Obama, Vietnam and Afghanistan
One trait in a good leader is the ability to change course on the basis of new information. President Obama seems in the midst of just such a re-adjustment on Afghanistan.
In answer to a question yesterday, President Obama used the phrase “mission creep” and insisted that he has not yet made up his mind about whether to send more troops. He emphasized the need to make sure he has the right strategy in place before deciding what tactics are appropriate to support it.
If the president is backing away from his earlier pledge to support a robust military response in Afghanistan, it’s no wonder. Hamid Karzai has given Obama little choice. It’s clear now that Karzai’s supporters committed widespread election fraud, stuffing ballot boxes with hundreds or thousands of votes from precincts that were no more than tiny villages.
That is a stark reminder of Vietnam, where the U.S. threw its full-fledged support behind a civilian government that didn’t have the support of the population.
Obama’s emphasis on rethinking the mission comes just as The Washington Post reports details of a secret war assessment from Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who believes that without more troops in the next year, the eight-year war “will likely result in failure.” The general is expected to make a formal request for more troops very soon.
Obama is right to rethink the mission. Not because of polls that show declining popular support for the war or because of increasing resistence from prominent Democrats.
But Obama has a duty not just to protect American lives here at home but also to use U.S. troops wisely and well. If he believes he has a reasonable chance of keeping al-Qaida at bay without sending thousands more troops into Afghanistan, he should do that. Even if he goes along with McChrystal’s request for more troops, Obama will likely keep the general on a tight leash, restricted to a firm timeline to show improvement.
Obama is a student of history. He understands the lessons of Vietnam. He’s also a pragmatist. If the tactics McChrystal employs don’t show results in a reasonable period of time, Obama will likely admit they didn’t work and rethink the mission.
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42 comments Add your comment
corruptDC
September 21st, 2009
9:04 am
“Obama is a student of history”??? Where the heck did you pull that out of? “He understands the lessons of Vietnam? Oh really, because he has talked about Vietnam when?
Give me a break Cynthia. Obama only cares about history to the extent that he can rewrite it.
someguy
September 21st, 2009
9:09 am
Cynthia prays daily in the temple of Obama. His words and speeches are gospel to her.
Rev Al Sharptongue
September 21st, 2009
9:27 am
Why do the dregs of society come here daily to bash Cynthia and Obama with vitriol and non factual statements? Do these people have jobs or do they sit in their triple wide collecting disability for some fake injury?
My President is Black and yours is too. A Black guy is determining what is going to happen in this country an it burns those with necks of red up.
anotherfineblog
September 21st, 2009
9:28 am
“This is a stark reminder of Vietnam…” Really, Cynthia. I mean, really. did you just put that up? Geesh. Good luck on your president’s bailout of the newspaper industry. thoughts like that, and your incompetence, cannot survive on the open market.
corruptDC
September 21st, 2009
9:30 am
HA HA!! Rev, that was awesome. What is even funnier is the fact that I am also a minority (not black)!!!
Jackie
September 21st, 2009
9:35 am
President Obama is pragmatic. He understands the limits of our military power and political influence throughout the world.
If the USA had commited forces directly after 9/11, there would be no question enormous pressure should have been placed squarely on the shoulders of the President. Somehow, this fact is ignored by those who choose to criticize the President’s decision(s).
I think he is in caught between the proverbial “rock and a hard place”. Without public and political support, President Obama may have to back away from adding more troops to the conflict.
Donovan
September 21st, 2009
9:36 am
Obama has a duty to protect the lives of Americans at home and use U.S.troops wisely and effectively? What the devil did she think George W. was doing during his 8 years? Every time this communist opens her journalistic mouth she sticks her hypocritical foot into it. Obama’s pixie dust has had quite an effect on her mushy left wing mind.
mike
September 21st, 2009
9:41 am
Obama campaigned on the importance of the Afghan War. If he wants to pull out now, he will have to explain what changed his mind in the past few months.
someguy
September 21st, 2009
9:41 am
Rev Al Sharptongue just played race card! Wow I did not see that coming. NOT
True Southerner
September 21st, 2009
9:53 am
Race card? It’s not a race card when there is actual racial prejudice involved. Of course race is involved. It has been for years here in the south and will continue. Sad but true.
someguy
September 21st, 2009
10:04 am
Of course racial prejudice exists, but it does not exist in this debate. Libs love to demean, demonize and demagogue their opponents since they cannot stand behind the facts. True Southerner you are a self loathing southerner. Nothing more pitiful. Get over it.
funnything
September 21st, 2009
10:05 am
Of course it is racist to ever criticize a minority.
Peadawg
September 21st, 2009
10:16 am
“My President is Black and yours is too. A Black guy is determining what is going to happen in this country an it burns those with necks of red up.”
