-
As President Obama ponders a new strategy for America's role in Afghanistan and over 60,000 of America's finest face the front lines of the war on terrorism it is time for the politicians and pundits to shut up and for all Americans to stand tall for the military, the nation, and even the Commander in Chief.
There is no room for politics when the lives of our soldiers are at risk. America has always stood behind our military, no matter what the opinion toward our president. Sometimes we like the president and sometimes we don't. President Johnson was literally forced out of office by Viet Nam while President Eisenhower was extraordinarily popular in spite of the Korean War.
Still it didn't matter as the public supported the troops. We may not like the war, but we always stood behind the Commander in Chief who is responsible for the conduct of the war and the protection of our troops. The swirling controversy over the future policy in Afghanistan does nothing to help the troops.
Of course we have a right to state our views. Even the military, who were not heard during the early years of the Bush administration have a right to state their views as long as it does not compromise the war plans on the ground. Much has been made about the public position taken by General Stanley A. McChrystal, a rare occurrence for a military officer. But the generals were not heard during the early years of the war and who can fault him for wanting to make sure the best plan to support the troops was put forward.
Secretary of Defense Gates scolded the general yesterday for making the public statements but Gates should have scolded Vice President Biden and others in the Administration who went public well before McChrystal. They set the tone for White House policy development for the war in Afghanistan and if the president is mad, he should start with his own VP who violated every rule in confidential policy development.
The White House is filled with liberals who demanded that Obama get out of Iraq, close Guantanamo, bail out the unions at the auto companies, prosecute the CIA and make Al Gore and Goldman Sachs rich off the efforts to change the energy policy of America. So far they have hurt the president badly and their own public whining shows they haven't got a clue when it comes to being the president for all the people, not just the radical fringe.
All America needs to step back and let the president give Afghanistan the consideration needed to protect the lives of those men and women risking their lives so we don't have another 9-11. When that policy is announced all Americans have a responsibility to support it like we have every time this nation has had to go to war to defend freedom.
Every day soldiers are dying in a land far away so that we may live in peace back home. Let us not let the ranting and raving of public mouthpieces distract us from that truth. No war is good, nor should it ever be considered a popular policy. It is the single worst trait of human nature to fight wars because it is the innocent victims of war that suffer the most.
We are fighting in Afghanistan to help free a people who have been the victims of a generation of war and to stop a terrorist organization who believe human life has no value. If you have to go to war there can no higher calling. Get behind the president and get behind the troops. What happens is his responsibility and their lives are at risk. It has always been the American way.