Readers with a long memory may recall that, as a candidate, Obama campaigned on the complaint that the Bush Administration had focused too much on Iraq when the real war, Obama maintained was in Afghanistan. Fair enough, but when he became president, he was expected to have some sort of plan for Afghanistan. he did not. But he did appoint General McChrystal top commander in that blighted country, and asked his advice.
McChrystral recommended 60,000 additional troops, to be deployed immediately – O’Bumer demurred, and after six months of thumb-sucking, announced that, in his opinion, 30,000 troops was the right number. At that point, the war became Obama.
Now, it says here, he’s set to fire McChrystal for the general’s unwise, and possibly illegal comments about his commander-in-chief. If I were Obama, I wouldn’t do it: he appointed the guy, he overruled his advice on troop strength and if he fires him, the outcome in Afghanistan falls entirely on his shoulders – no more Bush to blame, no more Cheney. It’s all Obummer, all the time.
I don’t see a happy outcome in Afghanistan. And if it all goes to hell, our Harvard law student will be standing in the spotlight, all alone.