Posted by
Old Marine on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 2:51:45 PM
The comaprison of Obama's strategy on Afghanistan with Vietnam has been used ad nauseum, including myself. Frankly, I feel that it is even worst then. Previouly, I have wrote that LBJ was more concerned with his "Great Society" social programs then the war in Vietnam. I wish I could say the same for Obama, although he seems to be going down the same path as LBJ. Frankly, I feel that he really doesn't give a damn about our troops or the advice of the military leaders.
On February 18, 2009, "President Obama ordered his first deployment of U.S. combat troops Tuesday, authorizing 17,000 additional soldiers and Marines for Afghanistan in what he described as an urgent bid to stabilize a deteriorating and neglected country." (LATimes.com) Naturally, in his written statement about Obama directed veiled criticizm at Pres. Bush. "This increase is necessary to stablize a detiorating situation in Afgahanistan, which has not recieved the the strategic attention, direction and resources it urgently requires," Obama said. Gee, Mr Obama is it any different now?
Later, on CNN.com, more of Obama's statement was reported. "The Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan, and Al Qaeda supports the insurgency and threatens America from its safe haven along the Pakistani border." Is this the same Taliban that Obama wants to have a part of the Afgahanistan government? According to an official, "The goal is to have enough troops to "seize and hold" territory and maintain security, which hasn't been possible under current troop levels." Gee, the ironic thing about this is that GeneralMcKiernan requested 30,000 additional troops and Obama sends 17,000, roughly a little over half of what was requested.
Over a month ago, Gen. McChrystal requested 40,000 additional troops, and today Obama "quietly" sends 15,000, roughly a third of what was requested.
I believe that Obama doesn't want to be responsible for losing the war on terror, thus making America unsafe, so he will continue to send less troops then needed, some of these troops might be killed, and eventually the American people will start yelling for withdrawal, and Obama will "give in" to popular opinion and withdraw the troops, thus giving America another one in the lost column. After, the withdrawal, he can stand up before the American people and say," I had to pull out of Afghanistan because the American people wanted me to do so."
However, I have to ask Obama, just how many more troops will you kill because you will not listen to the generals, before that magic time that you decide to withdraw.
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/17/obama.troops/index.html (Last visited 10-13-09)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghan-troops18-2009feb18,0,7002157,print.story (last visited 10-13-09)