... "conditions on the ground," "in consultation with the Ground Commanders."
"the Taliban has maintained common cause with al Qaeda" President Obama, West Point, December 1st, 2009
These are things we have heard from the President, the Secretary of Defense, and other Administration officials. I am not the first to have pointed out that the very opposite occurred, that the decision was made to cut Troop levels in Afghanistan before the first Soldier in "The Surge" received his orders to go. Nor am I the first to point out that this is the wrong time, i.e. in the middle of war, to cut the number of Troops available to fight these wars.
"..a group of extremists who have distorted and defiled Islam, one of the world's great religions, to justify the slaughter of innocents. Al Qaeda's base of operations was in Afghanistan, where they were harbored by the Taliban - a ruthless, repressive and radical movement that seized control of that country" President Obama, West Point, December 1st, 2009
Candidate Obama campaigned on making Afghanistan, the just war, his top priority. General McKiernan told him he needed more Troops, but was fired for telling the truth, i.e. that Our Troops had not wantonly or negligently, attacked and killed hundreds of civilians. General McChrystal told the POTUS he needed more Troops, and found himself on the outs with the Administration for trying to convince the POTUS to send them. He was fired for airing his frustration, in a private conversation, publicized by Rolling Stone, fired for telling the truth that the POTUS wasn't just, not listening, but not even giving him the time of day. General Petraeus was given the post of Director of the CIA, rather than allowing his retirement, to mar or expose the record.
On July 15, 2008, at the Woodrow Wilson Institute, (above) candidate Obama not only called for the invasion of sovereignty of then ally, Pakistan, but also noted the Taliban as an enemy, and stated that we MUST win in the war against the enemy of the Taliban and al-Qaeda. What has been done? And What has changed in the War in Afghanistan?
"I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is the epicenter of the violent extremism practiced by al Qaeda. It is from here that we were attacked on 9/11, and it is from here that new attacks are being plotted as I speak. This is no idle danger; no hypothetical threat." President Obama, West Point, December 1st, 2009 "This danger will only grow if the region slides backwards." ..."our success in Afghanistan is inextricably linked to our partnership with Pakistan."
President Obama made good on his promise to bomb Pakistan from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, which alienated the Pakistani people and government. When, in the earlier days, Pakistan pushed the Taliban out of parts of Pakistan, the US Generals did not have the Troops to provide the anvil, to stop the Taliban from escaping into Afghanistan. Within only a few years, under the current POTUS, the former ally of Pakistan has gone from an active military campaign against the Taliban, to a return of supporting, training, and equipping the Taliban, against the US and Afghan government. After a few years of the US Administration embarrassing the former ally of Pakistan, both in diplomatic, and military policy, Pakistan not only threw US Military personnel out of their country, but shut down the supply lines they had maintained for a decade. In short, this Administration turned an active ally into an ally of the enemy.
"We must reverse the Taliban's momentum and deny it the ability to overthrow the government." Obama, ibid. "what's at stake is the security of our Allies, and the common security of the world."
But has the situation in Afghanistan improved? NO. After 10 years of war, 75% of the violence has occurred in the last 3 years. For the 5th year in a row, Taliban violence against Afghan civilians has increased, and more have been killed than at any time since 200+ men of the 5th Special Forces Group removed the Taliban from government. What has changed is Obama's admission that the Taliban are the enemy. In 2011, Biden and Obama shocked the Troops getting shot at by the Taliban, by saying that the Taliban are not the enemy.
"There are those who suggest that Afghanistan is another Vietnam. They argue that it cannot be stabilized, and we are better off cutting our losses and rapidly withdrawing." Obama, ibid.
Why did they do this? It wasn't because the Taliban had stopped shooting at us. The Taliban admit they've lost ground in 2011, but not the will to fight. In fact, their resolve has increased, by knowledge that the US and NATO are pulling back and pulling out, which was announced before Obama said he would send fewer Troops than General McChrystal said he needed. In December 2009, Obama stated that he would begin pulling out in July 2011, "based on conditions on the ground." In July 2011, he did begin pulling out, despite conditions on the ground, 25% more violent than in December 2009.
"Finally, there are those who oppose identifying a timeframe for our transition to Afghan responsibility. Indeed, some call for a more dramatic and open-ended escalation of our war effort." Obama, ibid.
Yes, I opposed, as did so many Veterans, putting a timeline on, and announcing a timeline to the enemy of when we would quit the fight. Leaked intelligence reports indicating it has strengthened enemy resolve, increased violence in Afghanistan, and the obstinance of the Administration in pulling out those Troops, DESPITE conditions on the ground, and despite the counsel of Generals, proves that we were correct in opposing announcing the retreat before the battle.
" that our cause is just, our resolve unwavering" Obama, 2009, West Point
I'll leave you with the Presidents words. It seems that he has lost his resolve, or that they were just empty words, that meant nothing to him:
"American people were viciously attacked from Afghanistan, and remain a target for those same extremists who are plotting along its border. To abandon this area now - and to rely only on efforts against al Qaeda from a distance - would significantly hamper our ability to keep the pressure on al Qaeda, and create an unacceptable risk of additional attacks on our homeland and our allies." Obama, 2009, West Point
Related Articles:
Blackfive on the Pakistani ISI & retreat from Afghanistan.
Troy Steward, of Bouhammer, on the Politics of Retreat.
McChrystal Fired, Obama Translated
Obama Speech Firing McChrystal
Bios: GEN David Petraeus
Bios: LTG Stanley McChrystal
McChrystal - What Happens Now?
Rumors of McKiernan's Firing
General McKiernan Fired
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