, writing in to say, "This poorly researched and written piece is inaccurate in that it just completely ignores the need for Arabic translators in Afghanistan, and the need for agricultural specialists in Iraq. It is irresponsible to report such issues so matter-of-factly without checking out the actual facts. Please reference these very simple and easy to find websites to learn more about these issues: on the need for agricultural specialists in Iraq; and on the foreign fighters in Afghanistan.
To which, ABC News' David Wright responds:
Interesting pushback from the Obama campaign on this story. It begs a response.
They point out that the U.S. has indeed deployed agricultural experts to Iraq, in an effort to work with aid organizations to rebuild Iraq's food infrastructure. Other technical experts were deployed early on to southern Iraq to help rebuild the ravaged ecosystem of the Marsh Arabs, whom Saddam Hussein sought to exterminate. The U.S. and its allies sent much and varied assistance to the Iraqi people, including agricultural aid. My bad.
However, Obama's point seemed to be that the Iraq effort constituted a brain drain in the Afghanistan agricultural problems, that the experts deployed to Iraq would otherwise have gone to Afghanistan to encourage Afghan farmers to grow food not poppies. That strikes me –- as someone who has covered the conflicts in both countries extensively -- as doubtful.
The main problem now in both Iraq and Afghanistan is the lack of security, which makes it too dangerous for the experts to do their work.
As far as that goes, Obama's overall point –- as noted in the original piece –- is probably valid. The vast numbers of troops needed to secure Iraq (unsuccessfully) have had an impact on the troop available for Afghanistan. Neither country is particularly safe right now. (Then again, Obama wants to start withdrawing the troops from Iraq. Would that make it any safer for agricultural experts and aid organizations to lend whatever hand is needed there?)
As for the point about Arabic translators needed for Afghanistan, the Obama campaign points to the well-documented presence of foreign fighters there, many of whom do speak Arabic. However, these folks are mostly shooting at NATO troops, not talking to them.
No doubt there are a handful of Arabic speakers employed at Bagram and Kandahar and other detention centers to interrogate foreign fighters captured on the battlefield. But I have not seen any reports that there is a shortage of such personnel, or that the need for such translators in Iraq has hamstrung the interrogators in Afghanistan.
Foreign fighters captured in BOTH Iraq and Afghanistan have also been sent to detention centers such as the one in Guantanamo. Is there a shortage of Arabic translators there or at other U.S. detention facilities overseas? That would be an interesting news story. Again, I haven't seen any proof of it.
To reiterate: Obama's main point may well be fair: that Iraq has made Afghanistan tougher to win by stretching our resources too thin. But are these really the best examples for him to cite of why this may be the case?
May 13, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (97)
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Well, racism and ignorance are alive and well in America, thank you abc blog.
Meanwhile, My Vietnam vet grandfather and myself read the posts and see how easily folks forget both HRC and McCain screw ups, ready to jump and bash Obama-
And we both laugh. Mt grandpa taught me well, he served in Vietnam and has the wounds to prove it- we are BOTH voting Obama.
Obama 08
Posted by: Bud | May 13, 2008 9:58:27 PM
The entire election process is changing. My grandfather says not a moment too soon. He has lived through more than most of you, and he can see through through the rhetoric and debates you are posing.
If you guys wouldn't trust West Virginia to be the only vote and deciding factor on economic issues, why in the hell would you expect them to decide a president.
I will say- my battle wounded grandpa finds all these arguments entertaining. he was raised in a racist era. He even says pissed off women and racist will be our worst enemy, and guess what, he IS RIGHT.
Move On.
Obama 08
Posted by: Bud | May 13, 2008 10:03:23 PM
okay
sunlen and david you both have made a gaffe
farsi is spoken in iran and presently in iraq...
Farsi translators are in Iraq...yes they are ...and if you didn't know that you should not be reporting this gaffe as it is.
He may have said Arabic... because he had it backwards...but the translators needed in Afghanistan ARE in Iraq.
get the story correct.
and yes... there are farm specialists who should be in afghanistan that ARE in bing bing bing
Iraq.
I wish i could copy someone on this so you all could make sure YOUR gaffes don't spread misinformation.
Posted by: dl | May 13, 2008 10:04:37 PM
This really isn't that big of a screw up...he'll make alot worse in the months ahead...LOL...just wait!
Posted by: MaxiDial | May 13, 2008 10:07:06 PM
This is the same guy, your Barack, who said the US has 57 states!
Pathetic.
Hillary should be the nominee!!!!
Posted by: minil | May 13, 2008 10:14:35 PM
Well at least unlike Sen. McCain, Sen. Obama knows the difference between Sunni and Shia! At least he didn't MISREMEMBER being under fictitious sniper fire!
Posted by: getreal | May 13, 2008 10:18:15 PM
minil and Hillary was under sniper fire which she repeated at least 4 times LOL Yes, that is pathetic.
Posted by: Emily | May 13, 2008 10:21:20 PM
One would think that he would have his facts straight before opening his mouth. Of course, he has been making misstatments and distortion so long, it is part of his charm and political rhetric. Farming specialist needed in Bagdad and 57 US states.
Bet if all those 57 states had primaries, he would not win. That man is not qualified. He is a hack.
Posted by: Mary | May 13, 2008 10:21:36 PM
WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE FLAWS AND CRACKS IN OBAMA'S ARMOR. NO CHANCE HE WILL DEFEAT MCCAIN, NOT THAT MCCAIN IS ALL THAT GREAT.
