Just some editorials and op-eds from centrist and progressive media outlets around the world with links to the full articles. Not exhaustive, but representative of center-left opinion the day after President Obama's speech calling for 30,000 new American troops in Afghanistan.
From The Guardian – Britain
Obama Has No Stomach for This Fight
Barack Obama's announcement of an Afghan "surge" is his frantic bid to rescue what promises to be a stumbling re-election campaign that must start in 2011. It oozes with his desperation not to be in Afghanistan. ... Afghanistan was a punitive raid that turned into an occupation that was not just mishandled but ill-conceived from the start. The operation now commencing is exit with dignity. Dignity will be the hard part.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/...
From Der Spiegel – Germany
Searching in Vain for the Obama Magic
Never before has a speech by President Barack Obama felt as false as his Tuesday address announcing America's new strategy for Afghanistan. It seemed like a campaign speech combined with Bush rhetoric -- and left both dreamers and realists feeling distraught. ... The American president doesn't need any opponents at the moment. He's already got himself.
http://www.spiegel.de/...
From the Sydney Morning Herald – Australia
Intervention Warrants Vietnam Parallels
Afghanistan is not another Vietnam, President Barack Obama declared just a few minutes after announcing that America would send another 30,000 troops to the country for the summer fighting season of 2010. But just saying so does not make it so. ... There may be differences with Vietnam but there are similarities too, the most notable being that in both wars the US was attempting to prop up an unpopular government.
http://www.smh.com.au/...
From Al Jazeera – Qatar
History Repeats Itself?
On the eve of the US troop announcement and Islamabad's chattering classes are abuzz with speculation. It's not about the level of troops to be deployed in Afghanistan but about the exit strategy. ... When the Russians left America abandoned the country, leaving Pakistan to pick up the pieces. Pakistan armed and funded the Taliban. They brought peace to the country but at brutal cost.
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/...
From Liberation – France
Cas d’école
Un an après son élection, Barack Obama devient redevable de ses actions. Il n’est plus seulement tributaire du calamiteux héritage de son prédécesseur. ... Les militaires étrangers, quelles que soient leurs bonnes intentions, seront toujours perçus comme des ennemis et des envahisseurs. ... Mais, rien ne dit que l’envoi de renforts permette une victoire élusive.
http://www.liberation.fr/...
Rough Translation - -
Case Study
A year after his election, Barack Obama is becoming responsible for his own actions. It is no longer just attributable to the calamitous heritage of his predecessor. ... Foreign armies, despite their good intentions, have always been seen as enemies and invaders. ... But, nothing suggests that reinforcements will create that elusive victory.
From the Toronto Star - Canada
Obama's Risky Afghan Surge
U.S. President Barack Obama inherited nothing from George W. Bush but bad options in Afghanistan. It showed last night as he assumed ownership of the war. His 30,000-troop surge ... was less about rolling out a sure-fire winning strategy than about making the best of a grim situation. ... Despite the bleak odds, Canadians can only wish the president well. We have sacrificed too much in this war to be indifferent to its outcome.
http://www.thestar.com/...