Did Obama defend war at the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony? w/ Robert Greenwald

[PerryLogan]

Thom calls Obama "an economic Bill Clinton." We should be so lucky.

In case you forgot, Clinton turned the biggest deficit in U.S. history into the biggest surplus in U.S. history. The poverty level plummeted and income rose at all levels. We had the longest sustained period of economic growth in history. I'm pretty sure none of that is going to happen with the Obama gang.

Also, Clinton didn't give trillions to the banksters, no questions asked.

[eugeneedwards]

clinton got a surplus by not putting any money aside for future debt. eg social security. He made himself look good by pushing the problem down the road for someone else to worry about.

The policies of Obama, Clinton, Bush Jr and Snr AND Ronald Reagan are the cause of the GFC. This problem was in the making over the last 25 years, not the last 10 years.

[PerryLogan]

Clinton got a surplus by raising taxes on the rich. This, too, is something Obama would never do.

[jimlaregina]

Perry, "income rose at all levels" under Bill Clinton, but those earning minimum wage were only getting 90 cents an hour more when he left office than they were when he took office. Not good enough.

[Davetech23]

The USSR's iron curtain was not brought down with troops. It fell because of the information age. The internet showed the Russian people a better life and they wanted it.

The same would have eventually happened in Afganistan if we had not stayed there and prolonged a war that destroyed their infrastructure and put most Afgans out of work.

We were right to go kick the the Talibans out of power, but then should have left with the warning that we can come back.

[Sundrumify]

"I pledge to faithfully serve the Federal Republic of Germany and to bravely defend the right and the freedom of the German people." Oath of German soldiers. The American soldiers might revisit theirs.

Our Minister of Defense said, that the war in Afgh is not to be "won" by Military (Taliban arm themselves up, given their income out of world-wide drug business) and that he asks to rethink the strategy?! I would assume, that he does not even know, what the overall strategy is?!

[Sundrumify]

Thanks Tom, for this interview, and to Robert.

Complementary to your statements, I agree with, please watch the interview with William Engdahl, who lays out the overall strategy. Given the imperialistic wars and genocides, of Germany, Willy Brandt got the Nobel for his diplomacy, and kneeing down in Poland, which was more than overdue.

Lisa from Munich

[DavidDuncanMacBryde]

Thanks Lisa for adding that Willy Brandt received the prize in 1971 to encourage long term direction -- that worked.

[greatbroad]

Maybe we should have "Animal Farm" made into a cartoon movie, with voices and facial features with 21st century world leaders...

[Mahoivlich]

It is obvious that the government no longer functions as intended.  Sometimes the only way to fix something is to smash it and start over.

[Artist1974CH]

We may blame politicians and corporations for this country's problems. They should be held accountable, but the American people should also take the blame as well. I don't care if you are liberals, moderates, independents, right-wing, Neo-cons, or whatever, you allowed the problems to happen. No politician is going to save your lives! If you want change, it is up to you! Not Obama, not Ron Paul, not Dennis Kucinich, not Ralph Nader, and not Sarah Palin. Not anyone but you!

[agitcam]

The Democratic leadership wants war. They are creatures of the military industrial complex and there is money in war. As long as the American people lack the attention and the guts to stop this it will just go on and on and lead to catastrophe.

[arcturus33333]

True, agitcam, just like the Republicans.

[fruitsofnews]

Thats the whole point. Obama is not exploring any uncharted grounds in terms of political experience and political options. The mere fact that he can be categorized into such readydmade dimensions economic clintonism and military johnsonism is testimony to the inherent lack of CHANGE in his political epistemology. Fair to say so as a branding judgement. So thats where our hopes are cut to size. If the speech infront of Afpac wasn't the eyeopener, THIS one definitely was.

[mrgoodvibrations]

1000 US soldiers and unknown # of Northern Alliance, clear Afganistan the at first not just 1000 US soldiers. Not including mercs!