Analysis:
1. What strategy did Obama announce?
2. What was his argument and was he convincing? How so?
Opinion:
3. Where do you stand on the Afghanistan war?
4. Did Obama change your mind in regards to the war?
5. Give the speech a grade and explain the grade.
This assignment is worth 25 quiz points (:O :O) .
Obama wants to send 30,000 troops into Afghanistan in early 2010 then take them all back out by the end of 2011. He wants to train security officials in Afghanistan so our troops are no longer needed. He also wants to team up with Pakistan because the Taliban has moved across the border to safe houses in Pakistan. He feels the security of America is compromised by the Taliban and the corruption of the political leaders in Afghanistan. Honestly I'm not exactly sure where I stand. I understand why we first went to war there but I believe that it has gone on way longer than it should have. I have mixed feelings about the war.He made me realize again why we are in this war and made me feel that maybe it does still have a point. I would give him an A. He’s a great speaker. He stirred up many emotions at the beginning of the speech talking about 9/11. Then he kept stirring up emotions by talking about all the people that have died in the Iraq war. Stirring up emotions is the best way to get peoples support.
ReplyDelete1. What strategy did Obama announce?
ReplyDeleteObama announced a three-phase troop deployment strategy: "military surge, civilian surge, and a new relationship with Pakistan". He announced that he plans to deploy another 30,000 troops to Afghanistan and have all troops out of the country by July 2011.
2. What was his argument and was he convincing? How so?
Obama argued that the United States' security is at risk, and in order to protect the lives of our civilians, we must not only continue to patrol Afghanistan, but we must deploy more troops to insure our safety. Obama's reasoning for sending additional troops was that if we do not, we will continue to live/dwell in the status quo. I think that Obama was convincing with his reasoning for additional deployment. He effectively conveyed his desire to protect the security of US civilians.
Opinion:
3. Where do you stand on the Afghanistan war?
Personally, I do not believe that war is the answer to anything. However,I know that in the real world today, we cannot simply resolve issues through verbal discourse. I do believe that war with Afghanistan is called for, but I do not believe that it is our business to control their governmental system.
4. Did Obama change your mind in regards to the war?
I would not say that Obama changed my mind in regards to the war, but I will admit that he allowed me to see another side of the situation.
5. Give the speech a grade and explain the grade.
I would give Obama's speech an A-. Clearly, he knows how to work an audience and grasp attention, and he detailed his strategy. However, I do not understand why Obama waited until this late in his Presidential term to make this speech. If he knew this information all along, then why did he not announce this plan previously?
Cori Scherer
Kirby Taylor
ReplyDelete1. Obama announced his strategy of an increase of US influence in Afghanistan. Obama will send 30000 and he plans for these troops to arrive quickly. He also says that these troops will leave quickly as well because the goal is to create a self sustainable Afghanistan.
2. His argument was that the US must act to combat these violent individuals and groups that are at large in this poor middle eastern country. By doing so he believes not only will the world be safer, but the country of Afghanistan itself will become self sustainable and operable. He was very convincing, as he calls the American people, as well as the our allies to call upon our patriotism and morals, asking us, is killing innocent people something we want to see every day?
3. I stand with Obama, as I believe that terrorism and all of its supporters must be eliminated to ensure that the United States is safe, as well as the rest of the world.
4. No, I have always thought that the war had good intentions. I view it as a governmental attempt to protect its people.
5. I give the speech an A. This is because I agree with the President and believe that the only way to stop these people is with force. Lastly I liked how he sort of called upon our patriotism to support him, as I believe that now more than ever, it is an important part of America as a whole in regards to our foreign efforts.
Does second post automatically get an A?
make that 3rd......
ReplyDeleteObama announced a strategy to target the "epicenter" of terrorism, the pakistani/afghani border. He wants to send 30k troops into Afghanistan and wants to get them out by July of 2011. He tells the left that it is "not like vietnam" that we were attacked on american soil, and we are among 43 nations to go into Afghanistan. Obama plans to team up with the current Afghan forces to fight the taliban, and has open arms to accept any taliban who have embraced human ethics.
ReplyDeleteIn a sense he was a bit convincing. His plan filled a shoebox with sand, but as an american i am not convinced to do anything with the Afghanistan status. Sure we "need" to go in, but even with Obama's assurance, i still fear and feel a vietnam situation will arise.
I personally want to raid afghanistan with america's full force, but he wasn't at all convincing to me to actually do something about it. He didn't necessarily change by mind about the war, but rather updated some information i did not know.
A- for the speech itself (amusing)
B for trying to influence the rest of america. Talked to much about american freedom at stake rather than going into the specifics of what can hapen, and offer contrasts to the impacts. Emotions alone are not enough to convince...
Vladimir says B+ final graid.
LOUIS CID
ReplyDeleteObama announced a deployment of 30,000 troops into Afghanistan to increase stability and apply pressure on Al Quaeda and its allies in the border regions of Pakistan. He stated our troops would increase stability and security, establish an effective government and then withdraw — a nice picture. He alluded to the futility of the Iraqi war and promised to withdraw troops responsibly. In doing so, Obama hopes to increase efforts in Afghanistan for the security not only of the United States but also the entire world. He was very convincing, especially in his refutal of the idea that Afghanistan is another Vietnam. Obama spoke of the imminent threats the world would face if it were not for our efforts in Afghanistan. He enumerated the ways in which Afghanistan is different from Vietnam, stating that he would never send more troops unless he believed it in the best interest of America and the world. Obama was also convincing because he acknowledged the economic troubles our country is facing. He stated that building THIS country, and not another, was his number one priority — a diamond amidst a treasure of rhetoric.
