I'm lukewarm about additional troops. Although Obama is clearly a level or two ahead of Bush, he still hasn't articulated, at least publicly, that other big regional - and not just the usual NATO type allies - have skin in this game and they are just watching us pull the weight for them. I'm speaking of China, India and Russia, and even Iran and Turkey. They all have huge interests in a stable Aganistan (and Pakistan) and could put a lot of money into development in those countries, working on some "root causes" instead of hacking at the branches - and we wouldn't be the bad guys in local eyes. For support, I refer you to http://www.thomaspmbarnett.com for a perspective that is, if not integral, is very healthy orange/green.
Tom Gibbons - 14 years ago
It's not that adding more troops doesn't make sense, but what kind of outlook or worldview it makes sense to. In my judgement, it makes sense to a world view that's about the use of force to re-make the world to look like a dreamed vision of democracy. It may make sense to a politician with an eye toward re-election. It may make sense to a military whose reason for existence is to fight the enemy. It may make sense to someone who relies upon the inertia of "this is how we've always done it" to forging a creative path. President Obama promised a new, values-driven governance and inspired people to dare to dream and hope. Yet we are supporting a corrupt regime once again simply because they are momentarily aligned with fighting "our enemy". What he has given us is far from the promise, and more resembles business as usual via a re-make of the Clinton years. I am saddened the inspiration has been over-shadowed by a course born of fear.
I'm lukewarm about additional troops. Although Obama is clearly a level or two ahead of Bush, he still hasn't articulated, at least publicly, that other big regional - and not just the usual NATO type allies - have skin in this game and they are just watching us pull the weight for them. I'm speaking of China, India and Russia, and even Iran and Turkey. They all have huge interests in a stable Aganistan (and Pakistan) and could put a lot of money into development in those countries, working on some "root causes" instead of hacking at the branches - and we wouldn't be the bad guys in local eyes. For support, I refer you to http://www.thomaspmbarnett.com for a perspective that is, if not integral, is very healthy orange/green.
It's not that adding more troops doesn't make sense, but what kind of outlook or worldview it makes sense to. In my judgement, it makes sense to a world view that's about the use of force to re-make the world to look like a dreamed vision of democracy. It may make sense to a politician with an eye toward re-election. It may make sense to a military whose reason for existence is to fight the enemy. It may make sense to someone who relies upon the inertia of "this is how we've always done it" to forging a creative path. President Obama promised a new, values-driven governance and inspired people to dare to dream and hope. Yet we are supporting a corrupt regime once again simply because they are momentarily aligned with fighting "our enemy". What he has given us is far from the promise, and more resembles business as usual via a re-make of the Clinton years. I am saddened the inspiration has been over-shadowed by a course born of fear.