Put 'em up! Don't be arbitrary!
In the wake of President Obama's Rose Garden announcement today that he plans to reduce the number of US troops in Afghanistan to 9,800 by the end of 2014, and to a small embassy presence by 2016, the predictable trio of Senators McCain, Graham and Ayotte circulated a
joint press release that hits all the talking points. It's full of bluster, otherwise not so much.
• The withdrawal numbers and dates are "arbitrary." Even Fox News says that the "withdrawal plan is largely in line with what military commanders have been seeking." Arbitrary my ass, it's been in the works nearly 8 years, it's what the Pentagon wants and it's contingent on Afghanistan's government agreeing to a bilateral security agreement. Heck, ending any conflict is "arbitrary" in McCain's view.
• The President's plan is "short-sighted." Unlike, of course, the invasions themselves, which were so well planned for the long term, resulting in the longest damn war in American history.
• We have to exit the war "responsibly." Like "arbitrary" and "short-sighted," another empty dog whistle. I seem to recall a little brouhaha in Southeast Asia that we had to win "responsibly," to the tune of 50,000+ American lives.
• Obama has "learned nothing" from the "damage done" after the US withdrawal from Iraq. Damage to whom? The US defense industry? Certainly not the parents whose sons and daughters came home. Certainly not the US budget. Yes, Iraq's a mess, one BushCo. created, but was it so much better when we were there? Had we remained, spending trillions and countless lives, would it be Shangri-La today?
• Obama's decision will "embolden our enemies." Heck, every friggin' thing Obama says or does, short of dropping a nuke, "emboldens" the bad guys in McCain's alleged mind.
• "But wars do not end just because politicians say so." That's because McCain doesn't know how to "say so." He and most of the GOP have never tried it. Wars sure do start because politicians say so. Let's try the opposite for a change.
• "America is unreliable, distracted, and unwilling to lead." Oh, for fuck's sake. Unless we are prepared to invade and occupy, we're not leading. If Bush lies us into war, he's leading; if Obama ends the war he's not.
• The US should stay in Afghanistan and "create conditions for a negotiated end to the conflict." Seriously? The country was at war for nearly four generations before 9/11 — Taliban, war lords, Afghan government. It's still at war and will remain so regardless of whether the US is there or not.
• All decisions "should be determined by conditions on the ground." Duh, I'm sure the generals haven't thought about that.
• "All wars end." Really? Not if McCain has anything to say about it.
Finally, Senator: President Obama was elected in part because he pledged to end the wars. You were defeated in part because you suggested bombing just about any country that starts with "I" or ends in "stan." Exiting Afghanistan is not about his "legacy," as you write. It's delivering on a promise that Americans want fulfilled. That's not arbitrary, short-sighted, irresponsible, or leaderless.