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Is President Obama Painting Himself Into A Corner By Setting Iraq Deadline?

Kim Stolz — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:35:43 +0000

During his address to Congress last night, President Barack Obama focused on the state of the economy, bringing a young and energetic voice to an otherwise grim situation. While he came off stern and concerned, the president offered uplifting statements as well, saying, "We will rebuild," and arguing the potential success of the $787 billion stimulus package, which has gone from a bill to a reality in recent weeks.

Any overarching presidential speech of this decade would be remiss if it didn't include a plan for Iraq, Afghanistan and our troops. Beyond the overwhelming youth involvement and enthusiasm, there are a few things that stuck out as major promises in President Obama's campaign, like the planned 16-month troop pullout from Iraq. Democrats and young people across the nation applauded Obama for his plan, which was in strict opposition to that of former President Bush and, of course, opponent John McCain.

So when Obama gave the time frame of 19 months last night in his speech, there were a few furrowed brows. While the campaign promised 16 months, apparently the Pentagon and military officials argued for 23 months — and so, through a "meeting of the minds," as Obama called it, they arrived at a compromise of 19 months. Compromise? In Washington? Fresh. And certainly a departure from the more ... didactic and unilateral decision-making of our 43rd president. I think we can forgive the three-month difference in place of the bigger promise kept, which was to bring compromise, and a president who listens to his entire Cabinet before making a fair and balanced decision.

That said, back when I was writing my Wesleyan University thesis on exit strategies, one of my findings was that a timetable can often result in negative consequences. An exit strategy is always an integral part of presidential war decision-making, and the lack of an exit strategy was certainly one of the main criticisms of Bush's invasion of Iraq. However, there is a serious difference between an exit "strategy" and an exit "timetable." In a conflict like the one in Iraq, in which there are opposing insurgencies and factions, telling your enemy when you're planning on leaving can be extremely detrimental to the success of the operation. That's just plain common sense. However, in a war like the one in Iraq, where the American public's anger has been fueled since the beginning, a president must give his or her people an expected withdrawal — in fact, the people demand it.

The other issue to address is the fact that withdrawal deadlines are seldom kept and often extended. If President Obama plans to keep his public approval rate high, he cannot afford to break promises. A strict deadline of "19 months" is a dangerous promise to make, as conflicts and wars seldom go according to plan. Given the public's trust in Obama, I'm sure there will be an inherent understanding and approval if he does, in fact, have to later extend the deadline. However, historically, exit deadlines and timetables have been detrimental either to the conflict or to public opinion in the long term, even if beneficial in the short term.

So, as we, the public, demand that President Obama delivers us out of the war in Iraq, we must also look at history and allow him to change his withdrawal plan a few times along the way. After all, nothing is so unstable and unpredictable as a war.

Wounded Vet Is Taking The Summer To See The Country He Gave So Much For

MTV News — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:56:52 +0000

(by Ocean MacAdams)

So what are you doing this summer? Internship? Breakfast shift at McDonald's? Keggers at the shore? Hey, all those things are cool — we've done all three ourselves. Daniel McConnell decided to do something else: He decided to see America. He packed up his dog and his beat-up Suburban and went to see what he could see. Why? Well, he's in medical school, and when it came time to decide what to do this summer, he realized that he didn't know enough about America. What's more, he wanted to learn more about the land that he has sacrificed so much for:

"I was an Apache pilot in the Army until I lost my arm below the elbow in a crash in Afghanistan. After that I was booted out of the Army b/c they wouldn't let me fly anymore (FAA signed me off as A-OK, but that's another story.) Anyhow, I'm now in medical school in East TN, where, compliments of a traumatic brain injury and the amputation, I've been having quite the experience. Well, this summer is the only one we get off (eight weeks) and the school recommends you "do research or work in a hospital to 'set yourself apart' from other medical students."

