printHere’s an excerpt from my new WND column, “A War He Can Call His Own”:
“Obama wants to maintain a meaty presence in Afghanistan. He may even be conjuring up new monsters and new missions. This is because Obama needs a “good” war. Electability in fin de siècle America hinges on projecting strength around the world—an American leader has to aspire to protect borders and people not his own. In other words, Obama needs a war he can call his own.
In Afghanistan, Obama has found such a war.”
Comments are welcome.
It appears that it matters little what happens on the ground in these foreign war theaters; the overriding consideration seems to be getting the press on board to shape people’s opinions as they chat around the water cooler.
Most voters give less thought to policy and their choice of President than they do to picking out a pair of shoes. Whichever candidate can get the press to give the voters a ‘good feeling’ about them is likely to get the vote.
The American people aren’t really angry at the people on the ground in either of our wars. They seem to want out of Iraq because there are daily reports of our guys dying over there trying to give the gift of democracy, and it gets tiring to hear about it. Afghanistan is not reported on much, so ramping up our presence there seems like a safe call for Obama to make. Because nobody thinks about it.
That’s probably why nobody seems to ask Obama what his policy will be, what principles he will operate on if the Bush administration talks Israel into launching a preemptive attack on Iran, leaving the succeeding administration to preside over a possible Depression and a possible World War 3 at the same time.
One thing we can count on, the candidates won’t reveal their principles nor will the press demand to know them. That’s because they are all pragmatists to the core. To them, principles don’t matter, they will be made up according to circumstances, calculated for maximum effect in the press.
Afghanistan is W’s war; Obama’s war will be in Iran. The U.S. military is strategically positioned on both sides of Iran; all we need is a catalyst to attack and a President willing to do so. We can justify an attack if Iran tries to defend themselves from Israeli aggression and Obama has already shown a willingness to be the President to lead us to war against Iran.
In his speech to AIPAC, Obama stated “I will bring to the White House an unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security. That starts with ensuring Israel’s qualitative military advantage. …I will ensure Israel can defend itself from any threat, from Gaza to Tehran. … As president, I will use all elements of American power to pressure Iran. I will do everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Everything!… I will always leave the threat of military action on the table to defend our security, and that of our ally Israel”
And Obama plans to have the means to defeat Iran. In April 2007 at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Obama gave a speech to his establishment masters that he will strengthen NATO, double foreign aid and add 92,000 ground troops.
Very nice column and I had to learn some French too.
When I was growing up, two things a country should not do: fight an Asian land war or fight in Afghanistan.
Well, we won a draw in Korea and lost in Vietnam. It seems we have a humbling coming to US (pun intended) from Afghanistan too.
If I recall, the English could not keep Afghanistan nor the Russians but the US is, of course, “exceptional”.
We’ll see, unfortunately.
I enjoyed the article, but must insist that the US was not justified in going into Afghanistan. After the September 11 attacks, the US Government demanded that the Afghan Government turn over Osama Bin Laden. The Afghan Government rightly countered that we first present evidence of Bin Laden’s guilt. Whatever you may think of the Afghan Government as a whole, their request was legitimate. Unfortunately, the US Government refused to present such evidence, but just marched in. Why didn’t the US Government present such evidence? Could it be that it doesn’t have such evidence? By the way, around the time the US went into Afghanistan, Colin Powell admitted that the US Government had not provided any evidence of Bin Laden’s guilt, but assured us that in time it would provide such evidence. We are still waiting.
So, self-defense is a proper justification for war and nation building is not. It seems that we cannot have the former without the altruism of the latter.
To gain public support for a proper policy, would be virtually impossible without wrapping it in some selfless cause like nation building.
We have not had a major terror attack for a long time and it is not for lack of an effort on the part of our enemies.
It seems a proper war policy can be a victim of its own successes.
Oh Lord, we’ve GOT to get them out of there. I supported the war on terrorism, but pulling troops out was overdue back in 2004. The stories of ruthless beheadings, American/British hostages, child deaths, and suicidal soldiers has been more than enough to convince me that too much time has been spent over there. It’s not going to get any better anymore and it’s not up to us. If Obama doesn’t have the balls to pull the troops out, any advantage of having him as president will, in my book, be officially gone.
Ilana, thanks for the article remembering the victims of beheading. I didn’t think my heart could be chilled anymore by this topic, but my blood practically congealed upon being reminded vividly of each victim of the atrocity. This type of awareness is exactly what our country needs.
Insurgencies generally have an advantage since it is always easier to destroy than to defend. We have been “training” the Afghan Army for nearly 7 years now like we “trained” the South Vietnamese Army for 21 years and are “training” the Iraqis for over 5 years. Frankly, these Armies are not fighting CalTech Ph.D.’s – all the training in the world cannot prop up unstable governments of neo-tribal people. Sadly, Bush’s lack of focus on just getting Osama (instead of nation building) has put us into a deep quagmire with no good way out of Afghanistan/Pakistan (they are coupled). Walking away from Iraq is almost simple compared to the Afghan/Pakistan mess – especially given that Pakistan has nukes.