Archive for December, 2008
Video: Pogues Live Concert 1985
Posted by Mike E on December 25, 2008
Posted in >> analysis of news | 6 Comments »
Big Winner of the Crisis? Karl Marx
Posted by Mike E on December 24, 2008
Thanks to RW Harvey for this note. The Times Online rounded up a list of the top ten winners from the crisis. Guess who made their list?
The 10 biggest winners from the financial crisis
High street retailers, estate agents, Iceland…the casualties of the economic crisis are all too familiar. But while there are losers, others have profited from the doom. We’ve rounded up ten credit crunch Houdinis who’ve escaped the financial crisis and are laughing all the way to the ailing bank.
* * * * *
Number 6. Karl Marx
Dust off your headscarf, Marx is making a comeback.
German bookstores have experienced a 300 per cent increase in sales of Das Kapital in recent months, and visitors are flocking to Marx’s birthplace in Trier – 40,000 so far this year.
Jörn Schütrumpf, head of the Berlin publishing house Dietz, which brings out the works of Marx said:
“We have a new generation of readers who are rattled by the financial crisis and have to recognise that neo-liberalism has turned out to be a false dream.”
Posted in >> analysis of news | Leave a Comment »
Communist Org of Greece: On Rebellion and Police Murder
Posted by Mike E on December 24, 2008
Thanks to Ka Frank for sending this over.
8th Statement of the Communist Organization of Greece (KOE)
18 December 2008
New huge protests, new murderous attack against the youth’s revolt
On Wednesday 17 December students of the secondary education and from the universities’ occupations blocked the buildings of the Athens Court of Justice in solidarity with hundreds of arrested youth, demanding their immediate liberation. In the broader area of Athens the youth blocked main avenues and highways. The same day, the Coalition of Radical Left (SYRIZA) realized a coordinated nation-wide campaign in dozens of neighbourhoods and cities with local demonstrations and other actions, under the general slogan: “Billions for the banks – Bullets for the youth: Let’s throw them down!”. The anger of the youth and of broad popular masses mounts again, as the government and the “justice” are manipulating the evidence, leaking information that the cold blooded murder of Alexis was not the result of a premeditated action of the policemen! The previous day, a large group of young activists from SYRIZA went to Acropolis and unfurled two giant banners, calling for Resistance and solidarity demonstrations.
Thursday 18 December was marked by two important events: (1) The huge demonstation of youth, teachers and left organizations in the centre of Athens, where dozens of thousands demonstrated once more against the government of K. Karamanlis. The march was once more brutally attacked by the Special Forces, and 8 demonstrators have been arrested. The combative resistance of the youth continued for hours. Equally large demonstrations took place in many cities all over the country, often marked by clashes with the police. (2) The news about the murderous attack against a group of pupils the previous night in Peristeri, a neighbourhood of Athens. There, an “unknown person” shot twice with a 38mm gun at a dozen16 year old pupils who were sitting near their school. The result was that one of the pupils was wounded, fortunately not fatally.
Posted in >> analysis of news | 4 Comments »
Video: Gang of Four’s We Live As We Dream
Posted by Mike E on December 24, 2008
Eddy Laing suggested his favorite.
Posted in music, video | Leave a Comment »
Mao’s Cultural Revolution Pt 7: Struggling to Liberate Women
Posted by Mike E on December 23, 2008
Revolutionary criticism of Confucian ways made by armed militia women
Kasama would like to share “Evaluating the Cultural Revolution in China and its Legacy for the Future.” It was written by the by the MLM Revolutionary Study Group in the U.S. This comprehensive paper describes the course of the Cultural Revolution (CR) from 1966-1976, its achievements and shortcomings, and why future movements for revolution, socialism and communism must stand on its shoulders.”
This is the sixth of 8 articles composing a paper that was written by the MLM Revolutionary Study group. Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are available on Kasama. The final parts will soon follow.
Evaluating the Cultural Revolution (7): The Liberation of Women
During the Cultural Revolution women made substantial gains. Many broke into higher-paying jobs in industry, developed as political leaders, challenged ideas of women’s inferiority, and began to dig up the Confucian-patriarchal roots of women’s oppression in China. But to understand how far the liberation of women had come, and how far it still had to go, it is necessary to refer back to the pre-Liberation period.