I've decided that since I gave 11.5 years of my life to this country, and even lost body parts fighting for it, I want to SEE it, and the people who live in it. My plan is to drive basically a big circle around the USA from TN to Maine, then Oregon, down Cali and off to Key West. I have a beat-up 1984 Suburban I've been preparing for the trip, and my plan is to live in it, along with my mildly retarded Boxer. I hope to see a lot of sites, stay off the interstates, and meet a lot of interesting people along the way ...

Here's his blog. Do check it out.

More Active-Duty US Soldiers Committing Suicide

MTV News — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:34:52 +0000

Tragic news: more soldiers committed suicide in 2007 than in any other year since 1990. 108 members of the Army took their own lives, most after coming home from overseas. And that number only covers active-duty soldiers -- not reservists, Guardsmen, or new veterans.

Of that number, at least 16 Army recruiters have committed suicide since 2000. In a recent story, Nils Aron Andersson took his own life last year after a deployment to Iraq and an assignment as a recruiter. In Andersson's case it wasn't just his life that was lost: his new wife killed herself the day after he committed suicide.

The Pentagon will release a full report on soldier suicides later today. MTV News will keep you posted.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

MTV News — Fri, 23 May 2008 22:30:19 +0000

In honor of the holiday, here's a collection of stories we've done in recent months on U.S. troops and the issues affecting them.

· We've followed the GI Bill, from the debates on the floor of Congress to its approval in the Senate, from the soldiers' gripes to our own.

· We set up an intimate Q&A session between the Democratic presidential candidates and a group of soldiers.

· The cast of "Stop-Loss" told us how their perceptions of the military changed over the course of shooting the movie.

· Some Obama-supporting vets explained what their candidate is doing to address their concerns.

· We looked at a virtual-reality game that's helping soldiers with PTSD.

· We cheered when gay and lesbian soldiers won right to sue the military over unlawful dismissal.

· Our Choose or Lose Street Team '08 members have run several stories about young soldiers, including Iowa correspondent Nathan Leigh's piece on Spc. Nicholas Maranell's take on our presence in Iraq.

· And on the lighter side, four "American Idol" fans — who also happened to be soldiers stationed in Iraq — found the time to write up their opinions about the show. Now that's going above and beyond the call of duty.

'Idol' In Iraq: Our Soldiers React to the Season Finale!

MTV News — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:42:23 +0000

Editor’s Note: It’s crazy serious and difficult for the US Armed Forces in Iraq, but our soldiers still find time for a little fun and escape: just like many of you, they love their weekly dose of “American Idol.” We made friends on the Internet with some members of the Army’s 82nd Airborne division (Fort Bragg, what up!), who sent us their review of each “Idol” installment. And here, at last, are their reactions to this season’s finale!

So an MTV News salute goes out to the soldiers who’ve made “Idol In Iraq” possible: (L-R): PFC Joshua Miranda, 22 (Orlando, FL); PFC Nathan Puckett, 19 (Cynthiana, KY); SPC Cory Combs, 21 (Plymouth, MA); SSG Steve Cody, 27 (Los Angeles,CA). They have been helping give us the freedom to watch “Idol” in the first place.

And before you read their thoughts on the battle of David vs. David, here’s a note from Nathan, the soldier behind “Idol In Iraq.” It sounds like our friends are coming home this summer…

"So I guess this is the last “Idol In Iraq,” 'tear 'tear. It's been a really fun experience doing this with you guys. I had a blast in New York when I came to visit. You and your fellow workers were so much greater than my expectations, and the city was pretty awesome, too. I will definitely be making another trip to New York when I get back from Iraq. I didn't get to spend much time in the city or go sight-seeing, so I will be looking forward to doing that. We finally got orders saying that we are leaving here in July, so I am getting ready to go home.

Thanks for everything,
Nathan"

Nathan, Joshua, and Steve’s play-by-play of the “Idol” finale, after the jump.

David Archuleta, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me” by Elton John

Steve: Awesome job. He really nailed it at the end.
Nathan: He started off kind of weak, but finished the song great.
Joshua: Perfect song for his voice.

David Cook, “I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For” by U2

Steve: He did really awesome on a U2 classic.
Nathan: I think he outdid Bono on this song.
Joshua: Great performance, really starting his night off right.

