First off: Stop blaming the CinC that was decisive enough to overthrow the Taliban in less time than it took you to decide to half-step.
Secondly: Compromise belongs to politicians, not war. The General needs 40,000 Troops. 30,000 is a half-step compromise.
Third: Be grateful for allies. This is OUR fight and they are helping. The General asked YOU for 40,000 Troops, plus whatever the Allies could muster.
Fourth: Pakistan victories are not YOURS. They stepped up but you did not. Had you decided when the General asked, the Taliban could have been crushed as the Pakis pushed them out of their safe havens.
Fifth: This is not the "fastest" deployment of troops. It is the culmination of the slowest decision in modern history. A half-step decision at that. Had you decided to support the General that you sent to implement the "strategy" you "concluded" in March, the lead elements would already be on the ground, not getting their marching orders for May of next year. They'd be ready when the spring thaws for the new fighting season, rather than waiting on a plane in the US to go kick in the doors of an enemy that emplaced themselves while you consulted political advisors.
Sixth: Victory should be the goal, not a timeline for withdrawal. What cost do you put on lives and liberty? What dollar amount is too much to pay to prevent another attack? What dollar amount do you put on the life of a young Afghan girl that just wants to learn to read?
Seventh: Quit allowing Congress to cut the Military. Recruiters are turning away the few recruits that are qualified.
Eighth: Leadership would have been decisiveness, before NATO leaders got tired of your dithering.
And I'm not seeing one convinced face, even in the easiest crowd you could find: Cadets that signed up to defend this Nation. They will clap, because they have to, but they are there expecting leadership and you haven't convinced them that you are one.
Stumble It!