HIS ULTRA LIBERAL/SOCIALIST VIEW, UNWILLINGNESS TO SAY THE PLEDGE, SALUTE THE FLAG OR ACKNOWLEGE THE MIDDLE AMERICA POINT OF VIEW (PATRIOTISM) WILL BE HIS DOWNFALL. IF YOU LISTEN LONG ENOUGH YOU WILL HEAR THE THUD.....
Posted by: Scott | May 13, 2008 10:22:35 PM
Thats it. I guess when he spoke openly against going to war in Iraq, he meant Iran. Another staff gaffe not his. But, I guess it has positive results. Ooops.
Posted by: politicsIsdirty | May 13, 2008 10:24:41 PM
I did not see anything on these ABC blog posts about the Obama campaign setting aside $20 million to help get all those superdelegates reelected the next time around. This was on talk radio yesterday.
If Obama is elected, George Bush will look like a genius compared to Obama. HELP AMERICA. THE SHIP IS SINKING.
Posted by: Mai | May 13, 2008 10:30:46 PM
OBAMA! WHAT A JOKE!
ITS TIME WE GET REAL, AND CAST OUR VOTES IN THE GE FOR A POLITICIAN WHO KNOWS THE LANDSCAPE, AND HAS SOME EXPERIENCE. ITS HILL OR MAC IN 08'
Posted by: ? | May 13, 2008 10:51:43 PM
For God's sake! He is still in training pants. And you wonder why some of us have continually been saying, "he is green"? Whether it is giving a speech by Patrick as his own inspired speech, not remembering if he was at Rezko gatherings with Middle Eastern money figures, not knowing the rantings of his 20-year pastor and spiritual mentor, 57 states, NAFTA, double-talk, you name it. He is lacking in knowledge on too many issues, he is lacking in experience. Why did he get in this race? Ask Kennedy and Kerry. They felt "a tingle run up the leg", and they knew he was qualified and ready to lead this country in so many areas of danger, crisis, and need. He is green now and he will still be green in November.
Posted by: georgia | May 13, 2008 10:51:58 PM
We need agricultural specialists in Afghanistan, people who can help them develop other crops than heroin poppies, because the drug trade in Afghanistan is what is driving and financing these terrorist networks. So we need agricultural specialists," he said.
So far, so good.
"But if we are sending them to Baghdad, they're not in Afghanistan," Obama said.
----------------------------------------
Wow am really suprised how you can twist a perfectly logical argument by putting your spin on it and then claim it to be a gaffe. Do yourselves a favor go over the article again and you will find how very simple minded you both are! I won't be suprised if your degree in journalism was bought off the internet. What a sad piece of -------(fill in the blanks) by a sod of a writer. Another American loss
Posted by: chad | May 13, 2008 11:01:33 PM
The real force behind Barack Obama is his wife, Michelle Obama.
She wants so desperately to be First Lady that she will stop at nothing to bad mouth Hillary and others to get her foot in the Whitehous.
To have to look at this "Man-Woman" for the next four years, gives me the creeps.
We do not want a Bitter, angry, unhappy Un-American First Lady in the Whitehouse.
Please Obama's go away!!!!!
Posted by: mary | May 13, 2008 11:06:16 PM
Hypocrites abound. Calling Obama a racist?! Of course the shot at him because he is multiracial. The one saying how could fellow Americans support a man with a non-"american" sounding name. You are truly what America does NOT stand for and why True-Americans have been supporting Obama. Sorry but the Good Ole Days are fading fast. Guess what there are some people that don't live by a prejudiced and isolated viewpoint.
Cool-aid? No just clean and crisp water. But maybe you ought to look in the mirror for the indelible stains of Bigotry.
Ugly and Bitter talk indeed
Posted by: tman | May 13, 2008 11:07:43 PM
Is this not the same Obama who made fun of McCain for not able to see the difference between Shite and Shia?
What a joke?
Btw - Obama things there are 57 states in the US .
Posted by: Jack | May 13, 2008 11:07:45 PM
Mary what the heck are you talking about. Michelle wants desperately to get into the white house. And you know this how???? I'm just jesting with you. The Clintons on the other hand are the desperate ones to get back into the white house.
Posted by: lisa | May 13, 2008 11:11:06 PM
Jack, I guess it's like Hillary and her sniper fire which she repeated 4 times.
Posted by: lisa | May 13, 2008 11:13:37 PM
come to think of it , it is not that hard to live in peace with the terrorists , you know? ..all we have to do is scrapping that Bill of Rights that we have , well , that document is over 200 years old any way.....We can sit down ( like Hussein Obama said ) and talk to them nicely , okay , they killed a few hundred Americans in the past , but hey , who did not make a mistake , huh??..All that is required of us is that we follow SHARIA laws, Treat our women like slaves , kill our neighbor by bombs if they dare disagree with us , and well,we will be loved by our terrorists brothers and their loving GOD , we will be able to practice polygamy ( having many wives that is )and hey , what is wrong with listening to a few crazy mad men ??? We will be guaranteed a place in Heaven with all those virgins....that 's what they said ... Hmm....not bad....just give up your FREEDOM folks...it's not that bad....maybe it is about time America learn a little , they have been free too long (thanks to their ancestors' sacrifices) now it is about time they learn to live without FREEDOM a little , just like how people in the Middle East , in China, IN Tibet , In Eastern Europe , in Cuba, In Venezuela, in SouthEAst Asia ....have learned all this time ....then , they probably appreciate FREEDOM a little more and maybe wise up a little.... maybe....
Posted by: alohaone | May 13, 2008 11:57:54 PM
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