According to Confucian doctrine, men were respected, women were despised. Women had no economic or political rights; all but a few women from wealthy families were denied education; and they were subordinated to their fathers, husbands, brothers and in-laws. The brutal custom of foot binding ensured the physical and economic dependence of women on men. Forced marriages of young girls, wife beating and rape by landlords were accepted practices. According to an old folk saying, “A wife married is like a pony bought—I’ll ride her and whip her as I like.” Peasant women were slaves of slaves.
The victory of the revolution in 1949 ushered in a new era for China’s women.
Posted in >> analysis of news | Leave a Comment »
Arizona: People Resist ICE Raids
Posted by Mike E on December 23, 2008
The following appeared on Counterpunch.org under the original title: “ICE Raids and Popular Resistance in Flagstaff: By the Time I Get to Arizona.”
* * * * **
“In this rising tide of state and informal violence, Arizona has come to be ground zero.”
“[The] rabidly-racist anti-immigrant movement has not gone uncontested, meeting instead with popular resistance in the Latino community (both undocumented and documented), and to a lesser degree in the progressive white community. Recently, these sectors have coalesced in Repeal Coalition (Coalición de Cambio), a Flagstaff-based organization which has brought together members of groups like No More Deaths/No Más Muertes and Bring the Ruckus, and which ‘demands the repeal of all laws—federal, state, and local—that degrade and discriminate against undocumented individuals and that deny U.S. citizens their lawful rights.’”
By GEORGE CICCIARELLO-MAHER
Much has been eclipsed in the post-election euphoria, not least of which is the continuity of racist violence in the United States. The election of Barack Obama notwithstanding, the black population still bears the overwhelming brunt of this violence, in its systematic and informal guises, in prisons and on the streets, and with the far-right gearing up we can expect more of the same. But with new dynamics, political and geopolitical, come new violences, and we have seen in recent years a steady increase in anti-Latino or anti-immigrant violence alongside a notable spike after September 11th in anti-“Arab” violence.
Recently-released statistics show violence against Latino immigrants to be the fastest growing of all hate crimes, fuelled by an atmosphere of linguistic-racial hatred and permissiveness to violence against all those deemed to be from “elsewhere.” In a recent report, the Southern Poverty Law Center noted the shocking growth in anti-Latino hate crime, and in early November, an Ecuadorian man was beaten and stabbed to death on Long Island, New York, by a lynch mob of young, mostly white teens looking for some racist fun “hunting beaners,” a game they claim to have played weekly. Less than a month later yet another Ecuadorean was beaten until brain-dead in Brooklyn, this time allegedly by black men who shouted ethnic and homophobic slurs.
Posted in anti-racist action, Human rights, immigrants, immigration, Mexico, NAFTA, police, racism | Tagged: Arizona, repeal | Leave a Comment »
Video: Mario Savio and the Free Speech Movement
Posted by Mike E on December 22, 2008
Here is a tone, a language, and approach to “demands” that raises the issue of a system and the very organization of human life. Our movement needs to give ourselves the permission to speak sweepingly from the heart about the very matters that ensnare and crush us all.
From a 1964 speech of Berkeley student leader Mario Savio.
Posted in >> analysis of news | 8 Comments »
Where Does That Leave Us? Plotting, Acting, Changing, Moving…
Posted by Mike E on December 22, 2008
photo: Brett Cole
We have gained much (imho) from the continuing debate between Carl Davidson and revolutionary politics — and part of it has involved debunking Carl’s argument that those who advocate revolutionary politics are simply deluded, immature, and completely out of touch.
Carl writes in a revealing passage:
“[I assume], of course, that socialism isn’t the order of the day right now, as in the immediate possibility of ‘Disperse the Congress and White House, All Power to the Workers Councils! But it’s silly, in the meantime, to avoid contracts or structural reform because it leaves intact the bosses ‘right to exploit.’ Under capitalism, there’s a worse fate than being exploited, which to simply to be oppressed, ie, shoved completely out of the labor market and not exploited.”
Carl’s opponents are always portrayed as making silly arguments. The idea that your views are obviously true (and the views of your opponents are obviously “silly”) is an argument for quick and easy dismissal.
But let’s make some of arguments around revolution and reform. and let’s break down where Carl’s worldview would lead.
