December 03, 2009 12:30 AM UTC

Obama Made the Right Choice on Afghanistan

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• by: cunninjo

While it seems to be quite popular this week to oppose Obama’s new Afghanistan Strategy, whether you are a conservative complaining about the exit strategy or a liberal complaining about the entrance strategy, I think there is a strong argument as to why he made a brilliant decision.

As much as liberals are comparing it to Vietnam, I think it is important to compare Afghanistan to, well, itself – Afghanistan. Only I’m referring to the 1980’s version. Let us not forget some of the root causes of the Taliban’s initial rise to power, and consequently, Al-Qaeda’s rise (interesting article quoting SOS Clinton’s explanation). The story of “Charlie Wilson’s War” describes nicely the way we completely screwed up Afghanistan. We covertly armed the Afghan people with modern weapons to combat the occupying Russian military. Over time, the strategy worked forcing the Russians out of the country and setting the course for the fall of the USSR. Thinking our mission was accomplished we packed up and left town, leaving Afghanistan in rubble. Our refusal to assist in the humanitarian nightmare that ensued created a bitterness towards the U.S. in the eyes of many Afghans. This led to the rise of extremist groups preaching hatred of the West, i.e. Taliban, Al-Qaeda.

I hear so many calling for the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. But let me ask you folks a question, what would be the long-term consequences of abandoning that country, AGAIN? How would we be perceived by the Islamic world? Chances are we would see a similar reaction. An even deeper hatred of the U.S. and the West.

This leads to my second point which addresses the concerns coming from Republicans. Complaints that Obama should not have announced a withdrawal date are simply naive. Sure, it’s partially motivated by politics as an attempt to calm the critics on the left. However, there is much more to it than that. By announcing this exit plan to the world, Obama is telling the Afghan people they have a decision to make. If you want to fight the Taliban and its oppressive ideas, then you have 18 months to get serious about it. Otherwise, you have chosen to remain living in the past and we are leaving. It is a message that is intended less for the Afghan government and more for the people. If they do not have the will then we are wasting our time.

We have given them warning. We are covering our bases. There will be no abandoning this time. It is in the hands of the Afghan people.

If you ask me, this is a brilliant plan. It is easy to look at it from a short-term perspective and criticize, but President Obama doesn’t have that luxury.