"He who hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart." William Shakespeare
According to a Reuters News Article dated 29 Oct 2009 1:34AM EDT, "Study on Afghan leaders to aid Obama Troop Decision" upon finally reading the McChrystal Report requesting more Troops, in a meeting Monday, the POTUS now wants a "Province by Province Analysis" before he can make his decision. Rumors are now circulating that he will approve 20,000 more Troops while others have started that he will decrease Troops there.
While the only reason to think he should not receive a Provincial Analysis of local politicians in Afghanistan is that there are a multitude of lower level Senior Officials to worry about dealing with Provincial Governors and Village Elders, there is no reason that such an analysis should have any bearing on how many Troops the General needs. It is at best a stalling tactic. Worse, it is more likely an effort to undermine the elected Head of State of an Ally.
Worse than that was the POTUS conclusion after the 6th meeting in TWO MONTHS since he received the request for more Troops: that The Taliban cannot be eliminated, no matter how many Troops are sent. Well, I guess that's it. We might as well quit, pack our bags, and go home.
His Security Advisor, Jim Jones, expressed agreement.
This demonstrates the stark contrast between Warriors and Politicians. If a politician quits, someone still gets the job. No one dies. If a Warrior quits, not only is he likely to die, but so too are the lives of his teammates. If his team is defeated, so too is his squad at risk.
This is why Generals, not Politicians strategize war. It is easy to quit. It is easy to say can't. It is more difficult to identify a challenge, develop a plan to overcome it, and implement that plan. While the CinC made a show of being at the arrival of our latest Fallen Heroes, he still has not made a decision to send the General the Troops he needs.
To put this in perspective, less than 8 months into office, the previous POTUS, was faced with a surprise attack that destroyed 4 commercial airliners and several major American buildings in both its Economic and Political Capitals. Within 6 weeks of the attack, the regime of the Nation of origin was being routed from their last strongholds. The Taliban was overthrown by approximately 200 men of the 5th Special Forces Group and Afghans tired of Oppression. This was possible because the previous CinC called in the Generals, asked for options, and made the decision to let the Generals run the war.
Within days of the worst attack on New York City ever, Troops were already implementing the plan approved by the POTUS.
IN CONTRAST: Our Troops are in harm's way, fighting an enemy we've known for 8 years, and the current POTUS has had on his desk, a report for TWO MONTHS detailing the situation and a plan for overcoming the challenge from the General he sent to do the job. He can't make a decision.
Mr. President: My Brothers are being shot at. Our General has asked you to send re-inforcements. SEND THEM! You can get all the briefings you want on how the Elders in Konduz like every power they talk to later. Send the Troops NOW. Remember what you and the rest of your party said about the Petraeus Plan and how you later claimed you never said it because you were flat wrong to oppose the General. When those same people tell you that this won't work, they are setting you and Our nation up fo the same failure. Worse, you are putting my Brothers' lives at risk by denying them more friends in the fight.
Stumble It!
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