Two weeks ago, I wrote a column concerning the relationship between President Barack Obama and Gen. Stanley McChrystal, as well as the president’s lack of decision on a new war strategy in Afghanistan. Keeping with the topic of Afghanistan, new questions and developments have arisen.
It now seems that the Obama administration aims to redirect the overall mission of the United States in Afghanistan. For eight years the mission has been to eradicate al-Qaida and establish a solid and stable republic in Afghanistan.
Recently Obama officials have gone on the record announcing that the U.S. is refocusing its overall strategy and is now only interested in eradicating al-Qaida and the Taliban. What the president is doing here is basically closing the door on an open-ended commitment to Afghanistan, as opposed to the U.S. relationship with Japan post World War II. He is also toning down the political rhetoric of “democracy” and “freedom” and refocusing his efforts to ensure that Afghanistan does not once again become a “safe haven and a staging platform for terrorists.” Either that or he could be giving up. By giving up, I mean on the Afghan leadership, not the war itself. It seems that Obama may be giving up on his Afghani counterpart, Karzai, and refocusing his political rhetoric on eliminating al-Qaida.
So what is Obama really doing here? Is he simply announcing something to keep the public happy, as it quietly grows impatient with his indecision? Or does he truly believe he cannot establish a stable republic, but at the same time eliminate al-Qaida and the Taliban from Afghanistan? It seems that Obama is once again politicizing. He is politicizing because to believe that one can eradicate al-Qaida from Afghanistan without a stable Afghan government is truly idiotic.
If he does not think that said situation would cause more bloodshed by way of a power vacuum, I really question his leadership of this country concerning foreign policy. If an exit strategy is what he truly wants and seeks, do it.
Politicizing this war over and over does not help, and everyday another U.S. soldier is killed. Obama must commit 100 percent because whether he likes it or not, he is there. Eliminating the Taliban is something Obama pledged to do during his campaign and something it seems that many Americans still agree with. It is known that it directly harbored the Sept. 11 hijackers, and it should be brought down for it, and this is without even touching on the many issues people have with the Taliban’s exporting of opium, persecution of women and attacks on civilians.
So with all of this said, it is time for the administration to listen to its commanders on the ground and win this war. If people believe that a republic will not work in Afghanistan culturally, then what will? Many may have forgotten this, but the U.S. actually supported the Taliban up until the late 1990s and began to distance itself when the Taliban began attacking civilians, targeting ethnic groups and narrowly avoided war with Iran. If that is the indication of a government “working,” it seriously deals a blow to my faith in humanity. It is time to try something new.
I do not care if it is a republic, autocracy or monarchy. As long as it keeps U.S. citizens safe and avoids atrocities, I am content. It is crunch time for Obama and the public is more impatient than a child in the cereal aisle. While I do respect his not wanting to go with a “shoot first and ask questions later” approach, it now appears it has become pure indecisiveness. Hopefully, this long and drawn out process will pay off by winning the war, establishing a stable government and bringing our heroes home. We cannot accept anything less than this; if we do, however, our future with al-Qaida will most certainly continue, whether we want it to or not.