It’s hard being president.
No matter which way they turn, no matter the policy they choose to implement, there are always wolves at the ready to tear apart whatever progress is being made. Clinton felt it in 1995, Bush at the moment of reelection, and now Obama is experiencing it head on.
Some might say “it’s all in the politics,” but the president’s influence into the everyday lives of Americans through policy can no longer be undervalued or tossed to the partisan mouthpieces for disassembly. Presidential policy on military intervention must change.
To be more direct, Barack Obama has to show some gall and oppose his generals.
For a long time (and certainly over the last decade), Americans have been offered candidates who refuse to waver on foreign policy sameness for fear of being overridden by a council of generals upon being sworn into office--or simply of being seen as "weak on defense."
But after 10 years of expensive military trials, we can no longer afford to simply agree with commanders on their views for national policy. Instead of towing the national security line, Obama should understand the tremendous fiscal problems facing our country and react accordingly to end the Libya and Afghanistan wars.
Failing to change policy puts American Exceptionalism on indefinite hold as our treasury is faithfully emptied by the Chinese and Russian superpowers who desire a weak and subservient Western nation—not the grandiose force we once were.
Obama may suffer hits from both the Neoconservatives and Fighting Dems, but making the right choice for America is what he will finally be remembered for. Playing politics is not the answer to this tragedy; leadership is.
America has only so much time left, and her commander-in-chief has to be bold, even if such a route gets him burned.
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