When President Obama took office, he appointed General Stanley McChrystal to command the troop on the ground in Afghanistan, asking him to make a recommendation on what was needed. General McChrystal did so; according to some reports, he asked President Obama to send over 75,000 additional troops. It was widely reported that McChrystal's report requested 40,000 troops, but rumors persist that 40,000 troops was the minimum requirement by McChrystal. After seven months of delay, Obama committed to sending 30,000 additional troops to supplement the ground forces in Afghanistan. Furthermore, he made the announcement in front of an audience of West Point cadets, who were required to be in their seats a full three hours before the speech was set to begin and who were instructed to "respond enthusiastically."
Are you kidding me? Why should the rising officers in our military be forced to waste hours of their lives waiting -- for security reasons; if we can't trust our cadets in matter of Presidential security, I would argue that we can't trust anyone -- and then not even be allowed to react in a way that reflects the way they really feel? A lukewarm troop surge, combined with a seven month delay in action, added to what Obama called a "firm deadline" for withdrawal (yeah, why not tell our enemy exactly how long they just need to lay low?) adds up to one of the weakest displays of foreign policy I can imagine.
Mr. President, it's simple: give the troops what they need to kick butts and take names, or BRING THEM HOME. By doing this halfway, you're condemning troops to die in vain.
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