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Thursday, November 12, 2009

Obama runs the option

I don’t oppose all wars. And I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war.

-- then-Illinois state senator Barack Obama, Oct. 2, 2002, in a speech on the possibility of war with Iraq.

It's not always true in life that we get a chance to put our money where our proverbial mouth is. But seven years after that speech, now-President Obama has the decision of a lifetime. He inherited the war in Afghanistan, but will he finish it smartly, or dumbly? If he wants to do it smartly, he was absolutely right to do what he reportedly has done, which is to wipe the proposed options -- most of which are geared toward a military buildup of dubious value -- off the slate, and go back to the drawing board.

The decision on Afghanistan doesn't need to be the quickest possible, but the best possible -- in a situation that is tied closely to a just-concluded election debacle. Obama now needs to absorb the words of the U.S. ambassador, an ex-general who now thinks more troops is a bad idea.

Obama needs to listen to a presidential adviser -- but he needs to listen to one of John F. Kennedy's advisers, Theodore Sorensen, who wrote recently:

In addition to being repeatedly urged to bomb the trails into South Vietnam from the North (which he never did), Kennedy was repeatedly urged to send combat troop divisions (not merely instructors and advisers as Eisenhower had done before him) to supplement South Vietnam’s own troops. (But he never did.) As I advised him: “If ever there was a country that needed to save itself, that country is Vietnam.” Today that country is Afghanistan. But too many of Obama’s advisers, ignoring Kennedy’s lesson, apparently think the answer in Afghanistan is sending more U.S. combat troops. The real question is not the number of American troops in Afghanistan but their mission—to win more deadly battles with the Afghan people, or to win their goodwill?

Yes -- along with the question of whether this is going to be a smart war, or a dumb one.

Posted by Will Bunch @ 1:16 PM Permalink | 73 comments

Comments

Posted 01:53 PM, 11/12/2009

jmc

Since Obama took office, everything's been now now now. Stimulus? Now! Health insurance? We can't wait! Cap and Tax? The earth will blow up if we don't get this yesterday! All of a sudden, in a war Obama and the Dems deem as a necessity, a real crisis, we need to slow it down. What you have here is a President who can't make the tough decision. He used Afghanistan to win the election and now wants out because it doen't help him anymore. That's the only reason for this delay. He'll dilly-dally until the situation is so bad the only choice is to leave, which is Obama's first choice.

Posted 02:06 PM, 11/12/2009

bird11

Why is Obama taunting that poor defenseless animal?? Someone please call PETA, ASAP.

Posted 02:09 PM, 11/12/2009

legatus

I disagree jmc. I think he has made the tough choice...he has made the choice to delay announcing his intentions to give McChyrstal the additional troops that he said are required in order to complete the mission given to him by the Pres...regardless of the immediate consequences on the ground in Afghanistan. In this way he'll avoid p-ssing off his far left base at a time that he needs them to pass his signature legislation (health care). Now, I don't think that he realized that this legislation would still be pending at this point in time...he thought that HIS congress would've passed the health care bill by now. He is now beginning to realize that this bill's passage will be more protracted than anticipated, and that he is being forced to make a decision on the general's request....3 months later. This is why there have been recent rumors coming out of DC that he is going to give the general the 40,000 troops. It is also why the far left blogoshpere, as exemplified by Will, is trying to put on pressure about this being a "dumb war"...they too realize the handwriting that is on the wall.

Posted 02:12 PM, 11/12/2009

John Gualt

The children in the public schools and the young adults in universites are getting older and closer to voting age. Obamao is looking to cash in on the indoctrination and wiping from the history textbooks our Revolutionary beginnings with the godly men we revere. Our young people are a harvest of liberalism that they are hoping will drive us to their socialist movement. Pray that the heritage we love will not be lost. Remind them the young of how America was born. Vote for America in 2010

Posted 02:33 PM, 11/12/2009

A Friend

BHO should consult with Gen'l Jack Ripper as well.

