We need “a warrior” not “a flower child”

Columnist Larry Elder published a thought provoking article at http://www.JewishWorldReview.com entitled: “President Obama, Make the Case for Afghanistan — or Get Out”.  In it, he makes THE important point regarding any war to be fought by US troops:  If the US is not TOTALLY committed to win a war, it is immoral to ask the youth of our nation to leave their homes and risk all to pursue it.

Evidently, we did not learn that important lesson for which we paid 50,000 precious American lives (not to mention most of our country’s global credibility) in Vietnam.  Our government owes the American people, particularly those who are sent to fight this war:

1. A clearly defined objective  What does “winning” this war actually mean?
2. A total commitment to “win” this war as quickly possible with the minimum loss of American lives.
3. Or, in the alternative, Immediate withdrawal.

Excerpts from Mr. Elder’s commentary:

We need “a warrior,” not “a flower child.”
The anguished mother of an American soldier killed in Afghanistan said this about President Barack Obama. She objects to the rules of engagement, which she feels caused her son’s death. The recent Rolling Stone piece on the former Afghanistan commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, showed widespread troop disapproval of these rules, designed to minimize civilian casualties but which increase the danger to coalition soldiers in the field.
But this is the mindset of Obama.

As a candidate for president, Obama criticized President George W. Bush for “wrongly” taking the nation to war in Iraq and thus “neglecting” Afghanistan. Then President Obama spent months deciding whether to agree to the 40,000 additional troops requested by McChrystal, whom Obama appointed after firing his successor. Reportedly, the general wanted 80,000 more troops but scaled it down after fierce resistance. And Obama agreed to a goal of recruiting and training approximately 250,000 Afghan troops and police, well short of the 400,000 requested by McChrystal.

Finally agreeing to an increase of 30,000 troops, Obama simultaneously announced that in July 2011, troops will begin coming home. Afghan political analyst Ahmad Sayedi predicted this announcement would embolden Afghan terrorists: “When the USA sets a timeline of 18 months for troop withdraw, this by itself boosts the morale of the opponents and makes them less likely to take any step towards reconciliation.” Sen. John McCain recently said, “You cannot tell the enemy when you’re leaving in warfare and expect your strategy to be able to prevail.”

The “war of necessity” became the schizophrenic war.

How stupid can one administration be????  Commit or get out!

Please enjoy the full article at:

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/elder070110.php3

Tagged as: Military, Morality of war, Obama Administration, politics of war, President Obama, Terrorism