"Disrupt, Dismantle, & Defeat!"

It's time to Break It Down!

So…the Commander-in-Chief donned his Harvard power tie, jetted up to West Point, NY, and faced an audience that routinely does more before 9:00 AM than most of us do all day. Of course this was not a casual or disinterested group of early risers. West Point is the home of the U.S. Military Academy, and the audience was comprised largely of cadets; some, the men and women who will be part of the troop deployment the President was there to announce.

For several months and over 20 meetings of the President’s War Council, there has been a buzz surrounding when President Obama would reveal the latest evolution of his Afghanistan strategy. Many who actively oppose the President complained bitterly about the lapse in time. Former Vice President Cheney went as far as to accuse the President of dithering. Before last night’s speech by the President, Mr. Cheney upped the ante and rendered a scathing attack, accusing President Obama of “Giving aid and comfort” to a terrorist enemy. Of course, the phrase giving aid and comfort to the enemy is a euphemism for treason.

This chilly blast was issued even before the President had a chance to formally articulate his policy initiative. Given the propensity of a segment of the loyal opposition to engage in such intemperate invective, it is fairly easy to understand why the President and his advisers went to great length to thoroughly vet the strategy before presenting it to the public.

In making the case for deploying 30,000 additional troops in Afghanistan, Mr. Obama started at the beginning. He reminded those in attendance and a worldwide viewing audience that nearly 3,000 men and women were murdered in a series of terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania September 11, 2001. After those attacks, Congress acted almost unanimously, voting 98-0 in the Senate, and 420-1 in the House of Representatives, to pursue Al-Qaeda, and founder Osama bin Ladin.

Mr. Obama discussed how the decision to wage war in Iraq siphoned resources and focus from the mission in Afghanistan. Now, on the advice of General Stanley McChrystal, Commander of U.S. Forces, Afghanistan, and significant input from his War Council, and a plan heavily influenced by Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, the President spent yesterday, telling allies and members of Congress, and last night, telling cadets at West Point, “It is time to finish the job!” He reiterated the goals he stated March 27, 2009, when he laid out his initial Afghanistan strategy (From the White House Blog):

• “To “Disrupt, Dismantle and Defeat” Al Qaeda in Pakistan
and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in
the future. That's the goal that must be achieved. That is a cause that
could not be more just.”

The President argued that in order to achieve his stated goal, we must pursue three objectives:

• Deny Al Qaeda a safe-haven
• Reverse the Taliban's momentum and deny it the ability to overthrow
the government
• Strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan's Security Forces and
government, so that they can take lead responsibility for
Afghanistan's future

Ultimately, the President stated, those objectives will be met in three ways:

1. First, we will pursue a military strategy that will break the
Taliban's
momentum and increase Afghanistan's capacity over the next 18
months.
2. Second, we will work with our partners, the UN, and the
Afghan people to pursue a more effective civilian strategy, so that
the government can take advantage of improved security.
3. Third, we will act with the full recognition that our success in
Afghanistan is inextricably linked to our partnership with Pakistan.

In laying out the sequencing for sending troops to Afghanistan, the President indicated the US would begin sending additional forces early next year. Partly in response to the “dithering” salvo, the President noted that never had there been an option presented to him to deploy before 2010. To that end, contrary to all the fuss, there has been no delay. Undoubtedly, that observation will be lost on many.

There will be a compelling transmutation of opinion on the issue of Mr. Obama’s decision. Many Party mavens and talking heads will play a game of political musical chairs based on this deployment. Democrats, including many that form Mr. Obama’s Democratic base will part company with him over this decision. In fact, CNN reported one of Mr. Obama’s long-time allies, Illinois Representative Jan Schakowsky voiced her displeasure, saying, “He’s made up his mind that at this point there ought to be a troop increase, and I have to say I am very skeptical about that as a solution.”

Conversely, much of the support he is likely to get will come from Republicans who, as a group, often support more troops. For example, Ed Rollins, one noted Republican adviser, and frequent Obama critic, said of the President’s decision in his CNN Commentary, “I call it leadership.”

Interestingly, the President acknowledged the naysayers, and addressed three central concerns:

1. There are those who suggest that Afghanistan is another
Vietnam. Unlike Vietnam, we are joined by a broad
coalition of 43 nations that recognizes the legitimacy of our actions.
2. There are those who acknowledge that we cannot leave Afghanistan in
its current state, but suggest that we go forward with the troops that we
have. This would simply maintain a status quo in which we muddle through,
and permit a slow deterioration of conditions there.
3. Finally, there are those who oppose identifying a time frame for our
transition to Afghan responsibility. It must be clear that
Afghans will have to take responsibility for their security, and
that America has no interest in fighting an endless war in
Afghanistan.

In closing, President Obama exhorted Americans to draw on the strength of our values, noting that while "The challenges we face may have changed, what we believe must not." He added, Our message must be clear: “that our cause is just; our resolve unwavering.”

The irony of the likely “road to deployment” is that this most divisive of issues may be the most bi-partisan initiative to date, during the Obama Presidency. There are certain to be stalwarts among Democrats who stick by their President. Yet, many are subject to reject the notion of a surge authored by their Party’s Leader. Alternately, there will be members of the GOP who believe this is the first sensible action this President has taken.

Ultimately, this Afghanistan troop deployment may "Disrupt, Dismantle, and Defeat" Al Qaeda, Osama bin Ladin, and the Taliban, or...Barack Obama. The President could easily have chosen to navigate this one differently, deciding to the read the polls, and side with many in his Party. That would have been a clear example of political expediency, and playing/pandering to the base. Mr. Obama had an opportunity to be the change he lauded during his campaign. In spite of the fact this action flies in the face of Party orthodoxy, President Obama decided to take a stand, and lead…not follow. That’s a “Change I Can Believe In.”

The Congressional debate begins today; can't wait to see how that goes. I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com . A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/july-dec09/obamaspeech_12-01.html

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/01/obama.afghanistan/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Military_Academy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_A._McChrystal

http://themoderatevoice.com/54824/cheney-blasts-obama-on-afghanistan-before-speech-accuses-obama-of-giving-aid-and-comfort-to-the-enemy/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osama_bin_Laden

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30069.html

http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/12/01/rollins.obama.decision.afghanistan/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2009/12/01/sot.obama.afghanistan.troop.numbers.cnn

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&source=hp&q=narrative+of+obama's+afghanistan+speech&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=N_sVS8LdAseXtgfBjMHuBA&sa=X&oi=news_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CA8QsQQwAA

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/03/27/a-new-strategy-for-afghanistan-and-pakistan/