by Doug on July 1, 2010 · 0 comments
in Afghanistan,American Foriegn Policy,Barak Obama,Cowardice,General McChrystal,Obama Administration,Politics,Terrorism,Uncategorized,War
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:
- A clearly defined objective What does “winning” this war actually mean?
- A total commitment to “win” this war as quickly possible with the minimum loss of American lives.
- 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
Nationally syndicated radio host and bestselling author, Monica Crowley, has published a thought provoking article at politicalmavens.com entitled “McChrystal Goes Rogue — Again”
Shortly after President Obama assumed the Commander-in-Chief duties, he retired the existing commanding general in Afghanistan and hand-picked his successor: General Stanley McChrystal. McChystal was always known as a brash and outspoken military man, an expert in counterinsurgency, greatly respected by the troops under his command, and as having little patience for fools.
His requirement to have to answer to Obama, then, was a trainwreck waiting to happen.
Last year, McChrystal made no secret of his desire to have as many as 80,000 additional troops to press the fight in Afghanistan. He went to the press to state that objective and to dismiss those, like VP Joe Biden, who opposed any kind of surge.
…while McChrystal was right on policy (never commit militarily to an operation without committing overwhelming force and having a clear plan), he was wrong to go public …
Today… McChrystal is being recalled … to explain disrespectful comments he and his aides made to Rolling Stone magazine about Obama, Biden, other top national security officials, and the war strategy. Once again, McChrystal is right on policy (Obama is a destructive, disengaged, uninterested fool whose withdrawal timetable and ridiculous hamstringing rules of engagement are costing us lives and progress), but he was wrong to go public with that criticism.
~~~~~
But there are 2 big points to consider as this story unfolds:
1. McChyrstal is a four star general, graduate of West Point, has extensive combat experience and a chest full of medals. In other words, he knows what he’s doing. This was NOT a mistake. These comments were not “off the cuff” or limited to just one or two flippant remarks. And the interview was deliberately given to far-Left, anti-war Rolling Stone. None of this was a coincidence.
That can only mean one thing: that McChrystal is playing a game of chicken with Obama. He was daring Obama to respond. Obama runs a huge risk if he fires him. If the war goes under, it’ll be Obama’s fault for firing an insubordinate and prickly but effective general. If he doesn’t fire him, he may look weak and McChrystal will likely feel freer to do what he needs to do to win on the battlefield. Either way: McChrystal has made his point.
2. Many are asking today: Does Obama still have the necessary trust and confidence in McChrystal? I think the more appropriate and important question is: Does McChrystal have ANY trust and confidence in the Commander-in-Chief?
Please read the entire article and other interesting commentary at:
http://politicalmavens.com/index.php/2010/06/22/mcchrystal-goes-rogue-again/
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