I believe the Afghanistan war, unlike Iraq, was necessary and crucial to the welfare of the US and the world. The war was a direct response to an act of terrorism. To not have gone to war in 2001 would have marked America as weak. Like Obama said, it is a shame our resources have been dwindled by the war in Iraq- a less important struggle. It is time, after decades of suffering, that the Afghan people find freedom and equality. I completely support Obama's decision; he only strengthened my view on the war in Afghanistan.
I give Obama an A+ for exceptional rhetoric, providing a historical backdrop, and making allusions to the broader world community and American interests. Obama focused on the the important "stuff" respecting brevity and succinctness, all while delivering a powerful message about what America is all about — freedom and equal opportunity. As cliché as it was, Obama's making-the-world-a-better-place sentence embodies America's foreign policy, albeit ambitious. In short, an effective speech explaining a brave and valiant decision.
1. What strategy did Obama announce?
ReplyDeleteObama has decided to deploy an extra 30,000 troops to Afghanistan at the beginning of 2010. He said that the troops in Afghanistan will return home in July of 2011. The strategy he plans to use involves three main phases: a military surge, a civilian surge and a new allied relationship with Pakistan.
2. What was his argument and was he convincing? How so?
He believes these extra troops are necessary to secure the legitimate government of Afghanistan. Also, these extra troops will accelerate the process of training Afghani troops to protect their own country. And, of course, the elimination of the Taliban will better secure our nation and other countries from terrorist threats. I believe he was quite convincing, using both emotional appeal about the events of September 11, 2001 and logical appeal about his military strategy.
3. Where do you stand on the Afghanistan war?
I believe Obama has a good strategy. There will never be an end to terrorism, but I believe it is in our best interest to eliminate as many threats as possible. Indeed, the Taliban is an intimidating for the United Stated and many other countries. Overall, I have high hopes for a successful end to the war.
4. Did Obama change your mind in regards to the war?
Before hearing his speech, I was mostly in support of the war. However, now I feel more confident in our nation’s ability to succeed in Afghanistan, making our country, Afghanistan, and so many others safer across the globe.
5. Give the speech a grade and explain the grade.
I give the speech an A+. Obama did not just speak to his party on the issue. He spoke to all Americans. His speech had a universal appeal. Also, very importantly, he debunked all of the arguments in opposition of his decision. Tonight, Obama came out a winner.
Stacy P3
ReplyDelete1. Obama's strategy announced his sending of 30,000 troops to Afghanistan for 18 months to help train the Afghan military and police in defending their country from the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
2. His argument was that in order to ensure peace and security in Afghanistan we need to send the 30,000. He was pretty convincing in his argument by the way he positively explained his plan in Afghanistan and the exit strategy.
3. I believe that it is necessary to send these troops into Afghanistan because the troop serge worked in Iraq and the generals in Afghanistan say they need these troops to win, which is the goal.
4. Not really, President Obama has always stated that Afghanistan is where the war needs to be waged, not Iraq. Afghanistan is where the Al Qaeda was able to orchestrate 9/11 from their safe haven and the Taliban controlled Afghanistan.
5. I'd give Obama's speech a B because I dont feel that it is a smart military strategy to announce when you are sending troops and when you are exiting them. Other than that his speech was successful in giving the american people a positive feeling that his plan will succeed.
Monica Raptis
ReplyDelete1. What strategy did Obama announce?
Obama announced that he would be sending in another 30,000 troops to Afghanistan for a total of eighteen months. His strategy has three parts which includes a military surge, a civilian surge, and a better relationship with Pakistan and it's bordering countries.
2. What was his argument and was he convincing? How so?
His argument was that this influx of troops would be a short, but efficient process. Obama made it very clear that the safety of the American people is what is most important, and to protect them, certain precautions must be taken, like sending in more troops to track down Al Qaeda. I felt that his argument was convincing because of his intent of keeping Americans safe as well as his strategy sounding very reasonable.
3. Where do you stand on the Afghanistan war?
I'm unsure of where I stand of this war. I feel that troops have been in the Middle East for far too long, but I also understand that terrorism is not something to be taken lightly. I guess if there was a scale, then I wouldn't be on it at all.
4. Did Obama change your mind in regards to the war?
I would not say that he did. He gave me a different perspective on why others may feel that deploying troops in the Middle East is necessary, but I don't suddenly feel that way as well.
5. Give the speech a grade and explain the grade.
I would give Obama's speech an A because he announced a solid plan and a good strategy, and gave good reasons for it. He also was able to unify the American people through this speech, and that's not an easy task.
Mark Tan
ReplyDeleteObama's speech tonight was short but powerful. In the speech, he outlines the military strategies towards Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Obama is planning to send 30000 more troops in to Afghanistan and Pakistan border area to hunt down terrorists from Taliban and Al Quaeda. At the same time, he hopes to get these troops out by July of 2011.
