Obama's Worst

The Obama administration has launched American troops into a much more intense fight in Afghanistan while hesitating to add the reinforcements for which the troops' commanders clamor. Ten months into his administration he has developed doubts about the war he once declared a war of necessity. Seems it's not so necessary as all that. Tell me: if it's wrong to make war for oil - what is it to talk war for votes?

At home, the worst action of the Obama presidency was the intimidation of the Chrysler bondholders into surrendering their legal rights. But even that ugly action pales in comparison to the president's handling of Afghanistan. Here's from today's FT:

What began as an almost reflex debating stance on the campaign trail – that George W. Bush had started the wrong war in Iraq and that Hillary Clinton had voted for it – has brought us to this moment,” says Daniel Markey at the Council on Foreign Relations. “Only now is the president really analysing the implications of escalation in Afghanistan. And they are potentially paralysing.”

"Only now?"

Obama supporters praise the president for taking the time to deliberate before sending more troops to Afghanistan. Deliberation is always welcome. But the time to deliberate is before making a commitment - not before honoring that commitment.

Obama supporters plead that new facts have arisen in Afghanistan. Like what exactly? A bad election? Candidate Obama visited Afghanistan in July 2008. The officials he met warned him that Karzai would tamper with the next election. How do I know that? Because I visited Afghanistan three months later on a NATO tour, and met many of the same officials he had met - and that is what they told our group. I have to believe that they briefed a candidate for president in much more detail and candor than they briefed a collection of thinktankers.

Obama was briefed on these concerns. He opted to disregard them. He made his commitments to wage a bigger war in Afghanistan for campaign purposes - to immunize himself against charges that he was soft on security.

Now the bill has arrived. The Obama administration has launched American troops into a much more intense fight in Afghanistan - one-quarter of all Afghan casualties have been suffered in the past three months - while hesitating to add the reinforcements for which the troops' commanders clamor. Ten months into his administration he has developed doubts about the war he once declared a war of necessity. Seems it's not so necessary as all that. Tell me: if it's wrong to make war for oil - what is it to talk war for votes?