Re-Evaluating the War

After careful review and strategic planning, President Barack Obama confidently announced that he would be sending 4,000 U.S. personnel to the Afghan region to train the Afghan army and police to help defend themselves against radical insurgents. In addition to training, the personnel will help provide support for civilian development and infrastructure. To further take aim on disarming the radical Islamic militants in Afghanistan, Obama has also set benchmarks for progress.

This was the mission for Afghanistan that was so carefully planned out by Obama during his election campaign.

But after a recent report on the current conditions in Afghanistan, by General McChrystal, Obama has decided to rethink an exit strategy and has put a halt on any plans to send in more troops if needed.

Is our president having doubts about winning the war?

Named the most “dangerous place in the world” by Obama, the president clearly stated that the mission and number one priority in Afghanistan is to make sure terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda, will not threaten the security of the U.S., its interests and its allies.

Have these goals now changed? Is it really to keep out terrorism? To protect the Afghan people? Or is it plainly to win the war efforts?

The recent reports describe a failing strategy in need of urgent help. The reports show the need for additional resources, which means sending in additional troops, and the need to quicken the training of Afghan forces.

With growing home opposition from the Democratic Party amidst the domestic health care issue, Obama has been forced to re-evaluate a new plan soon. Americans are tired of war and feel that Afghanistan is a lost cause and that our government should think more realistically. Defeating the Taliban in Afghanistan is not realistic as many of the members are of Afghanistan’s majority tribes with allies in neighboring Pakistan.

With the initial plan, it was backed by Afghan president Karzari, who had given his full support and agreement with Obama’s new policy expressing his interest in Obama’s two components: fighting against Islamic terrorism, focusing on infiltrating the terrorism safe havens and negotiating with the Taliban insurgents.

What will President Obama’s new policy for Afghanistan entail? Sending in more troops? Is this war winnable?