Obama forgets the Coast Guard

Afghanistan - Obama needed a little help from the troops in Afghanistan as he thanked the military branches for their work but forgot to mention the Coast Guard. “I think we’ve got every service here tonight,” Obama said. He then called on the branches as their members cheered: “We’ve got Army. We’ve got Navy. We’ve got Air Force. I think we may have a few Marines around, too.” Moving to his remarks, Obama said, “Now, here in Afghanistan …” Then, someone in the crowd shouted out, “Coast Guard!” “Coast Guard?” Obama repeated. “Is that what I heard?” ...More

Obama: decision soon on troops for Afghanistan

TOKYO (AP) -- President Barack Obama said Friday that his decision about how many troops to send to Afghanistan will come soon and he is bent on "getting this right."

In a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Obama rejected claims that his administration is dithering. The policy must protect America from terrorist networks, Obama said, while also making clear there is no "open-ended commitment" to Afghanistan.

Obama and Hatoyama pledged to renew their nations' alliance to keep pace with a fast-changing world.

Opening a weeklong trip to Asia, Obama said the United States and Japan must "find ways to renew and refresh the alliance for the 21st century."

Hatoyama noted that Japan will no longer refuel ships that supply Afghanistan, but he promised aid for Afghan civilian needs such as schools, agriculture and police. He also vowed to cooperate with the United States on combatting climate change and nuclear proliferation.

Obama arrived in Tokyo on Friday, opening a weeklong trip to east Asia.

The two leaders are hoping to shore up relations with a nation that vows to be more assertive with the United States, even as Obama also weighs whether to send more troops to the Afghan war....More

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Casey says war in Afghanistan needs more US troops (AP)

AP - The Army's chief of staff says he believes more troops are needed in Afghanistan. But Gen. George Casey isn't saying exactly how many more should be sent into the war.----...More

Neocons Recruiting Palin To Pressure Obama On Afghanistan

Here come the neocons again--and this time with Sarah Palin.


A group of conservative foreign policy advocates--including a bevy of neoconservatives--this week sent President Barack Obama a letter urging him to stand firm in Afghanistan and vowing their support for him (on Afghanistan) if he did so. The letter was organized by the Foreign Policy Initiative, a think tank put together by leading neoconservatives Bill Kristol and Robert Kagan, and signers included the pair and such neocon stalwarts as David Frum, Max Boot, Robert Kagan, John Podhoretz, Clifford May, Danielle Pletka, Randy Scheunemann, Dan Senor, and Gary Schmitt. But two high-profile right-wingers also added their names: Sarah Palin and Karl Rove.--...More