Just thinking. It would be nice if the President, in his speech on Afghanistan, opened up along these lines:
Seven years ago we may have been able to win some type of victory in Afghanistan. The chances of us accomplishing this now are diminished. Against the limited chance of success of a victory in Afghanistan, I have weighed the significant threat to our nation's future by the economic crisis, unemployment approaching 20%, and the lives put at risk everyday because of our broken health care system. To me, the tilt of the scale is obvious.
After consultation with our allies, I am therefore,announcing a phased draw down of our troops in Afghanistan. No one likes to cut and run. But as a country we have to face the fact that we have neither the treasure nor the ability to bring peace to every troubled spot of the world, or to eliminate risks to our security solely through military might.
The pattern of our history since World War II shows one clear trend: We have lost countless lives and spent endless sums in Korea, Vietnam, Irag, and now Afghanistan, trying to impose our military will. During the same time, our people have become less secure, less well off, and more uncertain in the future of their everyday lives. To escalate our military presence in Afghanistan would be part of the past century's pattern of investing in war at the expense of our people. The money we save by reducing our presence in Afghanistan will allow us to pay for health care reform. We will be able to focus our attention on making ourselves safer, wealthier, healthier, and smarter, rather than chasing after the illusion that dead enemies equal national security. THAT is change to believe in.