Posted in >> analysis of news | 99 Comments »
Mao’s Cultural Revolution Pt 6. The Winding Road
Posted by n3wday on December 21, 2008
Young rebel in Tibet
Kasama would like to share “Evaluating the Cultural Revolution in China and its Legacy for the Future.” It was written by the by the MLM Revolutionary Study Group in the U.S. This comprehensive paper describes the course of the Cultural Revolution (CR) from 1966-1976, its achievements and shortcomings, and why future movements for revolution, socialism and communism must stand on its shoulders.”
This is the sixth of 8 articles composing a paper that was written by the MLM Revolutionary Study group. Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, are available on Kasama. The final parts will soon follow.
Evaluating the Cultural Revolution (6): Obstacles and Shortcomings
This installment deals with the objective obstacles faced by the CR and some of its shortcomings, including how it handled intellectuals, factionalism, the army, foreign policy and the development of revolutionary successors in the Chinese Communist Party.
The Obstacles that the Cultural Revolution Faced, and its Shortcomings
After the passage of 40 years, it is important to avoid an idealized picture of the Cultural Revolution. Such a view does not come to grips with the immense difficulties the Cultural Revolution had to overcome, and it does not lead to a deeper understanding of the factors that led to its eventual defeat. In addition, such a view cannot pass on important lessons that will help future socialist societies deal with new and complex conditions.
Posted in >> analysis of news, China, communism, Cultural Revolution, Maoism, mass line, MLMRSG, revolution, theory | 4 Comments »
U.S. Dilemma: How to Handle its Mercenary Killers in Iraq
Posted by n3wday on December 21, 2008
Blackwater mercenaries
In 2007 a group of Blackwater contractors fired upon a group of Iraqi civilians killing 17. Since then the Iraqi people have been furious over the fact that U.S. mercenary killers are immune from punishment (and immune from Iraqi laws). To dampen that fury, and to try to keep U.S. occupation over Iraq stable, five employees of Blackwater are facing prosecution with the possibility of the Iraqi government banning that particular mercenary outfit from the country.
Report Says Iraq May Ban Blackwater
By SCOTT SHANE
Published: December 17, 2008
WASHINGTON — The State Department’s inspector general has warned in a new report that Blackwater Worldwide, the security contractor, may not be licensed by the Iraqi government to continue to protect American diplomats in Baghdad next year, forcing the Obama administration to make new security arrangements.
The report says that if State Department contractors lose their immunity from criminal prosecution under Iraqi law, as many officials expect, employees of Blackwater and other contractors may choose to leave Iraq or demand higher pay. Five Blackwater guards were indicted this month in a 2007 shooting in Baghdad that killed at least 17 Iraqis.
Unlike some American contractors in Iraq, Blackwater does not have a license, but it has applied for one. Iraqi authorities have allowed it to operate while officials consider the application. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Iraq, Iraq war | 1 Comment »
New School Participant: “Occupation is Extremely Effective Tactic for Revolution”"
Posted by onehundredflowers on December 21, 2008
This originally appeared in indymedia.org. Kasama does not necessarily endorse the analyses of articles it posts.
Rules of Thumb Learned by An Occupant of the New School in Exile
by Tim Hearin
For brevity, I’m not going to give the background of the occupation. Two great sites to learn about it:
http://newschoolinexile.com and
http://newschoolinexileblog.blogspot.com
Besides a 20 or so core of extremely devoted students, the demographics (and actuals numbers) were in constant flux. Excuse the labels, but broadly, if there were 100 students at a given moment, roughly 25 were Anarchists or revolutionaries of some sort committed to serious (sometimes spontaneous) direct action to achieve our goals. 40 were members of the Radical Student Union (formerly Students for a more Democratic Society), were loosely affiliated with them, or whose politics generally fell in line with their pro-negotiation, “Just reason it out with the authorities” attitude. This is not to say that Anarchists spurned negotiations–I did not. Or that RSU members scorned the many direct actions in the occupation–though, I must write here, from the beginning, many prominent members were against the occupation, then against staying after the first night, then against taking control of the entrance/exit, then against our spectacular midnight ruse in the last few hours of the occupation that not only linked the wild supportive demonstration outside with us inside, but also breathed vastly new energy and power into our occupation, calling many of these successful and bold moves, among other things, “Custeristic”. In fact I successfully defended a makeshift barricade with the fierce help of two fellow occupants who were RSU members. I am proud to call them comrades. The lines are somewhat blurred.
