Marathon Pundit: Obama's inaction on Afghanistan

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Obama's inaction on Afghanistan

"As president, I will make the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban the top priority that it should be. This is a war that we have to win." Barack Obama, July 25, 2008.

Is that what Obama thinks now? Or was he just posturing as tough last year to woo moderate votes during the presidential campaign.

A valid criticism of President Bush's performance as a wartime leader is that he stuck with his generals--and his first Secretary of Defense--for far too long.

In June, Obama replaced General David D. McKiernan with Stanley McChrystal as the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. McChyrstal is asking for 30,000-40,000 more troops for the "war we have to win." Obama is sitting on the request.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has this to say about Obama's inaction:

The president's pick to lead our efforts in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, has made clear that more forces are necessary to accomplish the mission. And while the administration hasn't yet reacted to General McChrystal's report, in my view, the president must soon explain to the American people his reasons either for accepting The McChrystal Plan or for taking a different course.