David Archuleta, “In This Moment” by Ryan Gilmore

Steve: He did really amazing on this song, and I have to agree with Simon: I think David Archuleta has taken both rounds so far.
Nathan: I think he picked a good song for his voice.
Joshua: He really did well with an unknown song. I could hear it on the radio now.

David Cook, “Dream Big” by Emily Shackleton

Steve: Not a great song, but he still did pretty well on the song.
Nathan: He picked a song that was more of a rock song and more in his element, and I liked that.
Joshua: I didn’t like the beginning, but he did well after that.

David Archuleta, “Imagine” by John Lennon

Steve: He is really on his A game today. Really showed up David Cook today.
Nathan: He did a great job just like he did last time he sang this song.
Joshua: It was expected that he would do amazing on this song.

David Cook, “The World I Know” by Collective Soul

Steve: He could have picked a better song to end his “American Idol” career on.
Nathan: It’s really good to hear him singing this type of song. It’s really in his element.
Joshua: He did well with the song, but should have picked something to show his voice off more.

The final debate:

Steve: David Archuleta really showed David Cook up on the last night of the competition, but I still believe David Cook should win. I don’t think he will -- but I believe he is the more deserving contestant.
Nathan: The winner of “American Idol” should be David Cook! He outdid David Archuleta all year. Tonight was not the best night for David Cook, but I think throughout the year he has proved himself over and over.
Joshua: I can’t wait to buy an album from David Cook, who should be the American Idol!

And, as we all know by now, the wishes of our soldiers –- in line with those of a whole lot of Newsroom readers -- ended up coming true.

Virtual-Reality Game Treats Soldiers With PTSD

MTV News — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:06:45 +0000

This in from MTV News producer Michelle Rabinowitz:

A couple of years ago, (former) MTV News correspondent Gideon Yago and I got to try out this really cool virtual-reality video game some scientists were using to treat veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). (You can see Gideon checking out the game's graphics in the clip above.) Our own Stephen Totilo even wrote a killer article about it.

So, when about a dozen people emailed me the recent New Yorker feature on the same topic, I've been more than happy to redirect them back to our original coverage. Yo, New Yorker, we call first!!

Anyway, the set-up is a mod of "Full Spectrum Warrior," and boy was it nerve-wracking. I almost peed my pants a couple of times -- and we were using the incomplete setup of just a controller and the virtual-reality helmet! The full set-up includes a rumble mat and odor machine with authentic Iraq War scents such as "body odor" and "burning." Um, good times!

You have to respect the men and women who can handle this in the real world...

'Idol' In Iraq: Awkward Song Choices Hurt Syesha, Cook Ready to Grab the Crown

MTV News — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:16:28 +0000

Editor’s Note: It’s crazy serious and difficult for the U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq, but our soldiers still find time for a little fun and escape: just like many of you, they love their weekly dose of “American Idol.” We made friends on the Internet with some members of the Army’s 82nd Airborne division (Fort Bragg, what up!), who will be sending us their review of each “Idol” installment.

They get “Idol” a day later than we do, and their reports might not arrive until well after the show has aired (because, of course, things like communications blackouts do happen when you’re in the military taking care of URGENT BUSINESS). But you don’t mind because they are helping give you the freedom to watch “Idol” in the first place.

Our soldiers each week (L-R): PFC Joshua Miranda, 22 (Orlando, FL); PFC Nathan Puckett, 19 (Cynthiana, KY); SPC Cory Combs, 21 (Plymouth, MA); and SSG Steve Cody, 27 (Los Angeles, CA)

Only two of our soldiers caught this week’s “Idol” performances (Joshua and Steve), and even halfway across the globe, they could see Syesha Mercado’s elimination coming a mile away. For their money, our boys in camo are betting that the “Idol” crown will be placed on the noggin of David Cook on next week’s finale. Here are their impressions of this week’s renditions, after the jump.

ROUND ONE

David Archuleta, "And So It Goes" by Billy Joel

Cody: I think he did really good –- there was feeling.
Miranda: Really good.