Posted in education, SDS, students | Tagged: new school | 4 Comments »
Hegemonik’s Take on New School Takeover
Posted by Mike E on December 20, 2008
The following was originally posted as a commentary in our takeover thread. It digs into the settlement reached to end the occupation — and the sharpening struggle over what the focus of resistance should be. Hegemonik’s views are of course his own, not a collective summation by Kasama.
by Hegemonik
Of late I’ve been seeing a few analyses from participants and outsiders. I’m a little of both (too sick to enter, not sick enough to go to the outside of the occupation) — and here’s a stab at it:
1) To use a chess analogy: the ending of the occupation came out to a game where the students took more pieces, but the administration managed to stalemate it. The inability of the students to open up a new front, even though the occupied cafeteria was forced open for more occupiers to take part, ended up meaning that they could not open up negotiation terms beyond advancing their position for the next round.
To be explicit: what the students won were demands confined to the university as it exists now. Kerrey, Murtha, etc. stay in their positions, but the students have a better position for the next uptick of struggle (i.e., the concessions on transparency, better treatment of the student population, as well as student roles).
2) This is an instance where, I believe, the revolutionaries who are involved in the struggle need to lead and not tail. Getting transparency, student voices in the mix, etc. are good — but Kerrey and co. agree to these compromises hoping that they will put a wet blanket on the sparks of a broader issue (namely: Kerrey’s unsavory political use of New School as a megaphone for his warmongering).
It will be up to the revolutionaries involved in the takeover to insist that the issue is not about getting New School’s finances in order, or even making sure that it only invests in Ben-and-Jerry’s style feelgood capitalism — it’s about denying the New School as a fig leaf to cover a nakedly vicious and avaricious agenda.
Posted in Hegemonik, SDS, students | 4 Comments »
Bennett Report: Mumia Abu-Jamal faces U.S. Supreme Court, as Supporters Mobilize Globally
Posted by Mike E on December 20, 2008
Demonstration for Mumia in Philadelphia
By Hans Bennett
On Friday, December 19, 2008, death-row journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal filed his appeal to the US Supreme Court, asking it to consider his case for a new guilt-phase trial. One month before, the Philadelphia District Attorney filed its separate appeal to the US Supreme Court asking to have Abu-Jamal executed without a new sentencing-phase trial.
At this critical stage in Abu-Jamal’s case, supporters organized a week of global solidarity actions that began on December 6, the day of the large protest in Philadelphia, almost 27 years after Abu-Jamal was arrested for the December 9, 1981 shooting death of white police officer Daniel Faulkner, and later convicted in a 1982 trial that Amnesty International has declared a “violation of minimum international standards that govern fair trial procedures and the use of the death penalty”.
There were solidarity actions inside the US and around the world, including Mexico, Venezuela, Germany, France, England, Switzerland. Several US events screened the new DVD video titled Fighting for Mumia’s Freedom: a report from Philadelphia.
In Philadelphia, over 200 protesters gathered outside the District Attorney’s office across the street from City Hall. Journalists for Mumia’s new video report (see below) from the demonstration features an interview with persecuted Civil Rights Lawyer Lynne Stewart, and footage of Pam Africa speaking outside the DA’s office about the newly discovered crime scene photos taken by press photographer Pedro Polakoff, and the DA’s role in hiding them from the defense. The coordinator of the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, Pam Africa cited Polakoff’s statements today that he approached the DA’s office with the photos in 1981/82 and 1995, but was completely ignored by them. Subsequently, Polakoff’s photos were never seen by the 1982 jury, or by the defense. Africa presented the evidence to Philadelphia PD Civil Affairs Captain William Fisher to deliver to DA Lynne Abraham.
Report continues with video:
Posted in African American, anti-racist action, Black History, Black Panthers, capitalism, civil rights, cointelpro, conspiracy, Human rights, Mumia Abu-Jamal, political prisoners, prison, racism, revolution, supreme court, war on terror | Leave a Comment »
Capitalist Crisis Shreds Stability, and Perhaps Passivity
Posted by John Steele on December 20, 2008
Icelanders travel to Belgium to protest their frozen bank accounts
Without warning and without some conscious decision by those running society, the crisis within this capitalist system is crushing the hopes and plans of millions, even hundreds of millions of people in countries around the world. Foreclosures have swept whole neighborhoods in Michigan, Florida, Los Angeles and more. Retirees (and those planning retirement) have seen their pension savings evaporate overnight in the U.S. — or are facing the knives of federal bailout in the auto industry.
