Well, here goes... let me say though, that so far, out of all the addresses he has made as President, he sounded most authoritative and Presidential in this speech. He finally figured out that he isn't campaigning anymore and that he is actually supposed to be guiding national policy now and not wishing on a Nobel Peace Star that things will get done somehow...
He was most authoritative in his definitive 30K more troops being deployed to Afghanistan by "early 2010..." but what he didn't say was that if that was a CAP to total troops or if he would send more if needed. He also failed to tell us where the money was going to come from, and by all accounts on the Hill, the Democrats want to tack on a special surcharge tax to pay for it... how about balancing your spending, that would help pay for it and fixing your broken beaurocracies that are too top heavy and s a result provide fewer services than they would if they actually had more people in the service jobs. I digress...
He also spelled out the mission which in a nutshell was: Provide security for the Afghans so that we can train them up to take over so our troops can come home.
He also spelled it out that he was going to START pulling troops out "July 2011..." what he didn't say was when we would be totally outta there - which I for once agree with him on... but usually in a situation like this 18 months is usually when we are at peak effectiveness, to start pulling out at that point? .. but spelling out an complete end date would be a bad signal and only aid to the enemy- hide until such and such a date then come out, come out wherever you are! BUT what it also does is what it did in Iraq, it forces the Afghans to step up and take part in their infrastruscture and defense and security, it also tells them we are supporting their ability to become a free and democratic state.
As LBJ said about Viet Nam and I paraphrase: "to send American boys 9 or 10 thousand miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves..."
In segue, some folks are going to scream and shout about this being another Viet Nam, just ask them crazy Code Pink idiots, they are already making that analogy at their protests. Well there are quite a few differences that don't really agree with that statement:
1. We were never attacked by Viet Nam, we WERE ATTACKED by groups that planned those missions in Afghanistan.
2. PresO pointed out that in Viet Nam we were not part of a true "coalition" of world neighbors, which TECHNICALLY is true, though I'd surely like to know then,what do we call the troops that were from Republic of Viet Nam, Australia, South Korea, Philippines, France and New Zealand that were there fighting with us? I digress...
3. Viet Nam's insurgency was backed by a rival SUPERPOWER, the Taliban just have, get this, Saudi Royal family money propping them up... Hmmm, Wasn't that the family headed by the guy that PresO bowed to when he was on the World Apology Tour 2008: I'm Sorry USA did...(you fill in the blank)? Nevertheless, Communist Super Power nations (spelled China and the Soviet Union) supported, armed and trained the NVA regulars and Viet Cong- they even went as far as taking part in direct actual combat in the air and ground against us while in their trainer capacities... Afghanistan is home grown Islamic extremism, trained there and without alot of true 1-on 1 tactical ability to meet our troops, their well will run dry, we just need the boots on the ground to "drain it"
PresO also noted that it won't work to try to get by with existing troop levels. As noted, the existing troop levels are not halting the Taliban's advance enough. And without more troops, we cannot hope to create the improved security conditions that Afghans need in order to join and later OWN the fight.
Finally, PresO in his speech insinuated that we leave "gate open" for members of the Taliban to be brought back into the existing infrastructure provided they "renounce violence and agree to certain human rights conditions." In other words, what his strategy does is he wants to drive a wedge between moderates and extremists within the Taliban. The best way to do that is by convincing them that they cannot win, of course existing troop levels aren't sending a very convincing message. What he didn't tell say was that his administration has started PAYING Al Quaida/Taliban leaders to defect... SOOO, basically he is just renting them until we leave...
Those were my thoughts and observations folks, what were yours if you watched it? Also, I wrote this quickly while it was still fresh in my head if I forgot anything please add the comment. Thanks!
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