The Right Signal

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is quoted in today's New York Times as saying that a central focus in President Obama's deliberations over sending troops to Afghanistan is "how do we signal resolve, and at the same time signal to the Afghans, as well as the American people, that this is not an open-ended commitment?" The article refers to recent comments by Gates as providing "the latest clues to the President's thinking."

The latest clues to the President's thinking? How did we come to the place where we are grasping for clues as to the President's thinking? Isn't this the man who impressed us with the very fact that he could clearly communicate difficult and complex issues? Why do we suddenly look to a carryover from the previous administration to enlighten us with insights like these: "I would say it was more, how can we combine some of the best features of several of the options to maximum good effect?"

Well, now we know what the President's thinking: try to please (listen to, draw from, understand, include) everyone. This is sounding familiar.

It's also sounding familiar in that the President's version of everyone is not really everyone. Just as single-payer dropped out of the healthcare discussion, ending the wars seems to have dropped out of the Afghanistan discussion (to say nothing of Iraq...heard much about that lately??) Among the "several options" from which the President and the Defense Secretary seek to extract the "best features" in order to create the "maximum good effect," there is a wildly broad spectrum of choices ranging from sending 10,000 troops to sending 40,000 troops. Wow! How will we ever decide?

May I humbly add to the "several options," Mr. President? How about withdrawing troops? How about repentance for the many civilians we have killed and a pledge to be a more responsible world power in the future? How about giving up this ridiculous fantasy that we can search out and stamp out evil? How about considering the responsibility we bear for creating terrorists? How about supporting the radically compassionate followers of every religion and ethical framework by joining with them in addressing needs rather than wreaking havoc? If we are intent on sending signals, how about sending a signal to the world that things have really changed...REALLY changed.

Can we do that? Gee, I think you should know the answer to that one.