Obama gives some good reasons to fight this war. First of all, he specifically mentioned that we didn't start the war, 9.11 and the homeland security issues are the basic reasons that put we into the war. Second, he explains the difference between Vietnam war and this war. In this war, many Americans are killed during the attack of terrorism and we have a lot of allies who are willing to back us up. Third, Obama said we are not seeking occupation of any countries or resources. We are only trying to help Afghan people to stand up by themselves.
In my opinion, I don't think the war can resolve anything perfectly, but use the war to end the terrorism is definitely necessary. No freedom can be pursued if our life is always under the threat. Besides this, America is helping civilians of Afghanistan and Pakistan to regain their normal life. The war is worth what we paid for.
The rating of the speech is A. An awesome speech as usual!!
Xifeng(Andy) Lai
ReplyDelete1. Obama not only wants to send massive US troops into Afghanistan but he also wants to place a 1.5 billion dollar budget every year for the next 5 years concerning Afghanistan. In addition, he also wants to improve the Afghan economy as well as neighboring districts to prevent the ongoing rise of the Taliban organization. By increasing the size of the Afghan security force and reforming the corrupt government in Afghanistan, the country can take care of itself regarding terrorists take over.
2. His argument was that, the al-Qaeda is an international threat, plotting both to attack the US and might attack European or Asian countries; therefore, people around the world aren’t safe. By sending more troops, it will insure the safety of citizens in the US and by eliminating the Talibans, we can rest assure of any other attacks such as the 9/11 incident.
3. I believe that Obama is heading towards the right path and taking a step forward in ending terrorism. Although this war may cost many American lives, it is for the benefit of a greater future for the US and other Countries. Although I am curious of what other intentions does Obama have regarding Afghanistan. Is Obama’s true intention only to eliminate the Talibans or is there more to it?
4. No, I was completely for the war. I want the Americans to succeed in eliminating the threat of our nation as well as other nations and also for Obama to reconstruct the inner structure of the corrupt Afghan government after the war is over.
5. I give Obama an A+ because he gave background and historical information to backup his statement and his strategy. Not only did he address America on the issue, but he also appealed globally to the billions across the globe. By attempting to prevent the Taliban’s power from growing, it is possible to prevent further loss of lives.
Alithea M.
ReplyDeleteObama plans to send 30000 troops to Afghanistan and have them start to withdraw afer 18 months have elapsed.
His argument was pretty convincing. He managed to clarify the true intent behind what has been a somewhat ambiguous war, emphasize the goal of getting Afghanis to be able to take care of issues themselves; dispel the comparisons between the current situation and Vietnam with valid facts; ensure that America is his first priority,and that the country can no longer afford to waste so many resources on improving another country when our economy is going through a crisis.
Personally, I'm all for getting out of there as soon as possible, because the reasoning behind it seemed rather vague, and I think the resources directed towards the war would be put to better use within the country.
He didn't really change my mind, but I am pretty ok with the plan.
I give this speech an A, because the speech left behind the flowery words and was to the point, honest, and clear.
Obama wants to send 30,000 troops to Afghanistan in 2010 and start taking them out in eighteen months. He wants the troops to help train the Afghani people to fight against the Taliban themselves. He also wants to become an ally with Pakistan since terrorists are there.
ReplyDeleteObama wants to finish what we started essentially. He wants the Afghani government and troops to be able to protect the country on their own. He also wants to try and eliminate the Taliban and Al Quaeda. Obama tried to be convincing. He used a lot of emotional appeal in the speech bringing up all of the terrorist attacks that have occured. He also said it was America's duty "as a free nation" to protect others' rights.
I feel the Afghanistan war is not what America needs to be focusing on right now. I do feel we need to try and help Afghanistan become somewhat stable since we put it in the situation it is in now. However, our country, with the economic crisis going on right now, is not in the position to be using resources on a war. I also feel that war destroys many lives, espicially this one with all of the random bombings and kidnappings and torturing of soldiers. I think a country needs to go to war sometimes to protect itself, but should choose wisely on what wars are worthy of the lives of its citizens.
Obama did not change my mind on the war. He said the war will cost 30 billion dollars, which is money we do not need to be spending on war. He also described the terrors of war and seeing all of the caskets of young men come back.
I give the speech a A because he used a lot of emotional appeal and did get the facts out. He was very clear about what he wanted to happen and I hope it happens as quickly as he wants it to. Even though I disagree with his decision, I think many people will be moved by this speech and understand what Obama's plan for Afghanistan is.
Natalie Lodinger
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBella Delgado
ReplyDelete1. What strategy did Obama announce?
Obama decided to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan in the beginning of 2010. Troops will be reutrning home in July 2011. The strategy he plans to use has 3 main phases which are a military surge, a civilian surge and teaming up with Pakistan.
2. What was his argument and was he convincing? How so?
He wants to eliminate the Talibans because he thinks they're a threat to the world. He thinks the troops are necessary to secure the govt of Afghanistan, which will also help speed up the training of Afghani troops so they can protect their own country. I think he was convincing by using emotional appeal about the 9/11 event, saying he is sending troops out because he believed it was what's best for us and other countries, and acknowledging our economic troubles.
3. Where do you stand on the Afghanistan war?
I'm not for the war, but I'm not against it either.
4. Did Obama change your mind in regards to the war?
He didn't really change my mind in regards to the war, but I do feel better after hearing his speech because I think his plan has a good strategy.
5. Give the speech a grade and explain the grade.
I give the speech an A because he got to the point. He clearly explained what he wanted, and how he was going to go on with his plan.
