There go the last vestiges of any serious counterterror effort from the Obama Administration. Islamic supremacists and Leftist jihad enablers have been pressuring him for years to do this, and have heaped all kinds of outlandish abuse upon him for not jumping immediately to do their bidding. Most outlandishly of all, this most Islamophilic of Presidents won an “Islamophobia” award in the UK a few months ago. It was only a matter of time before he would cave.
“Obama backs off drone strikes,” by Kristina Wong, The Hill, May 19, 2014:
President Obama is relying less on drones and more on foreign governments in the global fight against terrorists.
The shift, which also includes fewer unilateral special operations raids of the type that killed Osama bin Laden, is prompting criticism that Washington depends on unstable governments such as in Nigeria, where Boko Haram, an extremist group, has emerged as a new threat.
The Pentagon has hiked its budget for “Section 1206” counterterrorism programs to train and equip foreign militaries from $218.6 million in 2012 to a requested $290.2 million in 2014, according to a recent Congressional Research Service report.
Its budget for “Section 1208” counterterrorism programs, which train and equip foreign militaries and also include more specific operational activities, is classified, but defense officials say that while the amount has stayed stable, money has shifted from Afghanistan to North Africa and the Middle East.
The administration zealously used drones at the beginning of Obama’s term, a strategy that angered partner governments and drew criticism from both the left and the right.
The scrutiny led the president to announce last spring that the U.S. would be more tempered in its use of unmanned airstrikes against terrorists.
The administration provides no statistics on these attacks, but the nonprofit organization The Long War Journal found the number in Yemen fell from 41 in 2012 to 26 in 2013. In Pakistan, the number dropped from an estimated 117 in 2010 to 28 in 2013.
The White House formally rejects the idea that the government is relying more on foreign governments in the war on terrorism.
But in a speech at the National Defense University in Washington last May where Obama laid out his plans on fighting terrorism, the president spoke of the need to work with other nations.
“Beyond Afghanistan, we must define our effort not as a boundless ‘global war on terror’ but rather as a series of persistent, targeted efforts to dismantle specific networks of violent extremists that threaten America,” Obama said. “In many cases, this will involve partnerships with other countries. Much of our best counter-terrorism cooperation results in the gathering and sharing of intelligence and the arrest and prosecution of terrorists.”
Critics say the limits of the strategy can be seen around the world.
“That makes sense where there’s capability, but there’s no substitute for American counterterrorism expertise,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told The Hill….
Well, that expertise is vastly overrated, Senator, especially now that counterterror officials are forbidden to study the motives and goals of the terrorists.
Henry says
Not surprised by Obama’s move, right in keeping with where his real sympathies are. This will of course mean more indigenous returning Jihadis, exactly what we don’t need, and more blood on Obama’s hands.
PRCS says
The “global war on terror”.
The GWOT.
A pathetic description of the real threat, brought to the world by the same idiots who crafted the childish term “freedom fries”.
Sam says
So what is new. I would not be surprised If this brainwashed Obama went down the history as the hero of the poor or some kind of crap like that.
In America today there is still no interest to understand what the biggest threat to freedom is. Jihad Watchers know very well that it is Islam. However, we are very very few. I can not be optimistic about our future.
Uri says
Keep your britches on:
“…the amount has stayed stable, money has shifted from Afghanistan to North Africa and the Middle East.”
You gotta read carefully. This is bash Obama site
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
While I’m always ready to bash Obama, the socialist who combines a deep well of failure with constant deception, but we’re talking Islam here. Truth, it is now undeniable that he is a liar, not an inconsequential liar, but one who would lie repeatedly on a critical topic to help rig an election, along with using the taxman and several other illegal tactics.
No, on Islam he’s the same sad story as Bill and Dubya, placing Jihad as just another factor among a myriad of factors. So of course Prez Barack Hussein is going soft on the Mujahidin, his failures on the economy and Obamacare are mounting up, and what with the VA and domestic spying and his overthrow of the Constitution he has other considerations to…
Myxlplik says
We should not be engaging militarily until there is proper analysis of the threat. The war on terror really started going wrong when we allowed Iraq and Afghanistan the support of our troops as they based their Constitutions on the Quran. It was tantamount to treason using our sons and daughters in creating and defending such a thing. I’m not for any military intervention of any kind with the current mindset, we’ve been betrayed.