Capitalism has turned its ugly face to sections of the middle class in the U.S. who felt relatively secure and stable — in ways that are cruel, shocking and eye-opening.
Three months after the collapse of the financial sector, it is painfully obviousthat the US economy is not going to ‘recover’ in the near future.
The earlier debates over whether the ‘down-turn’ was a technical recession have given way to the admission that the US economy has been in a recession for the past 12 months and is still declining.
Government and mainstream economists continue to blame the housing market, but the contributing factors of this crisis are much more systemic.
Posted in >> analysis of news, capitalism, economics, Eddy Laing | Tagged: Add new tag, economics, fianacial crisis, finance, financial crisis | 1 Comment »
Radical Eyes: This Shoe’s 4 You!
Posted by Mike E on December 20, 2008
Kasama received the following note from Radical Eyes:
An interesting development in the shoe thrower case. (see below)
Personally, I really would love to see the shoe become a widespread popular symbol and mobilizing tactic for protest and resistance, even here in the US. (Already the mainstream press is full of ironic, humorous–and often not at all disapproving–references to this action…It’s being played as one more (one last?) round of Bush bufoon-ery.
While hurling shoes a specific prominent targets is obviously not somthing to be openly advocated at this time by any political group (meaning one that hopes to avoid or to postpone repression!)–what about say a protest rally and march that culminates with hundreds of pairs of old shoes tangling from the roofs and covering the entry ways–and even perhaps the windows?–of particular symbollic targets and/or the barricades that prevent such demos from reaching their intended destination?
In my view shoe-throwing could be a valuable addition to the “standard” anti-war/anti-empire demo. One that may help to qualitatively shift the meaning and force of such rallies and marches.
I like the internationalism of the gesture; but also throwing a shoe at symbols of an enemy of the people gathers symbolic militancy, without directly crossing over to violence–which in our present political conjuncture is likely to be interpreted widely as “terrorism” throughout the dominant media. Further the symbolism and internationalism of throwing shoes makes it harder for the powers that be to suggest those doing the throwing are “mere trouble makers” without coherent or significant political ideas.
Posted in >> analysis of news, antiwar | Tagged: shoe | 3 Comments »
Support the Student Takeover at New School!
Posted by Mike E on December 18, 2008
Thanks to Keith and Joe Ramsey for updates on these events.
What could be more welcome, what could be more needed, than the eruption of a radical student movement within the U.S.!
Circulate the news!
Bob Kerrey, whose removal is demanded below, is a notorious war criminal from Vietnam. He personally directed and participated in the cold massacre of civilian Vietnamese in Thanh Phong village in February 1969 — over a dozen women and children were rounded up and murdered by the death squad he commanded. Like the war criminal John McCain, Kerrey became a U.S. senator of this criminal system. He is (for now) still the president of the New School.
Check out the New School in Exile website and blog.
* * * * *
From the New School SDS chapter (7 pm 12/16/08)
We have just occupied New School University.
We liberate this space for ourselves, and all those who want to join us, for our general autonomous use. We take the university in explicit solidarity with those occupying the universities and streets in Greece, Italy, France and Spain.
This occupation begins as a response to specific conditions at the New School, the corporatization of our education and the impoverishment of education in general. However, it is not just this university but also New York City that is in crisis: in the next several months, thousands of us will be losing our jobs, while housing remains unaffordable and unavailable to many and the cost of living skyrockets.
So we stress that the general nature of these intolerable conditions exists across the spectrum of capitalist existence, in our universities and our cities, in all of our social relations. For this reason, what begins tonight at the New School cannot, and should not, be contained here.
Thus: with this occupation, we inaugurate a wave of occupations in New York City and the United States, a coming wave of occupations, blockades, and strikes in this time of crisis.
Be assured, this is only the beginning,
With solidarity and love from New York to Greece, to Italy, France and Spain,
To the coming insurrection.