Obama announced a strategy to help take back Afghanistan from the Taliban. He says that 30,000 troops will be deployed in the beginning of 2010. He said that at the end of 2011 all troops will be taken out of Afghanistan.
ReplyDeleteHis argument is that the situation with the Taliban has not been resolved. He stated that the Taliban have taken refuge in Pakistan and continue to commit acts of terrorism. Also, Afghanistan is not yet strong enough to stave off the Taliban efforts. He argues that the threat of the Taliban is a threat to our own national security and that makes it necessary to send more troops.
I feel that with the current economic condition of the US, a war is not what we need on our plate. But, then again, I do understand the reason for the war. The Taliban is a very significant threat. Also, I feel that we should finish what we started in Afghanistan by helping the people become politically and economically independent. Otherwise, we have wasted an unreasonable amount of resources.
I have always agreed with Obama's main stance about the war. He has just further reinforced my idea that the war needs to end quickly and efficiently, but to also eliminate threats to national security.
I give his speech a solid A. His techniques in the speech focused on why we are in the war. He didn't dance around issues, rather he was very candid and to the point about all the things he touched upon. While sending more troops isn't ideal in my opinion, he did a more than substantial job to justify the decision.
Obama announced that he plans to send 30000 more troops into Afghanistan, crush taliban into the dust, and put an end to the war in Afghan by the beginning of 2011. Well... in nicer words... Anyways, plus or minus in some extremeness in the previous statement that's what he is basically going to do. Obama basically made his speech a giant recap of US history with a reason supporting his actions that he proposes that US should take. Obama came on really strong with the use of emotional appeal. Bringing up things like 9/11, the Vietnam War, and the current wars taking place. Obama was really trying to push his viewpoint across as much as possible without angering the parties both opposing him and supporting him; well he takes care of that issue by saying this is different from vietnam because they hit us first. All together I felt it was convincing to an extent where I can't brush it off and ignore it in the fact he brought up some good points about this being different from Vietnam and other situations the US has been through. Honestly, I'm stuck in between an arguement of reasons vs. feeling.I think that the war has dragged on too much and that both the soldiers and the country has tried enough and wasted enough on fighting this war; that's the emotions talking though. The reason is understanding the gravity and consequences of not fighting such as if left alone, we might get bombed again. Obama frankly made me feel a cross in between listening to a history lesson and reading one of those persuasion essays. His speech made me feel informed and more lossened up about his view, but not so much that my standing has changed in the matter. His speech gets a A-; an A for giving logical reasons to push his view forward without smothering the world enough to get them to turn against him, and a (-) because he didn't really move or shake my standing on the issue with his really emotional speech.
ReplyDeleteObama announced his strategy for continuing the war in Afghanistan by sending 30000 more troops to Afghanistan by the beginning of 2010. However, he did make the point that all troops would be out of Afghanistan by 2011
ReplyDeleteHis argument for sending more troops were that the Taliban's terrorist actions pose a threat to the U.S. national security. Obama reasoned that more troops were needed to ensure the safety of many American civilians and the American nation itself. I thought that Obama was convincing by using his ability to grasp America's attention. He provoked emotional appeal by bringing up the 9/11 catastrophe and convinced many Americans that the war needed to continue for events like 9/11 to seize to exist in the future
I have never been an advocate of war, but I believe that the Afghanistan war is a necessity for our nation to continue for the nation's safety.
I dont think Obama changed my opinion about the war. I just think he gave a substantial justification for his decisions, and made his reasoning clear and understandable to many Americans.
I would give Obama's speech an A. He strongly persuaded many Americans to believe in his leadership and America's participation in the war in Afghanistan. He justified his reasoning for sending more troops, and gave a clear perspective on the war in Afghanistan.
Amanda (3rd period)
ReplyDelete1.He announced deployment of an additional 30,000 troops with a timeline of July 2011 to begin withdrawing troops. Which will allow the US to help secure the border of Pakistan. The strategy includes 2 stages: Military sure, Civilian surge, and work with Pakistan.
2.His argument was if we allow Al - Qaida it will put the whole world in. I do not believe his speech was that convincing, because it appeared that it was clear was that his heart was not in it, and he was doing this too appease his political base.
3.In my opinion, I do not agree with the war, but I know it is crucial for the safety of our country. (RE: 9/11) Therefore, this must be done.
4.No, Obama was uninspiring. I still do not agree with the war, and think it will cost way to much money – money that our economy doesn’t even have.
5.I would give Obama’s speech C, because he was uninspiring, unemotional (although , he had a couple lines that were possibly though provoking), and wed no fire that the troops should be expecting from their Commander-in-chief.
CARA WEISMAN, PERIOD 3
ReplyDeleteAnalysis:
1. What strategy did Obama announce?
Obama announced that he will be deploying an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan in early 2010 and that they will be brought home in 2011. These troops will be used to dislodge the Taliban, build infrastructure in Afghanistan and ready the Afghan military forces to take control of their country.
2. What was his argument and was he convincing? How so?
Obama's argument was that the national security of the US is put at risk when the Taliban is allowed to grow unchecked; he proposes stabilizing Afghanistan to increase the safety of US citizens. He also points out that an increased Taliban presence in Afghanistan could mean an extension of that power into nuclear Pakistan, an even greater threat. This is a convincing argument because it refutes those who would suggest that we are in Afghanistan indefinitely due to lack of a goal and that there is nothing to be gained by continued American presence there.