Posted 02:42 PM, 11/12/2009

jmc

legatus: I assume the generals have presented Obama with their best plans for Afghanistan, and he didn't accept those. The general's goal now is not to make things better in Afghanistan, but to please Obama. If the generals are presenting their best strategies Obama must choose from those, or choose withdrawl. Anything else presented to Obama in the future will will be watered down.

Posted 02:52 PM, 11/12/2009

montani semper liberi

I suppose Obama could wait years until somebody in Congress realizes that Americans are fed up and finally proposes an Afghanistan Study Group, to give the party some political cover for the mid-terms. Then Obama could wait 9 more months for that group's recommendations and wait several more months for other reports from the Pentagon, then decide. Surge! Yep, Obama could just be a "decider". Would that please Cheney, ya think?

Posted 02:54 PM, 11/12/2009

bird11

I guess one man's "going back to the drawing board" is another man's "dithering".

Posted 03:13 PM, 11/12/2009

Talking point sleuth

It really is astounding that there are people advocating, after our previous president launched a ware on rationale that was proven completely faulty, and even more to the point, launched a war on a plan that was unquestioningly inadequately thought out, that Obama should rush to support a war effort for which there is very legitimate debate from multiple perspectives. I support a more aggressive military involvement in Afghanistan, but also recognize many entirely legitimate questions about the potential unintended consequences and other reasons to weigh any decisions very carefully. This is an incredibly complex issue. Wow! The Attytood Republican toadies have gone over the top on this one - no sacrifice is too small, not even the perpetuation of an unwinnable war at a huge expense of human and financial resources, if in the end you can attack Obama for partisan benefit.

Posted 03:19 PM, 11/12/2009

bird11

Watch the movie "Osama," TPS, about how women are treated by the Taliban. Once you do, you will agree that we need to commit troops and money to Afghanistan for as long as it takes to get rid of the Taliban.

Posted 03:21 PM, 11/12/2009

bird11

TPS, If we leave Afghanistan, the Taliban will move in to the other Stans as well. It isn't so much an issue of the direct threat they present to us - which I think is minimal - but for the oppression that the Taliban represents for millions of people. I think we have an obligation to lead NATO countries in fighting against that repression. But it takes a commitment to nation building as well - and will be drain of human and financial resources, for which Americans will have to sacrifice. To me, it is a worthwhile effort.

Posted 03:27 PM, 11/12/2009

jwad (D)

TPS just doesn't give a hoot that obama already studied this issue for months and months as he gained valuable experience as a presidential candidate and came to the conclusion that this was the war we had to win, the right war to fight. TPS is nothing but an obama apologist at this point who can only deflect obama's shortcomings by pointing out the failings of others.

Posted 03:29 PM, 11/12/2009

Talking point sleuth

What's your point, birdie? I have my opinion. But I think that it is unbelievably asinine to suggest that the president shouldn't weigh this decision carefully, and listen and involve those who know far more about the situation than you or I, who feel that increasing our military involvement is the wrong choice. Seriously, read Mathew Hoh's resignation letter and get back to me. The idea that the president should move precipitously only exposes your lack of knowledge about the situation, and your devotion to partisan attacks on Obama above all else.

Posted 03:32 PM, 11/12/2009

Talking point sleuth

Right, jwad, because situation in Afghanistan is a static one. What has happened since Obama took office, after the stepping up of military involvement in the conflict, is completely irrelevant to any decisions going forward. That anyone would suggest such a conceptual foundation for developing an Afghanistan policy is astounding.

Posted 03:39 PM, 11/12/2009

SBVFT Contributor

It was illegal under the Taliban for women to feel sunlight on their face. If Bunch has his way, this policy will soon be back in place. You stay classy tubby.

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About Will Bunch

Will's book: Learn about it here and purchase it here.

Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.

E-mail Will by clicking here.

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