Your President may be black, but mine is half-black, half-white. Why does everyone discount his white heritage?
funnything
September 21st, 2009
10:21 am
peadawg, you are racist on two counts. First, you are racist for bringing up the white card. And second, you are racist for making a comment in opposition or questioning a comment made by a minority. I ask that you quit these racist remarks.
since I am a minority (latino and asian), I can make these comments. Anyone that criticizes these comments that are not latino-asian combinations are racist.
Batboy
September 21st, 2009
10:28 am
Cyn, blaming Karzi for Obama’s lack of leadership on Afghanistan is not going to fly. History will judge the President…he may need a few Republican votes to do the right thing. I know that prospect is really scary, but if Obama capitulates to the left wing fringe in his own party, he will be less than Jimmy Carter and we have not finished the first lap.
I do so wish that your job was to be thoughtful and insightful and not just support an ideology. Oh Well.
jconservative
September 21st, 2009
10:30 am
From the WP.
“McChrystal makes clear that his call for more forces is predicated on the adoption of a strategy in which troops emphasize protecting Afghans rather than killing insurgents or controlling territory. Most starkly, he says: “[I]nadequate resources will likely result in failure. However, without a new strategy, the mission should not be resourced.”
Note the General’s one sentence summary: “However, without a new strategy, the mission should not be resourced.”
Everyone needs to read the report, the link is in Cynthia’s column.
Question: Is Afghanistan now at a stage where a military decision is required or a civilian/foreign policy decision? I would argue that it is time for a review of the foreign policy decisions previously made.
Military decisions need to be made after the foreign policy decisions are made.
That would require laying out for the American people a plain English explanation of what the goals are for US presence, how long it will take, how much it will cost, what manpower (military & civilian) and clearly define the “exit strategy”. In short, the US voters need to know who, what, when, where, how much & how long.
This morning we do not know the answers to any of those questions.
funnything
September 21st, 2009
10:38 am
jconservative: I am not sure if you know this, but the information you seek is unattainable. If generals or leaders throughout history knew that information, wars would never be fought. Each side would know ahead of time which one would lose. The information you seek is unattainable, and anyone that claims to know it is merely spouting their opinion. Unfortunately, wars are extremely complex with unknown and known variables changing things on a daily basis. What we need is some semblance of a coherent strategy, one that will be backed up by the President even if it largely panned by the elistist, we know everything media. We need to set forth some attainable goals, define some measurable outcomes and figure out how to change strategy based upon those measurements. We need to redefine the granularity of our policy in afghanistan (i.e. each locality is different, so the local policies, while still fitting within the national policy, need to be localized).
Peadawg
September 21st, 2009
10:41 am
funnything, so I’m racist for pointing out that Obama is bi-racial? You lost me there pal…..
Joan
September 21st, 2009
10:41 am
I would just like to know of what a “victory” would consist in that hell hole of a desert. I believe we can pummel their rocks for centuries and never win a “victory”. If we are talking about the installation of a democracy there, why on earth are we doing that, when we are so clearly moving toward a socialist government, where the government will “subsidize” and thereby take over our media (not that most of the rags printed aren’t already liberal propagandists).
funnything
September 21st, 2009
10:43 am
peadawg, yes. and the fact that you carried an elitist, snob tone in your response is also racist.
booger
September 21st, 2009
10:46 am
Yeah, let’s cut and run. We finally pulled the plug on a defense system for Europe just as Iran develops the technology to launch an attack, so why not cut and run here too.
This is pretty much what everyone expected, so I guess there is no surprise.
Peadawg
September 21st, 2009
10:46 am
LOL! Ok funnything, whatever you say pal.
funnything
September 21st, 2009
10:50 am
Peadawg, my ancestory did not come from england or ancient rome. your reference to me as “pal” is clearly a racist attempt to have me forget about my heritage and join your elite, english club.
I ask that you quit being so racist.
jconservative
September 21st, 2009
11:04 am
funnything September 21st, 2009 10:38 am
“jconservative: I am not sure if you know this, but the information you seek is unattainable. If generals or leaders throughout history knew that information, wars would never be fought.”
” We need to set forth some attainable goals, define some measurable outcomes and figure out how to change strategy based upon those measurements.”
That is just what I said! Glad you agree with me.
Did you read the McChrystal paper? If not, you are doing yourself a disservice.
Peadawg
September 21st, 2009
11:05 am
I like your name, funnything…you actually are quite hilarious.
LIke I said..whatever you say. If you take what I said to be racist…whatever. You have great day.
funnything
September 21st, 2009
11:06 am
jconservative: i only agree with your broad discussion. the specifics you want, especially time and manpower, cannot be foretold in advance.
funnything
September 21st, 2009
11:10 am
peadawg, despite your profuse racism in your responses to me and to your continual opposition to a minority leader, I hope that you have a great day as well.