Opinion:
3. Where do you stand on the Afghanistan war?
I am of the opinion that we cannot, at the moment, withdraw from Afghanistan; I view the Taliban as a veritable threat and believe that it would be both irresponsible and unwise to withdraw from Afghanistan without ensuring that the Taliban have been displaced. However, I do not believe that more troops of the same sort is the best strategy; I am more inclined to favor Vice President Joe Biden's plan -- that is, to deploy fewer, more specialized troops. I hold this opinion because of the very limited results that we have seen with traditional troops using traditional strategies.
4. Did Obama change your mind in regards to the war?
Obama expressed a general opinion that I already held; that is, that we cannot leave Afghanistan now. However, he said nothing to convince me that his specific strategy - that is, the number of deployed troops - will be effective. In short, he did not change my mind, but I do agree (and did before) with his general position.
5. Give the speech a grade and explain the grade.
I give the speech a B. I think that Obama made a very strong argument on behalf of refusing to leave Afghanistan now, and that he expressed very clearly and convincingly the justifications for our presence there, including an obligation to the Afghan people and the increased security of our own country. However, I would have liked for Obama to detail more specifics about how he concluded that this number of troops was the optimal plan and about what exactly these troops will be accomplishing -- that is, will there be any changes in troop strategy other than relying on an increase in numbers?
Yang Song
ReplyDeleteObama has finally set a time frame to draw the troops out of Afghanistan. However, he has decided, prior to recalling all the troops, to deploy another 30,000 troops in 2010. These troops will eliminate the remaining Taliban and Al Qaeda members, rebuild the national infrastructure and train and ally themselves with the Afghan and Pakistani government.
According to the reactions from the crowds, although Obama's rhetoric was moving, it didn't engage people's attentions the entire time. His argument was that Americans must continue to commit to the war to ensure not only our national security, but also the security of the world. He reminded the audience why the war was waged in the first place, to ensure our liberty and national security after the 9/11 attack. Most of his speech were extremely powerful and convincing.
I personally think the Afghanistan war is a waste of money and resources. Although I do concede that the war was necessary immediately following 9/11, but there was no reason that the fighting should've lasted this long, and that the power and the policing action should've shifted back to the Afghan government long ago. Right now, the war in Afghanistan is nothing but a perptual drain on America's wealth and resources.
No, Obama did not change my mind. However, I do agree with him about withdrawing the troops. Maybe I'm wrong to worry but I doubt the effectiveness of 30,000 additional troops and what they could accomplish in such a short time before coming back.
I give Obama's speech a B. Eventhough it gave no final word on exactly how the new 30,000 troops will fix the Afghanistan problem in 18 months, it did state that the troops will be withdrawn in 2011. Parts of Obama's speech were very convincing and intense. It was an OK speech, I guess. The war in Afghanistan is a touchy subject, people are bound to disagree.
SAMANTHA WONG
ReplyDelete1. Obama announced that combat brigades would be removed from Iraq by the end of next summer and all of our troops by the end of 2011. He also stated that 30,000 additional troops would be sent to Afghanistan to help in the war.
2. His argument was that the Taliban needs to be dismantled and that the civilian government in Afghanistan needs to be strengthened, which could be done with things like supporting local governments and training the local army. I found Obama to be convincing with his effective use of emotional appeal by referring back to 9/11 and the Iraq War.
3. I personally take no side on the issue of whether or not the Afghanistan War was a good idea. However, I understand both points of the spectrum and believe that something good will come from all of this.
4. Obama didn't change my stance on the war. He just further justified his reasonings in hopes that people could understand where he was coming from.
5. I would give his speech an A. He is an eloquent speaker and can be persuasive. He gave a little history in the beginning, stated where he stood and wanted to do, and then backed it all up with facts that justified his reasoning.
cara felleman
ReplyDelete1.Obama announced his three stage plan.He plans to send 30,000 more troops over the next 18 months.
2. His argument was that we NEED these people to be sent in order to secure America's security. If not, we put our country at a higher risk to be attacked as we were during 9/11.
3. My views on the war is that we cant exactly pull out now, we have lost so many people and gone head over heals for this war, that backing out wouldnt be worth it, but i dont think we need to continue to send people through out time, i feel that we need to eventually bring people home and pull out. when. i am not sure.
4. NO he did not, he stated no intent to keep us there , more he stated how he wanted to protect us from possible attacks.
5.I think his speech was overall well addressed. For every plan or idea, he had a very clear explanation. HIs speech would be a B+ in my book. i would have liked to hear his future plans on the war more, like how we can minimize the length of the war.
APARNA
ReplyDelete1. What strategy did Obama announce?
Obama announced that he is going to deploy 30,000 more troops to the war in Afghanistan early next year. His three piece strategy includes: a civilian surge, military surge, and developing a stronger ally in Pakistan.
2. What was his argument and was he convincing? How so?
Basically, Obama argued that we need to deploy more troops to finally end the war in Afghanistan. He reiterated that the US mission in Afghanistan is to crush the Al Quaida and leave the country with a legitimate government, protected from Taliban rule--but the key to actually leaving is being proactive in our military strategy so we can win. He logically says that the extra troops will expedite the entire process and lead to safer lives in the long run. In his argument, Obama was careful to emphasize the very real threat of terrorist nations to the US, and the ways our troops have already saved the country from possible disasters. He used both logical and emotional appeals without getting too worked up, projecting the image of confidence and a clear head.
