A war of words

President Obama’s Afghan policy speech has been described in different ways, but perhaps the most accurate way to describe it is to describe the man delivering it – absent principal and heavy on equivocation.

We describe it this way because no person of principal could have delivered such a speech, it simply was intended for too many specific audiences; it spoke directly to the anti-war left in promising prompt exit, the hawks got their surge, the libertarians were assured that cost would outweigh perseverance, isolationists were guaranteed that America would not go it alone and would be the first out the door – and the list goes on, should one be so inclined to enumerate it.

We wish the President quick and decisive success because his policy is centered around a quick deployment and redeployment – in other words, the President has by his very words has put forth the military must find success quickly and decisively, for we simply do not believe he has the conscious will or political fortitude to withstand setbacks such as Iraq suffered. If those setbacks occur, Mr. Obama has clearly demonstrated by his delayed decision to commit more troops that he will look for an exit, no matter if it be in victory or defeat.

As he accepted the Noble Peace Prize, he exclaimed, “Compared to some of the giants of history who have received this prize ... my accomplishments are slight"; a bit of humble pie or an attempt to position himself for an uncertain future? Mr. Obama won the Nobel Prize without merit and that is clear. But what remains unclear is his disposition on the wars he now fully owns; speaking to the nation he again kicked dirt on his predecessor, stating that the last administration squandered resources to fight an elective war in another country, thereby ignoring what he has called the “necessary” war in Afghanistan.

None of these statements are consequential in-and-among-themselves but they do speak to a demeanor the President is attaching himself to – a man who believes leadership comes from uttering crafted rhetoric rather than one who is willing to lead out of conviction.

It has been said the pen is mightier than the sword, for the sake of our military and our national security, let’s pray that will be the case.

-- Killswitch Politick

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While Obama shrugs: turmoil in Honduras, Afghanistan, China

Honduras is on the threshold of closing stages a four-month political calamity after rival camps cut a deal that could return expelled President Manuel Zelaya to power and earn worldwide support for a November 29 election.

Caving under demands from U.S. diplomats, representatives for Zelaya (whom was toppled in a June 28 coup while the de-facto leader Roberto Micheletti supplanted him) reached an agreement to put an end to Central America's worst political tumult in two decades.

The deal, seen as a too-late diplomatic setback for U.S. President Barack Obama, leaves it up to the Honduran Congress to decide whether Zelaya can be returned to perform the last few months of his term – the very obstacle that caused previous talks to falter – a Congressional vote is expected in the near future, after the Supreme Court gives a non-binding opinion on the matter.

Meanwhile, Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah had already announced he would not boycott the formerly scheduled runoff against incumbent Hamid Karzai, after talks about how to determine the country's ongoing election predicament broke down.

Since that time, Abdullah has conceded and the government has declared Karzai the winner. Karzai replaced Burhanuddin Rabbani in 2001 and has had a tumultuous relationship with the United States and his country is teetering on the verge of civil war and a return to a lawless nation state, ruined by the Taliban and Al Qaeda. The precariousness continues while General Stanley McChrystal awaits a decision for more troop requests.

At the same time, A U.S. Navy admiral articulated new trepidation last week over China's military buildup and insisted Beijing to be clearer about its intent.

Rear Adm. Kevin Donegan, commander of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier strike group, a key part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, told reporters on a visit to the Chinese territory of Hong Kong that China's military growing at an "unprecedented rate". The U.S. wants to guarantee that increase doesn't subvert the rest of the region. Donegan cited China's expanded weaponry and his remarks repeated the apprehension of other U.S. military leaders who have alleged the growth in China's military spending — up nearly 15% in the 2009 budget — raises questions about how Beijing plans on deploying its new power.

These events are not new, nor are they easily fixed, yet while President Obama makes robo-calls to voters in New Jersey and stumps for health care reform, turmoil ensues around a world looking for leadership.

-- Killswitch Politick

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