Week in Review - Sunday: Ryan John

Obama's New War Plan

On Tuesday, December 1, 2009 when President Barrack Obama made the formal announcement at West Point that additional troops will be sent to Afghanistan, he delivered on another campaign promise. I believe Obama knew from the beginning of his term that troop escalation in Afghanistan was going to an inevitable action early on his presidential watch. Joe Biden just about guaranteed a “major international crisis” shortly after Obama takes office that will test the administration greatly. Let’s not forget Obama campaigned as the President who was going to focus on what he considered the real war. He said we should be fighting a war against terror and that we were wasting time, lives and resources in Iraq. As President, he hand picked General Stanley A. McChrystal as the US commander of the forces in Afghanistan June 2009.  In three short months, the general requested tens of thousands more troops be sent to Afghanistan for any possibility of success.  Now usually when a boss hires an employee, it’s because they’re on the same page. Was the President at all surprised by the McChrystal recommendation?  I think not. I mean, how could he be?
 
But, Obama was elected because he was the force of change. He was elected by the majority of the US population who saw no reason for us to continue with the War in Iraq and The McCain vs. Obama election became the national referendum on the war in Iraq. Needless to say, the democrats won. So how much change is really taking place when 30,000 troops will be deployed in six months.  But, Obama had to seem reflective, pensive, and analytical before he made his final decision.  It's kind of timely as well because we all know how occupied with the holidays we are around this time. As soon as President Obama took office, he worked towards fulfilling the promises of his liberal supporters.   What we have here is a promise that Republicans in 2008 didn’t know they had.  This is a promise that will undoubtedly get some Democrats scratching their heads, but should win him some points with the 9/12’er’s.
 
It’s clear that Obama took office knowing he was going to advance the military operation in the War against Terror.  Now, I know the President doesn’t use the word “victory” and is only planning on using this troop surge to bully al-Qaeda far enough back for an Afghan take over and eventual American troop withdrawal. But I’m not confident that only 30,000 troops will deliver on that promise.  I am confident though that the President won’t shy away from troop escalation in the fight to do so.