Afghanistan, I don’t get it!

The fact that I don’t get something is not a great revelation, I don’t get a lot of things, like cheating on your wife or letting adulterous politicians off the hook, but I digress.  In this case I don’t get the new Afghanistan strategy. 

Like many Americans I am still not sure why we invaded Iraq, but again, an old story. 

In the current case we are told that we need to be in Afghanistan to prevent that country from becoming a haven for terrorists, a sanctuary if you will, a launching point for new attacks on America.  We need stability in the region we are told.  Okay, I buy that. 

What I don’t get is President Obama’s stated logic in announcing a new surge and a withdrawal date simultaneously.  According to his statements the purpose of the withdrawal date is so we have leverage on the current Afghan government to clean up its act.  “The absence of a timeline for transition would deny us any sense of urgency in working with the Afghan government.” he said.  

Here’s the point, how does the failure of the Afghan government change our stated mission or the urgency of that mission to our national security?  What if the Afghan government continues to be mired in corruption, never gets its act together and never gains the confidence of the people?  Does that mean we walk away and allow Afghanistan to become exactly what we are told is our mission to avoid?  See, I don’t get it. 

The other obvious point and one quickly made by Republicans is why would we send a strong signal to the enemy that if they simply wait a few months their job will be easier.  If the Taliban and Al Qaeda are anything they are patient, they are also dedicated and committed to their cause.  It seems to me that any movement that can get women and children to blow themselves up to knock off one person is more than your average enemy.  It also means that applying western logic and thinking to them may not be productive.  Mr. Obama’s concept that you can talk your way into and out of anything with anyone may work on the streets of Chicago, but I doubt it works all that well in the real world. 

[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=karzai&iid=7093361″ src=”5/0/8/4/Hamid_Karzai_Is_d09e.jpg?adImageId=7980855&imageId=7093361″ width=”500″ height=”343″ /]  Barack, my friend, eighteen months, fagettaboutit

It would have been better if Obama had employed another Chicago strategy in a back room away from the limelight.  “Look Kermit or whatever your name is, here’s the deal, get your act together and get it together quickly or your ass is grass, got it?”

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