Syesha Mercado, "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys

Cody: One of her best performances ever.
Miranda: That was awesome. She is awesome.

David Cook, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack

Cody: I think he did a really good job.
Miranda: I liked it. He did good, and I like that song, too.

ROUND TWO

David Archuleta, "With You" by Chris Brown

Cody: I think his song choice was brave and wise. His fan base is young, so he needs to connect with them by singing a more modern song.
Miranda: He did OK, but I didn’t think that song was good for him.

Syesha Mercado, "Fever" by Peggy Lee

Cody: I thought it was fun, but probably not good enough to make it through elimination.
Miranda: It was OK. She was hot.

David Cook, "Dare You to Move" by Switchfoot

Cody: He did OK, but I honestly expected a little more out of him.
Miranda: I think he did great.

ROUND THREE

David Archuleta, "Longer" by Dan Fogelberg

Cody: I think he sang it well. The song itself is terrible. It was like a clichéd Hallmark card, with the word “love” for every fifth word.
Miranda: I didn’t like the song, but he did good.

Syesha Mercado, "Hit Me Up" by Gia Farrell

Cody: I liked her performance a lot. She had a lot of energy, too.
Miranda: I liked it, but I don’t think she is right for that type of music.

David Cook, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith

Cody: Best of the night. He really made it his own.
Miranda: I think David Cook should be our next “American Idol.”

When Will Our Soldiers Get the GI Bill They Deserve?

MTV News — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:52:46 +0000

So that new GI Bill that was set to be voted on last week? Yeah, it got yanked off the House table after a contingent of conservative(ish) Democrats known as the "Blue Dogs" opposed the measure.

They barked over the lack of a funding plan -- even though the bill is part of a supplemental funding package for the wars these veterans have fought in, and Congress keeps passing those packages without a funding plan. In response to such public disunity, House Speaker and Dem Nancy Pelosi announced in a press conference, "I'm sure we'll be able to work something out."

We hope the folks in DC worked on the issue over the weekend, because Pelosi said that she still plans on having the supplemental funding package -- GI Bill included -- on the President's desk before Memorial Day Weekend.

A few people posted thoughtful responses to our last entry on the bill:

· Leon: “It's clear that the government is too broke to afford to pay for the troops’ education but [is] still selling the fact that they will do so to prospective soldiers. I feel for those who sign up to fight for “freedom” and to help themselves get an education but are being robbed from the start.”

· Joshua Hudson: “Giving a good college benefit would attract better recruits…Educated veterans [add] to the reputation of the military as a viable option for a career. It is good for America, the military and those who serve…We need a motivated, educated young crew of veterans out there to be an inspiration to our future soldiers.”

So many members of our generation have fought in Iraq, and continue to fight. What are your thoughts on how we should welcome them home? Why has it taken this long for the GI Bill to be revised? And what benefits do you think would best serve our troops when they return home?

'Idol' In Iraq: The Soldier Behind the Series Visits MTV HQ

MTV News — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:33:09 +0000

This in from MTV News exec producer Jim Fraenkel:

For those of you who’ve been following our “Idol In Iraq” series here at Newsroom, here’s a little bit of backstory about Private First Class Nathan Puckett -- the 19-year-old soldier who made our weekly “Idol” installments happen.

Nathan came to the attention of MTV News strictly by chance…through my Facebook account.

About three months ago, I received a friend request from Nathan. We had no friends in common, so after accepting, I asked why he’d reached out to me. He told me that I looked like someone who had been in “a military class” with him. “Looks like I’m wrong,” he concluded. “Anyways, how’s New York? I’ve never been. After I get out of Iraq, I’m probably gonna try to visit one of my friends up there.”

The two of us struck up a friendship online. Our stations in life, it seemed, couldn’t have been farther apart, geographically or otherwise: I was the executive producer of MTV News, while Nathan had enlisted in the Army “right out of high school.” But we soon discovered common ground…

As it often does, my Facebook status back in early March reflected my views on “American Idol,” a show I’ve followed obsessively since Season Three. “Jim is kind of in love with Brooke White,” it read the day after the Arizona native’s raspy take on Pat Benatar’s classic, “Love Is a Battlefield.” I got an email from Nathan the following day: “Brooke White did awesome this week!!” This threw me off: “Do you guys get to watch over there???”

