The good news is that Barack Obama looks like he will have the shortest presidency since William Henry Harrison (who died from pneumonia contracted at his inauguration). Obama's domestic legislative agenda stalled out in July, with the first of the Town Hall Hells, and it looks like it will never recover. So he was president for a whole six months, as far as domestic legislation is concerned.
The bad news is that President Obama is still commander-in-chief for the next three years, and he is facing a world of trouble that he is not willing to confront boldly.
In the long run, I am still optimistic about the outcome in Afghanistan—as are the Afghans. Jack Wakeland recently sent me a link to an article about a new poll of Afghan public opinion. Jack notes:
"Is the war in Afghanistan intractable? A new poll shows: 68% support the US military presence; 62% suppport the presence of British and other NATO troops; 69% say the Taliban is the greatest danger to their country's future; 70% say that Afghanistan is headed in the right direction.
"We have seen hundreds of insurgent IED and suicide bomb attacks and dozens of bloody battles; repeated battles in the same hills and towns and valleys and mountain passes; loss of territory that was gained since 2006; re-gained territory that was lost since 2006; solid morale in Marine rifle companies in Helmand; collapsing morale in the rifle companies of the elite mountain division near the Pakistan border; the killing of seven top CIA commanders and analysts; all the premature road and building projects damaged by the Taliban; press reports of never ending losses that could make the strongest advocate of war wonder if anything is being accomplished at all.
"But the US and our NATO allies are firmly holding the only ground that counts in a counter-insurgency campaign. Between 60 and 70% of the civilian population are with us. Almost 70% of the population reject the Taliban. And 70% have experienced changes that make them feel that life is getting better."
"Slowly—very, very slowly—the Taliban are losing."
But the enemy always gets a vote when it comes to determining the outcome of a war. He always has the option of adapting, regrouping, and pulling off a few spectacular victories. Hence the major attack last night in the heart of Kabul, as reported below. Yet note in this story that the attack was repulsed primarily by Afghan commandos, who fought bravely and effectively on the side of their government.
It's going to be a rough couple of years in the military fight against terrorism, yet victory is within reach. But I would feel a whole lot more re-assured about it if we had a commander-in-chief who was genuinely committed to victory.
"Militants Launch Bold Attach in Kabul," Dexter Filkins, New York Times, January 18
A team of militants launched a spectacular assault at the heart of the Afghan government Monday, with two men detonating suicide bombs and the rest fighting to the death only 50 yards from the gates of the presidential palace.
The attacks, the latest in a series targeting the Afghan capital, paralyzed the city for hours, as hundreds of Afghan commandos converged and opened fire. The battle unfolded in the middle of Pashtunistan Square, a traffic circle that holds the palace of President Hamid Karzai, the Ministry of Justice and the Central Bank, the target of the attack.
As the gun battle raged, another suicide bomber—this one driving an ambulance—struck a traffic circle a half-mile away, sending a second mass of bystanders fleeing in terror….
The effect of the attack seemed primarily psychological, designed to strike fear into the usually quiet precincts of downtown Kabul—and to drive home the ease with which insurgents could strike the American-backed government here….
Within minutes, hundreds of Afghan commandos, soldiers and police surrounded Pashtunistan Square and attacked. Some of the Afghan fighters were part of specially formed antiterrorism squads. Monday's gun battle was notable for the absence of American soldiers: a small group of commandos from New Zealand were the only Western soldiers on the scene.…
"We were going through drills when we got the word," said Bawahuddin, a young member of an antiterrorism squad, standing behind a wall as he prepared to join the fight. Bawahuddin flashed a thumbs up sign. "We're ready—we're ready."
Robert Tracinski writes daily commentary at TIADaily.com. He is the editor of The Intellectual Activist (TIA) and contributor to The Freedom Fighter's Journal
The bad news is that President Obama is still commander-in-chief for the next three years, and he is facing a world of trouble that he is not willing to confront boldly.
In the long run, I am still optimistic about the outcome in Afghanistan—as are the Afghans. Jack Wakeland recently sent me a link to an article about a new poll of Afghan public opinion. Jack notes:
"Is the war in Afghanistan intractable? A new poll shows: 68% support the US military presence; 62% suppport the presence of British and other NATO troops; 69% say the Taliban is the greatest danger to their country's future; 70% say that Afghanistan is headed in the right direction.
"We have seen hundreds of insurgent IED and suicide bomb attacks and dozens of bloody battles; repeated battles in the same hills and towns and valleys and mountain passes; loss of territory that was gained since 2006; re-gained territory that was lost since 2006; solid morale in Marine rifle companies in Helmand; collapsing morale in the rifle companies of the elite mountain division near the Pakistan border; the killing of seven top CIA commanders and analysts; all the premature road and building projects damaged by the Taliban; press reports of never ending losses that could make the strongest advocate of war wonder if anything is being accomplished at all.
"But the US and our NATO allies are firmly holding the only ground that counts in a counter-insurgency campaign. Between 60 and 70% of the civilian population are with us. Almost 70% of the population reject the Taliban. And 70% have experienced changes that make them feel that life is getting better."
"Slowly—very, very slowly—the Taliban are losing."
But the enemy always gets a vote when it comes to determining the outcome of a war. He always has the option of adapting, regrouping, and pulling off a few spectacular victories. Hence the major attack last night in the heart of Kabul, as reported below. Yet note in this story that the attack was repulsed primarily by Afghan commandos, who fought bravely and effectively on the side of their government.
It's going to be a rough couple of years in the military fight against terrorism, yet victory is within reach. But I would feel a whole lot more re-assured about it if we had a commander-in-chief who was genuinely committed to victory.
"Militants Launch Bold Attach in Kabul," Dexter Filkins, New York Times, January 18
A team of militants launched a spectacular assault at the heart of the Afghan government Monday, with two men detonating suicide bombs and the rest fighting to the death only 50 yards from the gates of the presidential palace.
The attacks, the latest in a series targeting the Afghan capital, paralyzed the city for hours, as hundreds of Afghan commandos converged and opened fire. The battle unfolded in the middle of Pashtunistan Square, a traffic circle that holds the palace of President Hamid Karzai, the Ministry of Justice and the Central Bank, the target of the attack.
As the gun battle raged, another suicide bomber—this one driving an ambulance—struck a traffic circle a half-mile away, sending a second mass of bystanders fleeing in terror….
The effect of the attack seemed primarily psychological, designed to strike fear into the usually quiet precincts of downtown Kabul—and to drive home the ease with which insurgents could strike the American-backed government here….
Within minutes, hundreds of Afghan commandos, soldiers and police surrounded Pashtunistan Square and attacked. Some of the Afghan fighters were part of specially formed antiterrorism squads. Monday's gun battle was notable for the absence of American soldiers: a small group of commandos from New Zealand were the only Western soldiers on the scene.…
"We were going through drills when we got the word," said Bawahuddin, a young member of an antiterrorism squad, standing behind a wall as he prepared to join the fight. Bawahuddin flashed a thumbs up sign. "We're ready—we're ready."
Robert Tracinski writes daily commentary at TIADaily.com. He is the editor of The Intellectual Activist (TIA) and contributor to The Freedom Fighter's Journal
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