The New York Times has been running leaked information about the war in Afghanistan, and–surprise!–it’s not going as well as the administration would like you to believe. What a shock. The administration was quick to point out that none of the information contained in the leaks was exactly new, which is true. Critics of publishing the story repeated the old, tired line about demoralizing the troops. I’m guessing the troops already know.
President Obama announced the other day that he is still studying his options before committing more troops to the war in Afghanistan. None of his options are all that appealing. Afghanistan is starting to look eerily like Vietnam: a weak, corrupt government, an entrenched and resolute enemy, difficult terrain, and a lack of popular support both in Afghanistan and in the United States for what looks to be a long and potentially unwinnable war. Choose carefully, Mr. President.
The attempt by the Taliban to prevent the Afghan election evidently failed miserably. True, the vote totals were down from the last election, especially in areas controlled by the insurgents, but the people of that poor country genuinely want to choose their own government, and few want to return to the insane rule of the Taliban. We complain in this country about long lines at the polls. I wonder what our turnout would be if we were threatened with our fingers being cut of if we vote.