The occupied New School
* * * * *
ForThe Demands and More Statements:
Posted in SDS, students | 29 Comments »
Days of Rage in Greece
Posted by Mike E on December 18, 2008
Gary Leupp suggested we post this piece from Counterpunch.org on the background to the Greek uprisings:
The Rightwing Government is Headed for Its Downfall
Days of Rage in Greece
By PANOS PETROU
On the night of December 6, a special police squad in Athens murdered a 15-year-old student in cold blood in Exarchia, a neighborhood with a long tradition of activism among young people, the left and anarchists.
This was only the latest instance of police brutality against immigrants, and left-wing and anarchist activists–especially youth, in the wake of a major youth resistance movement against privatization of education that rattled the right-wing government of Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis.
The next day, the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA), revolutionary left organizations and anarchist activists called a demonstration at police headquarters in Athens.
Posted in >> analysis of news, Greece | 1 Comment »
Arundhati Roy on Mumbai Attacks
Posted by n3wday on December 18, 2008
This article was published by The Guardian. The original title of this piece is “The monster in the mirror.”
by Arundhati Roy
The Mumbai attacks have been dubbed ‘India’s 9/11′, and there are calls for a 9/11-style response, including an attack on Pakistan. Instead, the country must fight terrorism with justice, or face civil war.
We’ve forfeited the rights to our own tragedies. As the carnage in Mumbai raged on, day after horrible day, our 24-hour news channels informed us that we were watching “India’s 9/11″. Like actors in a Bollywood rip-off of an old Hollywood film, we’re expected to play our parts and say our lines, even though we know it’s all been said and done before.
As tension in the region builds, US Senator John McCain has warned Pakistan that if it didn’t act fast to arrest the “Bad Guys” he had personal information that India would launch air strikes on “terrorist camps” in Pakistan and that Washington could do nothing because Mumbai was India’s 9/11.
But November isn’t September, 2008 isn’t 2001, Pakistan isn’t Afghanistan and India isn’t America. So perhaps we should reclaim our tragedy and pick through the debris with our own brains and our own broken hearts so that we can arrive at our own conclusions.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in >> analysis of news, genocide, India, islam, Pakistan | Tagged: Arundhati Roy, Mumbai | 6 Comments »
ANSWER Coalition: 1000 Shoes for Bush
Posted by Mike E on December 16, 2008
This image was created by the Answer Coalition as part of a poster for their upcoming March action against the war. Please check out the original design and share it with others.
Posted in >> analysis of news, George W. Bush, Iraq war | Tagged: Bush, shoes | 27 Comments »
Cold Reality on Iraq’s “Residual Force”: Read This Article Closely
Posted by Mike E on December 16, 2008
Iraq is strategic for empire in the 21st century. The promise made (from many sides, including both Bush and Obama) to remove “combat troops” from Iraq was not a promise to accept an end to U.S. domination. It was not a promise to remove U.S. airpower from iraqi skies. It was not a promise to remove U.S. nuclear navies from the Persian gulf. It was not a promise to stop propping up armed iraqi forces dedicated to serving U.S. power.
And now, we will see the transformation of this promise to remove “combat troops” as well.
We urge every person who sincerely opposes the occupation of Iraq to read this closely.
* * * * * *
Campaign Promises on Ending the War in Iraq Now Muted by Reality
By THOM SHANKER New York Times December 4, 2008
WASHINGTON — On the campaign trail, Senator Barack Obama offered a pledge that electrified and motivated his liberal base, vowing to “end the war” in Iraq.
But as he moves closer to the White House, President-elect Obama is making clearer than ever that tens of thousands of American troops will be left behind in Iraq, even if he can make good on his campaign promise to pull all combat forces out within 16 months.
“I said that I would remove our combat troops from Iraq in 16 months, with the understanding that it might be necessary — likely to be necessary — to maintain a residual force to provide potential training, logistical support, to protect our civilians in Iraq,” Mr. Obama said this week as he introduced his national security team.
Publicly at least, Mr. Obama has not set a firm number for that “residual force,” a phrase certain to become central to the debate on the way ahead in Iraq, though one of his national security advisers, Richard Danzig, said during the campaign that it could amount to 30,000 to 55,000 troops. Nor has Mr. Obama laid out any timetable beyond 16 months for troop drawdowns, or suggested when he believes a time might come for a declaration that the war is over.
Posted in Barack Obama, Iraq, Iraq war, military | Tagged: Add new tag | 20 Comments »
