Considering Afghanistan

A article on Nov. 12 stated that President Barack Obama’s hesitancy on Afghan war build-up implies weakness. I wish world leaders had more of that kind of weakness.
Obama does not want to send soldiers into harm’s way without a clear goal, a solid plan and an exit strategy: three aspects sorely missing from President George W. Bush’s military ventures. Americans are used to presidents that play cowboy and say things like “bring ‘em on” and “mission accomplished” without a second thought — presidents who send Americans into battle on falsified weapons reports. But it seems like our current president understands that you don’t send soldiers into battle without first nailing down what we’re supposed to be doing and why. So hats off to Obama’s “hesitation.” Soldiers are human beings, not chess pieces. It was about time we got a president who understands that.

Mark Spivey
Daily reader