Deadly Dithering in Afghanistan

Headline yesterday: 

U.S. troop killed, "insider" escapes after latest attack in Afghanistan

I find it infuriating to consider that while our troops have remained at risk in harm's way in Afghanistan, their commander-in-chief has not been actively supportive.  I expect that any time we have troops in danger on a mission, they and we deserve to have our leader continually informing us of their mission and purpose and what is going on.  Our troops should never, ever be forgotten.  

Now, President Obama in his heart I'm sure cares about the troops at risk, and yet - how often do you here him talk about the troops?  Talk about our purpose and mission in Afghanistan?  Talk about the losses we sustain?  

It's not that we don't have a purpose there, but in a democracy, it is critical for citizens to hear what our purpose is - on an ongoing basis, because our troops suffer if there is a dip in support among the people, or if they are simply forgotten by many.

If you haven't heard, our troops in Afghanistan have been having increasing problems with our Afghan government/military "friends" murdering American soldiers.  

Charles Krauthammer had this to say: 

"But the question is, where is the president on that question? We heard General Dempsey say the Afghans are now seized with the issue. Fine. And I know General Dempsey and our troops are obviously seized with the issue. Is the president in any way seized with Afghanistan — in any way? Do you ever hear him speaking about it? He had to bring it up today because it’s becoming an epidemic what’s happening to our troops. 

It’s not as if it happened overnight. It’s been happening all year. A quarter of all the deaths of NATO troops over there this year are by friendlies. The president now speaks about it, you know, in answer to a question in a press conference. Where is he on this war?

He comes into office and he spends nine months dithering on it. He comes up with a policy, triples our troops — obviously, as a side effect, it increases our casualties — and [then] loses complete interest in the war. Never speaks to the people about a war, which is ongoing, in which our guys are getting shot.

Now he has a policy. I mean, is it even a policy? You ask which way does he want to go? Who knows where he wants to go other than not talk about it?

You can’t conduct a war and expose our troops and not in some way try to explain to the nation what you’re doing, why, and why it’s worth having anyone die over there under your policy — and it’s now his policy."

Amen, Charles.  America and our troops deserve better.  I can't wait 'til November to get Obama out of office.