Opinion:
3. Where do you stand on the Afghanistan war?
I don't agree that we should still be in Afghanistan after eight years. I want the US to end the fighting. In fact, I'm pretty sure I want the US to never have launched a formal war on Afghanistan. However, I realize that we can't leave without winning--that would just be ridiculous and terribly dangerous for the strength of the US as a world power.
4. Did Obama change your mind in regards to the war?
He highlighted the idea that something has to be done for us to get out of Afghanistan, and in this way he persuaded me that deploying more troops, while not a happy prospect, could save us from being in this war 8 more years from now.
5. Give the speech a grade and explain the grade.
A+: Obama was in a straight-up no win situation in terms of making people happy. If he didn't make a game plan to send more troops to Afghanistan, there would be no end in sight for the war. Also, the conservative side would be unhappy with him and he would get so much flack from the media about being unpatriotic, leaving our troops out there right now to flounder. If he sent more troops, he would anger the Democrats, his own part, who basically never support sending more people to war. Given the circumstances, Obama did a really great job of presenting his plan and stressing certain parts to try and appease the liberals who were going to get angry. He firmly stated his plan includes withdrawing troops by 2011, a noble goal. He also brought in references to the September 11th attacks and the unity of the country in hard times. His case was concise and cogent, and as usual, he delivered it in a commanding way.
1. Obama said that he would send 30, 000 troops to Afghanistan next year. His strategies are civilian surge, military surge, and having Pakistan as an ally.
ReplyDelete2. Obama was arguing that the war in Afghanistan was a worthy war because of the fact that Terrorism needs to be permanently stop where it was born.
3. I do not think that the war is necessary, but I do feel that terrorism needs to be stopped at all costs.
Obama did not change my view on the war, but I was able to see what he was saying.
4. I would give Obama's speech a solid A because he successfully convinced his West Point audience of the significance of the war in Afghanistan and the importance of keeping the US safe from enemies.
Kimberly Tape, Period 2
ReplyDeleteAnalysis
1. What strategy did Obama announce?
Obama announced that in order to complete his three-part plan (military surge, civilian surge, and form a relationship with Pakistan), he plans to send 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. However, he also said that he will withdraw the troops by 2011.
2. What was his argument and was he convincing ? How so?
Obama's argument was that we are not going to Afghanistan to take over their government, but to help them become self-sufficient and that sending more troops will be beneficial to us because it will ensure America's security in a shorter period of time. He is convincing because he makes sure to emphasize the danger the Taliban pose to us if we do not take action, which effectively scares people into thinking that we must follow Obama's plan if we want to be safe.
Opinion
3. Where do you stand on the Afghanistan war?
I don't think that it was necessary to start the war, but do believe that we should finish what we started now that we're already there. Leaving now would be unwise and pointless, so we might as well try to defeat the terrorists while we can.
4. Did Obama change your mind in regards to the war?
Not exactly, but I do think he brought up some good points. He knows that a lot of people don't agree with the war and I don't really think he expected to change a lot of peoples' minds, but instead he reasoned with us and told us that some good can come out of the war.
5. Give the speech a grade and explain the grade.
I would give Obama an A because like always he was very good at reasoning with the audience. He put it into pretty simple terms that everyone can understand and clearly outlined his plan. Also, he acknowledges a lot of the criticisms that people have of the war and not only addresses them, but incorporates ways to prevent them in his strategy.
Obama announced his plan to send 30,000 troops to Afghanistan quickly. He wants to send them in quickly and get the job done and remove them as quickly as they were sent. Obama argued that we never finished the Afghanistan war job and that we put them on the backburner for the Iraq war even though Afghanistan made the threatto our national security. I believe that we should o what is needed to elimintate the threat Afghanistan poses and then leave as soon as everything is restoreed to the way we believe it should be. I belive we should finish what we started even though we have been fighting the war for a long time. Obama did not change my opinion with his speech. I would give the speech an A because he presented what he wanted to say and he gave the speech at West Point to let the people who are going to fight the war hear what was going on because it greatly affects them.
ReplyDelete1. What strategy did Obama announce?
ReplyDeleteThe three core elements of the strategy Obama announced are a military surge, a civilian surge, and an effective partnership with Pakistan. He announced that he decided to deploy 30,000 U.S troops in the first part of 2010 to Afghanistan. He also said that after 18 months our troops will begin to come home.
2. What was his argument and was he convincing? How so?
Obama’s argument was that the security of the United States and the safety of the American people are at stake in Afghanistan. He argues the 30000 troops will increase our ability to train competent Afghan Security Forces and government, so that they can take responsibility for Afghanistan’s future. This will allow for a responsible transition of our forces out of Afghanistan. He also argued that the troops will prevent al Qaeda from threatening the U.S. and our allies in the future. I think that his argument was convincing because he used emotional appeal when he mentioned 9/11, reminding us of why we are involved in this war, the reasons for his strategy were reasonable, and he addressed some of the prominent argues to his approach.
3. Where do you stand on the Afghanistan war?
I do not support the Afghanistan war, but since we are already involved I think that we might as well continue it, for the safety of our country, and finish what we started in an efficient way.
