Monday, February 12, 2007
Obama's Australia Snafu Shows He Lacks Gravitas... and 5th Grade Math Comprehension
"The US has 140,000 troops in Iraq, and Australia only has 1,400... maybe if the Australians sent 20,000 more troops to Iraq....."
Wave Your Hands In The Air If You're a True Player!
Here's a basic Math lesson for Mr. Obama... super math genuis.
The US has 300M citizens. We have roughly 1M active duty Army, Guard and Reserve soldiers. We have approximately 140,000 soldiers in Iraq.
The Australians only have 20M citizens, and an active duty Army of 26,000. They have %6 of their military fighting in Iraq, and many others fighting in Afghanistan. They're also leading the peacekeeping missions throughout the South Pacific (remember East Timor, dimwit?), which accounts for even more deployed troops.
Current Aussie Operations
In other words, if the Aussies listened to Mr. Gravitas Obama, they would need to send nearly 100% of their entire active duty Army to Iraq if they really want a say in how it's fought.
Good on John Howard for speaking the truth about Iraq to Obama, and for putting him in his place. Remember, Obama is a 2-year Senator with ZERO experience doing much else as a leader, yet he thinks he can run with the big dogs.
John Howard, you kick ass. Keep up the great work.
posted by El Capitan at 9:26 AM
10 Comments:
Southern (in)Sanity said...
Not a very good start for Mr. Obama.
Not surprising either, though.
said...
The US has about 14% of it's army in Iraq.
If Howard wants to match the US commitment in Iraq.
He needs to increase Australia's troop levels there to 6,616 troops.
Thats an increase of over 400% from current levels.
Basic math dude.
It's not the size of the country that matters.
It's the size of the army and how much of it is deployed.
At this point Australia's commitment is mostly symbolic.
Government Man said...
we dont send our soldiers off to die as a "SYMBOLIC" gesture.
the more and more i hear comming out of the US the more i think its time to walk away from ANZUS
said...
Howard’s comments about Obama have more to do with Aussie politics than anything else.
Howard is trailing in the polls and he wants to shift the focus from domestic and environmental issues.
So now he has you looking elsewhere he wants you to dutifully and defend Australia’s honor and elect him as the only man who can defend Australia.
Why did you guys follow Bush into Iraq?
Now that you know he lied to you from the get go.
Why do you still insist of following him?
said...
Drifter68, let me lay this out plain and simple. As bad as it sounds, this was going to happen eventually, whether Pres. Bush led the way or not. Saddam was a thorn in our backside, Iran has been jerking the UN's chain with their nuclear program, and North Korea is just clamoring for world attention.
Y'all need to stop acting like this is "Bush's War." It's not. This is World War 3. It's time we put an end to it, and pulling our troops isn't an option.
said...
Sorry guys
Support for the war is in the low 30s and dropping.
Even in the US Army support for this war is headed south.
And no this is not world war 3, not in anyway shape or form.
And it is Bush's war.
And it will not be ending anytime soon.
Come November the US presidential cycle will begin and neither one of the parties wants the war to be an issue during the elections.
So if by fall the Bushies can't show a clear victory we are leaving regardless of the results.
So don't get left holding the bag.
said...
20,000 Troops? Hell, that sounds like a surge!
Personally, I'd like it if the US didn't have to be the big kid on the block keeping bad-guys in check, but seeing as that's the reality, I'll gladly accept the responsibility and do my duty. What I don't appreciate is this junior-statesman using Iraq as political leverage. GWOT is not a poker-table: There's no ante. If Obama thinks there should be another 20,000 troops, then there's obviously a need. Why is he asking other nations to put forth troops while wanting to pull ours out?
War is NEVER covenient; moreover, rhetoric regarding puting thousands of brave men and women into harms way pisses me off. Get a clue, Senator.
said...
Obama wanting to pull US troops out is in keeping with his pre-election stance.
.......
I don’t oppose all wars. And I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz and other arm-chair, weekend warriors in this Administration to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne.
Barak Obama, Chicago 10/26/2002
As to wanting other countries to send more troops.
Howard started that argument by dragging Obama in to the Australian elections in order to change the subject.
Howard should keep his nose out of other countries elections and concentrate on the election that he seems bent on loosing.
said...
So let's get this straight...BO opposes a US 'surge' but not an Aussie 'surge'?
Okay dokey.
Why would Howard feel the need to humilitate BO? The man does a perfectly good job all by himself. Anyway, it looks like Howard is heading for a another victory in Australia.
said...
it looks like Howard is heading for a another victory in Australia. <--- bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahhahah
3:23 AM