Posted on 12/07/2006 12:35:40 PM PST by Reagan Man
On the eve of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit last week, President Bush urged NATO allies to do more to tackle the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, saying member nations "must accept difficult assignments if we expect to be successful." There is no doubt that more needs to be done to secure, stabilize, and rebuild Afghanistan, but Bush’s words really just prove how unstable the situation in the Middle East has become. With Iraq nearing a civil war -- many leaders, including Bush’s former Secretary of State Colin Powell, are already calling it one -- and Afghanistan the major focus of last week’s NATO Summit, it is time for Bush to make drastic changes in his Middle East policy.
In Afghanistan, where the United States has sent some 11,500 troops to capture Bin Laden, oust the Taliban, and support their burgeoning government, drastic troop and spending increases are needed. Currently 37 countries have some 32,000 troops in Afghanistan being led by NATO -- and it’s nowhere near enough. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer have echoed Bush’s call for European nations to step up their commitments and ease the burdens on the US, Canada, Britain, and the Netherlands. Until these countries do so however, President Bush must transfer American troops and US dollars to Afghanistan.
At the NATO Summit last week, leaders of 26 nations agreed to remove some caveats -- national restrictions on how, when and where forces can be used -- to further strengthen the effectiveness of the NATO-led forces in the country. They also confirmed that, regardless of the remaining caveats, in an emergency situation every ally will come to the aid of the forces that require assistance. A number of countries also pledged additional assets, including fighters, helicopters, infantry companies, and training teams that will mentor the Afghan National Army.
Afghanistan, an Islamic Republic, has made great strides since 2001 when the Taliban was toppled. In just five years they formed a plan for a democratic government, ratified a constitution, elected a president in a nation-wide election, and had legislative elections last year. However, much needs to be done to protect the country from once again becoming a breeding ground for terrorists. As the country continues to rebuild and recover, it is still struggling against poverty, poor infrastructure; large concentrations of land mines and other lost weapons, as well as a huge illegal poppy cultivation and opium trade. Until long-term stability is established, Afghanistan must move up President Bush’s to do list.
In Iraq, where 2,892 US troops have been killed and 20,000 wounded since March 2003, drastic troop reductions need to occur immediately. Currently, there are 141,000 US troops on the ground in Iraq and Bush and Congress need to start bringing them home, transferring them, or altering their duties as the Iraq Study Group was expected to recommend.
The Iraq Study Group, or the Baker-Hamilton Commission, released their final report and findings. The report called for diplomacy with foes Syria and Iran and a possible pullout of most US combat troops by early 2008 to help reverse a “grave and deteriorating” situation. Under the Iraq Study Group's plan, the US troops that remain in Iraq would work as advisors and trainers supporting the Iraqi troops.
“There is no magic formula that will solve the problems of Iraq, “Baker said in presenting the report in Washington. “It is time to find a new way forward, a new approach.”
Although it is still possible to create a liberated and self-governing democracy in Iraq, the United States’ role must change for that to happen. Despite valiant efforts from the brave men and women in our military, the current military strategy in Iraq is not conducive to progress. In fact, it is holding back the development of the Iraqi military and police forces. Until these Iraqi forces are responsible for their country’s security, they will continue to rely on the US to do their dirty work.
The NATO Summit deliberations last week and the Iraq Study Group’s plan will give President Bush an opening to decrease involvement in Iraq and increase operations in Afghanistan as he should have months ago. Sun Tzu, the famed military strategist once said, "Opportunities multiply as they are seized." Only time will tell if President Bush seizes this opportunity.
Agreed.
"Loss with Honor"
-Jim Baker
"Defeat in our time"
-Lee Hamilton
didn't the White House pay Armstrong Williams 240,000$ to hawk the No Child Left Behind policies
One of the revealing things that the WOT has shown us the fact that our NATO allies are not up to speed in any serious way.
To be blunt, the NATO resolution that the Taliban's sponsorship of Al Qaeda and the resulting attacks on 9/11 are not enough to gel the NATO alliance into firm no nonsense actions.
such as putting their own soldiers in harm's way on a consistent basis.
Funny how NATO had no trouble at all bombing civilians in Serbia.
Good eye! What's he doing writing for Human Events now? Are they going to hire Stephen Glass next?
I only read as far as the part that said, meet with Iran and Syria, give them Czechoslovakia, and it will be peace in our time.
Bush 41 threw Bush 43 and the Republicans a life preserver, butr the President has elected to drown.
Support for Iraq is 35%. Where will it be in 2008 with no progress?
As that movie announcer guy on the Geico commercial said: "Payback, this time it's for real."
Taking out Al Sadr won't stop the former Ba'athist Sunnis from killing Shiites, nor from Shiites trying to obtain revenge for the decades of killing and opression on the Sunnis.
I don't have the answers any more than the ISG did, but I do know that the problems in Iraq are not going to be solved by killing one leader. It will be up to both the Sunnis and the Shiites to decide to live together.
2006 Baghdad is like 1970's Los Angeles Cryps and Bloods.
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