Now comes the news that President Obama has rejected all “of the Afghanistan war options presented by his national security team.” Instead, he wants to clarify the exit strategy first, and turn over responsibility to an Afghan government that he … Continue reading →
It is often said that there is nothing new under the sun. Commenter “Steve G” proves it by helpfully pointing out a WSJ article by Bret Stephens in which the author coins the phrase (that is, he believes he coins … Continue reading →
…while Obamalet dithers. From Spiegel: What the US military wants is clear. General Stanley McChrystal, the US commander in Afghanistan, has called for up to 40,000 more troops… So far Obama has only made it clear that he doesn’t intend … Continue reading →
There’s been a lot of buzz around the blogosphere about Dick Cheney’s speech on Obama’s “dithering” approach to Afghanistan. Much of it centers on Cheney’s criticism of Obama’s Afghan policy (or lack thereof) itself. I’m interested in that. But I’m … Continue reading →
I’ve written before about Obama’s Hamlet-like indecision on Afghanistan. Some call his approach thoughtful deliberation, and perhaps it is (although I don’t happen to think so). But how long should pondering go on before it becomes procrastination? And never think … Continue reading →
In a recent Charles Krauthammer piece, he compares Obama’s dithering on Afghanistan to the wavering of Shakespeare’s Hamlet: …[Obama in his role as] commander in chief, young Hamlet, frets, demurs, agonizes. His domestic advisers, led by Rahm Emanuel, tell him … Continue reading →
Presidents are civilians, but they are also Commanders-in-Chief. Generals advise them in times of war, but there is an inherent conflict present in the relationship. The buck stops on the president’s desk. But especially when he has no military experience … Continue reading →
I don’t think he is (at least not in the way you’d imagine). But Leslie Gelb does: I’m lost on President Barack Obama’s Afghanistan policy””along with most of Congress and the U.S. military. Not quite eight months ago, Mr. Obama … Continue reading →
I’ve got a post up at American Thinker on the topic of Obama’s distate at the notion of “victory” in Afghanistan, and American “victory” in general. Feel free to join in the comments section there and/or here, as you wish. … Continue reading →
When Barack Obama was a senator and a presidential candidate, he hated the Iraq war and every move George Bush made there. This included the highly successful surge. In fact, Obama denied the positives of the surge—not only back when … Continue reading →
Now that the case against Abdul Rahman has been dropped, Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi has offered him sanctuary: “I say that we are very glad to be able to welcome someone who has been so courageous,” Premier Silvio Berlusconi said. Berlusconi … Continue reading →