Once again, a line seems to be drawn in the sand between Congressional Democrats and Republicans. This time the issue is what to do about U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan, and when to do it. Things were certainly not made any better by former Vice-President Cheney’s accusation that Obama was “dithering” in making a decision. To their credit, Republican leaders Orrin Hatch and John McCain were quick to distance themselves from Cheney’s remarks. Most foreign policy experts within the Obama Administration and outside of government generally agree that the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan has escalated considerably in terms of size and complexity. The changing situation in Afghanistan, combined with the role being played by the Pakistani government have left the Obama Administration with few good options.
One of the central issues to be considered is the future of the corrupt and generally despised government of Hamid Karsai. Recent elections showing Karsai being re-elected by wide margins have been proven to be fraudulent, therefore the Karsai Administration is not regarded as legitimate by the majority of Afghanis. Rather than helping to promote democratic principles, the election has only strengthened the position of the Taliban. A significant increase in U.S. troop levels in support of Karsai’s regime could have the undesired effect of boosting the strength and resolve of the Taliban even more. Once the U.S. forces are widely perceived as foreign invaders, all of the Afghanistan tribes and factions will turn against them. When that happens, no amount of U.S. troops will be successful in overcoming the Taliban.
I agree with General McChrystal that the troop levels in Afghanistan are too small to get the job done, if the job is defined as imposing the will of the Karsai government and the U.S. government on the majority. However, an addition of forty thousand soldiers, or even a hundred thousand soldiers will not change the situation over the long run so long as Afghanistan lacks a legitimate government. The Obama Administration is right in being cautious under the present circumstances.
—Rich
Tags: accusation, afghanis, Afghanistan, Asia, complexity, democratic principles, democrats and republicans, factions, foreign policy, former vice president, General McChrystal, good options, hundred thousand, John McCain, margins, McChrystal, Obama, Obama administration, Orrin Hatch, pakistani government, policy experts, republican leaders, Taliban, troop levels, troops, United States armed forces, vice president cheney
It will be nice, one day, where giving careful consideration to wide ranging facts and opinions before making a decision will be lauded instead of ridiculed.
I have a feeling the previous administration had some kind of “Battleship”-like decision making guide, where one axis had a range of power that can be acquired, the other axis had a range of money that might be made for corporate allies, and twixt the two, a decision was made in about 10 seconds. (and then presented as if it was made from the very heavens above.)
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People said the same thing about Iraq – and they were all wrong.
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Bluzdude,
The “shoot first; ask questions later” mentality still lives on in Dick Cheney, who never knows when to keep his mouth shut. We Americans must never again be duped by our President into jumping into an ill-conceived war that will cost thousands of lives, billions of dollars, and yield no results.
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Harrison,
The right-wingers like to brag about all the “success” that the surge strategy brought about in Iraq, when it all it has done is cost more American lives, and delayed the inevitable. By the way, the “inevitable” is beginning to gain momentum now in Iraq. The political scene is falling apart (as was predicted), violence is escalating (as predicted), and civil war is just over the horizon. Somehow I don’t think that the Surge Strategy made an iota of difference. It was the wrong thing to do in Iraq, and it’s the wrong thing to do in Afghanistan!
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It takes time to build a nation, particularly when one has been ruled by dictators and is surrounded by cultures that do not believe in democracy.
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