AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
President Obama's big speech announcing, after three months of indecision, that he will give Gen. McChrystal only three-quarters of the 40,000 additional troops the general told Obama he needed to achieve victory in Afghanistan left a lot to be desired.
Like Obama has done with issue after issue, his new "strategy " for the War in Afghanistan tries to have it both ways. Obama's strategy is a Bush-like surge, but with a timetable for ending, not winning the war.
I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home.
I have been an unrepentant supporter of the war, but a war our leaders are not willing to fight to win, is not a war we should fight.
Obama said he made his have it both ways decision because our national security is at stake:
I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
How can the Commander-in-Chief put a time limit on fighting for our national security?
I do not know if I can continue to support a war effort that Obama previously referred to as a "necessary war" and now calls a "vital national interest," but is nevertheless only willing to continue for 18 more months. If it is necessary and vital should we not be willing to carry on until we are victorious?
Comments
oh I just knew our fellow conservative brethren would come away all mad and unhinged. To say that there is a time limit offically or rather in reality is quite stupid. Of course it depends on how it goes and progresses no different than the situation in Iraq. We will leave if it goes to plan or we will stay if it the situation deteriorates. How does one tell that a President doesn't want to fight to win? One can give an opinion that is full of ideological hatred and bloviating (you)
the idea that he isn't taking this seriously is just stunning! Nothing more than a right wing talking point. A three quarter's approach? Obviously its a shift in strategy not a repeat in strategy thus the old insanity defenintion addage
we have the best troops in the world and we will fight to train the afghans and hopefully it goes to plan and we can get out of there EVENTUALLY.
This he should pull out cause he's endangering the troops lie is BS and stop being so anti-American u smug son of a b
This article is pretty much opinion with no fact so me giving my "liberal" opinion is a waste of time.
Your last line is very telling of right wing ideology. If you think that we aren't going to fight this war to win, bud, look up the nearest psych wards cause I know some people that need admittance. The fact that the right thinks it has the 101 guide to War is just laughable
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