Time Not Our Friend In Afghanistan

The primary responsibility of any occupant of the White House is not to be the chief fundraiser for, or putative head of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, but to be the Commander-In-Chief of the nation's armed forces. Thus, nothing is more intolerable to this veteran than watching while politicians play games with the lives of US Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines currently in harm's way, fighting what their so-called Commander-In-Chief referred to as a "war of necessity" that we must win.

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If, as he says, we must win, Then he'd better stop listening to Rahm Emanuel and MoveOn.org and start listening to the general he put there to win, a general who warns of imminent failure without additional reinforcements to augment the boots already on the ground. I said during his campaign that Obama's dedication to the US military was in question. As a veteran, having listened to his rhetoric, watched his body language and observed his actions in the half decade since his emergence from complete obscurity, I can come to no other conclusion and stand by my original assessment. If anything, recent events have added even more weight to my argument that his views on military matters were dangerous. No doubt, Obama is a very busy man. I would be too, if I stuck my fingers in literally every, single aspect of American life, quadrupled the deficit, enacted economic and environmental policies that will further wreck the economy in the next couple of years, while also simultaneously trying to rid the world of nuclear weapons, grappling with North Korean and Iranian nuclear intransigence, Middle East peace, Cap and Trade legislation, illegal immigration, an escalating trade war with China, countering Glenn Beck and fighting two wars. I've heard of multi-tasking, but give me a break. Something's got to give. As it was with George Bush, so it is with Barack Obama. That something is the war in Afghanistan. Last week, we learned that Obama had only spoken with Stanley McChrystal once, via video conference, since McChrystal took over control of Afghanistan. At least, until criticism over Obama's indifference resulted in the White House's release of a staged photo-op during Obama's return from Denmark, where he trashed the US hoping for a Chicago Olympic nod. Obama's lack of interest in personal meetings with his generals fuel further, valid criticism that he is far too detached and aloof when it comes to the seriousness in Afghanistan. Obama isn't the only one dragging his feet. Senate Democrats actually had the audacity to reject a Republican amendment, on a party-line vote (59-40), that would have compelled Generals McChrystal and Petraeus to testify before Congress on their justification for more soldiers. Democrats don't want to hear the truth. It would require them to take a principled stand they aren't ready to take; either supporting the request or be seen as anti-military, instead of just anti-war. I am not brimming with confidence when I hear that Rahm Emmanuel and Joe Biden, neither of whom have ever fired a shot in anger, are advising Obama to withhold reinforcements and limit our involvement to Predator strikes. Unmanned drones have a very limited application. Additionally, they require intelligence to develop targeting data. Democrats' now legendary hatred of the CIA means that our spooks would never be able to infiltrate the Taliban or al Qaeda to get enough intelligence to do any meaningful damage. Limited strikes can kill lieutenants, but air power alone has never won a war or accomplished a conflict's major strategic objective. Limited strikes won't decapitate al Qaeda. I challenge anyone to point to a single conflict throughout history that was won with air power alone, no matter how devastating the strike, or more precisely, without boots on the ground to do the killing close up. Nor am I comforted by Senator Carl Levin's outrageous statement that we can deliberate for weeks, because George Bush did it too. The truth is, Democrats threatened to yank Bush's funding. And the man in charge of US National Security, Obama's advisor James Jones' is of the opinion that, because Afghanistan is not yet in danger of falling to the Taliban, that we can continue to debate. But while these statements bring cold comfort to the nation's veteran's, the men in harm's way or their families, they provide a welcome boost to al Qaeda. Barack Obama's indecision only makes our enemy stronger, which, in turn, only makes the US military's mission that much harder. The scores of Americans who have died since the initial request for more boots on the ground, made August 30, 2009 waited and look what happened. Send in the reinforcements and you can debate all you want.

