Page 452 - Predecessors News Today

A change in a position and saying that he has learned something as president of the united states. a lot of people have gone on to say it was significant because the president showed growth that he was taking advice from his general, advocating a position that was the mere opposite of his earlier views on intractable war going on in afghanistan, that he blamed republican and democratic predecessors for heightening. a presidential historian on the significance of that pivot. doug what do you thin...

President trump is the third fot deal with post-9/11 military in afghanistan. last night this president vowed to do things differently than his predecessors. >> we will no longer use american military might to construct democracies in far-away lands or try to rebuild other countries in our own image. those days are now over. we will work with allies to protect our haired interests. we are not asking others to change their way of life but pursue common goals that allow our children to live better...

So for skeptics of this plan, however well delivered or well packaged, how will you say it is going to change with 4,000 troops on the ground? >> 4,000 troops, if those are the numbers, we think they are, people are speculating, the president hasnt told us, certainly, that is helpful. but its not decisive and we can play games about that. what he has committed himself to, his predecessors have never done, and that is pakistan. what he is not telling us, he says, if i can persuade you diplomatica...

Shift in terms of stability inside this white house? >> well, it does seem like the people who are now in charge are more competent. i would mention, though, that the point youre relieved that the generals are in charge, i mean, were kind of like halfway to a banana republic, right? like these particular individuals do seem quite competent. they seem to have their acts together. they seem to be less ideological at the very least, particularly on domestic policy than their predecessors, the banno...

However, well delivered or packaged, how do you say its going to change with 4,000 troops on the ground in afghanistan? >> well, 4,000 troops if those are the numbers -- we think they are, people are speculating. the president hasnt told us what they are. its helpful but its not decisive and we cant play games about that. whats hes committed himself to which his predecessors have never done it is pakistan. he says if i cant persuade you diplomatically and economically im going to target these pe...

Dialogue. let me cut to the chase about what that means. if we ever, and i suspect we will, dialogue with the taliban, there will never be a skirt in kabul. the message from the president is idealistic. the realistic message is there will never be a short skirt in kabul. >> what did you think, bianna? >> im curious to see if this president will now take responsibility and ownership of something given that hes been in office for eight months now. hes laid blame on his predecessors for many things...

The president breaking from his campaign rhetoric when he promised to pull out of afghanistan, but keeping with the america-first theme, saying the days of nationbuilding are over -- nation-build regular over. the strategy is light on specifics. the president reaffirming he does not want the enemy to know his plans, and a hasty withdrawal like that in iraq is not an option>> the vacuum we created by leaving too soon gave safe haven for isis to spread, to grow, recruit, and launch attacks. we can...

>> its the member of the 4,000 number and the fact president trump said time and time again he wanted us out of afghanistan. are you surprised by the move? >> im not surprised because he has to convince the american people this is clearly in u.s. vital interest. thats the driving force behind this. his predecessors frankly never committed themselves politically and morally to have a successful strategy. thats the second big thing we need to get from the president tonight. not just why but what d...

Presidents plan for a get afghanistan of the ship from the failing plan of his predecessors. >> im proud of the fact that donald trump made a national security decision, not a political decision and listened to the generals and shows the will to stand up to radical islam. winning a war you cant afford to lose, the game has changed for pakistan and afghanistan, he is trusting his military, giving them authority obama never gave them and we are going to make our decisions based on conditions on th...

However, well delivered or packaged, how do you say its going to change with 4,000 troops on the ground in afghanistan? >> well, 4,000 troops if those are the numbers -- we think they are, people are speculating. the president hasnt told us what they are. its helpful but its not decisive and we cant play games about that. whats hes committed himself to which his predecessors have never done it is pakistan. he says if i cant persuade you diplomatically and economically im going to target these pe...