Now is Obama 'dithering'?
The president faces mounting questions on what's holding up a decision on how to handle Afghanistan
U.S. soldiers attend a ceremony at their military base in Kandahar, southern Afghanistan.
(EPA/Corbis/Humayoun Shiab)
The first question American journalists asked President Obama in China had nothing to do with his nine-day Asia tour -- it was about why he hasn't made a decision on how many more troops to send to Afghanistan. Obama said his impatient critics aren't involved in Afghanistan, and that those who are "recognize the gravity of the situation and recognize the importance of us getting this right." Is it time for Obama to stop deliberating and make his move? (Watch a CNN report about Obama's Afghanistan decision)
Enough debate. Decide already: "The cost of indecision is growing every day," says David Broder in The Washington Post. The Taliban insurgency is getting stronger, our allies are getting more nervous, and every day President Obama hesitates Democrats in Congress get more reluctant to "make an all-out commitment to win the war." Enough "dithering" -- Gen. Stanley McChrystal says he needs more troops, he should have them.
"Enough Afghan debate"
This is how a president is supposed to act: President Obama's willingness to air the debate publicly, says Andrew Sullivan in The Atlantic, is a sign of strength and confidence, not weakness. Obama rejected all four major policy options before him and asked for more information because he won't let such an important decision be rushed. "His concern seems to be genuinely to do the right and the most sustainable thing. Which is a kind of strength we haven't seen in a president since Reagan."
"We have a president"
A complex decision takes time: President Obama is deliberating questions far more difficult, says Fred Kaplan in Slate, than whether to give Gen. Stanley McChrystal the 40,000 additional troops he wants. Obama has to decide "what we can do, what we can't, what we should try, what we shouldn't bother trying, and the risks of doing or not doing each one." Obama inherited the Afghan war, but it's his now -- "the least we can allow him is a sense of confidence in his first crucial judgment."
"Obama's real Afghanistan decision"
Obama is starting to look indecisive: Dick Cheney sounded "premature and partisan" when he accused President Obama of "dithering" three weeks ago, says Doyle McManus in the Los Angeles Times. After George W. Bush, "who shot first and asked questions later," it was good to have a president who took his time. But now, after eight Cabinet-level meetings and several missed target dates for an Afghanistan decision, "Barack Obama is in danger of giving deliberation a bad name."
"Obama must rethink rethinking Afghanistan"
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18 Comments
Posted by DecideToGetOut, Monday, November 16, 2009, 9:34 am I do not care if it takes him another 3 months as long as his decision is to leave. I am sick of The United States spending resources on war, spending resources on basically everything healthcare reform welfare reform the farm bill everything. Let us have an entire year without spending anything to wake people up. You would lose your home if you spent like our government spends.
Posted by Amie, Monday, November 16, 2009, 4:05 pm Yes, WHY no decision yet, Mr Obama? Where is this talk of BOLD and CONCISE actions? In the meantime, my husband is over there... wondering whether they are on track or what? This is a lack of vision and leadership. You will NOT get our vote again! Make some decisions and stop flying around, bowing to every real world leader. So ashamed of him and his do nothing administration. Get home and get to work. Are our troops sacrificing and dying for...WHAT? Be a leader and lead. The time to make decisions is NOW
Posted by Calvin, Monday, November 16, 2009, 4:08 pm He campaigned that he would make decisions. Not yet. He has had more than a year since he was elected, and he is still THINKING. Thinking about what, sir? You really didn't have any solid plans, did you? You mislead the voters, and the world. You are too busy, kissing Asia's butt, to make decisions about American lives. NO VOTE in 2012.
Posted by jfs, Monday, November 16, 2009, 4:11 pm Beats having a president who created a war so he can call himself a war President.
Posted by Jason, Monday, November 16, 2009, 4:18 pm 'W' called himself a War President? Nah. You learn so many new 'facts' on these comment pages every day. BHO needs to step up his decision making. Makes Hillary's claims that BHO is inexperienced and naive sound pretty accurate. Will not vote for him again. He is too into himself and what's in the presidency for him, and pretty short on vision and leadership. He didn't grow past community rebel rouser to become President. He may have the title, but he cannot walk the walk, and talk the talk.
Posted by BillJ, Monday, November 16, 2009, 4:26 pm How can you not care if it takes another three months? Don't you care how many more servicemen and and women die in that time. Well at least President Obama would validate your world view, and that is, as we know, priceless.Liberals...
Posted by MacKenzie, Monday, November 16, 2009, 4:35 pm THREE MORE MONTHS? To decide what? He convinced all of you nutcases that he had the answers so you would vote for him, so why does he need more time? Our troops are getting their lights punched out, and BHO needs more time? Either bring them home, NOW, or get in there and fight to win. If you don't not want to win, BRING THEM HOME. That isn't too difficult, even for a community activist, is it? Hillary would have a decision on DAY ONE. He could strong arm his party and get rid of Hillary, but he cannot do his job now.
Posted by jfs, Monday, November 16, 2009, 4:52 pm I'm a war president. I make decisions here in the Oval Office in foreignpolicy matters with war on my mind. ..... Meet the Press, 2704.
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