Obama Must Return Clarity and Focus to Afghanistan War

Rory Cooper / September 24, 2009

The AP reports today that “a request for new troops from the U.S. commander in Afghanistan may have to be revised now that there is growing uncertainty inside the Obama administration over whether to escalate the American commitment to the eight-year war.” General Stanley McChrystal is set to deliver his troop request, believed to be upwards of 40,000 additional troops, by the end of the week.

It is now up to President Obama to decide if he will keep his promise to the American people when he committed to winning the war in Afghanistan because it is inextricably linked to our safety at home. It is up to President Obama to decide if he will listen to the generals on the ground or if he will continue to ask them to revise their assesment until it fits his political agenda. It is up to President Obama to decide if he has a clear strategy for success in Afghanistan, or if he is merely winging it. It’s time for real leadership, but is the President capable of providing it? (more…)