Afghanistan could be Obama's Mogadishu.

As President Obama dithers with the decision as to whether to increase troop levels, recommended by General McChrystal, Afghanistan and Pakistan are spiraling out of control. After five meetings with his war council, Obama is still said to be weeks away from making a final decision in regards to his war strategy. President Obama is beginning to resemble President Clinton and his failed leadership during the Mogadishu
ambush that saw 18 dead and 77 wounded American soldiers. At that time, it was becoming clear that the situation on the ground was deteriorating and Gen. Thomas Montgomery was requesting reinforcements, air support and armored vehicles which was denied by then Sec. of Defense Les Aspin. The resulting carnage saw the images of dead American soldiers being dragged through Somali streets.

President Obama needs to do more than make a decision of sending forty thousand additional troops, he must change the rules of engagement that are preventing our soldiers from obtaining victory on the ground. Some of these new rules require our troops to break away from fights with militants hiding among villagers and obtain permission of homeowners to search for terrorists that may be hiding in their homes. Reading the Miranda Warning to terrorists on the battlefield will not make a us a safer country and does not help our troops.

Taliban attacks in Pakistan are increasing at an alarming rate and are coinciding with the threatened Pakistan offensive on the Waziristan region. This Pakistani offensive must take place to disrupt Taliban and Al Qaeda forces from cross border raids into Afghanistan against NATO troops. In a perfect world, this offensive would coincide with the additional American forces pushing towards the Pakistani border to eliminate the retreating Jihadists from the Waziristan region. This multi assault would do more to ensure victory for American and Pakistan forces than anything else. Would it end the war that is currently raging on both sides of the border. No it would not, but it would severely damage the offensive capabilities of the enemy and most likely kill or capture the brain trust of the terrorists.

As we wait for President Obama’s grandiose new war plan, NATO troops are losing their lives at an increasing rate and the Taliban are in control of even more territory within Afghanistan. Unless Mr. Obama decides to let the Generals run the war and do what is necessary to win, he will increasingly begin to look like President Clinton and his failure in Somalia. That defeat and others overseen by the Clinton Administration is what emboldened Osama Bin Laden to launch his global jihad against a perceived weakened United States. I don’t have much faith in Obama and his civilian war council, but I pray that they do the right thing and try to win this war. If he is unwilling or unable to allow our military to win this battle and give them the tools to accomplish their mission, I surmise that we should leave the field of battle. Another defeat for America and more terrorist attacks on a perceived weakened nation will surely come if Obama fails to lead.

Sphere: Related Content