4. Did Obama change your mind in regards to the war?
No, Obama did not change my mind in regards to the war, but I feel reassured because his strategy seems reasonable.
5. Give the speech a grade and explain the grade.
I give Obama an A. He gave a great speech were he explained his strategy and addressed some of the arguments to his approach. He justified his reasoning for sending more troops. Overall, with his plan, he was able to convey a positive feeling to the American people in regards to the war.
JOSEPH ONG
ReplyDeleteIn his speech, Obama announced a three-segment plan aimed towards dissolving the Taliban stronghold in the country of Afghanistan. First, he intends to send an additional 30,000 American troops to assist with the conflict, hoping that the side benefit of training the Afghanistan’s army may lead the flailing country to a point where it can become militarily self-sufficient. Secondly, he plans to ally with Pakistan to eliminate the threat of Al-Qaeda in efforts to secure the nuclear nation from takeover by hostile forces. Thirdly, he plans to withdraw troops from the Iraqi war – eliminating a conflict which has long been a drain on U.S. resources and hard power.
His main argument dealt with U.S. national security. In essence, the United States must secure Afghanistan because the potential threat of terrorism from hostile takeover of the region is vastly greater than any other region (such as Iraq). At the very beginning, he alludes to past acts of terrorism committed against the United States, appealing to the emotions of the Westpoint crowd (and undoubtedly, everyone else watching). He also enumerates how the United States failed to respond to the reemergence of the Taliban in Afghanistan; a resurge that has led to destabilization in neighboring countries such as Pakistan – a resurge which could lead to nuclear proliferation. It is this analysis and explanation of current and historical events that enable him to solidify his position as an informed, intellectual individual – someone the Americans can assume is “in control of the situation” (akin to an extension of the trustee model in an executive sense). His argument was definitely convincing: it was emotionally energized, yet logically centered. By focusing on the matter of U.S. national security, he closes the scope for opposing arguments action (i.e. “imperialism” is no longer an effective argument when hostility is rising up against you). Furthermore, his presentation of a planned withdrawal – a timetable to be fulfilled before Election Day – boosts his credibility; it makes a statement that he is willing to put his reelection on the line to fulfill this promise.
I personally believe that the war in Afghanistan is necessary. Even though I have no true credibility in making such a statement (my life is not directly on the line), I see the need for national security before any other endeavors can be completed. One does not have to wander far from our present time period (9/11) to witness the drastic effects terrorism can have on both the victim country and country of origin, in both social and economic senses. This is not to state that Afghanistan is the source of terroristic threats; rather, the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, who reside in Afghanistan, propagate these attacks, extorting funds that could be used promote development in the country. Afghanistan is thus not the source of the Taliban – it is a victim of the Taliban. There is also a moral responsibility – we often hear of the human rights violations in these countries: among them, suppression of women’s rights through extremist interpretations of Shari’a law. In the U.S., we tend to take our “human rights” for granted – society has to realize that millions of Americans died for our generation to have the right to live free from oppression. If so, how do we stand back and watch as other humans are deprived of that right? Many may say that soft power and diplomatic talks may be our solution – these are valid responses. Yet, in this case, where the mindset of the opponent is so embedded in violence with no possible outlet for reconciliation, there is no doubt that some measure of hard power is necessary.
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Obama did not change my viewpoint on the war – in fact, he reinforced it. The critical issues of national security and moral responsibility, embedded in a historical context, provide concrete evidence that the war is necessary. Do we face our problems now, or run the risk of greater destruction later? Military skirmishes versus nuclear proliferation. Should we really shy away from the idea of war when it could potentially prevent the blotting of countries off the map?
ReplyDeleteEven though he did present the evidence quite concretely, I give Obama a B for this particular speech. I believe he relies too much on emotional appeal to garner public. This may be crucial for gaining support, but at the same time, it deprives the American people of more information. Sure, it may be convincing to reference 9/11 seven times, but please, offer another reason. Talk about human rights violations. Talk about economic implications.
Talk to the American people as individuals capable of being intelligent engaged, not just emotionally affected.
Taylor
ReplyDeleteObama announced that was going to send 30,000 new troops to Afghanistan, get them out by July of 2011, and team up with Pakistan to help with their efforts in defeating terrorism. He argued that in order to protect this country and many other countries security from the Taliban and other terrorist groups, we must send the troops to help rebuild the government and counrty and help it function on its own. He used the threat of the Taliban the assure the public that we needed to be there to get rid of the threat, and reassured the audience through the promise of bringing the trrops back home in less than 2 years. Personally, I don't comletely agree with war and wish this never happened at all, that we could work this out some other way, but I know that the world doesn't work that way and some things, like this war, are neccessary. Obama definitely quelled some of my unsettling thoughts about the war through his many reassurances and promises, but hopefully he can follow through on them. Overall, Obama earned an well deserved A in his speech for his plans and reasuurances to the audience, along with his already good public speaking attitude.
Obama’s strategy was basically a surge. A troop surge to be more specific, where they send 30000 troops into Afghanistan and beef up the security forces to fight the Taliban. He also wants to start deploying the troops after Christmas and after around 8 months, deployments will be done and he will start bring them back around july 2011.
