Dithering Is Deadly

More than 50 days have passed since Obama's personally selected commander in Afghanistan said a surge in the number of American troops was necessary to avoid defeat there in what Obama himself called a good and necessary war.

While the President has had ample time since then to engage in a broad range of far less serious -- and some would say frivolous -- matters, he has been and at this writing remains unable or unwilling to reach a decision on the call for reinforcements from his commander in the field. Every passing day without the requested build up in strength, adds to the dangers that our troops on the ground face and the prospects for ultimately being able to succeed in their mission diminishes. Keep in mind that the commanding general, in calling for additional troops, said that their early deployment was essential.

Perhaps President Obama is delaying a decision to avoid antagonizing,  and to get the health care reform  votes of his leftist allies who are opposed to the Afghanistan effort, or to delay the criticism of conservatives if he turns down the request for more troops. 

Whatever the reason, the delay is unconscionable, and if political considerations are behind it, the delay is particularly shameful. As commander in chief the president doesn't have the luxury of voting present as he did when facing tough decisions as a legislator.

Delaying a decision is itself a decision of sorts -- it's a decision to leave the members of our inadequate force twisting in an increasingly dangerous wind in a conflict that has been under resourced from the outset. We need to get on with what it takes to win or get our soldiers out of harms way altogether . . . and the decision needs to be made now.