Tonight, President Obama announced his decision to surge roughly 30,000 additional troops into Afghanistan to roll back the Taliban and disrupt and defeat al-Qaeda. The President asked for unity and support in this effort. He has mine.
After eight years, many American are tired of this war and want it to come to an end. These feelings are strongest among the President’s core supporters making his decision that much more courageous. Regardless of how the war has gone up until this point, make no mistake, what happens over there is directly tied to our security right here.
With a war weary public in mind, the President felt compelled to remind Americans that the attacks of 9/11 were launched from Afghanistan and that our failure there, in whole or even in parts of that country, could lead to more attacks here at home. In fact, just recently, Najibullah Zazi, who was arrested for plotting to bomb New York City, allegedly received training in the lawless border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Moreover, one of the most ambitious al-Qaeda plots since 9/11 involving the 2006 conspiracy to bomb several U.S. airline carriers from the U.K. to the U.S. also had ties to this lawless region.
The toll this surge will take on the military and their families will be enormous. Many of the young soldiers and marines who go on this mission will not come home. The issue of how to deal with Pakistan is delicate and not entirely clear, and the setting of a timeline, albeit one subject to conditions on the ground, is nonetheless risky. With all that, the President has made the case for why this must be done. My sincere hope is that he continues his resolve throughout the inevitable victories and setbacks.
In the end, I believe the dedication and sacrifice of our military with civilian agency support can bring this war of necessity to a successful conclusion making all of us the safer for it.
After eight years, many American are tired of this war and want it to come to an end. These feelings are strongest among the President’s core supporters making his decision that much more courageous. Regardless of how the war has gone up until this point, make no mistake, what happens over there is directly tied to our security right here.
With a war weary public in mind, the President felt compelled to remind Americans that the attacks of 9/11 were launched from Afghanistan and that our failure there, in whole or even in parts of that country, could lead to more attacks here at home. In fact, just recently, Najibullah Zazi, who was arrested for plotting to bomb New York City, allegedly received training in the lawless border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Moreover, one of the most ambitious al-Qaeda plots since 9/11 involving the 2006 conspiracy to bomb several U.S. airline carriers from the U.K. to the U.S. also had ties to this lawless region.
The toll this surge will take on the military and their families will be enormous. Many of the young soldiers and marines who go on this mission will not come home. The issue of how to deal with Pakistan is delicate and not entirely clear, and the setting of a timeline, albeit one subject to conditions on the ground, is nonetheless risky. With all that, the President has made the case for why this must be done. My sincere hope is that he continues his resolve throughout the inevitable victories and setbacks.
In the end, I believe the dedication and sacrifice of our military with civilian agency support can bring this war of necessity to a successful conclusion making all of us the safer for it.
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