It truly has been a great day for me. Actually, it has been a couple of fantastic weeks. For years, I have been hoping to replace the first amendment with something that actually works. Now that in America we know that any comment made against a minority is by definition racist, we can just replace “first amendment” with “agree with me”.
It truly is a great day.
funnything
September 21st, 2009
11:12 am
further, now that we have acknowledged and understand that viewpoints that oppose a minority’s viewpoint are per se racist, we can really start the healing in this country. this is the beginning of coming together, understanding, removing all biases and preconceived notions.
Kamchak
September 21st, 2009
11:12 am
What the devil did she think George W. was doing during his 8 years?
Invading Iraq.
Another episode of simple answers to simple questions.
Peadawg
September 21st, 2009
11:13 am
“Now that in America we know that any comment made against a minority is by definition racist”
Proof please? Or is that just your opinion?
funnything
September 21st, 2009
11:16 am
peadawg, seriously, I do not need proof. One of our greatest presidents, Carter, and the news media have stated it as fact. Obviously, you are a racist, redneck southerner that decides to stupidly think for yourself than to be educated, enlightened by people that are smarter than you.
it is not an opinion. It is fact.
Obama Fan
September 21st, 2009
11:21 am
“Obama is a student of history. He understands the lessons of Vietnam. He’s also a pragmatist. If the tactics McChrystal employs don’t show results in a reasonable period of time, Obama will likely admit they didn’t work and rethink the mission.”
Cynthia, please also include:
1) Obama has an IQ of 245;
2) Obama has been known to walk on water;
3) When Obama walks into a room, we can save power because his glorious light shines upon all those around him; and
4) Obama, despite not having any education or actually showing his knowledge of it anywhere (like history and vietnam) is also a student of quantum physics and nuclear engineering.
Peadawg
September 21st, 2009
11:22 am
“peadawg, seriously, I do not need proof”
Well then it’s just an opinion.
funnything
September 21st, 2009
11:28 am
maybe I need to restate, I do not need to RELY upon proof, as it is a self-proving, universal fact.
i ask that you quit doubting me, as you are being racist for doing so.
Peadawg
September 21st, 2009
11:31 am
“as it is a self-proving, universal fact.”
maybe in your opinion. Without proof to back up your comment, it’s an opinion.
Peadawg
September 21st, 2009
11:33 am
Is this a joke? You must be messing with me. Because I doubt your opinion, I am racist? Are you Doggone/UGA or USinUK or one of the other regular bloggers on here?
jconservative
September 21st, 2009
11:40 am
funnything
“jconservative: i only agree with your broad discussion. the specifics you want, especially time and manpower, cannot be foretold in advance”
OK, I understand. But that is just what McChrystal is attempting to do.
He is outlining a NEW strategy, a new troop level & attempting to deliver a broad time frame for ISAF presence.
What I am calling for is an assessment of our presence in Afghanistan from a foreign policy view. What do we expect to accomplish? How long do we expect it to take? (If more than Obama’s potential 7 more years, is that a mistake? Bush took more than his 7 & look where we are.)
What are the cost estimates? (Iraq gives us a good idea of annual cost.) Exit strategy? That is why we need to decide what we expect to accomplish.
Everyone needs to read the McChrystal paper. Except for the redacted material, it is what the decision makers in Washington are reading.
funnything
September 21st, 2009
11:42 am
typical of a racist. don’t take the other person seriously….just kidding.
yes, this is a joke. just wanted to show the lunacy of calling people racists every time the viewpoint of a person of different skin tone is criticized.
there is real and abhorrent racism out there, and when people play the race card wantonly without discretion, it does more harm than good.
Peadawg
September 21st, 2009
11:43 am
WOW! Thank goodness. You were driving me nuts lol. I’m going to lunch now…enjoy the rest of your rainy week.
Patrick
September 21st, 2009
11:50 am
The only people who comment on editorials are people that are incapable of forming their own opinions. This person’s entire job is to be “controversial” so you people will read her column and argue and fight. This so called “journalist” doesn’t care if you agree or disagree. She only cares that you read her column so she can keep her job. You people are really a very sad group.
And to clarify, I am commenting on the pathetic losers that comment on editorials, not the editorial itself. There is a difference.
Kevin
September 21st, 2009
11:56 am
Many of you on these boards get too inflamed when someone calls you racist.
I hope you’ll come to peace with the concept, as I have.
I no longer react to being called racist. The term has been so watered down, so overused, so misued that it no longer has credence. The mis-named black leaders have brought this upon themselves.
We’re post-racial alright. I’m so “post” it that I’ve stopped worrying about other people’s perceptions.
Your word no longer works on me. Congratulations.
Jack
September 21st, 2009
12:36 pm
I’ll sleep better tonight knowing that Obama has Gen. McChrystal on a “tight leash”.