Transmaster says
Myxlplik under Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld we started to fight the war on Jihadist in the correct way. We when into Afghanistan with special forces units that imbedded themselves in the various tribes. The worked with these tribes to kill the foreigners. They where there to kill terrorist nothing more, which is also what the Afghan tribesmen wanted. We where very successful as long as we where doing this. Of course the MSM was not going to give Bush, or Rumsfeld any credit for this. Also the Heavy maneuver units (HM) of the Army were very unhappy special forces unit are very affective and don’t cost much to operate which is viewed by HM unit commanders as a threat to getting funding for their tanks, artillery, and attack helicopters. They desperately wanted to get into the war to assure their piece of the war on terrorism pie. They had to get rid of Rumsfeld be cause he was the first Secretary of Defend who knew how to deploy special forces units.
Rumsfeld was pushed out with the help of the Joint Chief’s of Staff and VP Cheney. I Afghanistan we got roped into nation building, again, will we ever learn you cannot force western political systems on a primitive tribal people. If I had been in charge I would have worked through the traditional tribal councils, and the Loya Jirga forget elections. I would have given each tribal area the defacto autonomy such as they have traditionally had. They would govern themselves in the their traditional ways. The special forces units would have remained with the clear understanding that they where neutral in tribal feuds. They would be there to help kill the foreigners but if they wanted a 2000 pound smart bomb dropped on a rival chieftain forget it.
Myxlplik says
One thing is for sure, the Jihadists fear American Special Forces like nothing else according to what I’ve read.
The real threat of using our military to nation build in Islamic countries is that our government had to convince the American people that there is a version of Islam which is worthy of spending our blood and money to support. Which is a lie, in my humble opinion.
umbra says
jihadists fear anything that fights back. That’s why many of these brave fools choose soft targets. In any case, it is not the rank-and-file jihadist that requires SF attention, but the leadership ( commanders, spiritual leaders) plus support structures (recruiters, funding sources, trainers and procurement officers).
First, cut or cripple their funding sources. Second, liquidate their procurement infrastructure and eliminate their terror training facilities. Third, turn their recruitment effort to zero (many ways to approach this – but preaching the “islam is peace” mantra is not one of them). After this, go after their leadership on the field and those nested in society concurrently. Most (honestly, all) of these activities can be carried out effectively with SF with heavy intelligence/counter-intelligence support.
umbra says
No military intervention in any islamic country unless it is to slap some sense into them for supporting any form of islamic terrorism (not just violence, but social/political subversion) in USA (or any non-islamic country).
Many of these islamic countries do a pretty good job in destroying themselves. No need for western countries to stop them from doing what comes naturally to them. Save a lot of lives, pain, time and resources.
SKevin says
I offer this without comment:
“The entire basis for Obama’s drone strategy may be wrong”
http://www.vox.com/2014/5/21/5738190/drone-study-decapitation-fails
Myxlplik says
Seems to me that the main predictor of Jihad attacks (which I’m concerned about) is the statistical proximity of Muslims to non-Muslims.
Salah says
“..targeted efforts to dismantle specific networks of violent extremists that threaten America,” Obama said.
Here’s a good start!!!
“If the decision of the interim government of Egypt is to consider the organisation of the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation, then the United States should follow.” (Michele Bachmann)
http://bachmann.house.gov/daily-news-egypt-michele-bachmann-writes-muslim-brotherhood-history-terror
Paleologos says
MESSAGE TO THE BOARD,
Robert,
Fellow Posters,
Which hat is the more believable one on our clown muslim prince?
The above “FBI” guy, barry hussein? … oooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh … doesn’t that remind you of Elliot Ness?
… or THIS ONE? …
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r317/pikedagger1868/Obama.jpg
R/
Paleologos