The Associated Press is reporting that up to 30,000 new forces will be committed to the Afghanistan theatre. The Marines will be expected to leave almost immediately after the President’s address this evening. It has taken the President, 92 days to deliberate the fate of U.S. troops both in theatre and those now being readied to deploy.
The decision to “drag his heels” on additional troop commitment, has given the foreign press the impression that he has “lost some stature” (Spiegel) and he is “A Lot Like Carter”> From Asia the comparison continues in a two-part review of the Presidency of Carter and the early stages of Obama’s term.
Additionally, Foreign policy strategist firm Stratfor, has suggested that Afghanistan is now Obama’s war (see video below). The Times, UK: headlines: “Obama’s West Point speech must explain why Afghanistan is not his Vietnam”, a must in order to sway the almost exclusively anti-war Congressional Democrats in Congress.
Too Many Irons in the Fire
Obama has, since taking office, pushed an agenda that is overly aggressive for a chief executive with no managerial experience. From health care reform, which is about to debate in the Senate, to Cap and Trade, now under scrutiny with the “bust” of global warming theorists, to the government purchase of most U.S. Auto makers, a “stimulus” designed to boost employment, which resulted in increased unemployment and yet another Carteresque “Job Stimulus Program”, is it no wonder that recent polling suggests 71% of U.S. citizens are angry at the Federal Government (Rasmussen)? The addition of an “owned” war by Obama, in a country that has, over the millennium, refused to be conquered, may add to his steadily declining job approval.
With that in mind, bets are on for the : 2012 presidential race.
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2 comments:
I have a slightly different take. I do agree with the foreign press that Obama has failed miserably on this.
The problem is though, so have their respective governments. Afghanistan is not just our war, Islamic terrorism is a threat to all of these countries.
Why aren't they helping more? Where are their 30,000 troops?
Hi Chuck, good point, the respective governments (all, with the exception of the UK which, I believe, understands the threat and has kept pace with the U.S.) have done little to nothing since Obama has taken office - it appears as though they feel no inspiration - perhaps they hated Bush, but they did pitch in.
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