The Timing Contradictions of Obama’s Afghan Decision
Posted December 1st, 2009 at 5:01pm in American Leadership 
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For months the White House has been responding to criticism that President Barack Obama was dithering on Afghanistan by saying the president had all the time in the world to make a deliberate decision.
But now that Obama has finally made up his mind, all of a sudden time is of the absolute essence. The New York Times reports:
Until recently, discussions focused on a deployment that would take a year, but Mr. Obama concluded that the situation required “more, sooner,” as one official said, explaining some of the central conclusions Mr. Obama reached at the end of a nearly three-month review of American war strategy.
If the President had just stuck with the strategy he announced in March, and confirmed in August, U.S. armed forces could be currently enjoying an eight to three month head start on where they are today.
Worse, the President is promising a July 2011 date for the beginning of a troop pullout. There is only one purpose for such a “timeline” and it has nothing to do with achieving results on the ground.
Promising firm dates for troop pullouts is an entirely political move that has everything to do with placating the leftist base of the Democratic Party that wants to spend more resources on domestic programs.
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3 Responses to “The Timing Contradictions of Obama’s Afghan Decision”
Sheri on December 1st, 2009 at 5:01pm said:
I’m glad Obama is sending more troops, but this strategy will probably fail because he also announced a withdrawal date. The terrorists will just wait us out. Iraq is already going to pieces because Obama started withdrawing troops too soon.
Democrats should never be trusted with national security. They’re incompetent.
Ironman Kuwaitt on December 1st, 2009 at 5:01pm said:
What else would you expect from democrats, weak is what they are it’s all about the money not winning. I hate serving under democrats they have given up on every war since WWII.
Folklight : OH-IO on December 1st, 2009 at 5:01pm said:
Tis amusing to witness the squirming of BO. He is truly caught between a rock [facts] and a hard place [his base]. Some stubborn facts include the shift of many al Qaeda commanders to Syria from Iraq; [perhaps Soros and his NGO International Crisis Group will have 'success' in persuading them to seek peace (LOL)]; and a ticking Iranian ‘A bomb’! Will the President pursue and engage the enemy wherever they operate[?] Time is slipping away and it will measure us ALL.