Do you believe Obama will begin Afghan pullout in 2011?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
President said in last week's speech that he will send 30,000 additional troops into Afghanistan - but also set July 2011 as a target for starting to withdraw forces.
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But you'd never know it listening to some of his top assistants over the weekend.
A lot of people didn't like that the president set a timeline for withdrawal. Republicans suggested setting a withdrawal date 18 months out would allow the Taliban and other enemies to just wait us out. Also - Afghan and Pakistani officials are worried the U.S. will leave too quickly.
So here's what we got over the weekend:
- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: quote "we are not talking about an exit strategy and a drop-dead deadline".
- Defense Secretary Robert Gates: "there isn't a deadline"... and only a "handful" or "small number" of troops might start withdrawing in July 2011... conditions permitting
- National Security Adviser General James Jones says the July 2011 withdrawal date is quote "not a cliff, it's a ramp" for the beginning of turning over to Afghan Forces... Jones adds the U.S. would be in the region "for a long time"
- And head of U.S. Central Command, General David Petraeus - says the president's strategy "doesn't trigger a rush to the exits"
That should clear things up.
Meanwhile - Afghan President Hamid Karzai is asking for patience... saying that his country's military might not be ready in 18 months to take over responsibility.
Here’s my question to you: President Obama said the U.S. would begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan in July 2011. Do you believe him?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Did 'SNL' Tiger Woods skit go too far?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
"Saturday Night Live" is known for pushing the envelope when it comes to its satirical take on the news; but some say the show went too far this past weekend with a skit about Tiger Woods that insinuated domestic abuse.
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The comedy sketch shows Woods holding a series of press conferences - where he tries to apologize for acts of infidelity. In each appearance, Woods appears more bruised and battered, eventually turning up with a golf club wrapped around his head - presumably having been put there by his wife.
But critics insist this is no laughing matter and ask if the show would have done the same sketch if it were a man suspected of beating his wife.
One person who probably wasn't laughing at this sketch was the show's musical guest, Rihanna, who was assaulted by her boyfriend, Chris Brown, earlier this year.
Meanwhile the Tiger Woods story and the alleged number of mistresses is growing larger by the day. Unofficial accounts have the number at nine with MSNBC reporting there could be more than a dozen women linked with the golfer by the end of this week. It's a wonder he ever had time to practice his golf game.
With all the tawdry headlines - no surprise that a new poll suggests Woods' popularity is circling the drain.
The CNN/Opinion research Corporation poll shows 60 percent of Americans have a favorable view of Woods; and 25 percent have an unfavorable view. That's down from an 84 percent favorable and nine percent unfavorable in 2001.
Here’s my question to you: Did Saturday Night Live go too far insinuating Tiger Woods was the victim of domestic violence?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Is the global warming summit much ado about nothing?
Protesters gather on City Hall Square in Copenhagen to call for carbon emissions cuts during a global warming demonstration. (PHOTO CREDIT: Jasper Carlberg/AFP/Getty Images)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
With the global warming summit kicking off today in Copenhagen, Denmark - some are wondering what the point of this whole exercise really is.
The British newspaper The Telegraph reports that more than 1,200 limousines have been booked by VIPs. Also, an extra 140 private jets are expected during the peak period of the summit - this far exceeds the capacity at Copenhagen's airport - so some planes will fly to regional airports, or in some cases Sweden, to park; and then come back to pick up their passengers.
All this for the 15,000 plus delegates, officials, journalists, world leaders, politicians, celebrities, etc. attending these meetings meant to reduce the planet's carbon emissions.
This little get-together will produce more than 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide - which is more than Switzerland produced in all of 2006.
To make matters worse, the summit is taking place under a cloud of suspicion - thanks to those leaked e-mails from climate scientists. Critics suggest the messages show researchers are ignoring data that questions whether global warming is real.
Now that President Obama has changed his schedule to attend the later part of the summit, some see this as a sign that an agreement may be closer to happening.
The U.S., India and China have all come out with specific proposals for the first time; and world leaders hope to come up with a deal that includes commitments on reducing emissions. But a legally-binding treaty to combat global warming? Never gonna happen.
Here’s my question to you: What do you expect to come out of the global warming summit in Copenhagen?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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