Tuesday, October 19, 2004

Reality Road Check: Undecided Voters Part V

Was Tora Bora "Outsourced"?

One thing is for sure, people like catchy phrases and their is nothing more "catchy" than the word "outsourced" in our current economical climate. The word induces shivers in any person that works in technology or manufacturing positions.

In this case, the word "outsourced" is used specifically to give the voter that same shiver. That our current administration, as opposed to any other historically, is so attached to "outsourcing" that it would "outsource" our security. Of course, the same has been said concerning Senator Kerry's proposed "global test" for future security measures.

In regards to Tora Bora and Osama bin Laden, it is specifically used to do what the Democrat party has been saying the Republican party has done: fearmongering.

From my perspective, it seems that the best source of information about whether Tora Bora was "outsourced" is the commander who was in charge of the situation: Gen. Tommy Franks.

In a recent opinion editorial of the New York Times, Gen. Franks (ret), talks about his operational plan for Tora Bora, and whether the allegations of allowing Osama bin Laden to slip away, are true:

On more than one occasion, Senator Kerry has referred to the fight at Tora Bora in Afghanistan during late 2001 as a missed opportunity for America. He claims that our forces had Osama bin Laden cornered and allowed him to escape. How did it happen? According to Mr. Kerry, we "outsourced" the job to Afghan warlords. As commander of the allied forces in the Middle East, I was responsible for the operation at Tora Bora, and I can tell you that the senator's understanding of events doesn't square with reality.

First, take Mr. Kerry's contention that we "had an opportunity to capture or kill Osama bin Laden" and that "we had him surrounded." We don't know to this day whether Mr. bin Laden was at Tora Bora in December 2001. Some intelligence sources said he was; others indicated he was in Pakistan at the time; still others suggested he was in Kashmir. Tora Bora was teeming with Taliban and Qaeda operatives, many of whom were killed or captured, but Mr. bin Laden was never within our grasp.


Go read the rest here: Tommy Franks on Tora Bora

The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.
John Kennedy, May 18, 1963

2 comments:

Asher Abrams said...

It's great that the NYT ran this piece. Kat, thanks for posting.

BTW, I haven't been reading your blog as often as I should. Just spent a few minutes reviewing your recent posts, and I realize what I've been missing. Keep up the good work.

Tom the Redhunter said...

Kerry just makes stuff up as he goes along. Whatever he thinks will work he uses.

One of my disappointments during the debates was how neither Bush nor Cheney adequately refuted this lie about Tora Bora.

As you know from my blog, I read Franks' book and found him very credible.