Afghanistan: Obama’s War
by Will the Obama surge work?
30,000 more American fighting men and women will deploy to Afghanistan.
Image via Wikipedia
In my opinion, Afghanistan is now officially Obama’s war. As a Vietnam War veteran, I’m glad the president did set a withdrawal date. It means he has learnt one of the fundamental lessons of the Vietnam War: there must be a withdrawal date. His critics are coming down hard on him for setting a withdrawal date. His critics, who are trying to gain a domestic political advantage over him, know very well that he is not talking about withdrawing American forces on some arbitrary date. President Obama is talking about a very gradual draw down of American forces with a very gradual transition of security responsibilities to Afghan forces. This will take years.
Politics is such a dirty business; because if I know this Obama’s critics in politics and government know this, too. But they would have the American people believe that President Obama was going to cut and run in 2011.
Obama had no choice in the decision to send more troops. The military establishment assured him that after eight years of war we were losing!
Will the Afghanistan government remain corrupt? Yes.
Will Pakistan destroy the extremists on their side of the border? Maybe.
Will American forces be withdrawing from Afghanistan in 2011? Very, very slowly. Which means the surge will work.
Liked it
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Post CommentCraigz
On December 20, 2009 at 6:53 am
Good article
Teves
On December 20, 2009 at 7:07 am
Nice one…
ken bultman
On December 20, 2009 at 7:20 am
Will we ever win the war against terrorism until all Islamic radicals are anhililated? No.
lillyrose
On December 20, 2009 at 12:02 pm
to difficult to tell at the moment I think.
Videomark
On December 20, 2009 at 12:44 pm
You make some great points. Excellent article.
Midie
On December 20, 2009 at 1:09 pm
A veteran should know this matter better. Thank you for sharing.
ProfThot
On December 20, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Thanks for sharing, and thanks for serving our country.
mkd1788
On December 20, 2009 at 1:39 pm
informative post…well researched…
Lord Banks
On December 20, 2009 at 2:16 pm
You and I have such similar views on this topic, keep up the good work nice article.
Guy Hogan
On December 20, 2009 at 3:15 pm
craigz, there really are no good options but I think his plan is reasonable.
Val Mills
On December 20, 2009 at 3:20 pm
As a non-US citizen, I found this interesting to read giving me another perspective. Thanks.
Guy Hogan
On December 20, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Teves, and no one is talking about Iraq but there are still plenty of American troops there.
Guy Hogan
On December 20, 2009 at 3:24 pm
ken, getting rid of radicalism is like trying to get rid of crime.
Guy Hogan
On December 20, 2009 at 3:28 pm
lillyrose, every plan, especially war plans, have to be flexible.
J J Neuman
On December 20, 2009 at 8:58 pm
I’m with you on this, Guy….no matter what the critics say, I believe he had to put politics aside due to the threats to Americans; execute a surge while, at the same time, making it clear it’s not open-ended support support – and not a blank check….these folks will have to protect their own country, in time. It has to be his most difficult decision of all but I believe it’s a reasonable decision.
Guy Hogan
On December 20, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Videomark, I do like the way President Obama seems to look at all the options and does not make rash decisions.
Guy Hogan
On December 20, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Midie, everyone in a leadership postion in making American national policy should read a good history of the Vietnam War.
Guy Hogan
On December 20, 2009 at 9:59 pm
ProfThot, a modern republic cannot survive without a well informed citizenship.
AlmaG
On December 20, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Incarcerate them all!
Ruby Hawk
On December 21, 2009 at 12:16 am
With a country like Afghanistan, I don’t think a war can be won there. I hope I’m wrong.
clay hurtubise
On December 21, 2009 at 8:07 am
Good post. I try to stay out of religion and politic pieces, but well done.
Thanks,
Clay
Guy Hogan
On December 21, 2009 at 9:52 am
mkd, well there is no way he could have pulled out. The Congress would have revolted. So this is probably the best option.
Guy Hogan
On December 21, 2009 at 9:58 am
Lord Banks, people forget that coalition forces are in a draw down and transition phase in Iraq right now, too. And that’s going to take years.
Guy Hogan
On December 21, 2009 at 10:02 am
valmnz, there are all kinds of public debates going on in the US but at least now the president has made a decision.
Guy Hogan
On December 21, 2009 at 10:07 am
JJ Neuman, that’s the main point. The Afghans have to protect their own country, the sooner the better.
Saint Jimmy
On December 21, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Although Obama is trying his best, I find it funny how during the campaign, he said that troops would be brought back, and not set out. This was a good article, I support Obama though, we have to go MW2 on these guys. Unfortunately, killing the terrorists is actually what they want.
Guy Hogan
On December 21, 2009 at 9:27 pm
mkd, as a Vietnam War vet I’m taking a special interest in Afghanistan.
CRYSTAL EVANS
On December 24, 2009 at 10:33 am
great article..interesting reading..very informative
thanks for sharing.X