• 8 Americans, identities pending notification of next of kin, KIA 10/4/2009
• Pfc. Brandon A. Owens, 21, Memphis, Tenn, KIA 10/2/2009
• Sgt. Aaron M. Smith, 25, Manhattan, Kan, KIA 10/2/2009
• Sgt. Roberto D. Sanchez, 24, Satellite Beach, Fla, KIA 10/1/2009
• Sgt. Ryan C. Adams, 26, Rhinelander, Wisc, KIA 10/2/2009
• Spc. Russell S. Hercules Jr., 22, Murfreesboro, Tenn., KIA 10/1/2009 *
• Staff Sgt. Alex French IV, 31, Milledgeville, Ga, KIA 9/30/2009
• Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Shaw, 37, Markham, Ill., KIA 9/29/2009
• Staff Sgt. Jack M. Martin III, 26, Bethany, Ok, KIA 9/29/2009
• Lance Cpl. Jordan L. Chrobot, 24, Frederick, Md., KIA 9/26/2009
• Spc. Kevin J. Graham, 27, Benton, Ky., KIA 9/26/2009
• Lance Cpl. John J. Malone, 24, Yonkers, N.Y., KIA 9/24/2009
• Sgt. Titus R. Reynolds, 23, Columbus, Oh, KIA 9/24/2009
• Sgt. Edward B. Smith, 30, Homestead, Fl, KIA 9/24/2009
• Spc. Joseph V. White, 21, Bellevue, Wash, KIA 9/24/2009
• Pfc. William L. Meredith, 26, Virginia Beach, Va., KIA 9/21/2009
Tech Sgt. James R Hornbarger, 33, Castle Rock, Wash., died 9/122009 *
• Spc. Corey J. Kowall, 20, of Murfreesboro, Tenn. died 9/20/2009 *
• Spc. Damon G. Winkleman, 23, Lakeville, Oh 9/20/2009 *
• Sgt. David A. Davis, 28, Dalhart, Texas, KIA 9/19/2009
• Pfc. Jeremiah J. Monroe, 31, Niskayuna, N.Y., KIA 9/17/2009
• Sgt. Robert D. Gordon II, 22, River Falls, Ala., died 9/16/2009 *
• Sgt. 1st Class Bradley S. Bohle, 29, Glen Burnie, Md. KIA 9/15/2009
• Sgt. 1st Class Shawn P. McCloskey, 33, of Peachtree City, Ga.; 9/15 IED
• Staff Sgt. Joshua M. Mills, 24, of El Paso, Texas. 9/15 IED
• 1st Lt. David T. Wright II, 26, Moore, Ok. KIA 9/14/2009
• Sgt. Andrew H. McConnell, 24, Carlisle, Pa., KIA 9/14/2009
• Spc. Demetrius L. Void, 20, Orangeburg, S.C., died 9/15/2009 *
• Staff Sgt. Bryan D. Berky, 25, Melrose, Fla., KIA 9/12/2009
• Staff Sgt. Nekl B. Allen, 29, Rochester N.Y., KIA 9/12/2009
• Spc. Daniel L. Cox, 23, Parsons, Ks., KIA 9/12/2009
• Sgt. Tyler A. Juden, 23, Winfield, Kan., KIA 9/12/2009
• Pfc. Matthew M. Martinek, 20, DeKalb, Ill., KIA 9/11/2009
• 1st Lt. Tyler E. Parten, 24, Ark, KIA 9/10/2009
• Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Fowlkes, 20, Gaffney, S.C., KIA 9/10/2009
• Gunnery Sgt. Edwin W. Johnson Jr., 31, Columbus, Ga., KIA 9/8/2009
• 1st Lt. Michael E. Johnson, 25, Virginia Beach, Va., KIA 9/8/2009
• Staff Sgt. Aaron M. Kenefick, 30, Roswell, Ga., KIA 9/8/2009
• Sgt. Youvert Loney, 28, Pohnpei, Micronesia, KIA 9/5/2009
• Petty Officer 3rd Class James R. Layton, 22, Riverbank, Ca, KIA 9/8/2009
• Capt. Joshua S. Meadows, 30, Bastrop, Tx, KIA 9/5/2009
• Staff Sgt. Michael C. Murphrey, 25, Snyder, Tx, KIA 9/6/2009
• Sgt. Randy M. Haney, 27, Orlando, Fla., KIA 9/6/2009
• 2nd Lt. Darryn D. Andrews, 34, Dallas, Tx, KIA 9/4/2009
• Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Baltazar Jr., 19, San Antonio, Tx, KIA 9/3/2009
• Petty Officer 3rd Class Benjamin P. Castiglione, 21, Howell, Mich., KIA 9/3/2009
• Spc. Tyler R. Walshe, 21, Shasta Ca, KIA 8/31/2009
• Spc. Jonathan D. Welch, 19, Yorba Linda, Ca. KIA 8/31/2009
• Pfc. Jordan M. Brochu, 20, Cumberland, Maine, KIA 8/31/2009
• Lance Cpl. David R. Hall, 31, Elyria, Oh, KIA 8/31/2009
• * Denotes non-hostile incident