ReplyDeleteObama’s argument is that we need to crack the resurgent Taliban which is taking over southern half of country, he also wants to secure border of Pakistan and Afghanistan border because they are hotbeds of Islamic radicism. He kinda used scared tactics to convince the audience but my opinion is that the speech was not as convincing as it could be. Even though he did appeal, his argument probably could not swing a non-warhawk to go to war. I for instance, personally think that we should not go to further war in Afghanistan because our economy isn’t that stable yet and we can technically use that money elsewhere. And of course, more American lives will be lost. And as I was implying before, obama did not really change my mind in regards to the war because he was not really empathetic and speech had some appealing parts, but overall was rather bland. The eloquence however was clearly present. I would give his speech an A- because although it may not be a very swaying speech, it was still a very well written and flowing speech that embodied a lot of information on the war I did not know about and I learned a lot of background info on the situation in Afghanistan.
Lingyi Peng
ReplyDeleteIn a clever fashion, Obama first promises to end the war and bring the troops home before he reveals that he is deploying 30000 new ones for national security. He does a good job of reminding everyone the reason we started fighting in the first place. I for one almost forgot that it all started because of 9/11, the war has gone so far and so long. Obama's reasoning that the war was started for legitmate, unselfish reasons, coupled with an appeal to our need for security, effectively put the war in a better light. I give his speech an A because he eases into the touchy topic of sending more troops and justifies his decision. I thought the war was necessary, but somehow it feels like we haven't made any progress. We shouldn't continue wasting our resources for a war we can't move forward. Obama convinced me that we do need to send in more troops to tie up the loose ends and get out of there.
1. What strategy did Obama announce?
ReplyDeleteObama announced that he would be sending an additional 30,000 American troops into Afghanistan by next summer, and that he plans to have all surviving American troops back home by July of 2011.
2. What was his argument and was he convincing? How so?
he believes that we need to send in more troops because America is in immediate danger from terrorist groups if we pull out of the war all together, and will not make any significant progress in the country if the number of soldiers remains where it is now. he also wants to secure the borders of Pakistan considering that they are in the immediate line of fire as well.
3. Where do you stand on the Afghanistan war?
I believe that Obama is making the right decision in regards to the war because it has gone on for so long that something needs to be done to finally bring it to an end. sending in more troops will give the US more of an advantage. Furthermore, were we to pull out of the war now, it is extremely likely that the Taliban would take advantage of the situation and attack, causing the loss of more innocent lives.
4. Did Obama change your mind in regards to the war?
He didn't so much change my mind as reinforce my viewpoint on how such a controversial war as this one should be waged
5. Give the speech a grade and explain the grade.
I would give the speech a B simply because he was eloquent and direct in what he wanted to happen, but seemed to avoid talking specifics. He spent most of the speech talking about how America was built on freedom and how we have a responsibility to protect other nations but little time on how exactly he planned to strategize getting all troops out by 2011.
Matthew Times
ReplyDelete1. Obama's strategy is to send an additional 30k troops to afghanistan and begin bringing them home in 18 months. The stragegy will focus on training afghani secrity forces and partnering with pakistan in order to increase security on the border.
2. His argument was effective because he explained the status quo and specifically outlined what the problems are such as severe lack of troops, inability to train afghani security, and the continuing presence of taliban and al-queda in the region. He specifically outlines his plan, time frame and objectives and details how they will specifically solve the situation. finally he specifically refutes the common arguments against the war such as that afghanistan is going to be like vietnam and that it would be better to continue with existing troops.
3. I agree that we should finish the war in afghanistan, obamas speech was very convincing in saying how stability of afghanistan is key to national security. however, i am somewhat skeptical about him being able to meet his timeframe for closing the war.
4.he supported my current position
5.i would give his speech an A- mainly because it was very persuasive however locking himself in to such a tight timeframe might not have been the best strategic option especially for reelection.
Destiny Hamilton
ReplyDelete1. Obama announced that he will be sending an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan and that he plans on bringing them back within eighteen months.
2. He argued that the security of American soldiers already in Afghanistan is at stake. He said that sending additional troops will increase our ability to train competent Afghan Security Forces and government and help Afghanistan learn how to gain more independence.
3. In my opinion, the war in Afghanistan is pointless, but then again I see most wars as being pointless. This one has always especially been seen as a very poor decision made by our country's leader. It was none of our business and had nothing to do with us, so everything could have been avoided had we stuck with dealing with problems on our own territory.
4. The speech didn't affect my position at all, considering that he shares my opinion and is working toward bringing the war to an end.
5. I gave the speech an A because he got all of his points across in an effective and clear way.
*late due to computer problems
Obama will be sending an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. He aslo explains that they should be home in 18 months. Obama implies that these 30,000 soldiers will be the amount to sustain what is needed to be employed.
ReplyDeleteThe argument Obama prsented was well thought out, planned, organized, and equiped with alot of information, that we Americans needed to hear. The only way to leave the country in a stable manner was to add more soldiers to get the job done sufficiently. .
I absolutly am disgusted with the war. I do not like war at all. I do not believe in it, nor will I ever. I do not see why you have to fight to solve a problem, your views still will not change after the scarafice of millions. Violence is not the answer. Will the war make Afghanistan a well off country in the future? Maybe. Can it become corrupt again if we help organize it? Maybe. Who is to say the lives of thousands of soldiers can change a moral, belief, system or status? Never.
The speech had little to no affect upon me because I still do not believe in the war.
The speech indeed derserves an A. With great speech techniques, America is informed, many agree, disagree, but we now know what is "up".
Bria Taylor