The Afghan Issue

Lost in all this talk about healthcare and climate change, is the continuing war in Afghanistan. A campaign we have been fighting since shortly after 9/11, and a campaign where we have been gradually losing ground. General Stanley McChrystal has made his assessment and he clearly needs more troops—-both combat and advisors—-in order to get the job done. This assessment is echoed amongst practically all informed military analysts and civilian think tanks. The situation has come to a head and our men and women on the ground are asking for the resources to win—-but the Obama administration has yet to provide any real leadership on the issue.

In the face of this officers close to General McChrystal are stating that if he is not given the resources needed to succeed, he will resign. This move will serve to force the administration’s hand and make Obama come to a decision.

Within 24 hours of the leak of the Afghanistan assessment to The Washington Post, General Stanley McChrystal’s team fired its second shot across the bow of the Obama administration. According to McClatchy, military officers close to General McChrystal said he is prepared to resign if he isn’t given sufficient resources (read “troops”) to implement a change of direction in Afghanistan:

Within 24 hours of the leak of the Afghanistan assessment to The Washington Post, General Stanley McChrystal’s team fired its second shot across the bow of the Obama administration. According to McClatchy, military officers close to General McChrystal said he is prepared to resign if he isn’t given sufficient resources (read “troops”) to implement a change of direction in Afghanistan:

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Today, the military is perceiving that the administration is punting the question of a troop increase in Afghanistan, and the military is even questioning the administration’s commitment to succeed in Afghanistan. The leaking of the assessment and the report that McChrystal would resign if he is not given what is needed to succeed constitute some very public pushback against the administration’s waffling on Afghanistan.

It is clear that Obama’s real priorities lie elsewhere. He is far more interested in pushing his healthcare reform and restructering the economy than keeping America safe. If there is any question of this just look to his killing of missile defense in Eastern Europe or his pledge to reduce our nuclear arsenal. He’s trying to beat swords into plowshares in the middle of a hot war.

Let us hope that Obama will ultimately make the correct decision with regard to Afghanistan. Our national security depends upon it.

(H/T Insty)

Marcus