As you all know now, it turns out they do watch “Idol” in Iraq, albeit a day late and in conditions far less cozy than most Americans. “Haha, we have ‘American Idol’ days,” Nathan wrote, “where a bunch of us get together around our small TVs…We also bet on who we think is going home after each week…I've been pretty dead-on so far.”

And so our recurring “Idol In Iraq” series was born.

The feature was a quick hit. The soldiers certainly generated a lot of attention with their second installment and, after criticizing one of David Archuleta’s wobblier performances, had to endure the wrath of the young frontrunner’s intense online fan base.

But PFC Puckett got a friendlier welcome last week when we here at MTV News had the privilege of meeting the young soldier face to face. After serving nearly eleven months in Iraq, Nathan was granted a three-week leave, allowed to return to the States to see his family and his friends. After a short stay in his hometown of Cynthiana, Kentucky -- sometimes referred to as Cyn City -- Nathan hit the road with his younger brother in tow. Destination: the Bamboozle fest. A trip to the Meadowlands in New Jersey (a ten-hour drive) was a birthday gift for brother David who had just turned 18, and a welcome change of scenery for PFC Puckett.

So too was MTV HQ, in the heart of Times Square. Nathan had never been to NY before and when we found out he’d be less than ten miles away, we sent a car for him and his brother. We wanted the chance to shake his hand and thank him for his service -- both in Iraq, of course, and in Newsroom!

Watch the clip above to see Nathan’s first visit to NY, and MTV.

PFC Puckett returns to Iraq in just about a week, in time to review the “Idol” finale for us. We here at MTV News, once again, want to thank him and his fellow “Idol In Iraq” soldiers -- PFC Joshua Miranda, SPC Cory Combs, and SSG Steve Cody -- for their service to our country.

'Idol' In Iraq: Sweet on Syesha, Saw Castro Elimination Coming

MTV News — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:40:11 +0000

Editor’s Note: It’s crazy serious and difficult for the US Armed Forces in Iraq, but our soldiers still find time for a little fun and escape: just like many of you, they love their weekly dose of “American Idol.” We made friends on the Internet with some members of the Army’s 82nd Airborne division (Fort Bragg, what up!), who will be sending us their review of each “Idol” installment.

So, not all of our soldier pals got to catch this week’s “Idol” performances (SSG Cody was the only one who did, and he only caught the last half of the episode), because they were off doing what our nation’s servicemen and women do -- real classified-type stuff. That means there isn’t a complete briefing from our Iraq-based “Idol” hounds this week. But even though he’s halfway around the globe, in one of the world’s most unstable countries, Cody still could tell that dread-head Jason Castro’s number was going to be the one called.

Surprisingly, SSG Cody didn’t even mention Paulagate in his report, but it does seem he’s got a little thing for dark horse Syesha Mercado -- but that’s something he’s got to work out himself.

SSG Cody’s impressions of this week’s “Idol,” after the jump.

David Cook, "Baba O'Riley" (The Who)

Steve: “Really good performance. His vocals were great. He is my favorite, and I hope he wins this year.”

Syesha Mercado, "A Change Is Gonna Come" (Sam Cooke)

Steve: “She, as always, was the embodiment of beauty. Her performance was great -- one for the ‘AI’ history books. You could tell that every word in that song came from her heart.”

Jason Castro, "Mr. Tambourine Man" (Bob Dylan)

Steve: "Good. Even when he screwed up, he did it without stopping and with a kind of grace. With that being said, at this point in the competition, I don’t think that this song is powerful enough to make it. He better pack his bags.”

David Archuleta, "Love Me Tender" (Elvis)

Steve: "The song he sang is not familiar to me at all. With that said, his performance was one of the best in this season. I think that in a few years, after David gets some more life experience and maturity, he will become a superstar.”