With news of the leaked Pentagon demand for more troops to achieve “success” in Afghanistan, the generals have delivered a stinging slap to Obama. “Do it our way, or else we're going to lose.”
The right-wing generals are eager for combat to buttress their chances for promotion. They want overwhelming military power to crush the natives. But it won't be that easy. No victory will be found. With sufficient troops, defeat will be staved off until the fat generals move to their next posting. Never mind the cost in bodies and money; they'll get what they want; and they'll likely mau-mau McCoward Obama to get their way.
Not only are they telling it to Obama; they're telling it to the world. This kind of leaking is of course insubordination; if Obama had any balls he'd find and fire the leaker pronto, thus sending a clear message back to the Pentagon.
Of course, if Obama had any brains, he wouldn't have escalated a losing war in the first place. But apparently Obama fell victim to “War President fever,” a curious affliction which causes the sufferer to imagine that winning a war will both cement his place in history, and guarantee re-election.
Of course, you have to actually win. In the case of Afghanistan, the home team is undefeated. Does anyone even know what “victory” looks like? Blowhard pundits and politicians mouth platitudes about their idea of victory, but their words never come down to reality. The Washington Villagers actually have no idea. They just want to keep kicking the problem down the line.
But string has run out. It's clear that Afghanistan will be Obama's Vietnam.
Obama: what a giant disappointment.
Posted by matter at September 21, 2009 07:52 PM